Three Important Updates for our Community
Ann Mills-Griffiths’ Message: End of Role & Looking Forward
March 9, 2026
As you’ve likely heard, I’m finally ending my active role in the League and, yes, it is long overdue. This was planned to have taken place just after our 50th Anniversary Annual Meeting in June, 2019. Had it not been for a series of unexpected, negative events and circumstances that arose post the COVID shutdown, it would have. Included were false attacks by uninformed, inexperienced new members of the Board and criminal actions by a trusted League employee.
With no viable prospect for reversing the downward finances during the COVID government shutdown, a vote of the Board of Directors to close our small nonprofit organization passed and I sadly notified the full membership. Shortly thereafter, seated in the courtyard of our beautiful home in Chula Vista, CA, overlooking the military bases on Coronado, Point Loma and San Diego, I answered a phone call. After questioning the caller as if he were media, I heard an intelligent, articulate gentleman asking relevant questions, listening intently, then explaining his longstanding admiration of the League’s 50+ years of dedicated Vietnam War accounting efforts. I was then stunned to hear him offer a $2M donation over a five-year period. After hearing two minor provisions – maintain donor anonymity and complete the League’s Archival Document Preservation Project – I accepted the generous offer.
Less than a year later, and despite other unexpected, devastating disappointments, the worst possible discovery was made: near-total embezzlement of the League’s nonprofit funds, wire fraud, theft of all my personal identification data, use of that information to apply for countless cash loans and credit cards. Being the one struggling to lead the League throughout these turbulent challenges, I felt a personal obligation to donate all that I could and stick with the League as Board Chair, then Chairman Emeritus/Acting CEO. The years since COVID have been especially challenging and disappointing. Lack of confidence in DPAA's current direction and commitment to its pledged “operational priority on Vietnam War accounting, as well as embezzlement and the many other crimes by the former League Administrator led to significant loss of funding, including our anonymous donor’s withdrawal of his foundation’s $2 million over five years. Having said that, the foundation’s dedication to historical education prompted a further, separate contribution to help complete the League’s crucial Archival Preservation Project in partnership with George Mason University (GMU) by the end of this year. I’m now, once again optimistic. It stems from knowing Aaron Ahlstrom, our current League Executive Director and a principled, dedicated professional. Aaron is central to holding the League together as the determined 501(c)(3) nonprofit we have been since formed in 1970.
Over more than 50 years, we've had significant achievements and serious challenges in our mission-advocacy efforts. Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) public releases define "fullest possible accounting," adopted by the Reagan Administration in the early 1980s, as stemming from the League's 1970 founding documents. This definition was the core objective of bilateral cooperation with Vietnam to account for captured and missing Vietnam War military and civilian personnel. Since the actual end of the Vietnam War on April 30, 1975, 1,056 Americans have been recovered and returned. Today, there are 1,566 Americans viewed as missing (POW/MIA) and unaccounted-for (KIA/BNR). Realistic estimates indicate 50% are likely recoverable or information may be obtained to end uncertainty for the impacted families.
Too often now, results from current Vietnam War accounting efforts are disappointing. DPAA's claim of "highest operational priority" on accounting for Vietnam War missing has not been at all evident. DPAA Director Kelly McKeague has taken actions in recent years indicating our trust and confidence were misplaced. DPAA now refers to all POW/MIA families of Vietnam War Veterans still missing as "Gold Star" families and missing loved ones as deceased. Those initially listed as POW or MIA were NOT known to be dead; some were Last Known Alive (LKA). The vast majority were lost in Vietnam; 85-90% of the DPAA “estimated” 280 still missing in Laos and 40 in Cambodia occurred in Vietnam-controlled areas, thus our focus on Vietnam, including prompt efforts to obtain unilateral Vietnamese turnover of relevant archival records.
The above would be incomplete without clarifying that there is reason for hope! As an important, issue-specific fact, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam, then serving as Vietnam's Minister of Public Security, made clear to the League Delegation on March 13, 2024, his enthusiastic acceptance of our proposed DIA-funded Mobile Investigation Unit (MIU). This small investigation team - one each DIA/Stony Beach, DPAA and Vietnamese – would deploy throughout Vietnam and, as needed, in Laos and Cambodia. The objective is to interview prospective sources of useful, case-related data before it is too late due to death or mental incapacity of sources to any longer provide accurate information. There is now full agreement, including from DPAA, that MIU implementation is the most logical process to enable US collection of useful data to achieve the "fullest possible accounting" before it is too late.
Thanks to General Secretary To Lam’s recent League-requested intervention, Stony Beach specialists met Feb. 5th in Hanoi with the Vietnam Office for Seeking Missing Persons (VNOSMP) and reached tentative agreement without further price-gouging. This tentative, “agreement” is scheduled to proceed in mid-May, and we’ll hope that there will be no after-deployment demand for excessive costs. If that occurs, it may be necessary to again intervene, but I’m confident that General Secretary To Lam would not be at all pleased if this occurred. He has much invested in the bilateral relationship with the US, as does President Trump, in the best interest of regional and international security, as well as significant economic prospects.
In closing, I want to reinforce my view that with superior educational background, archival history interest and professional management experience, League Executive Director Aaron Ahlstrom is the right leader at the right time to effectively carry forward our shared accounting mission. Having said that, until I leave this earth I will never give up and will do my best, as Chairman Emeritus, to provide advice when asked by Aaron and whomever is elected to serve as Board Chairman, once the upcoming 2026-2028 election of our Board of Directors is held.
So that you know, I will also be trying to finally be able to write "In Search of a Brother," the long-promised factual, nonfiction book on how former President Ronald Reagan's policy of achieving the "fullest possible accounting" led to significant, accounting success while creating a solid foundation for the current US-SRV Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. There should be expectations for significant unilateral Vietnamese provision of long-sought archival records and successful recovery of remains and information to end uncertainty for many impacted Vietnam War POW/MIA families who still seek and deserve answers!
I wish each of you the very best, especially answers for the 50%, at a minimum, of those still listed as viable cases to pursue by serious analysts, most of whom are technically employed as archival researchers, who are genuinely committed to our shared mission. God be with them and with each of you..........as ever hopeful........and always determined.........Ann
Executive Directors Update - Aaron Ahlstrom
Family & Associate Members, friends, and all,
The League continues to make great headway in all of our efforts, and I want to briefly share a few updates as we move further into 2026. While much work remains ahead of us, we are optimistic about the direction of several key efforts now underway.
First, we are encouraged by the progress surrounding the League-proposed, DIA-funded Mobile Investigative Unit (MIU). While these developments continue to move through the diplomatic channels, the understanding of the value that such a unit could bring to ending the uncertainty of many families is a positive sign. The League will continue to advocate for its implementation and monitor developments closely.
The organization itself continues to make internal improvements so that we can not only continue to advocate but also expand our advocacy and educational capabilities. As part of these operational improvements, the League has relocated to a new office location. Our new address is:
901 North Glebe Road
5th Floor, Unit 116
Arlington, VA 22203
However, the office phone number will remain 240-342-9699.
While our primary operations will now be based out of this new location, we will periodically visit the previous office as necessary during the transition period.
I would also like to remind members that applications for the upcoming Board of Directors election are now being distributed alongside this newsletter. The timeline for this year’s election is as follows:
Applications must be received, electronically or via mail, by April 19, 2026
Ballots will be sent to members by May 1st and must be postmarked by May 25th, 2026
Applicants will be notified of results by June 10th
The new board will be introduced in June, at the 2026 League Annual Meeting in Washington DC
Serving on the Board is just one meaningful way that members can help guide the League’s future efforts, and I encourage those interested in contributing their experience and perspective to consider submitting an application. Looking ahead, we remain optimistic about the progress that can be achieved in the coming years, and look forward to what our dedicated members can bring to facilitate accounting results for the many families who still await answers.
Thank you for your continued dedication to the cause and for the many ways you support the League’s work. Please feel free to reach out if you have questions, suggestions, or would like to become more involved.
Aaron Ahlstrom
Executive Director
APPLICATIONS FOR ELECTION TO LEAGUE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Deadline for receipt electronically or by mail is April 19, 2026
If you plan to be a candidate in the 2026-2028 Board of Directors election, now is the time to begin filling out applications! You may submit your application via any of the following:
-Submit a form via our website (www.pow-miafamilies.org/election)
-Mail an application to the League’s new National Office: 901 North Glebe Road, 5th Floor, Unit #116, Arlington, VA, 22203.
-Email a completed application to: national.league@pow-miafamilies.org
Specific details that apply are printed on the application (you can click here to download a Microsoft Word Version, or here for a PDF), including the requirement that all applicants, Family and Associate Members, must be dues-current. All applications must be received at the League Office by April 19, 2026. Biographical information on applications must be verifiable upon request of the League; false statements can render an application invalid. Opinions are not subject to verification. The application contains two sections:
Section I requests biographical data, including a resumé of POW/MIA advocacy-related activities not to exceed 1 paragraph (50 words).
Section II provides the applicant an opportunity to outline his/her concept of direction to achieve League goals during the next two years and is limited to a maximum of 300 words.
Applicants must be dues-current League members. Duly filed applications will be reformatted for distribution. Ballots and pre-addressed return envelopes will be sent to all dues-current voting members, Family and Associate, by May 1st and MUST BE POSTMARKED BY May 25th. Applicants will be notified of results by June 10th. Except for sessions conducted during annual meetings or virtually, in-person Board of Directors Meetings are normally held during weekends to ensure maximum participation of those elected to serve. Board members must be available for quarterly or more frequent in-person meetings. Members elected to the 2026-2028 Board are in office until the conclusion of the 56th Annual Meeting, likely to be held in Washington DC in June 2028.