Legislation
HR 111 110th Congress
Establishing a Select Committee on POW and MIA Affairs. (Introduced in House) HRES 111 IH
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 111
Establishing a Select Committee on POW and MIA Affairs.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 30, 2007
Mr. KING of New York submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Rules
RESOLUTION
Establishing a Select Committee on POW and MIA Affairs.
• Resolved, That there is established in the House of Representatives a select committee to be known as the Select Committee on POW and MIA Affairs.
FUNCTIONS
• Sec. 2. The select committee shall conduct a full investigation of all unresolved matters relating to any United States personnel unaccounted for from the Vietnam era, the Korean conflict, World War II, Cold War Missions, or Gulf War, including MIA's and POW's.
APPOINTMENT AND MEMBERSHIP
• Sec. 3. (a) Members- The select committee shall be composed of 10 Members of the House, who shall be appointed by the Speaker. Not more than half of the members of the select committee shall be of the same political party.
• (b) Vacancy- Any vacancy occurring in the membership of the select committee shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made.
• (c) Chairperson- The Speaker shall designate one member of the select committee to be its chairperson.
AUTHORITY AND PROCEDURES
• Sec. 4. (a) Authority- For purposes of carrying out this resolution, the select committee (or any subcommittee of the select committee authorized to hold hearings) may sit and act during the present Congress at any time or place within the United States (including any Commonwealth or possession of the United States, or elsewhere, whether the House is in session, has recessed, or has adjourned) and to hold such hearings as it considers necessary.
• (b) Rules of Procedure- The provisions of clauses 1, 2, and 4 of rule XI of the Rules of the House shall apply to the select committee.
• (c) Prohibition Against Meeting at Certain Times- Subsection (a) may not be construed to limit the applicability of clause 2(i) of rule XI of the Rules of the House to the select committee.
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
• Sec. 5. (a) Expenses- Subject to the adoption of expense resolutions as required by clause 6 of rule X of the Rules of the House, the select committee may incur expenses in connection with its functions under this resolution.
• (b) Staff and Travel- In carrying out its functions under this resolution, the select committee may--
• (1) appoint, either on a permanent basis or as experts or consultants, any staff that the select committee considers necessary;
• (2) prescribe the duties and responsibilities of the staff;
• (3) fix the compensation of the staff at a single per annum gross rate that does not exceed the highest rate of basic pay, as in effect from time to time, of level V of the Executive Schedule in section 5316 of title 5, United States Code;
• (4) terminate the employment of any such staff as the select committee considers appropriate; and
• (5) reimburse members of the select committee and of its staff for travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred by them in the performance of their functions for the select committee, other than expenses in connection with any meeting of the select committee, or a subcommittee thereof, held in the District of Columbia.
• (c) Expiration- The select committee and all authority granted in this resolution shall expire 30 days after the filing of the final report of the select committee with the House, or just prior to noon on January 5, 2009, whichever occurs first.
REPORTS AND RECORDS
• Sec. 6. (a) Final Report- As soon as practicable during the present Congress, the select committee shall submit to the House a final report setting forth its findings and recommendations as a result of its investigation.
• (b) Filing of Reports- Any report made by the select committee when the House is not in session shall be filed with the Clerk of the House.
• (c) Referral of Reports- Any report made by the select committee shall be referred to the committee or committees that have jurisdiction over the subject matter of the report.
• (d) Records, Files, and Materials- Following the termination of the select committee, the records, files, and materials of the select committee shall be transferred to the Clerk of the House. If the final report of the select committee is referred to only one committee under the provisions of subsection (c), the records, files, and materials of the select committee shall be transferred instead to the committee to which the final report is referred.
DEFINITIONS
• Sec. 7. For purposes of this resolution:
• (1) The term `Member of the House' means any Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress.
• (2) The term `MIA' means any United States personnel that is unaccounted for and missing in action.
• (3) The term `POW' means any United States personnel that is unaccounted for and known to be a prisoner of war.
• (4) The term `select committee' means the Select Committee on MIA and POW Affairs established by this resolution.
S 848 IS
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide improved benefits for veterans who are former prisoners of war .
S 848 IS
110th CONGRESS 1st Session
S. 848
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide improved benefits for veterans who are former prisoners of war .
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 13, 2007
Mrs. MURRAY introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide improved benefits for veterans who are former prisoners of war .
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Prisoner of War Benefits Act of 2007'.
SEC. 2. IMPROVED VETERANS' BENEFITS FOR FORMER PRISONERS OF WAR .
(a) Repeal of Minimum Period of Internment for Presumption of Service Connection for Certain Diseases- Subsection (b) of section 1112 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) by striking `; and' at the end of subparagraph (A) and inserting a period;
(B) by striking `a former prisoner of war --' and all that follows through `a disease specified in paragraph (2)' and inserting `a former prisoner of war , a disease specified in paragraph (2)'; and
(C) by striking subparagraph (B);
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking `(3) The diseases specified' and all that follows through `the following:'; and
matter stricken by paragraph (2) as subparagraphs (F) through (R), respectively, of paragraph (2).
(b) Additional Diseases Presumed To Be Service Connected- Paragraph (2) of section 1112(b) of such title, as amended by subsection (a)(3), is further amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:
`(S) Diabetes (type 2).
`(T) Osteoporosis.'.
(c) Authority for Administrative Determination of Presumption of Service Connection for Additional Diseases-
(1) ADMINISTRATIVE DETERMINATION- Section 1112 of title 38, United States Code, as amended by subsections (a) and (b), is further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
`(d)(1) Subsection (b) applies with respect to any disease (in addition to those specified in that subsection) that the Secretary determines in regulations prescribed under this subsection warrants a presumption of service-connection by reason of having positive association with the experience of being a prisoner of war .
`(2)(A) Whenever the Secretary determines, on the basis of sound medical and scientific evidence, that a positive association exists between (i) the experience of being a prisoner of war , and (ii) the occurrence of a disease in humans, the Secretary shall prescribe regulations providing that a presumption of service connection is warranted for that disease for the purposes of this section.
`(B) In making determinations for the purpose of this paragraph, the Secretary shall take into account (i) recommendations received by the Secretary from the Advisory Committee on Former Prisoners of War established under section 541 of this title, and (ii) all other sound medical and scientific information and analyses available to the Secretary. In evaluating any study for the purpose of making such determinations, the Secretary shall take into consideration whether the results are statistically significant, are capable of replication, and withstand peer review.
`(C) An association between the occurrence of a disease in humans and the experience of being a prisoner of war shall be considered to be positive for the purposes of this subsection if the credible evidence for the association is equal to or outweighs the credible evidence against the association.
`(3)(A) Not later than 60 days after the date on which the Secretary receives a recommendation from the Advisory Committee on Former Prisoners of War that a presumption of service connection be established under this subsection for any disease, the Secretary shall determine whether a presumption of service connection under this subsection is warranted for that disease. If the Secretary determines that such a presumption is warranted, the Secretary, not later than 60 days after making the determination, shall issue proposed regulations setting forth the Secretary's determination.
`(B) If the Secretary determines that a presumption of service connection is not warranted, the Secretary, not later than 60 days after making the determination, shall publish in the Federal Register a notice of that determination. The notice shall include an explanation of the scientific basis for that determination. If the disease already is included in regulations providing for a presumption of service connection, the Secretary, not later than 60 days after publication of the notice of a determination that the presumption is not warranted, shall issue proposed regulations removing the presumption for the disease.
`(C) Not later than 90 days after the date on which the Secretary issues any proposed regulations under this subsection, the Secretary shall issue final regulations. Such regulations shall be effective on the date of issuance.
`(4) Whenever a disease is removed from regulations prescribed under this section--
`(A) a veteran who was awarded compensation for such disease on the basis of the presumption provided in subsection (a) before the effective date of the removal shall continue to be entitled to receive compensation on that basis; and
`(B) a survivor of a veteran who was awarded dependency and indemnity compensation for the death of a veteran resulting from such disease on the basis of such presumption shall continue to be entitled to receive dependency and indemnity compensation on such basis.
`(5) The Secretary shall carry out this subsection in consultation with, and after taking into consideration the views of , the Advisory Committee on Former Prisoners of War established under section 541 of this title.'.
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT- Paragraph (1) of section 1112(b) of such title, as amended by subsection (a), is further amended by inserting `or prescribed under subsection (d)' after `a disease specified in paragraph (2)'.
HR 950 IH
Camp Security National Historic Site Study Act
(Introduced in House) HR 950 IH
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 950
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of designating Camp Security, located in Springettsbury, York County, Pennsylvania, as a unit of the National Park System.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 8, 2007
Mr. PLATTS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
A BILL
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of designating Camp Security, located in Springettsbury, York County, Pennsylvania, as a unit of the National Park System.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Camp Security National Historic Site Study Act'.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Camp Security is believed to be the only undisturbed prisoner -of -war camp from the Revolutionary War remaining in the United States.
(2) Built at the direction of the Continental Congress, Camp Security housed over 1,000 British prisoners of war between 1781 and 1783.
(3) The vast majority of British soldiers imprisoned at Camp Security were captured as a result of the Continental Army's pivotal victories at the Battles of Saratoga and Yorktown.
(4) Large portions of Camp Security were built along a steep hill using terraces, a unique architectural and earthwork feature.
(5) Upon the 1783 adoption of the Treaty of Paris, Camp Security was closed and those prisoners who did not marry local women and settle in the area returned to their families in Great Britain.
(6) Recent excavations and surveys of the site identified intact archeological deposits and recovered numerous domestic and military artifacts. SEC. 3. STUDY.
(a) In General- The Secretary of the Interior shall submit to the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a study of the suitability and feasibility of designating Camp Security, located in Springettsbury Township, York County, Pennsylvania, as a unit of the National Park System.
(b) Process- Section 8(c) of Public Law 91-383 (16 U.S.C. 1a-5(c)) shall apply to the conduct of the study required by this section, except that the study shall be submitted pursuant to subsection (a) not later than 18 months after the date on which funds are first made available for the study.
Services to Prevent Veterans’ Homelessness Act
(H.R. 4746)
Section-by-Section Summary
Section 1 – Financial Assistance for Supportive Services for Very Low-Income Veteran Families in Permanent Housing
(a) Short Title
The short title of the bill is the Services to Prevent Veterans’ Homelessness Act.
(b) Purpose
To facilitate the provision of supportive services for very low-income veteran families in permanent housing.
(c) Authorization of Financial Assistance
(a) Distribution of Financial Assistance – Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide financial assistance to eligible entities to provide and coordinate the provision of supportive services for very low-income veteran families occupying permanent housing. Financial assistance shall consist of payments for each such family for which an approved eligible entity is providing or coordinating the provision of supportive services. The Secretary shall establish a formula to determine the rate of payments. The Secretary shall give preference to entities providing or coordinating the provision of supportive services for very low-income veteran families who are transitioning from homelessness to permanent housing. The Secretary shall ensure equitable distribution of the financial assistance across geographic regions, including rural communities and tribal lands. Each entity receiving financial assistance shall notify the family that such services are being paid for by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Secretary may require entities receiving financial assistance to submit a report to the Secretary on their use of funds.
(b) Application for Financial Assistance – Requires eligible entities to submit an application for financial assistance. The application shall contain a description of the supportive services proposed; the families to be served; an estimate of the number of families to be served; evidence of experience in providing supportive services; and description of managerial capacity.
(c) Technical Assistance – Requires the Secretary to provide training and technical assistance, directly or via contract, to participating eligible entities regarding the planning, development, and provision of supportive services to very low-income veteran families occupying permanent housing.
(d) Funding – Of the amounts made available each year to the Department for Medical Care for veterans, $25,000,000 shall be available annually to carry out this section, of which not more than $750,000 may be used to provide technical assistance.
(e) Definitions –
1) “Eligible entity” means a private nonprofit organization or a consumer cooperative.
2) “Permanent Housing” means community-based housing without a designated length of stay.
3) “Supportive Services” includes: outreach; health care services if such services are not readily available through the VA; habilitation and rehabilitation; case management; daily living; personal financial planning; transportation; vocational counseling; employment and training; education; assistance in obtaining veterans benefits and public benefits; assistance in obtaining income support; assistance in obtaining health insurance; fiduciary and representative payee; legal aid; child care; housing counseling; service coordination; and other services necessary for maintaining independent living. Supportive services may include services delivered to very low-income veteran families who are homeless and who are scheduled to become residents of permanent housing within 90 days; and services delivered to such families who have voluntarily chosen to seek other housing after a period of tenancy in permanent housing for a period of 90 days after exit, while the family transitions to the new housing.
4) “Veteran Family” includes a veteran who is a single person or a family (including families with children) whose head of house (or whose spouse) is a veteran.
5) “Very Low-Income Veteran Family” is a veteran family whose income does not exceed 50 percent of the median area income for the area. The Secretary may make adjustments for smaller and larger families, prevailing levels of construction costs or fair market rents, or unusually high or low family incomes.
6) Definitions are also provided for “consumer cooperative,” “homeless,” and “private nonprofit organization.”
HR 1197 IH 110th Congress
Prisoner of War Benefits Act of 2007
(Introduced in House)
HR 1197 IH
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1197
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide improved benefits for veterans who are former prisoners of war .
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 27, 2007
Mr. BILIRAKIS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide improved benefits for veterans who are former prisoners of war .
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Prisoner of War Benefits Act of 2007'.
SEC. 2. IMPROVED VETERANS' BENEFITS FOR FORMER PRISONERS OF WAR .
(a) Repeal of Minimum Period of Internment for Presumption of Service Connection for Certain Diseases- Subsection (b) of section 1112 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) by striking `; and' at the end of subparagraph (A) and inserting a period;
(B) by striking `a former prisoner of war --' and all that follows through `a disease specified in paragraph (2)' and inserting `a former prisoner of war , a disease specified in paragraph (2)'; and
(C) by striking subparagraph (B);
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking `(3) The diseases specified' and all that follows through `the following:'; and
(3) by redesignating the subparagraphs (A) through (M) following the matter stricken by paragraph (2) as subparagraphs (F) through (R), respectively, of paragraph (2).
(b) Additional Diseases Presumed To Be Service Connected- Paragraph (2) of section 1112(b) of such title, as amended by subsection (a)(3), is further amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:
`(S) Diabetes (type 2).
`(T) Osteoporosis.'.
(c) Authority for Administrative Determination of Presumption of Service Connection for Additional Diseases-
(1) ADMINISTRATIVE DETERMINATION- Section 1112 of title 38, United States Code, as amended by subsections (a) and (b), is further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
`(d)(1) Subsection (b) applies with respect to any disease (in addition to those specified in that subsection) that the Secretary determines in regulations prescribed under this subsection warrants a presumption of service-connection by reason of having positive association with the experience of being a prisoner of war .
`(2)(A) Whenever the Secretary determines, on the basis of sound medical and scientific evidence, that a positive association exists between (i) the experience of being a prisoner of war , and (ii) the occurrence of a disease in humans, the Secretary shall prescribe regulations providing that a presumption of service connection is warranted for that disease for the purposes of this section.
`(B) In making determinations for the purpose of this paragraph, the Secretary shall take into account (i) recommendations received by the Secretary from the Advisory Committee on Former Prisoners of War established under section 541 of this title, and (ii) all other sound medical and scientific information and analyses available to the Secretary. In evaluating any study for the purpose of making such determinations, the Secretary shall take into consideration whether the results are statistically significant, are capable of replication, and withstand peer review.
`(C) An association between the occurrence of a disease in humans and the experience of being a prisoner of war shall be considered to be positive for the purposes of this subsection if the credible evidence for the association is equal to or outweighs the credible evidence against the association.
`(3)(A) Not later than 60 days after the date on which the Secretary receives a recommendation from the Advisory Committee on Former Prisoners of War that a presumption of service connection be established under this subsection for any disease, the Secretary shall determine whether a presumption of service connection under this subsection is warranted for that disease. If the Secretary determines that such a presumption is warranted, the Secretary, not later than 60 days after making the determination, shall issue proposed regulations setting forth the Secretary's determination.
`(B) If the Secretary determines that a presumption of service connection is not warranted, the Secretary, not later than 60 days after making the determination, shall publish in the Federal Register a notice of that determination. The notice shall include an explanation of the scientific basis for that determination. If the disease already is included in regulations providing for a presumption of service connection, the Secretary, not later than 60 days after publication of the notice of a determination that the presumption is not warranted, shall issue proposed regulations removing the presumption for the disease.
`(C) Not later than 90 days after the date on which the Secretary issues any proposed regulations under this subsection, the Secretary shall issue final regulations. Such regulations shall be effective on the date of issuance.
`(4) Whenever a disease is removed from regulations prescribed under this section--
`(A) a veteran who was awarded compensation for such disease on the basis of the presumption provided in subsection (a) before the effective date of the removal shall continue to be entitled to receive compensation on that basis; and
`(B) a survivor of a veteran who was awarded dependency and indemnity compensation for the death of a veteran resulting from such disease on the basis of such presumption shall continue to be entitled to receive dependency and indemnity compensation on such basis.
`(5) The Secretary shall carry out this subsection in consultation with, and after taking into consideration the views of , the Advisory Committee on Former Prisoners of War established under section 541 of this title.'.
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT- Paragraph (1) of section 1112(b) of such title, as amended by subsection (a), is further amended by inserting `or prescribed under subsection (d)' after `a disease specified in paragraph (2)'.
POW/MIA Recognition Day Reaffirms Commitment to Nation's Missing
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Sept. 14, 2006 – As Americans pause today to observe POW/MIA Recognition Day tomorrow, teams of military and civilian experts will be excavating sites in Europe, South Korea, Solomon Islands, Alaska and Hawaii, looking for remains to help identify service members still missing from past wars.
Teams from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, based at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, will be on the job, working to provide the fullest possible accounting of America's missing and living up to their command's motto, "Until they are home."
Additional teams are preparing for similar missions next month in Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos,
said Maj. Brian DeSantis, a JPAC spokesman.
POW/MIA Recognition Day honors the sacrifices America's missing service members and their families have made for the country, Army Brig. Gen. Michael C. Flowers, JPAC's commander, told American Forces Press Service.
But the day also offers an important reminder that the United States is committed to bringing its fallen service members home so they can be returned to their families -- and it won't give up, no matter how long it takes or how difficult it might be, Flowers said.
The joint POW/MIA command is among four military organizations committed to accounting for about 88,000 U.S. service members missing from the nation's wars. They include about 78,000 missing from World War II, more than 8,100 from the Korean War, 1,801 from the Vietnam War and about 125 from the Cold War, Larry Greer, a spokesman for the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office here, said.
In addition, Navy Capt. Scott Speicher, a Gulf War pilot, remains missing since his plane was shot down in Iraq in January 1991.
Army Reserve Sgt. Keith "Matt" Maupin is the only U.S. service member missing in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Insurgents captured Maupin April 9, 2004, after his fuel convoy came under attack at Baghdad International Airport.
In addition to JPAC, the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office here, the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory in Rockville, Md., and the Life Sciences Equipment Laboratory in San Antonio, actively contribute to determining the fate of these service members and returning them home, Greer said.
Each service also has an office that works directly with families of the missing throughout the accounting process, however long it takes, he said.
Flowers said his command is committed to a mission that dates back to World War II and is now embodied in the U.S. military Code of Conduct. While most countries around the world bury their war dead where they fall, the United States promises its service members that it will do everything in its power to bring them home.
Working to fulfill that promise sends joint-service teams from JPAC to potential crash and burial sites around the world. "We go out worldwide to recover those who are missing or to find those who are missing so that families can have closure and so we can keep our promise to our soldiers and airmen and Marines and sailors that they will come home," Flowers said.
Once remains are repatriated to Hickam Air Force Base, experts at the command's Central Identification Laboratory -- the world's largest forensic anthropology lab -- use the most advanced science available to match them to a specific missing service member. New breakthroughs, including the use of mitochondrial DNA in investigations, is helping the staff make identifications once not considered possible.
So far, they've been able to successfully identify more than 1,000 missing from World War II, about 200 from the Korean War, 841 from the Vietnam War and 25 from the Cold War. Next week, JPAC expects to announce its first successful identification of a missing World War I service member, Greer said.
Flowers said the resolve demonstrated in making these identifications sends a strong message to the nation's military members. "They can rest assured that as they go out to fight our nation's conflicts, that no matter what happens to them, if they were to fall in battle and not be recovered by their comrades, that someone will continue to look for them and not rest until we can bring them home," he said.
Biographies:
Brig. Gen. Michael C. Flowers, USA
Related Sites:
Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command
Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office
S 71 IS 110th Congress
To amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize certain disabled former prisoners of war to use Department of Defense commissary and exchange stores.
(Introduced in Senate)
S 71 IS
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 71
To amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize certain disabled former prisoners of war to use Department of Defense commissary and exchange stores.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 4, 2007
Mr. REID (for Mr. INOUYE) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services
A BILL
To amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize certain disabled former prisoners of war to use Department of Defense commissary and exchange stores.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. USE OF COMMISSARY AND EXCHANGE STORES BY CERTAIN DISABLED FORMER PRISONERS OF WAR .
(a) IN GENERAL- Chapter 54 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1064 the following new section: `Sec. 1064a. Use of commissary and exchange stores by certain disabled former prisoners of war
`(a) IN GENERAL- Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, former prisoners of war described in subsection (b) may use commissary and exchange stores.
`(b) COVERED INDIVIDUALS- Subsection (a) applies to any former prisoner of war who--
`(1) separated from active duty in the armed forces under honorable conditions; and
`(2) has a service-connected disability rated by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs at 30 percent or more.
`(c) DEFINITIONS- In this section:
`(1) The term `former prisoner of war' has the meaning given that term in section 101(32) of title 38.
`(2) The term `service-connected' has the meaning given that term in section 101(16) of title 38.'.
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT- The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1064 the following new item:
`1064a. Use of commissary and exchange stores by certain disabled former prisoners of war .'.
Search for POWs, MIAs a search for honor
Donna Teresa Homefront Journal
The Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Recognition Day will take place Sept. 15.
The issue of our POWs and MIAs remain as powerful as ever. Thousands of POW/MIAs remain unaccounted for since World War I, to include our current conflict in Iraq. Many organizations remain committed in finding, retrieving and bringing home those left behind.
Organizations such as The Rolling Thunder, The American Legion Riders, National League of POW/MIA Families, POW/MIA Freedom Fighters, The Advocacy and Intelligence Index for POW-MIAs Inc. and others have admirably kept the issue of the POW/MIAs alive and have aggressively fought for legislation to make our government accountable for our missing servicemen.
One international group, The Vietnam Vets Motorcycle Club in Freedom (www.vnvmcfreedom.com) has joined in the effort to bring their comrades home. This group has been in existence for more than 20 years, led by Terry "Hutch" Hutchinson, who served in Vietnam in 1966-67 with the U.S. Army E-5, 25th Infantry Division, 12th Evac.
The passion that drives this group is more than personal, said Hutchinson. It's about brotherhood. "Our prime directive is to do everything within our power to bring our POW/MIA brothers home, and to insist that our government provide accountability for each of those patriots," he said. "Members of the Vietnam Vets MC continue to honor our solemn oath to defend and protect the constitution of the United States against all enemies both foreign and domestic."
The question of the fate of our POWs and MIAs deserves to be answered. It is offensive to the POW/MIA families that our country moves forward diplomatically with countries that have not been more forthcoming with answers, or have not allowed for a proper search to take place for missing Americans.
Those feelings are echoed by Hutchinson. "The POW/MIA issue is still important because there are still live POWs. Our government has, since WWII, left American soldiers in the enemy's hands. The American people can and should write their senator and congressman, imploring them to forget any political reasons and open negotiations with Vietnam as soon as possible.
"They can go to http://www.missingpresumeddead.com/ and read about the search for Roger Dumas, a Korea POW, by his brother Bob. It examines the neglect by this government of our POWs of WWII, Korea and Vietnam. If they are not involved before seeing the DVD of this story, they will be afterwards. Fly the POW/MIA flag and get others to do the same. We donate POW/MIA flags to businesses that will fly them."
The POW/MIA flag remains a thought-provoking symbol that has endured since 1971 thanks to Mrs. Michael Hoff, an MIA wife and member of the National League of Families. On March 8, 1989, an official flag flew over the White House and was installed in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda during the 100th Congress.
The search for POWs and MIAs is an unfinished promise of honor that these veteran groups owe to their missing comrades. It is an unspoken code to simply watch out for and take care of one another. This is not just about comradeship, or brotherhood, but something much deeper.
These veterans may not be related in blood, and they don't have to be. They have shared food, traded stories, fought side by side in battle. Some have died in each other's arms. Let's put aside where they come from, race, religion and political affiliation, because they never cared about that. They were and remain a family.
POWs and MIAs are not urban myths. To those who continue to believe in their return, whether alive or deceased, they will never be forgotten. They are Americans and they deserve to come home -- because no one leaves family behind.