JPAC teams search for missing in action (MIA)
Americans from Vietnam War
Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command
Public Affairs Office
(808) 448-1934
www.jpac.pacom.mil
Pao_mail@jpac.pacom.mil
Contact: Elizabeth Feeney
May 23, 2011
Release # 11-11
~ NEWS RELEASE ~
POW/MIA RECOVERY & INVESTIGATION TEAMS SEARCH FOR MISSING AMERICANS
JPAC teams search for missing in action (MIA) Americans from Vietnam War
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii (May 23, 2011) - Several archeological recovery teams and investigation teams from the U.S. Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) recently deployed to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam searching for MIA's from the Vietnam War.
About 60 JPAC team members deployed to account for Americans that have been missing for more than 40 years. Recovery teams will search for human remains, life support items, and other material evidence (personal and military issued items) that may further the identification of Americans missing from past U.S. conflicts. Investigation teams will authenticate leads from eyewitnesses, conduct field research, and gather information throughout the various provinces to determine whether or not there will be a return visit for excavation at a later date.
Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Five JPAC teams will investigate and excavate multiple sites associated with Vietnam War losses. Three recovery teams will search in the Hue, Quang Tri, Quang Binh and Thanh Hoa provinces at burial and underwater sites where 13 Americans may have perished. Two investigation teams will research 27 unsolved cases, both on land and underwater. The teams will authenticate eyewitness leads and conduct field research, searching for information on 43 missing individuals. The approximately 40-day long undertaking marks the 103rd Joint Field Activity in Vietnam.
Falling directly under the U.S. Pacific Command, JPAC is a jointly-manned organization of more than 400 military and civilian specialists that has investigated and recovered missing Americans since the 1970's. To date, more than 83,000 individuals are listed as missing in action dating back to World War II.
The ultimate goal of the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, and of the agencies involved in returning America's heroes home, is to achieve the fullest possible accounting of Americans lost during the nation's past conflicts.
"Until They Are Home"
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