National Pow/Mia Recognition Day

Floor Speech

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Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, as Americans who value the freedoms protected by our country's servicemembers, we must meet our responsibility to those who sacrificed so much for our country. To do this, we must continue to seek answers for families of America's prisoners of war, POWs, and missing in action, MIA.

In honor of the observation of National POW/MIA Recognition Day this September 16, 2022, I join in raising awareness about the more than 81,500 Americans the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, DPAA, reports remain missing from past conflicts. Thank you to the members of the POW*MIA Awareness Rally Corp. of Pocatello, ID, and others across our country for keeping a spotlight on the need to bring all missing American servicemembers home.

Roughly 360 servicemembers from Idaho are among those who remain missing. The vast majority, 328, of Idaho's missing servicemembers were lost during their service in World War II, while 23 Idahoans were lost serving in the Korean War, and one Idahoan was lost during service in the Cold War.

The remaining eight Idahoans went missing while serving in the Vietnam war. Some years ago, then-POW*MIA Awareness Corp. director Hiedi Young shared biographies she prepared of those eight Idahoans at a rally I attended. The biographies are a thoughtful reminder of the ongoing price of our freedom, and I share them here again today to highlight the ever-growing need to bring them and their fellow servicemembers home. It has now been more than 50 years since these Idahoans were lost in service to our country.

Lieutenant Roderick L. Mayer, United States Navy of Lewiston, has been missing since October 17, 1965, in North Vietnam. Lt. Mayer was a pilot of a fighter jet that was shot down. He and his co-pilot ejected from their aircraft. Based on testimony of his co-pilot, it is believed that he ``died of severe wounds from ejection.'' Status: ``Presumptive Finding of Death, Body Not Recovered.''

Ensign Hal T. Hollingsworth, United States Navy of Grace, has been missing since January 16, 1966, in South Vietnam. Hollingsworth was the co-pilot of an aircraft that while airborne had mechanical difficulties and crashed at sea. Status: ``Killed in Action, Body Not Recovered.''

Staff Sargent William B. Hunt, United States Army of Sandpoint, has been missing since November 4, 1966, in South Vietnam. Hunt was lifted into battle to help evacuate wounded. He voluntarily left the aircraft to help reinforce remaining troops on the ground. The Viet Cong attacked the position the unit was maintaining and after 2 days of heavy fighting Hunt was gravely wounded. Status: ``Presumptive Finding of Death, Body Not Recovered.''

Captain Curtis R. Bohlscheid, United States Marine Corps of Pocatello, has been missing since June 11, 1967, in South Vietnam. Bohlscheid was the pilot of a helicopter which crashed into a steep ravine on a mission to insert a seven- man Marine Force Recon team on the battlefield. Status: ``Killed in Action, Body Not Recovered''

First Lieutenant William E. Lemmons, United States Army of Pocatello, has been missing since June 18, 1967, in South Vietnam. Lemmons was aboard a helicopter on a visual recon mission. The helicopter was declared missing and after extensive searches no trace of the aircraft or its crew was found. Status: ``Missing in Action.''

Captain Jon K. Bodahl, United States Air Force of Boise, has been missing since November 12, 1969, in Laos. Bodahl was the pilot of an aircraft on a recovery mission that was shot down. His aircraft was found during search and rescue operations, but there was no trace of him. Status: ``Missing in Action.''

Warrant Officer Jon M. Sparks, United States Army of Carey, has been missing since March 19, 1971, in Laos. Sparks was the co-pilot of a helicopter covering a downed helicopter during a rescue effort. The aircraft was shot down and due to heavy fire a search and rescue mission could not be conducted. It is unknown what his fate was. Status: ``Missing in Action''

Captain Gregg N. Hollinger, United States Army of Paul, has been missing since December 14, 1971, in South Vietnam. Hollinger was on an administrative mission aboard an aircraft that experienced an in-flight emergency and lost contact with ground control. Extensive searches were conducted for the next three days, over water and the adjacent shore area, but no trace of the aircraft or personnel was ever found. It was later determined the aircraft was lost at sea and the crew and passengers died. Status: ``Killed in Action, Body Not Recovered.''

My prayers are with their families as the challenging work continues to get needed answers and bring our country's servicemembers home. The POW/MIA Accounting community's 2022 poster commemorating National POW/ MIA Recognition Day simply states, ``THEIR Sacrifice/OUR Pledge.'' Yes, America's responsibility to our servicemembers must be met. May presumptions be replaced with facts, as our country's bravest are brought home to the families and communities who love them and long for their return.

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