Case Addresses International Conference on America's MIAs

Case addresses international conference on America's MIAs

He says significant progress is being made on MIA cases dating back to WWII and asks for continued cooperation
August 11, 2004

Honolulu, Hawaii - Congressman Ed Case tonight urged the representatives of five Asian nations meeting in Honolulu this week for continued cooperation and support of U.S. efforts to locate and repatriate the remains of Americans still missing and unaccounted for from World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

"The search for 88,000 of our fellow Americans missing from our military conflicts dating back to World War II is of the highest national priority for our country. It is a mission that has seen solid momentum in recent weeks while fostering international cooperation among nations committed to a singular humanitarian cause," said Case in a keynote speech Wednesday night (August 11, 2004) to representatives attending an international conference co-sponsored by the U.S. Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) and the Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies (APCSS) in Honolulu.

"This conference is a breakthrough because it brings together representatives from the participating nations of Cambodia, Burma, Laos, Vietnam, Russia and the United States to learn about and discuss on a grassroots level our nation's commitment to finding those missing in action," said Case to a conference dinner at Hickam Air Force Base's Sea Breeze Restaurant.

Case told the international representatives that significant progress has been made in this effort over recent years. He said developments within the last two weeks help demonstrate how "the will of nations and growing international cooperation" is helping to find America's MIAs:

On July 28th, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for POW/Missing Personnel Affairs Jerry Jennings announced that U.S. accounting operations have received permission to return to the Central Highlands of Vietnam where the remains of 110 of the 1,855 Americans still missing from the Vietnam War are believed to lie. U.S. and Vietnamese experts next month will meet in Pleiku, Vietnam to review cases and interview witnesses to begin the operation.

On July 30th, senior leaders from the United States, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam concluded a meeting in Siem Reap, Cambodia by agreeing to intensify future cooperation on losses in the border areas of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. It was the second time in two years that the four nations had come together to hold such a meeting since the end of the war in 1975.

On August 6th in Washington, D.C., the Pentagon announced that the remains of Chief Master Sergeant Luther L. Rose of Howe, Texas, a serviceman missing in action from the Vietnam War, were returned to his family for burial with full military honors, resulting from the joint efforts of officials from the United States and Laos.

On August 6th in Honolulu, the remains of two American soldiers killed during the Korean War more than 50 years ago arrived for positive identification by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command's Central Identification Laboratory, headquartered here in Hawaii.

"We in Hawaii have also seen our share of family and friends who are unaccounted for-including 12 from the Vietnam War and 73 from the Korean War," said Case.

"As a member of Congress, I have personally heard from several of my constituents about this issue. One of these individuals is Ms. Michie Sasaki of Lihue, Kauai, whose brother, Private First Class Takeshi Sasaki, was reported missing in action on April 25, 1951 during the Korean War. The Sasaki family is one of thousands across our country who long for simple resolution, the hope for which would dim but for the commitment your countries have shown by being present here today.

"Their search-our search-is a purely humanitarian mission that is crucial to all Americans and all of our government. It would not be possible without your assistance and cooperation, for which all Americans are deeply grateful."

The DPMO oversees the investigation and recovery of Americans missing in action from all wars. The conference, which concludes tomorrow, is being held at the APCSS, a regional center in Honolulu whose mission is to enhance cooperation and build relationships through mutual understanding and study of comprehensive security issues among military and civilian representatives of the United States and other Asia-Pacific nations.

Contact: Esther Kia'aina 202-225-4906 (Washington, D.C.)
Randy Obata, 808-541-1986 (Honolulu)
Release Number: 2004-61