National Amvet Volume 1 - January 2020 POW/MIA Commitee

MISSION STATEMENT “You are not forgotten’ is a promise, and commitment, made by Amvets and their subordinate organizations to our POWs, MIAs, and their loved ones.

CHAIRMEN’S COMMENTS - JOSEPH E. GROHS JR. JR. The National AMVET POW-MIA YOU - GUARDIAN OF OUR Newsletter is an interactive FREEDOM POW-MIA newsletter, all AMVETS and Subordinate Organizations are YOU - COMMITTEE requested to share input and Cha irman J o seph E. ideals. POWs-MIAs are not just YOU - MISSING IN ACTION Grohs Jr. (MO) apart of our past history but are part of the ongoing War of YOU - THEY HAVE A NAME Vice Chairman PDC Allen Terriorism. AND FAMILY Baggett (FL)

“You Are Not Forgotten” is so YOU - THEY HAVE A STORY Edward Stracka (WV) much more than words, a hat, OF COURAGE AND HONOR Rob Quick (MO) bumper sticker, or T-shirt. While A STORY NOT HEARD IS TO BE we can debate the rights and FORGOTTEN Sons of AMVETS Michael wrongs of war, what we cannot McDarrah (IN) debate are the sacrifice made by YOU ARE NOT these Americans who went into AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary harms way for each of us. FORGOTTEN PNP Evelyn R. McElvin (FL)

Newsletter Editor Pat Kessler (MO)

Ex-Officio (Non-Voting Members)

Jan Brown National Commander

PNC Jim King National Judge Advocate Staff Liaison

Harry Neal National Membership Director

NATIONAL AMVETS POW/MIA COMMITTEE NEWSLETTER

DPAA FAMILY UPDATES

Please feel free to send us an inquiry about the Department of 2020 Family Update Schedule* Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency’s efforts to account for Date Location missing Americans who are unaccounted for from past conflicts dating back to World War II. November 2 San Juan, PR January 25 Las Vegas, NV Note for Families: If you have questions pertaining to your February 22 Portland, OR unaccounted for loved one, please ensure you are in contact with the March 21 Miami, FL respective Casualty Officer. Your service casualty officer is your April 18 Little Rock, AR primary point of contact for updated information on your loved one. May 16 Chicago, IL The Family Updates are tailored to meet the needs of June 24-27 Washington, D.C.** attendees representing losses from all conflicts. July 30-31 Washington, D.C.*** September 12 Colorado Springs, CO Please register early so that analysts may prepare to discuss * Family Member Updates are tentative and subject your specific cases. to change

Up to eight times a year, government officials meet with MIA ** The Annual Government Briefings held in conjunction with the National League of family members who live within a 350-mile radius of major POW/MIA Families Annual Meeting metropolitan areas across the country. These meetings are *** The Korean and Cold War Annual Government designed to address the individual needs of the family members Briefings while bringing information to their communities. Government officials also meet one-on-one with family members to discuss the details of each of their cases. About 150-200 family members and 30 government officials attend each meeting. Please contact us at the address below if you wish to provide information about an American missing in action from any conflict, or have an inquiry about MIAs:

Contact Public Affairs Office to Register

Public Affairs Office Washington, D.C. 2300 Defense Pentagon Attn: External Affairs Washington D.C. 20301-23

NATIONAL AMVETS POW/MIA COMMITTEE NEWSLETTER

The Family Updates are When a MIA is repatriated in tailored to meet the needs of your area you can provide attendees representing losses support working with the from all conflicts. Please Funeral involved in the register early so that analysts service and outreach to the may prepare to discuss your family and community, specific cases.

Please, share with the Please submit how your post Newsletter how your AMVET gives tribute to the newsletter

Post honors our POW_MIA, Chairman their families and loved ones. Joe E Grohs, Jr (MO) Several local AMVET Post have 1304 Alexander Dr, Festus, MO 63028 a POW_MIA committee which Page 2 314-420-0579 (Cell) plans POW-MIA services and [email protected] events.

NATIONAL AMVETS POW/MIA COMMITTEE NEWSLETTER

BY THE NUMBERS 126 American service members are unaccounted for from 14 Cold War missions.

• April 8, 1950, a U.S. Navy PB4Y2 Privateer aircraft flying out of Wiesbaden, Germany, was shot down by Soviet fighters over the Baltic Sea. The entire crew of 10 . § Nov. 6, 1951, a U.S. Navy P2V Neptune aircraft was shot down over the Sea of Japan. The entire crew of 10 § June 13, 1952, a U.S. Air Force RB-29 aircraft stationed at Yokota Air Base, Japan, was shot down over the Sea of Japan. The entire crew of 12 § Oct. 7, 1952, a U.S. Air Force RB-29 aircraft stationed at Yokota Air Base, Japan was shot down north of Hokkaido Island, Japan. Of the eight crewmen on board, seven remain unaccounted for. § Nov. 28, 1952, a civilian C-47 aircraft flying over China was shot down, and one American civilian remains § Jan. 18, 1953, a U.S. Navy P2V aircraft with 13 crewmen aboard was shot down by the Chinese, in the Formosa Straits. Six crew members remain unaccounted for. § July 29, 1953, a U.S. Air Force RB-50 aircraft stationed at Yokota Air Base, Japan, was shot down over the Sea of Japan. Of the 17 crew members on board, 14 remain unaccounted for. § May 6, 1954, a C-119 aircraft flying over Northern Vietnam was shot down. One of the two Americans onboard remains unaccounted for. § April 17, 1955, a U.S. Air Force RB-47 aircraft based at Eielson Air Base, Alaska, was shot down near the southern point of Kamchatka, Russia. The entire crew of three remains unaccounted for. § Aug. 22, 1956, a U.S. Navy P4M aircraft was shot down off the coast of China. Of the 16 crew members on board, 12 remain unaccounted for. § Sept. 10, 1956, a U.S. Air Force RB-50 aircraft based at Yokota Air Base, Japan, with a crew of 16, § July 1, 1960, a U.S. Air Force RB-47 aircraft stationed at RAF Brize Norton, England, was shot down over the Barents Sea. Of the six crew members on board, three remain unaccounted for. § Dec. 14, 1965, a U.S. Air Force RB-57 aircraft was lost over the Black Sea, flying out of Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. The entire crew of two remains unaccounted for. § April 15, 1969, a U.S. Navy EC-121 aircraft was shot down by North Korean fighters. Of the 31 men on board, 29 remain unaccounted for.

NATIONAL AMVETS POW/MIA COMMITTEE NEWSLETTER

BOOK REVIEW

Picture yourself locked “in a dimly lit, windowless concrete box, approximately nine feet long by four feet wide,” with a bamboo mat and a bucket, one or both of your ankles locked in irons, left there like a caged animal. Now imagine spending years there, alone—the isolation.

DEFIANT reveals an astonishing story of hope, survival, and honor in America and in the prisons of North Vietnam, and it is a story of triumph in the darkest of circumstances. DEFIANT is not an easy book to read it is difficult and painful as DEFIANT shares the endless torture these men endured.

Hundreds of brave Americans were held captive during the Vietnam War. From those, the North Vietnamese singled out eleven of the worst - the ringleaders, diehard resistors, and escape artists. They exiled them to an isolated prison the POWs named Alcatraz for the loneliness, suffering, and torture they endured there. As these POWs valiantly waged war from their tomb-like cells, the defiance, resilience, and unity of the "Alcatraz Eleven" became legend.

When the survivors of Alcatraz finally came home, one would go on to receive the Medal of Honor, another would become a U.S. Senator, and a third still serves in the U.S. Congress. Ron Storz, who had now been in solitary for four years was the only one who wouldn’t make it back. He died in captivity.

These are the words an American airman had scratched in the walls of Hoa Lo Prison " Freedom has a taste to those who fight and almost die that the protected will never

These eleven POWs were: George Thomas Coker, USN; , USN; Harry Jenkins, USN; , USAF; George McKnight, USAF; James Mulligan, USN; Howard Rutledge, USN; Robert Shumaker, USN; , USN; Ronald Storz, USAF; and Nels Tanner Us. DRAWING OF ALCATRAZ ELEVEN

All the prisoners except Storz were moved to other prisons in December 1969. Storz, debilitated from sickness and untreated injuries, was left behind and died in captivity.

Please share will the newsletter books you have read and a brief outline about the book. There are so many outstanding books about our POW-MIA, and their families and love ones.

Chairman Joe E Grohs, Jr (MO) 1304 Alexander Dr Festus, MO 63028 314-420-0579 (Cell) [email protected]

NATIONAL AMVETS POW/MIA COMMITTEE NEWSLETTER

TRIBUTE TO OUR POW-MIA

The Table Cloth is White – symbolizing the purity of their intentions to respond to their country’s call to arms Remember.

The Single Rose – displayed in the vase reminds us the families and friends awaiting their return. Remember.

The Red Ribbon – tied prominently on the vase reminds us of the red ribbons worn on the lapels and among us tonight. Remember.

The Place Setting – single, alone no friends or family to dine with. A slice of Lemon – reminds us of their bitter fate. Remember.

Salt Sprinkled – on the plate reminds us of the countless fallen tears of families as they wait Remember.

The Glass is Inverted – they cannot toast with us this night. Remember.

The Chair is Empty – they are not here. Remember

The Candle – reminiscent of the light of hope which lives in our hearts to light the way home: from their captors to the open arms of a grateful nation. Remember! -- All of you who served with them and called them comrades Remember! -- Until the day they come home, Remember

NATIONAL AMVETS POW/MIA COMMITTEE NEWSLETTER

RECOGNITION DAYS

NATIONAL POW/MIA RECOGNITION DAY In the United States, the third Friday in September [9-18-2020] honors National POW/MIA Recognition Day. Each year since 1989, a presidential proclamation brings the nation together to remember and honor the members of the Armed Forces who remain missing in action or are prisoners of war. The day serves as a call to action, reminding the nation to rededicate our efforts. We’re responsible for bringing of patriot’s home and for caring for our military families awaiting word of their loved ones.

NATIONAL FORMER PRISONER OF WAR RECOGNITION DAY National Former Prisoners of War Recognition Day on April 9 honors the courageous men and women who have endured brutal treatment at the hands of their captors, separation from family and displayed incredible endurance and faith during their captivity.

On this day in 1942, the largest number of U.S. Forces were captured by Japanese troops in the Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines.

These heroes deserve a day of recognition. An annual presidential proclamation is signed for National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day and government officials, veterans, civic and private organizations observe the day with ceremonies and events. Some states require the POW/MIA flag to be flown in this day.