Veterans of Foreign Wars POW/MIA GOALS The VFW will not rest until we achieve the fullest possible accounting of all missing American military service members from all wars. The VFW encourages the U.S. trips to Pacific, Asian and European government to continue its missing countries where they meet with 1 personnel accounting efforts, and is senior host country officials to directly engaged with former enemy stress the importance of conducting nations urging their fullest investigation and recovery cooperation and assistance in operations, as well as gaining access obtaining information about to documents and archival research American POWs/MIAs. VFW facilities. national officers make periodic VFW’s Stance on POW/MIA Issues 1. Never quit on achieving the fullest federal government buildings as a possible accounting of all American reminder that this issue is a matter of POWs/MIAs from all wars. national importance. 2. Urge Congress to fully fund the 6. Immediately drape all transfer requested amounts for the Defense cases containing recovered remains POW/MIA Accounting Agency and of military members with the U.S. flag all supporting agencies involved in the upon departure from foreign soil. Full Accounting Mission. 7. Solicit and provide information to 3. Encourage POW/MIA public assist the government of Vietnam in awareness projects and events. accounting for their own missing- 4. Support POW/MIA Recognition inaction during the war with the U.S Day. 8. Keep the U.S.-Russia Joint 5. Encourage the flying of the Commission on POW/MIAs intact in POW/MIA flag on all local, state and mission, personnel and funding. NEVER QUIT NEVER QUIT NEVER NEVER QUIT NEVER QUIT NEVER NEVER QUIT NEVER QUIT NEVER UNKNOWN NO LONGER UNKNOWN NO LONGER UNKNOWN NO LONGER UNKNOWN NO LONGER DNA Indentification UNKNOWN NO LONGER 2 Each human carries around a cellular dog tag called nuclear DNA—genetic material inherited in equal shares from a person’s mother and father at the moment of conception. It is unique to each individual and a sure-fire identifier. Law enforcement uses nuclear DNA to convict criminals, and military investigators use it to identify current battlefield and accident victims. Usually, this is done by comparing a known sample of the victim’s DNA to DNA taken from the bodily remains. But first there must be a sample on file. UNKNOWN NO LONGER UNKNOWN NO LONGER UNKNOWN NO LONGER UNKNOWN NO LONGER Fortunately, another kind of DNA—called mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)—is of great help in identifying older remains. This material is extremely abundant,with most bodily cells containing thousands of copies. With so muchmore mtDNA available, some of it almost always survives, no matter how old or degraded the remains (teeth and bones can be good sources). Scientists haveN evenNO LONG extractedER UNKNOW NmtDNANO LONGE RfromUNKNOWN a 100,000-year-oldNO LONGER cave man. Unlike nuclear DNA,Fortunately, mtDNA is another not kind ofremains. DNA—called Thanks mitochondrial to the mtDNA DNA (mtDNA)—is unique to the individualof greatin question. help in identifyingrepository, older remains. more This material than 1,000 is extremely families abun- For starters, only a fewdant, hundred with most bodily cellshave containing experienced thousands the of copies. bittersweet With so much more mtDNA available, some of it almost always survives, no matter how thousand different variationsold or degraded of the remainsclosure (teeth andof MIAbones identification. can be good sources). mtDNA exist among theScientists world’s have even extracted As mtDNA with nuclearfrom a 100,000-year-old DNA, however, cave man. billions of people. In addition, mtDNA comes into play only after mtDNA comes solely Unlikefrom anuclear person’s DNA, mtDNAother is not meansremains. have Thanksbeen used to the to mtDNA unique to the individual in question. repository, more than 1,000 fami- mother, and it is sharedFor by starters, all only a few hundrednarrow thelies identity have experienced possibilities. the bitter- maternal relatives, whichthousand means different variations Perhaps of investigatorssweet closure of know MIA identification. that siblings as well asmtDNA maternal exist among the world’swhich unit (andAs with therefore nuclear DNA,which however, billions of people. In addition, mtDNA comes into play only after aunts, uncles and cousinsmtDNA have comes solely fromindividuals) a per- other was means in an have area been at the used to identical mtDNA. Consequently,son’s mother, and it is sharedtime by of all a battle.narrow Or, the inidentity the case possibilities. of a mtDNA is not a precisematernal identifier relatives, which meanscrashed plane,Perhaps there investigators may be a knowroster and would be worthlessthat in siblings a criminal as well as maternalof crew members.which unit Or (and dog therefore tags which aunts, uncles and cousins have individuals) was in an area at the 3 case. But this apparentidentical shortcoming mtDNA. Consequently,or personaltime effects of a battle. might Or, be in foundthe case of a also is mtDNA’s greatestmtDNA asset. is not a precise identifiernear the remains.crashed plane,With there the listmay of be a ros- Since 1992, investigatorsand would have be worthless inpossibilities a crimi- ter sufficiently of crew members. narrowed, Or dog tags nal case. But this apparent short- or personal effects might be found been collecting mtDNAcoming from also the is mtDNA’s greatestinvestigatorsnear can the thenremains. use With a relative’s the list of 3 maternal relatives of MIAsasset. and mtDNA to posconfirmsibilities (forsufficiently all narrowed, using these samples to identifySince 1992, investigatorspractical have purposes)investigators can then use a rela- been collecting mtDNA from the tive’s mtDNA to confirm (for all maternal relatives of MIAs and practical purposes) the identity of using these samples to identify the remains. Maternal Relatives Needed Maternal To Donate DNA Samples Grandmother Maternal Relatives Needed The Defense POW/MIATo Donate Accounting DNA Samples Agency (DPAA) wants blood. Specifically, it is seeking Aunt Mother Uncle The Pentagon’s POW/Missing Person- blood samples from maternalnel Office (DP relativesMO) wants of blood. missing Spec- GIs to perform DNA ificallymatching, it is seeking tests. blood DPAA samples from Cousin Cousin Missing Sister Brother officials say VFW membersmaternal relatives can beof missinga big GIshelp to per- form DNA matching tests. DPMO offi- in this endeavor. If youcials are say or VFW know members of a canfamily be a big member who is eligiblehelp toin thisgive endeavor. blood If foryou areDNA or know 2nd Cousin 2nd Cousin Niece Nephew matching, contact yourof a respectivefamily member military who is eligible to give blood for DNA matching, contact service Casualty AssistanceDPMO at (703)Office 699-1101 at http:// or visit them Great Great Niece Nephew online at www.dtic.mil/dpmo. www.dpaa.mil/Families/ContactInformation. Only relatives along female blood lines can aspx, or by calling: donate. Army, 1-800-892-2490; Air Force, 1-800-531-5501; Marine Corps, 1-800-847-1597; or the U.S. State Department at 1-202- Navy, 1-800-443-9298; 647-5470. United States Code, Title 36, Section 902 POW/MIA FLAG DISPLAY 4 The display of the POW/MIA flag shall serve as the symbol of the nation’s concern and commitment to achieving the fullest possible accounting of Americans who, having been prisoners of war or missing in action, still remain unaccounted for — or in the future may become prisoners of war, missing in action or otherwise unaccounted for as a result of hostile action. YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN When and Where the POW/MIA Flag is Displayed The POW/MIA flag is displayed at selected federal facilities on six designated days: Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, National POW/MIA Recognition Day and Veterans Day. Order of Precedence in the Display The federal facilities are the of the POW/MIA Flag Capitol; the White House; the World All flags flying on the same pole with War II Memorial; the Korean War the U.S. flag will be subordinate to Veterans Memorial; the Vietnam the U.S. flag. The question frequently Veterans Memorial; each national arises about what flag (POW/MIA, cemetery; the buildings containing state, organization, etc.) has the official office of the secretaries precedence to be flown directly of State, Defense, Veterans Affairs beneath the U.S. flag and above and the Director of the Selective any other flag. There is no definitive Service System; each major military answer or protocol established in installation, as designated by the writing or codified in law. 5 Secretary of Defense; each medical It is VFW protocol, since the center of the Department of Veterans POW/MIA flag is considered a Affairs; and each U.S. Postal Service federal banner, that the POW/MIA post office. In the case of display at flag has precedence over all other A medical centers, the World War II flags flying on the same pole beneath Memorial, the Korean War Veterans the U.S. flag. In a line of march, the Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans POW/MIA flag is carried to the Memorial, the POW/MIA flag will be immediate left of the U.S. flag. VFW displayed any day on which the views the POW/MIA issue as a U.S. flag is displayed; in the case of matter of national importance first, display at U.S. Postal Service post thereby giving the POW/MIA flag a offices, if any of the six designated position of prominence. days are not on a business day, the flag will be flown on the last business day before the designated day. The Prisoner of War Medal was created by Public Law 99- 145 in 1985. Any U.S.