Socialist Republic of Vietnam

U.S. Ambassador Michael W. Marine thanked the Vietnamese government for assistance in searching for remains of U.S. soldiers listed as missing in action in the Vietnam War, the Vietnam News Agency said Sunday.

The news agency quoted the U.S. ambassador to Vietnam as saying that the cooperation offered by local people was instrumental in the success of the joint- search team.

Ambassador Marine made the statement while heading to the central provinces of Nghe An and Ha Tinh to witness the excavation and return of the remains reputed to be those of missing U.S. servicemen.

When the joint task force discovers remains, it sends them to Hawaii for forensic examination and, if possible, identification.

Up to May of this year, the U.S. and Vietnam have conducted 93 joint-search missions for MIA’s, resulting in the recovery of 822 remains. They have identified and delivered more than 500 U.S. military personnel remains to their families.

Nearly 2,000 U.S. servicemen are still listed as missing in action from the conflict in southeast Asia, most of them in Vietnam, CNN reported. Almost all U.S. personnel lost in North Vietnam were aircrew members on bombing missions during the war, it added.

(Source: Vietnam News Agency – Compiled by M. G – Translated by Tran Phong )
Story from Thanh Nien News
Published: 07 November, 2004, 23:47:28 (GMT+7)
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