[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 120 (Friday, September 20, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8971-S8978]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    NATIONAL POW/MIA RECOGNITION DAY

  Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, today is National POW/MIA Recognition Day.
  I rise on this special day to remember and honor those brave 
Americans who during past armed engagements in defense of this nation 
or our alliances were prisoners of war and those who are still listed 
missing in action. As a nation, we set aside this day to further 
recognize the sacrifices of the restless families of these fine 
patriots, assuring them that we have not forgotten.
  In the past year, our dedicated Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines 
have again taken up the mantle of freedom; this time to prosecute an 
elusive and dangerous enemy. They have ousted an oppressive regime in 
Afghanistan and continue to hunt those implicated in the war on 
terrorism. Like generations before them, these Americans have sworn an 
oath to support and defend the Constitution. As a former Navy officer, 
I feel strongly that the United States government has a similarly 
strong obligation to these men and women who serve in the Armed Forces. 
Specifically, we must work to ensure the return of POWs and MIAs at the 
end of hostilities. We must not rest until all American POW/MIAs are 
returned and accounted for, and the many questions that have 
overwhelmed their families are answered.
  The vigorous pursuit of this commitment must continue through on-site 
investigations being undertaken in Indochina and through a fuller 
examination of records in Russia, Iraq and Southeast Asia. For in our 
history, we recall somberly today that while thousands died, many 
others endured years in starved, tortured, isolated misery before 
regaining their freedom. Their perseverance, integrity and heroism are 
shining examples of the core values on which this nation was founded 
and became great.
  A year ago, Americans were sifting through smoldering rubble at the 
Pentagon and at the site of the twin towers looking for their comrades 
in arms. Those actions have ceased, but around the world, others 
continue to sift through long-silent war zones to find and identify 
remains of the fallen and the missing.
  The Department of Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office 
has had considerable successes in the past year, but we still have much 
to accomplish before our responsibility to all the POWs and MIAs is 
fulfilled. Just this year, we have identified the remains of 46 
Americans who served in the Vietnam War. Unfortunately, there are still 
1,907 unaccounted Americans who served in Vietnam. Also this year, 32 
Americans have been repatriated who served in the Korean War, while 
over 8,100 remain unaccounted for. And, through hard work and 
determination in the past year, the DPMO has recovered the remains of 
eight Americans who served in the Second World War. 78,750 Americans 
who served in World War II are as yet accounted.
  It is important to remember that this is a cooperative effort and 
requires commitments from all branches of our government as well as the 
countries where the servicemen remain missing. Negotiations in the past 
six years with North Korea have yielded many successes. One search 
operation continues even today in North Korea and a third and final 
operation for the year will begin on September 28, concluding October 
29.
  According to the Department of Defense, America has had 23 operations 
since 1996 to locate MIA's in North Korea. These missions are all 
possible because of cooperation and negotiation with North Korea. Let 
this cooperation be an example to all of what can be accomplished when 
we work together.
  Today, I want to pay special tribute to the dedication and service of 
the soldiers from my home State of Indiana who are or were POW/MIAs 
from the Vietnam War and the Korean War.
  These great Americans and their families have the gratitude of this 
free Nation. I urge the Senate, the administration, the Departments of 
Defense and State, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the National Security 
Agency to redouble their efforts to bring our soldiers home as quickly 
as possible. Let us all take heart from the POW/MIA flag, displayed in 
the Capitol rotunda, which proclaims: ``You Are Not Forgotten.''
  I ask unanimous consent that the names of Indiana's missing and 
unaccounted from the Korea and Vietnam Wars be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

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