I am writing today in hopes that a terrible wrong will be corrected during your administration.
As an American Citizen I want to express my concerns over the lack of movement in the Vietnam POW/MIA accountability issue. It has been ongoing for more that 25 years and I as well as other concerned American Citizens think it is time to demand an accounting of the Vietnamese Government for our missing American personnel.
On May 18, 1967 one particular American Soldier, SSG JOE LYNN DELONG, Serial Number 409847790, went missing in action during a patrol in Rotanokiri Province, Cambodia. Reports state that DeLong was captured by the Viet Cong. Subsequent to DeLong's dissapperance, it was related by returning POW's in 1973 that they were detained in a prison camp for a time with DeLong. In November, 1967 they were told by their captors that DeLong was killed resisting recapture during an attempted escape. They were shown his bullet-ridden and blood-soaked trousers yet, these POW's never saw any remains and no remains have been returned to the United States.
Since the United State's involvement in Southeast Asia ended in 1973, there have been thousands of reports relating to American prisoners, missing in action and personnel unaccounted for. The official policy to date is that no conclusive proof has been obtained that is current enough to act upon. Detractors of this policy say conclusive proof is in hand but the willingness or ability to rescue these prisoners does not exist.
Joe, if by some miracle is one of thoses hundreds said to be still alive and in captivity must be wondering why his country has abandoned him and if and when someone will return for him. And what about his family? Don't they deserve to know the fate of their son, brother, friend? When the next war comes and it is your child or grandchild lost will you then care enough to do everything you can to bring him home?
This is an American soldier who has been on the MIA list for 30 years. If Joe was killed on that fateful day in 1967 doesn't his devotion to his country award him the privilidge and honor of being buried in his homeland.
Please advise me of any action that is being taken by you or any other elected or appointed official to determine the fate of SSG Joe Lynn DeLong.
In the event that nothing is being done, or has been done, please explain why not and let me know what you personally plan to do about this brave, unfortunate soldier who was left behind.
Sincerely,
Cindi
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