03/28/1995 08:10 AM House STA

 HSTA - 03/28/95                                                              
 HJR 9 - SUIT RE POWS & MIAS AGAINST U.S. & OTHERS                            
                                                                               
 Number 660                                                                    
                                                                               
 GARY TYNDALL testified via teleconference from Fairbanks in                   
 support of HJR 9, noting similar resolutions had been passed or               
 introduced in 37 states.  Alaska has the highest percentage of                
 veterans of any state.  During the Vietnam peace talks in 1973,               
 Alaska presented the North Vietnamese with a list of over 3,700               
 names of people known or suspected of being alive in enemy hands.             
 We got back 591 of those people.  Three weeks later, the                      
 remaining 3,100 were declared officially dead, just written off               
 and abandoned, with no explanation to the families.  Within the               
 last few years, individuals within our government have admitted               
 they knew some men were left behind alive and have proof of                   
 sightings; some were used as bargaining chips.  They should not               
 be declared dead just for the convenience of the government and               
 then abandoned.                                                               
                                                                               
 TAPE 95-37, SIDE A                                                            
 Number 000                                                                    
                                                                               
 MR. TYNDALL continued, HJR 9 signals Alaska's willingness to join             
 with other states in petitioning to bring our men home.                       
                                                                               
 WILLIAM FREDERICK testified via teleconference in Fairbanks in                
 support of HJR 9, stating he was past commander of American                   
 Legion Post 1 in Anchorage, currently commander V.F.W. Post 10029             
 in North Pole, and a Vietnam veteran.  He stated at least                     
 families of deceased veterans have the solace of knowing their                
 loved ones are accounted for.  The Missing in Action (MIAs)                   
 families have had no such comfort for 20 years.  He urged the                 
 passage of HJR 9.                                                             
                                                                               
 TOM GOGGINS testified via teleconference in Fairbanks in support              
 of HJR 9, saying he had served during World War II and also in                
 Korea.  He believes Americans have a duty to do all we can to                 
 recover the missing people.  It is on his mind each and every day             
 of his life.                                                                  
                                                                               
 Number 128                                                                    
                                                                               
 ART GRISWOLD testified via teleconference in Fairbanks in support             
 of HJR 9.  As a Korean veteran, he believes we must get behind                
 this resolution because these men have given the ultimate for                 
 their country.                                                                
                                                                               
 Number 148                                                                    
                                                                               
 CHAIR JAMES reminded listeners they could also send written                   
 testimony to the committee.                                                   
                                                                               
 Number 173                                                                    
                                                                               
 DEE FIELDS testified via teleconference in Fairbanks in support               
 of HJR 9, saying she is a proud member of the Alaska Independence             
 Party and it is time we resolve this issue and get our Prisoners              
 of War (POWs) and MIAs back from Vietnam.                                     
                                                                               
 LADD MCBRIDE testified via teleconference in Fairbanks in support             
 of HJR 9, stating he is a Korean veteran and just retired from                
 the military in 1992.  He is sorry Alaska is not in the forefront             
 on this issue because Alaska has the highest military population              
 ratio in the United States.  He is also chair of the Interior                 
 Alaska Veterans Committee which unanimously supports HJR 9.                   
                                                                               
 Number 203                                                                    
                                                                               
 JACK HETHERTON testified via teleconference from Kenai in favor               
 of HJR 9 on behalf of VFW Post 10046, of which he is Commander,               
 and on behalf of the two Alaskans still listed as missing in                  
 action.  Soldiers missing in action are too often declared dead               
 for political expediency.  This has to be the ultimate shame of               
 our country.  As a combat Vietnam veteran, there has not been a               
 day gone by in the past 25 years when he has not thought about                
 his abandoned comrades.  He carries a great shame in his heart                
 where there should be pride.  HJR 9 asks our country to honor a               
 sacred duty to our veterans.                                                  
                                                                               
 Number 250                                                                    
                                                                               
 NANCY GOURLEY testified via teleconference from Kenai in support              
 of HJR 9, stating she is a family member of a man who has been                
 missing in action from Vietnam since November 18, 1971.  In                   
 addition, her uncle has been missing from Korea since July 5,                 
 1950.  She is keenly involved and interested in this issue.  She              
 had an investigation into her brother's crash site, but the                   
 information she received was very suspicious and questionable.                
 The family has had no resolution from the Central Intelligence                
 Agency (CIA), Department of Defense (DOD), State Department,                  
 National Security Council, National Security Agency, seven                    
 congressional investigations, or from Alaska's congressional                  
 delegation, and they feel like this resolution is their last                  
 hope.  Everybody agrees on just one point:  There were live men               
 left behind.  She asked where are they now, and why aren't they               
 home.                                                                         
                                                                               
 Number 296                                                                    
                                                                               
 CHAIR JAMES stated Alaska has two service men missing and                     
 unaccounted for in Southeast Asia, Thomas E. Anderson, USMF, from             
 Spenard and Howard M. Koslowski, US Navy, from Anchorage.                     
                                                                               
 Number 313                                                                    
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE WILLIS moved and asked unanimous consent that HJR
 be moved out of committee.  There was no objection; the                     
 resolution was moved.                                                         
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE GREEN asked if this resolution was the "last shot"             
 at recovering the MIAs and POWs.  He wondered if there was any                
 way to negotiate, or if filing suit was our last resort.                      
                                                                               
 CHAIR JAMES responded yes, this was our last resort.  The                     
 movement started in Michigan, where a way was found to go                     
 directly to the Supreme Court on behalf of the POWs and MIAs.                 
 Previously, any court action could only be taken by the person                
 himself; not even relatives were allowed.  But Alaska as a state              
 can do it for our residents and go directly to the Supreme Court,             
 and she hopes all the states will join in and do the same thing.              
                                                                               
 REPRESENTATIVE ROBINSON noted it is not just the existing                     
 President but the last several, for the last twenty years at                  
 least, who have failed to deal with this issue.