Submitted by Steve Golding
"The Truth is Incontrovertible.
Malice May Attack It.
Ignorance May Deride It.
But, In The End. . .
There It Is!"
- Winston Churchill
Opening of the 12th Annual NAF Forum
Lynn called the meeting to order, welcoming everyone to the Twelfth Annual POW/MIA Forum hosted by the National Alliance of Families for the Return of America's Missing Servicemen ("NAF"). Lynn outlined the schedule for the evening session. [Former POW] Red McDaniel's son, Michael McDaniel ("our good luck charm") would give the opening benediction and prayer. Dolores Apodaca-Alfond, NAF's chair, would give the opening remarks. The Legislative update would be given by Tom Hawley, Professional Staffer for the Committee on Armed Services. Al Graham of the US/Russian Joint Commission would be announcing his retirment. Ralph Wetterhahn, Author of "The Last Battle-The Mayaguez Incident and the End of the Vietnam War" would discuss his book on the bloody battle to rescue the crew of the SS Mayaguez, seized by Cambodia in 1975. Book signing to follow.
Lynn O'Shea, NYS Director-NAF
Michael McDaniel, Opening Prayer
Mike opened his remarks remembering Dovie Huffman, Jane Gaylor and Bill Gardner, a few of the Alliance members who passed away between the time of the last Alliance meeting and this one. He told us that we have to continue our work, in part, to honor their names because they had worked so hard to attain the fullest possible accounting. He talked about times past when he had opened the Alliance Meeting and joked about running over his allotted time. He prayed to give us sustenance in this time of need to prevail, guidance to do what is right and to give us strength to carry on.
Dolores Apodaca-Alfond, National Chair-NAF
Next up was Dolores Apodaca-Alfond, the National Chairperson of the National Alliance of Families. Dolores' brother, Victor, is an Air Force pilot who is missing from the Vietnam War. On several occasions the Vietnamese have returned remains purported to be those of Victor Apodaca. However, those remains that were offered to the United States turned out to be animal bones. Each time Vietnam has claimed to have returned Victor's remains, the Apodaca family have successfully challenged the government finding. This time, the government has successfully repatriated the remains purported to be those of Victor Apodca. Although there are many questions pertaining to the newest set of remains, Victor's son and primary next of kin has given an interview to a local paper that he accepts the government finding.
Dolores calls family up Some of the Apodaca Family
Dolores called some of her family up to the front of the room. She introduced her nephew and his wife (far left w/baby carriage) and their children, her sister Joyce (middle) and Jenella (standing closest to Dolores). Dolores talked about how this issue can break up a family; noted that she and the rest of the family were not angry with Victor's son, her nephew, for wanting closure, but on the same token she assured the membership, in spite of the acceptance by the primary next of kin, "I have a message for the United States Government: We will NOT go away!" That message was acknowledged by the membership and supporters by giving a standing ovation to the family.
Tom Hawley, Committee on Armed Services
Tom Hwley, Professional Staffer for the House Committee on Armed Services talked to us about the importance of the continued letter writing to Congress over this issue. He told us that the MSPA, ("Missing Service Personnel Act") and the Bring Them Home Alive Act never would have passed the House and Senate to become law if not for all the letters, telegrams and e-mail received at the offices of our respective House and Senate representatives. If we are to prevail and get any action whatsoever on the POW/MIA issue, then we must continue the arduous task of letter writing in whatever form we write it.
Al Graham taking lecturn from Lynn Al discussing impending retirement
The National Alliance of Families has never given an award to a US Government official. Al Graham has been a good friend to the POW/MIA Families in that the various positions he has held in government he has always advocated letting the families in on government activity. Wherever it lead, Al wanted us to know the truth. His last assignment, on the US/Russian Joint Commission, ends with his retirement on 20 July. His advice to us was that we had to "press on. That's it, ladies and gentlemen, you must press on." Although implored by Lynn several times to stay on, Al simply smiled and shook his head. We wish you the best of luck and thank you for all you have done for us and for THEM, Al.
Author Ralph Wetterhahn discusses book The Last Battle Taking of the Mayaguez and Leaving Marines behind
It took five years to write. Author Ralph Wetterhahn was bumped off a helicopter by George H.W. Bush (double-ya's dad) and thus began the oddessy into the story of the SS Mayaguez. In May of 1975 the Ford Administration was faced with a crisis. South Vietnam had fallen to the communists and chaos reigned throughout SE Asia. The Khmer Rouge were taking over Cambodia and in the process they seized a US registered merchant ship, the SS Mayaguez and its crew. They seized this ship 60 miles from Cambodia in international waters and under US-left gunship escort, the forced the Mayguez to dock at Koh Tang Island.
With the Fall of Saigon, North Korea started blustering and sable rattling believing that the United States would abandon South Korea in the same fashion that we abandoned our allies in South Vietnam. The Ford Administration had to act quickly so as to not give the appearance of unwillingness to commit our armed forces. Therefore they launched a bloody rescue which turned out to be the last battle of the Vietnam War.
US Marines stormed Koh Tang Island and amidst one of the bloodiest battles, they recued the crew of the Mayaguez, returning home triumphant.
What the American public didn't know was that they left three Marines behind. And the Ford Administration willfully abandoned them so as to not deminish the message to the North Koreans (and the world) that we are still the most powerful nation on earth. This is the story of the capture and rescue of the Mayaguez, the abandonment of three more servicemen and the 1995 effort to recover their remains.
Sydney Schanberg, Pulitzer-prize winning journalist, author of the Oscar Winning film, "The Killing Fields," and true friend to the Alliance writes of the Last Battle: "Ralph Wetterhahn has the eye of an historian and the doggedness of the finest reporters. The author, who has spent years outting together the pieces of this hidden tale, frittily digging out the details of the fierce air, sea and ground battle, paints telling portraits of the three abandoned marines by going back to their hometowns, and even tracks down the Khmer Rouge commander who ordered their executions. His book, wirtten with a remarkably even hand, is in many ways the template for much of the Indochina conflict-secrets kept from the public, men taken prisoner and neither recovered nor honored, a government too often dedicated to face-saving and image. Not until the very end of the 1990s did the Pentagon finally provide some of the truth about the fate of the three marines. One has to think that Wetterhahn's in-the-works book had something to do with that brief burst of candor."
Editor's Note: I am in the process of reading the book and will present my review on the PoW/MIA Forum home pages.
Afterward, the author signed books for Alliance Members and supporters and the evening was adjourned until 9AM the next day. There were round table discussions and then several of us went down to The Wall.
Click here to join us at The Wall Click here for Day Two
The Legal Stuff
The material contained within The Moonduster Chronciles, the official Newsletter ("NEWSLETTER") of Operation Just Cause ("OJC") is the sole responsibility of the Editor unless otherwise indicated by a name and email address. Submissions of original work, including those written by the Editor, in all issues of "The Moonduster Chronicles" do not necessarily represent the views of Operation Just Cause, the Operation Just Cause Management, Operation Just Cause Staff or the membership of Operation Just Cause. By necessity, all submissions become the property of Operation Just Cause and The Moonduster Chronicles. Comments, criticisms and points of view are welcome. Please send them to: NL@ojc.org
Copyright © 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 All Rights Reserved
Operation Just Cause and The Moonduster Chronicles ®
