Saturday.... 23 January... there will be another (26th year) Mercer County Prisoner of War and Missing in Action Vigil at the Mercer County Courthouse Grounds. This is an issue relegated to way down on the "things to fix" list. Here are a few facts...
America's modern history must include the fate of many of our Service People involved in our conflicts. Not only are there about 1,750 missing in Southeast Asia, there are approx. 78,000 missing from WWII, approx. 8,100 missing from the Korean War and 2 missing from " Desert Storm "/ “Iraq/Afghanistan War”.
1) Sgt Ahmed Altaie is still missing in Iraq since October 23, 2006
2) Pfc. Beau Bergdahl is still missing in Afghanistan since 30 June 2009
As you can see, this is not new. How many families are going without closure? We have one missing in Vietnam from Mercer County... Maurice Edwin Garrett Jr., and one from Lawrence County, Vincent Scungio. I knew the parents and in their lengthy attempt to seek information on their sonn, they have all passed away. At least they do know the truth ...NOW. The rest of us and the families still ask.
A friend and I go to Washington DC in June/July and are involved in asking questions of those in our Government who are given the job of finding answers for the families. I can assure you that , no matter who has had the position in those decades, they still offer up the same "beige" answers... "We are doing everything possible." "We are getting access to crash sites with cooperation with those Governments involved." Etc, etc, etc. Well we do continue to retrieve the bones at a slow pace. It is our Governments job to identify and bring closure. They also have the job of finding any who may still be alive. Now the facts...
DPMO and "face to face" with the head, who is Deputy Secretary of Defense, has brought this to light. We have had LIVE SIGHTING REPORTS of our men in South East Asia, but..... not ONE has been investigated since 1998! 12 years??? How hard do you think they take their "job".?
Next.... Tomb of the Unknown Soldier for Vietnam. Folks, it is proven that when remains of the Vietnam Serviceman were placed in the tomb, our government knew who the remains were... those of Michael Blassie. How do I know??? Not only did I know the original investigator, who had been telling the Government who the remains belonged to since the early 90s but, I was in a meeting with Michael Blassie's sister and was given the chance to examine the contents of the tomb, sans Michael. The contents alone would have identified him. I took pictures of the contents. This, alone shows that the Government was not interested in allowing the family closure and truth. Their track record is at best blemished. This is NOT a political PARTY thing.... this issue spans ALL Administrations since we had ability to investigate.
People will be outside the Mercer County Courthouse at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial through Saturday with a ceremony at 7 PM. There will be speakers and the recitation of the names of the 94 Pennsylvanians still missing in South East Asia. If you come.... dress accordingly.
"To those who died, honor and eternal rest;
to those still in bondage, remembrance and hope;
to those who returned, gratitude and peace."
