1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:00,000 2 00:00:57,299 --> 00:00:58,299 Yeah . 3 00:02:13,740 --> 00:02:17,630 Yeah . Yes , 4 00:02:51,050 --> 00:02:54,759 my . Ok , 5 00:02:54,770 --> 00:02:57,800 John , right . 6 00:03:00,009 --> 00:03:01,750 Honor . Go to 7 00:03:12,770 --> 00:03:13,559 stand out 8 00:03:18,300 --> 00:03:21,190 staff ceremonial at East . 9 00:03:31,059 --> 00:03:33,389 Did it go ? What ? 10 00:04:35,149 --> 00:04:36,149 Cancer ? 11 00:04:39,309 --> 00:04:40,309 Ok . 12 00:05:36,980 --> 00:05:37,980 Yeah . 13 00:06:28,350 --> 00:06:29,350 Time ever 14 00:07:19,230 --> 00:07:21,369 stand by scout . 15 00:07:23,059 --> 00:07:23,899 Ok , John , 16 00:07:29,160 --> 00:07:32,100 you , huh ? Right . 17 00:07:34,769 --> 00:07:35,769 Right . 18 00:07:46,970 --> 00:07:48,410 Um Oh 19 00:07:54,480 --> 00:07:57,079 ladies and gentlemen , please stand for 20 00:07:57,089 --> 00:07:59,299 the arrival of the official party and 21 00:07:59,309 --> 00:08:01,476 remain standing for the playing of the 22 00:08:01,476 --> 00:08:03,549 United States national anthem and 23 00:08:03,559 --> 00:08:05,750 invocation offered by chaplain , 24 00:08:05,760 --> 00:08:08,019 Lieutenant Colonel William H Horton . 25 00:08:18,019 --> 00:08:19,019 Right . 26 00:08:50,640 --> 00:08:51,640 Yes . 27 00:09:17,070 --> 00:09:20,989 Taking the review instead , taking the 28 00:09:21,000 --> 00:09:22,944 reviewing stand is today's special 29 00:09:22,944 --> 00:09:25,056 guest United States Air Force Colonel 30 00:09:25,056 --> 00:09:27,278 retired Mike Braselton , accompanied by 31 00:09:27,278 --> 00:09:29,750 the host , the honorable Kathleen Hicks , 32 00:09:29,760 --> 00:09:32,570 the 35 th Deputy Secretary of Defense . 33 00:09:52,659 --> 00:09:52,890 No 34 00:10:03,380 --> 00:10:05,039 step , please . 35 00:10:17,719 --> 00:10:18,719 Yeah . 36 00:10:25,489 --> 00:10:27,599 Um Yeah . 37 00:11:12,580 --> 00:11:13,580 Yeah . 38 00:11:20,510 --> 00:11:21,729 Step order . 39 00:11:44,340 --> 00:11:45,340 Oh , 40 00:11:57,549 --> 00:12:00,700 oh ho 41 00:12:05,179 --> 00:12:07,068 ladies and gentlemen , chaplain , 42 00:12:07,068 --> 00:12:09,068 Lieutenant Colonel William Horton , 43 00:12:13,010 --> 00:12:15,950 let us pray almighty and gracious 44 00:12:15,960 --> 00:12:18,280 loving God . We turn to you on this day 45 00:12:18,289 --> 00:12:20,456 to recall and honor our celebrated and 46 00:12:20,456 --> 00:12:22,859 at times forgotten heroes , the 47 00:12:22,869 --> 00:12:25,090 courageous men and the women who have 48 00:12:25,099 --> 00:12:26,919 fallen or been lost in combat , 49 00:12:26,929 --> 00:12:29,049 defending our nation's belief in the 50 00:12:29,059 --> 00:12:31,281 right to life , liberty and the pursuit 51 00:12:31,281 --> 00:12:33,929 of happiness . We honor and pray for 52 00:12:33,940 --> 00:12:35,859 our prisoners of war for they've 53 00:12:35,869 --> 00:12:37,780 experienced the horror , the 54 00:12:37,789 --> 00:12:40,011 devastation , the pain and the agony of 55 00:12:40,011 --> 00:12:43,270 captivity . We also stand in solidarity 56 00:12:43,280 --> 00:12:45,479 with those who wait , not ever really 57 00:12:45,489 --> 00:12:47,656 knowing the fate of their loved ones . 58 00:12:47,809 --> 00:12:49,865 Thank you for the many organizations 59 00:12:49,865 --> 00:12:52,087 and the people who continue the efforts 60 00:12:52,087 --> 00:12:53,976 to account for all of our missing 61 00:12:53,976 --> 00:12:57,059 service members and civilians . We also 62 00:12:57,070 --> 00:12:59,070 pray for those who continue to face 63 00:12:59,070 --> 00:13:01,320 armed conflict today that they would 64 00:13:01,330 --> 00:13:03,330 also know the hope and the honor of 65 00:13:03,330 --> 00:13:05,500 serving our nation's true colors . May 66 00:13:05,510 --> 00:13:07,566 our nation never forget the selfless 67 00:13:07,570 --> 00:13:10,440 service , dedication to duty and the 68 00:13:10,450 --> 00:13:12,783 loyalty of our , of our service members , 69 00:13:12,783 --> 00:13:15,669 civilians and their families . May we 70 00:13:15,679 --> 00:13:18,409 never allow the sacrifices of those who 71 00:13:18,419 --> 00:13:20,710 have gone before us to be forgotten or 72 00:13:20,719 --> 00:13:23,500 lost in time . Unite us in our 73 00:13:23,510 --> 00:13:25,690 gratitude for your many blessings and 74 00:13:25,700 --> 00:13:28,559 in our mission to proclaim freedom and 75 00:13:28,570 --> 00:13:30,626 for the captives and for the release 76 00:13:30,626 --> 00:13:33,080 from the darkness . For those in prison 77 00:13:33,619 --> 00:13:35,952 in your precious and holy name . I pray . 78 00:13:35,952 --> 00:13:35,770 Amen . 79 00:13:45,419 --> 00:13:46,590 Please be seated . 80 00:14:00,710 --> 00:14:03,030 Ladies and gentlemen , the honorable 81 00:14:03,039 --> 00:14:04,210 Kathleen Hicks . 82 00:14:22,390 --> 00:14:24,334 Good morning to everyone . It's my 83 00:14:24,334 --> 00:14:26,419 honor to observe this important 84 00:14:26,429 --> 00:14:28,596 occasion with each of you who's joined 85 00:14:28,596 --> 00:14:31,729 us here today . I'd like to begin by 86 00:14:31,739 --> 00:14:33,906 acknowledging our distinguished guests 87 00:14:33,906 --> 00:14:35,739 and members of the International 88 00:14:35,739 --> 00:14:37,517 Diplomatic Corps who are in the 89 00:14:37,517 --> 00:14:39,739 audience with us . This includes the US 90 00:14:39,739 --> 00:14:41,961 ambassador to Vietnam , Mark Napper who 91 00:14:41,961 --> 00:14:44,183 is just back from Hanoi where he helped 92 00:14:44,183 --> 00:14:45,906 shepherd his historic visit by 93 00:14:45,906 --> 00:14:49,150 President Biden for the past 50 years . 94 00:14:49,159 --> 00:14:51,103 The United States and Vietnam have 95 00:14:51,103 --> 00:14:52,869 worked together to account for 96 00:14:52,880 --> 00:14:55,119 Americans missing from the Vietnam war 97 00:14:55,280 --> 00:14:58,150 beginning with the return of 591 98 00:14:58,159 --> 00:15:00,869 prisoners of war . Without the mutual 99 00:15:00,880 --> 00:15:03,090 cooperation between our two nations , 100 00:15:03,099 --> 00:15:05,099 we would not be able to support the 101 00:15:05,099 --> 00:15:07,229 robust and sustained operations to 102 00:15:07,239 --> 00:15:10,099 recover us personnel operations that 103 00:15:10,109 --> 00:15:13,450 have helped return 733 US service 104 00:15:13,460 --> 00:15:15,460 members and civilians home to their 105 00:15:15,460 --> 00:15:17,909 families . Today . The department's 106 00:15:17,919 --> 00:15:19,863 commitment to the fullest possible 107 00:15:19,863 --> 00:15:21,863 accounting of our missing personnel 108 00:15:21,863 --> 00:15:25,020 extends back to World War II . Since 109 00:15:25,030 --> 00:15:27,179 the end of the Vietnam War , the 110 00:15:27,190 --> 00:15:30,849 defense pow Mia Accounting agency and 111 00:15:30,859 --> 00:15:33,130 its predecessors have managed the 112 00:15:33,140 --> 00:15:36,229 recovery , identification and return of 113 00:15:36,239 --> 00:15:39,130 thousands of our missing personnel to 114 00:15:39,140 --> 00:15:41,760 their families who have long sought 115 00:15:41,770 --> 00:15:45,369 answers . Sustaining these operations 116 00:15:45,380 --> 00:15:48,619 is no small task . It takes cooperation 117 00:15:48,630 --> 00:15:51,650 on a global scale and we are grateful 118 00:15:51,659 --> 00:15:54,969 for the 45 nations who partner with us 119 00:15:54,979 --> 00:15:57,169 on this mission to search for and 120 00:15:57,179 --> 00:15:59,219 recover are missing from theaters 121 00:15:59,229 --> 00:16:01,489 around the world . That's why we're so 122 00:16:01,500 --> 00:16:03,278 fortunate to be joined today by 123 00:16:03,278 --> 00:16:06,260 ambassadors and defense attache from 124 00:16:06,270 --> 00:16:08,103 nations who collaborate on these 125 00:16:08,103 --> 00:16:11,200 efforts . This effort also includes 126 00:16:11,210 --> 00:16:13,154 supportive private individuals and 127 00:16:13,154 --> 00:16:15,429 groups and I want to acknowledge all of 128 00:16:15,440 --> 00:16:17,440 you here today who are representing 129 00:16:17,440 --> 00:16:20,359 those folks like retired marine Corps 130 00:16:20,369 --> 00:16:23,510 sergeant major Justin Luu , an Iraq war 131 00:16:23,520 --> 00:16:25,950 veteran and navy cross recipient who 132 00:16:25,960 --> 00:16:27,909 last year completed a 133 00:16:27,919 --> 00:16:31,369 3365 134 00:16:31,380 --> 00:16:34,070 mile walk from Boston , Massachusetts 135 00:16:34,080 --> 00:16:36,859 to Newport Oregon to raise awareness 136 00:16:36,869 --> 00:16:40,419 about DPA mission And just 137 00:16:40,429 --> 00:16:44,159 today this morning , he completed a 270 138 00:16:44,169 --> 00:16:46,113 mile march from Bedford , Virginia 139 00:16:46,113 --> 00:16:48,169 right here to this parade field . So 140 00:16:48,169 --> 00:16:50,280 thank you to Sergeant Major Lu Ho for 141 00:16:50,280 --> 00:16:52,502 your efforts to help find your comrades 142 00:16:52,502 --> 00:16:56,469 in arms . And 143 00:16:56,479 --> 00:16:58,535 finally , and most importantly , I'd 144 00:16:58,535 --> 00:17:00,646 like to recognize the families of the 145 00:17:00,646 --> 00:17:02,690 missing . We know that enduring the 146 00:17:02,700 --> 00:17:04,756 grief and uncertainty throughout the 147 00:17:04,756 --> 00:17:07,550 years is difficult . Please know that 148 00:17:07,560 --> 00:17:09,819 your missing family members are not 149 00:17:09,829 --> 00:17:13,619 forgotten . The DPA works tirelessly to 150 00:17:13,630 --> 00:17:16,329 find answers for you year in and year 151 00:17:16,339 --> 00:17:19,579 out . And each year we gather on this 152 00:17:19,589 --> 00:17:23,500 National Pow Recognition Day to assure 153 00:17:23,510 --> 00:17:25,969 you that we remember them and that we 154 00:17:25,979 --> 00:17:27,923 will not give up on our mission to 155 00:17:27,923 --> 00:17:29,923 account for them . So thank you for 156 00:17:29,923 --> 00:17:31,979 being here and for keeping the faith 157 00:17:32,890 --> 00:17:36,829 already . This year has accounted 158 00:17:36,839 --> 00:17:40,739 for 123 missing personnel members 159 00:17:40,750 --> 00:17:42,972 like Army Air Corps . Second Lieutenant 160 00:17:42,972 --> 00:17:45,609 Fred Brewer of North Carolina during 161 00:17:45,619 --> 00:17:47,675 world war II , Lieutenant Brewer was 162 00:17:47,675 --> 00:17:49,786 part of the esteemed African American 163 00:17:49,786 --> 00:17:51,563 fighter pilot unit known as the 164 00:17:51,563 --> 00:17:54,400 Tuskegee Airmen . More than seven 165 00:17:54,410 --> 00:17:57,750 decades ago . Brewer departed Rama Air 166 00:17:57,760 --> 00:18:00,280 Base in Italy to bombers to their 167 00:18:00,290 --> 00:18:03,550 targets in Germany on the way , his 168 00:18:03,560 --> 00:18:06,270 bomber group encountered heavy clouds . 169 00:18:06,280 --> 00:18:08,709 Lieutenant Brewer attempted a steep 170 00:18:08,719 --> 00:18:11,290 rise above them but his engine stalled 171 00:18:11,300 --> 00:18:14,689 causing his plane to crash until last 172 00:18:14,699 --> 00:18:17,890 month . He was one of the 26 Tuskegee 173 00:18:17,900 --> 00:18:20,122 airmen whose whereabouts were unknown . 174 00:18:21,160 --> 00:18:23,439 A rosette will now be placed next to 175 00:18:23,449 --> 00:18:25,616 his name on the tablets of the missing 176 00:18:25,869 --> 00:18:28,010 at the Florence American cemetery to 177 00:18:28,020 --> 00:18:30,449 indicate that he has been accounted for 178 00:18:31,089 --> 00:18:33,033 today , we are honored to have his 179 00:18:33,033 --> 00:18:35,200 cousin Brenda Brewer in the audience . 180 00:18:35,420 --> 00:18:37,642 Thank you for being here , Brenda . Can 181 00:18:37,642 --> 00:18:39,531 you stand Brenda if you're here ? 182 00:18:41,489 --> 00:18:43,489 Thank you Brenda for being here . I 183 00:18:43,489 --> 00:18:45,656 hope that Lieutenant Brewer's recovery 184 00:18:45,656 --> 00:18:47,711 has brought some measure of peace to 185 00:18:47,711 --> 00:18:51,209 you and your family . Our success 186 00:18:51,630 --> 00:18:53,852 in our accounting missions would not be 187 00:18:53,852 --> 00:18:55,797 possible . As I said , without our 188 00:18:55,797 --> 00:18:57,852 partners across the globe . In April 189 00:18:57,852 --> 00:19:00,300 2021 the Republic of Korea's Ministry 190 00:19:00,310 --> 00:19:02,800 for finding missing personnel came 191 00:19:02,810 --> 00:19:04,800 across remains near the hill where 192 00:19:04,810 --> 00:19:06,959 Americans went missing . During a 193 00:19:06,969 --> 00:19:10,689 battle in April 1951 the remains were 194 00:19:10,699 --> 00:19:12,959 carefully exhumed and sent to a lab for 195 00:19:12,969 --> 00:19:15,410 testing in the following . October , 196 00:19:15,420 --> 00:19:17,619 the ministry turned over those remains 197 00:19:17,630 --> 00:19:21,560 to DPA . After DPA sent the remains to 198 00:19:21,569 --> 00:19:23,920 its own lab for analysis . It was able 199 00:19:23,930 --> 00:19:27,000 to identify us . Army Sergeant Stanley 200 00:19:27,010 --> 00:19:29,709 TBA . Soon his daughter , Sandra will 201 00:19:29,719 --> 00:19:32,949 welcome him home more than 72 years 202 00:19:32,959 --> 00:19:35,292 after he went missing in the Korean War . 203 00:19:36,410 --> 00:19:38,521 And finally , this year , the Vietnam 204 00:19:38,521 --> 00:19:40,466 office for seeking missing persons 205 00:19:40,466 --> 00:19:42,800 celebrated its 50 th anniversary and 206 00:19:42,810 --> 00:19:45,260 I'd like to recognize it for its long 207 00:19:45,270 --> 00:19:48,380 standing mutual cooperation during the 208 00:19:48,390 --> 00:19:50,729 height of COVID-19 . When restrictions 209 00:19:50,739 --> 00:19:53,540 prevented our D team from traveling to 210 00:19:53,550 --> 00:19:57,449 Vietnam . Its teams trained by DPA , 211 00:19:57,579 --> 00:19:59,969 traveled to multiple sites looking for 212 00:19:59,979 --> 00:20:03,020 the remains of American personnel in 213 00:20:03,030 --> 00:20:05,989 March 2021 . The team visited the crash 214 00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:09,589 site of a 1969 F four , a two seater 215 00:20:09,599 --> 00:20:13,319 aircraft in Guangnan Province there . 216 00:20:13,329 --> 00:20:15,290 They recovered the remains of two 217 00:20:15,300 --> 00:20:17,829 Americans . Those of us Air Force , 218 00:20:17,839 --> 00:20:20,410 Colonel Ernest de Soto and Captain 219 00:20:20,420 --> 00:20:23,170 Frederick Hall . Colonel de Soto was 220 00:20:23,180 --> 00:20:25,500 given a dignified burial in June and 221 00:20:25,510 --> 00:20:27,566 Captain Hall will finally be laid to 222 00:20:27,566 --> 00:20:31,069 rest next month on October 10 , these 223 00:20:31,079 --> 00:20:33,209 are several of the many stories of 224 00:20:33,219 --> 00:20:35,330 those recovered and returned to their 225 00:20:35,330 --> 00:20:38,089 families . Stories of sacrifice , hope 226 00:20:38,099 --> 00:20:40,819 and resolve for you families of the 227 00:20:40,829 --> 00:20:43,209 missing . Please know your strength 228 00:20:43,219 --> 00:20:46,550 motivates us each day as we do this 229 00:20:46,560 --> 00:20:48,849 work and follow through on our solemn 230 00:20:48,859 --> 00:20:50,915 and unwavering commitment to achieve 231 00:20:50,915 --> 00:20:53,081 the fullest accounting possible of our 232 00:20:53,081 --> 00:20:57,020 missing personnel . Thank you . It is 233 00:20:57,030 --> 00:20:59,449 now my distinct privilege to introduce 234 00:20:59,459 --> 00:21:01,520 our next speaker , Colonel Michael 235 00:21:01,530 --> 00:21:04,089 Brazelton is a retired Air Force pilot 236 00:21:04,099 --> 00:21:06,890 and a four time silver star recipient 237 00:21:06,900 --> 00:21:09,260 who was held captive for more than six 238 00:21:09,270 --> 00:21:12,699 years in a Vietnamese prison . I'll let 239 00:21:12,709 --> 00:21:15,260 him tell his harrowing story , but I 240 00:21:15,270 --> 00:21:19,219 will say this , Colonel Braselton , 241 00:21:20,180 --> 00:21:23,949 your incredible courage , fortitude and 242 00:21:23,959 --> 00:21:27,209 patriotism is an inspiration to us all . 243 00:21:27,400 --> 00:21:29,511 It's an honor to have you , your wife 244 00:21:29,511 --> 00:21:31,789 Gloria and your oldest daughter , army , 245 00:21:31,789 --> 00:21:34,060 Lieutenant Colonel Adriana Brazelton 246 00:21:34,069 --> 00:21:36,290 with us today . Please join me in 247 00:21:36,300 --> 00:21:38,633 giving Colonel Brazelton a warm welcome . 248 00:22:00,010 --> 00:22:01,010 Thank God , 249 00:22:11,420 --> 00:22:13,849 good morning everyone . Thank you for 250 00:22:13,859 --> 00:22:17,130 inviting me to PM I a recognition day 251 00:22:17,239 --> 00:22:20,430 event . Once again , I am honored to be 252 00:22:20,439 --> 00:22:23,449 here . I would like to acknowledge all 253 00:22:23,459 --> 00:22:25,459 the dignitaries that are here . But 254 00:22:25,459 --> 00:22:27,515 that would take most of my time from 255 00:22:27,515 --> 00:22:30,239 the list of attendees . It seems just 256 00:22:30,250 --> 00:22:32,472 about everybody here is a distinguished 257 00:22:32,472 --> 00:22:35,050 guest and devoted to our common cause . 258 00:22:36,689 --> 00:22:38,911 The first day after I was shot down and 259 00:22:38,911 --> 00:22:40,800 captured , I was sent to a prison 260 00:22:40,800 --> 00:22:42,745 called the zoo on the outskirts of 261 00:22:42,745 --> 00:22:45,530 Hanoi . I was put in isolation in a 262 00:22:45,540 --> 00:22:48,670 building . We call the office until you 263 00:22:48,680 --> 00:22:51,719 get used to being solo confinement is a 264 00:22:51,729 --> 00:22:55,310 devastating , devastating for the 265 00:22:55,319 --> 00:22:58,660 mind . However , within a day or so I 266 00:22:58,670 --> 00:23:00,837 realized there were other Americans in 267 00:23:00,837 --> 00:23:03,550 the office with me by counting dishes . 268 00:23:03,560 --> 00:23:05,727 I sur surprised that there were six of 269 00:23:05,727 --> 00:23:07,969 us there . I had a compulsion to 270 00:23:07,979 --> 00:23:10,579 contact him probably because I was 271 00:23:10,589 --> 00:23:13,250 anxious for companionship and I didn't 272 00:23:13,260 --> 00:23:16,810 want to be so alone . I shared a wall 273 00:23:16,819 --> 00:23:18,986 with one cell and I tapped the wall to 274 00:23:18,986 --> 00:23:21,170 get the prisoner's attention . Over 275 00:23:21,180 --> 00:23:24,349 time , I learned his name . I tapped to 276 00:23:24,359 --> 00:23:26,470 another cell that was candy corner to 277 00:23:26,470 --> 00:23:28,303 me and got the name of another . 278 00:23:30,640 --> 00:23:32,584 A few weeks later , a new American 279 00:23:32,584 --> 00:23:35,550 pilot was headed , I contacted him by 280 00:23:36,020 --> 00:23:37,520 talking under the door . 281 00:23:46,069 --> 00:23:47,958 Five months later , I was given a 282 00:23:47,958 --> 00:23:50,069 roommate . It moved into a building . 283 00:23:50,069 --> 00:23:52,739 We called the pool hall . It had 22 man 284 00:23:52,750 --> 00:23:56,449 cells in it . The 22 pws on the other 285 00:23:56,459 --> 00:23:59,349 side of our back wall were old timers 286 00:23:59,550 --> 00:24:01,989 who had been pows for a year and a half 287 00:24:02,770 --> 00:24:04,881 by tapping , they filled us in on the 288 00:24:04,881 --> 00:24:07,048 rules of engagement , set up by senior 289 00:24:07,048 --> 00:24:09,214 pows before they were removed from the 290 00:24:09,214 --> 00:24:11,810 general population . The major 291 00:24:11,819 --> 00:24:14,020 directive of course was to follow the 292 00:24:14,030 --> 00:24:18,000 code of conduct . The second was 293 00:24:18,010 --> 00:24:20,439 to collect names for us . It was 294 00:24:20,449 --> 00:24:22,671 vitally important to learn the names of 295 00:24:22,671 --> 00:24:25,739 every pow who was in the system and 296 00:24:25,750 --> 00:24:29,380 know where they were located . If , if 297 00:24:29,390 --> 00:24:32,739 anything were to happen to me , there 298 00:24:32,750 --> 00:24:35,020 would be people who knew I was a pow 299 00:24:35,599 --> 00:24:37,766 and would probably know how I perished 300 00:24:40,089 --> 00:24:43,719 as it turned out . Seaman Doug 301 00:24:43,890 --> 00:24:46,180 Hedo . A few years later , an early 302 00:24:46,189 --> 00:24:49,739 release had memorized more than 250 pow 303 00:24:49,750 --> 00:24:52,020 names and repeated them to the 304 00:24:52,030 --> 00:24:53,863 authorities back home and to the 305 00:24:53,863 --> 00:24:56,189 families . It was the first news my 306 00:24:56,199 --> 00:24:58,979 parents and sisters had that confirmed 307 00:24:58,989 --> 00:25:02,660 that I was alive whenever the 308 00:25:02,670 --> 00:25:04,948 Vietnamese authorities moved us around , 309 00:25:04,948 --> 00:25:07,400 which wasn't often our primary job was 310 00:25:07,410 --> 00:25:10,459 to figure out where everybody was 311 00:25:10,739 --> 00:25:12,949 determined if anybody was missing , 312 00:25:12,959 --> 00:25:16,170 perhaps taken to another camp and and 313 00:25:16,180 --> 00:25:18,660 identify any new prisoners in the camp . 314 00:25:19,479 --> 00:25:22,699 We did this by tamping by note drops by 315 00:25:22,709 --> 00:25:25,599 flashing from building to building and 316 00:25:25,609 --> 00:25:28,839 the use of a hand code . In addition to 317 00:25:28,849 --> 00:25:31,071 just learning the names , we could keep 318 00:25:31,071 --> 00:25:32,849 track of Pow's health . Pass on 319 00:25:32,859 --> 00:25:35,081 information learned in interrogations , 320 00:25:35,380 --> 00:25:37,547 disperse guidance received from senior 321 00:25:37,547 --> 00:25:39,602 ranking officers in dealing with the 322 00:25:39,602 --> 00:25:41,630 prison officials and guards and get 323 00:25:41,640 --> 00:25:43,862 information from home that might not be 324 00:25:43,862 --> 00:25:47,170 available to pows in general . 325 00:25:48,160 --> 00:25:50,104 In one example , the pilot who was 326 00:25:50,104 --> 00:25:52,550 responsible for sending my belongings 327 00:25:52,560 --> 00:25:56,140 home after I was shot down and writing 328 00:25:56,150 --> 00:25:59,180 letters to my family was himself shot 329 00:25:59,189 --> 00:26:02,189 down and captured several weeks after I 330 00:26:02,199 --> 00:26:05,579 was eventually , I mean , eventually a 331 00:26:05,589 --> 00:26:08,310 couple of years later , he filled me on 332 00:26:08,319 --> 00:26:10,319 the letters he had received from my 333 00:26:10,319 --> 00:26:12,660 parents and friends . Basically , we 334 00:26:12,670 --> 00:26:14,892 were accounting for our friends , which 335 00:26:14,892 --> 00:26:17,449 is essentially what d is doing on a 336 00:26:17,459 --> 00:26:21,449 much grander scale along with its 337 00:26:21,459 --> 00:26:24,410 counterparts in other countries . And 338 00:26:24,420 --> 00:26:26,642 in unison with the league of families , 339 00:26:26,670 --> 00:26:29,003 we want an accounting of those soldiers , 340 00:26:29,003 --> 00:26:31,170 sailors , airmen , marines and 341 00:26:31,180 --> 00:26:34,260 civilians . Our friends who did not 342 00:26:34,270 --> 00:26:38,010 come home in some cases , the remains 343 00:26:38,020 --> 00:26:40,242 can be recovered which provides a great 344 00:26:40,242 --> 00:26:42,410 deal of closure to the families . In 345 00:26:42,420 --> 00:26:44,969 the saddest of these cases . There are 346 00:26:44,979 --> 00:26:46,439 no remains to be found 347 00:26:49,109 --> 00:26:51,060 for the past 35 years , the United 348 00:26:51,069 --> 00:26:53,670 States and Vietnam , two nations that 349 00:26:53,680 --> 00:26:55,569 were once adversaries have worked 350 00:26:55,569 --> 00:26:58,030 together to account for the missing of 351 00:26:58,040 --> 00:27:01,010 both nations . It is this cooperation 352 00:27:01,020 --> 00:27:03,076 that has drawn nations , our nations 353 00:27:03,076 --> 00:27:05,310 closer together and helped heal the 354 00:27:05,319 --> 00:27:09,069 legacies of war . The parents for the 355 00:27:09,079 --> 00:27:11,246 unaccounted for have for the most part 356 00:27:11,349 --> 00:27:14,199 passed on . Their brothers and sisters 357 00:27:14,209 --> 00:27:16,650 are my age in their 70 s and 80 s . 358 00:27:17,619 --> 00:27:19,841 Their Children are in their fifties and 359 00:27:19,841 --> 00:27:22,510 sixties , but still at the very least 360 00:27:22,849 --> 00:27:24,793 they want to know what happened to 361 00:27:24,793 --> 00:27:26,905 their loved one . I cannot think of a 362 00:27:26,910 --> 00:27:29,339 more noble mission to determine what 363 00:27:29,349 --> 00:27:32,119 happened to our missing compatriots to 364 00:27:32,130 --> 00:27:34,408 bring their remains home , if possible , 365 00:27:35,030 --> 00:27:38,910 provide information on when , where and 366 00:27:38,920 --> 00:27:41,500 how unrecoverable friends met their 367 00:27:41,510 --> 00:27:45,430 fate . A few weeks ago , 368 00:27:46,630 --> 00:27:50,209 close to last Memorial Day and I were 369 00:27:50,219 --> 00:27:52,400 attending a music salon at the home of 370 00:27:52,410 --> 00:27:54,670 a good friend of ours . At the 371 00:27:54,680 --> 00:27:56,939 beginning of the program , he made a 372 00:27:56,949 --> 00:27:59,060 few remarks about the significance of 373 00:27:59,060 --> 00:28:02,579 the day . He also mentioned to a 374 00:28:02,589 --> 00:28:04,811 gathering of about 50 people that I had 375 00:28:04,811 --> 00:28:08,209 been a pow for almost seven years to my 376 00:28:08,219 --> 00:28:10,386 surprise and embarrassment . Everybody 377 00:28:10,386 --> 00:28:12,780 stood and applauded . I turned to the 378 00:28:12,790 --> 00:28:15,189 lady next to me . A stranger and said , 379 00:28:15,810 --> 00:28:18,032 I can't believe that the POWs are still 380 00:28:18,032 --> 00:28:20,540 regarded so highly more than 50 years 381 00:28:20,550 --> 00:28:23,400 after the war . The lady turned to me 382 00:28:23,410 --> 00:28:25,939 and said some things should never be 383 00:28:25,949 --> 00:28:29,900 forgotten . Likewise , our friends from 384 00:28:29,910 --> 00:28:32,569 World War II , Korea Vietnam and the 385 00:28:32,579 --> 00:28:35,209 Mid East who did not come home should 386 00:28:35,219 --> 00:28:37,430 never be forgotten by their countrymen 387 00:28:37,439 --> 00:28:41,420 and women should always work to the 388 00:28:41,430 --> 00:28:43,374 fullest possible accounting of our 389 00:28:43,380 --> 00:28:46,660 missing , the observance of National 390 00:28:46,670 --> 00:28:50,469 Pow Ma Recognition Day and the mission 391 00:28:50,479 --> 00:28:54,290 of a defense pow Mia accounting agency 392 00:28:54,619 --> 00:28:57,569 shows that they have not been forgotten . 393 00:28:58,420 --> 00:28:59,420 Thank you . 394 00:29:16,239 --> 00:29:18,017 Would all families representing 395 00:29:18,017 --> 00:29:20,239 prisoners of war in those still missing 396 00:29:20,239 --> 00:29:22,517 in action ? Please stand to be honored . 397 00:30:00,010 --> 00:30:00,339 Hi , 398 00:30:14,140 --> 00:30:15,140 ready . 399 00:30:34,489 --> 00:30:35,489 Right . 400 00:30:50,800 --> 00:30:51,800 One . 401 00:30:55,079 --> 00:30:56,079 No , 402 00:30:59,300 --> 00:31:00,300 I 403 00:31:52,280 --> 00:31:52,849 Right . 404 00:32:50,130 --> 00:32:52,030 Right . Right . 405 00:33:04,630 --> 00:33:05,630 Done . 406 00:33:10,060 --> 00:33:10,520 Right . 407 00:33:21,810 --> 00:33:22,420 Right . 408 00:33:33,640 --> 00:33:34,229 What do 409 00:35:55,429 --> 00:35:57,469 at this time ? Please stand as the 410 00:35:57,479 --> 00:35:59,879 United States Army band plays the joint 411 00:35:59,889 --> 00:36:00,989 service medley . 412 00:38:59,969 --> 00:39:00,969 Yeah . 413 00:39:05,540 --> 00:39:05,739 Um 414 00:39:09,800 --> 00:39:10,800 That 415 00:39:48,939 --> 00:39:49,939 right , 416 00:39:55,239 --> 00:39:57,295 ladies and gentlemen , please direct 417 00:39:57,295 --> 00:39:59,350 your attention skyward for a flyover 418 00:39:59,360 --> 00:40:02,000 honoring America's prisoners of war and 419 00:40:02,010 --> 00:40:03,121 missing in action . 420 00:40:59,209 --> 00:41:01,320 Ladies and gentlemen , this concludes 421 00:41:01,330 --> 00:41:04,250 the Department of Defense 2023 National 422 00:41:04,260 --> 00:41:07,679 Pow Ma Recognition Day ceremony . Thank 423 00:41:07,689 --> 00:41:09,989 you for attending and enjoy the rest of 424 00:41:10,000 --> 00:41:10,530 your day .