SYNOPSIS: Capt. John T. McDonnell was the 
aircraft commander of an AH1G helicopter 
from A Battery, 4th Battalion, 77th Artillery, 
101st Airborne Division operating in 
Thua Tien Province, South Vietnam. On March 6,
McDonnell's aircraft was the flight leader in 
a flight on two aircraft on a combat mission.

During a firing pass, McDonnell's aircraft was 
observed receiving enemy ground fire. The aircraft 
disappeared into an overcast and crashed into a
mountain side. The area was searched, but McDonnell 
could not be located.
His pilot, Lt. Ronald Greenfield, was found and 
medically evacuated. Lt. Greenfield could recall 
nothing from the point of impact to the following
morning.

McDonnell was not a green soldier. On a previous tour 
of Vietnam then-2LT. McDonnell was attached as an artillery 
expert to Detachment A324, 5th Special Forces Group. It was at 
this time, on May 25, 1965, that he was awarded the Army Commendation 
Medal with "V" device for Heroism. At that time McDonnell was an advisor 
to South Vietnamese paramilitary forces at Thanh Dien Forest, Republic 
of Vietnam. A fellow team member had been killed by a sniper, 
another had been wounded. A third was missing. McDonnell's 
tactical advice and bravery enabled the team to successfully 
complete their search for the missing team member in the 
face of intense enemy fire.

There is every reason to suspect that McDonnell 
may have been captured. His fate following is a 
matter for speculation. Returned POWs would say that
those who resisted most strongly were the most 
tortured and deprived. To a man, those 591 Americans 
who returned home at the end of the war cooperated
at some point, in some way, with their captors. They 
all agree it is not a matter of whether a man can 
be broken -- but only how long it will take.

Only a few were known to hold out to the end...
and unfortunately, for them, it was the end. 
A few were known to have been literally tortured 
or starved to death for their resolute refusal to 
cooperate. McDonnell's training and background may 
put him in that category. We may never know for sure.

Nearly 2500 Americans were lost in Southeast Asia 
during our military involvement there. Since the 
war in Southeast Asia ended in 1973, thousands of 
reports of Americans still in captivity have been 
received by the U.S. Government. The official policy 
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 that the willingness or 
ability to rescue these prisoners does not exist.

McDonnell, if one of those hundreds said 
to be still alive and in captivity,
must be wondering, "Where ARE you, America?"

 
Where are we, America, when the life of even 
one American is not worth the effort of recovery? 
When the next war comes, and it is our sons lost, 
will we then care enough to do everything we can 
to bring our prisoners home?

NAME: MCDONNELL, John T, CAPT., USA
OFFICIAL STATUS: MISSING
CASE SUMMARY: SEE ATTACHED

RATIONALE SELECTION: The other crewmember survived 
the aircraft crash and was subsequently found and 
medically evacuated. All signs indicated CAPT. McDonnell 
left the aircraft under his own power. No correlated reports of
Capt McDonnell's death have been received since the incident date.

1. (U) On 6 March 1969 CAPT. John T. McDonnell, 
aircraft commander, and lLT [blank] pilot, 
were aboard an AHLG helicopter, #67-15845), 
as flight leader in a flight of two aircraft 
on a combat mission in the vicinity of grid
coordinates (CC) 170 960 in South Vietnam. 

During a firing pass over the
target area, CAPT. McDonnell's aircraft: 
was observed receiving enemy ground fire. 
The aircraft disappeared into an overcast and 
crashed into a mountain side. At about 1500 hours 
the following day the wreckage of the aircraft was located 
in the vicinity of (CC) 177 968. The area was searched, however, 
CAPT. McDonnell could not be located. LT [blank] was found and medically 
evacuated, but he recalled nothing of the incident from the time of 
impact to the following morning. CAPT. McDonnell's helmet was found,
(without a trace of blood), along with other pieces of equipment. It
appeared that CAPT. McDonnell unlocked his seat belt and left the aircraft.
During the search efforts, numerous deserted enemy positions were located
in the area, indicating that CAPT. McDonnell could have been captured. The
search continued without success through 26 March. (Ref 1)

2. (C) On 24 July 1973 a rallier reported that 
he had observed two U.S. Prisoners of War on 
three occasions. The prisoners was said to be officers
who had been captured by the NVA 2,nd Division in 
Quang Province. 
The POWs allegedly were collaborating with the 
division's political and military staff officer 
in a proselytizing effort directed toward U.S. soldiers. 
The rallier made no positive identification of 
CAPT. McDonnell's photo, but stated that his photo looked 
very similar to the POW who wore a large ring.
(Information in this report correlated to CAPT. McDonnell.) (Ref 2)

3. (U) CAPT. McDonnell's name and identifying data 
were turned over to the Four-Party Joint Military 
Team with a request for any information available. 
No response was forthcoming. In August 1973 JCRC 
proposed a Casualty Resolution Operation at this 
site. American consul, Da Nang, responded that he 
believed that because of nearby enemy activity, 
it would be "somewhat imprudent" to conduct an 
operation at this site "at this time." 
During the existence of JCRC, the hostile threat 
in the area precluded any visits to or ground 
inspections of the sites involved in this case.

4. CAPT. McDonnell is currently carried 
in the status of Missing.

The next time someone asks you to 
name one American serviceman left behind
in Southeast Asia, name just one.... 
Look them straight in the eye and say
Capt. John T. McDonnell, United States Army,  
Last known duty station Vietnamese Prison Camp 
Location Ba To, Quang Ngai Province, South Vietnam.
Last seen in mid to late February 1973,  
and he was not alone!  
Five (5) American NCO's were held at the same 
location with Capt. McDonnell.

If you want the facts, 
if you want the details 
and evidence proving 
Capt. McDonnell was 
left behind !!!!
Continue reading and 
be prepared to be
outraged!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"REFERENCED REPORT PROVIDED INFORMATION 
OF URGENT POLITICAL  SENSITIVITY,"
so reads a Defense Intelligence Agency 
message sent to USDAO SAIGON VIETNAM
on June 15, 1973. Only evidence of 
American POWs left behind in Vietnam
would warrant a message of 
"Urgent Political Sensitivity." That was the
situation facing DIA in June of 1973.

On April 10th, 1973, two days before 
Assistant Secretary of Defense Dr.
Roger Shields declared all the 
POWs home or dead, a North Vietnamese soldier
defected to the south. The defector, 
who held the rank of "aspirant and was
commanding officer for the 157 Co. 21st Bn,2nd Div," 
provided stunning information that 
six (6) American POWs remained in a POW camp in 
Quang Ngai Province. He had seen the six (6) 
Americans as recently as late February 1973.

The source, interviewed by U.S. 
investigators on May 22nd, 
(remember this date, it's important) 
described the six (6), as an American 
"Captain" and 5 NCOs The source never 
got a good look at the NCOs and could 
provide no descriptions. 
However, the source did provide a detailed 
description of the "Captain." 
The source said he saw and conversed with 
the Captain, on four (4) separate occasions 
between August 1972 and February 1973.

110900A Jun 73 -- From the Department of 
Defense National Military Command Center: 
"In August 1972, Source entered an MR-5 POW Camp.... 
Source contacted members of the 12th Artillery Bn (NVA) 
who were at the POW Camp location to study the operation 
of captured 105 MM Howitzers.  Their instructor was a
captured American Artillery Officer... 
who was captured (estimated 1968-1969) by the 
459th Sapper Regt. in Binh Dinh  Province. The POW was
forced to give artillery instructions under threat of 
execution. In addition to the officer, there were five (5) 
American NCOs referred to as sergeants and 200 ARVN POWs.... 
The Americans were segregated from the ARVN POWs. Source
only caught a glimpse of the five NCOs and thus could 
provide no information concerning them. Source, however, 
conversed with the Artillery Captain on four different 
occasions, from August 1972 until late February 1973."

"Source stated the American officer was 
approximately 75 inches tall, with
blue eyes and blond hair. He had a high 
bridged nose and was thin but had a large 
frame. The artillery Captain had a small 
mole on the upper portion of his left lip 
and a scar approximately 1 1/2 inches long 
behind his left ear.
Subject had two tattoos- one on his right 
forearm... the other on his upper left arm.... 
The American was married and had one girl 11 
and one boy aged 5. 
Source states that on the four occasions he 
conversed with this Captain, a Sr. LT. Hinh MR-5 
interpreter, assisted him. 
Source states the Captain was from Texas, 
the same place where President Johnson lived, 
and from source's imitation of the sound of his 
name it may be inferred that the officer's
first name was John (sic)...."

According to the source the POW 
"was forced to give artillery instruction
under threat of execution." 
We would assume that the 5 American NCOs in camp
with the "Captain" faced the same threat of  execution, 
if the "Captain" failed to cooperate.

"...Source shown DIA Photo Book... 
and stated that the shape of the face of
photo no. W052 (James J. Wright) was similar 
to the Captain's. Source later indicated that 
Photo No. C166 (Phillip S. Clark, Jr.) looked 
more like the Captain, and could possibly be 
the same individual. Source  claims that
according to [NAME] the communists considered 
releasing the ARVN prisoners in Nhon Loc District 
in late February 1973, but could not do so due to heavy
fighting in the area. When asked about the Americans, 
[NAME] claimed they had not been released yet because 
they were "needed" and added they would
probably have to be taken North before being released."

June 13th, 1973 -- the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) 
narrowed down the identity of the Captain to one of two men. 
They were Captain John T. McDonnell and Sgt. Glenn E. Tubbs, 
both of the United States Army.

June 15th, 1973 -- the DIA issued their message regarding 
"INFORMATION OF URGENT POLITICAL SENSITIVITY." 
After declaring all the POW's home or dead,
the Department of Defense faced a unique crisis. 
A first hand eyewitness provided a detailed 
description of an American POW alive in Quang Ngai
Province in February 1973, and he was not alone.

In DIA's words, "Analysis of the descriptive 
data of the "American Captain" has produced 
two candidates. Although neither fits the description
perfectly, both have enough of the reported 
characteristics that their photographs should be shown 
to the source. The two individuals are M133
(McDonnell J.T. Capt., USA) and T046 (Tubbs, G.E. E5, USA)... 
Both families are being interviewed to determine what 
tattoos and scars the individuals may have had. Sgt. Tubbs 
is known to have had one tattoo on each arm. It is
not known whether Capt. McDonnell had tattoos. The scar 
behind the left ear fits Capt.. McDonnell. It is not known 
if Sgt. Tubbs had a similar scar."

July 1, 1973 -  Dept. of Army Staff Communications Division - 
Message discusses a photo identification by the source. 
The document reads "Source on two occasions selected photo 
L035, Page A391, as closely resembling the American, he 
spoke to prior to rallying GVN. He stated POW has gray or light
hair, but facial features in L035 closely resemble POW in question."  
The message also discusses efforts to "surface other sources 
from Ba To area, to develop additional information."

July 11, 1973 -  Major C.W. Watson adds a comment 
to the above referenced message which states: 
"Photo #L035 is of LTC Carter Luna, USAF, lost 10 Mar '69'
over Laos (XD028815). For source to have seen Luna in grid 
square BS, the POW would have had to have been moved several 
hundred KM SE from his loss location - something which 
experience has shown was simply not done. 
Photo of McDonnell in DIA photo book does not resemble 
photos in OACSI files but does have similarities with 
LTC Luna's photo. OACSI is sending additional photos of 
McDonnell and Tubbs (another Army Candidate) to 
USDAO Saigon for possible ID by source."

Photographs of Capt. McDonnell, provided to the 
National Alliance of Families, do show a passing 
resemblance to the photo of LTC Luna in the 
Pre Capture Photo Book. It should also be noted 
that LTC Luna's photo appears on page A391, 
Captain McDonnell's photo appears on page A390. 
Both pages face each other.

U. S. search teams operated in the area from 1600 hours (4 P.M.) 
March 6th to March 12th. They found no sign of Capt. McDonnell. 
On March 7th, at approximately 1330 hours (1:30 P.M.) American 
search teams located Lt. Greenfield, near the downed helicopter. 
Lt. Greenfield was seriously wounded and had no memory of events 
after the crash.  Examination of the downed helicopter revealed 
that Capt. McDonnell's seat belt and harness were open and placed 
neatly on the seat. Search teams located McDonnell's helmet.
There was no sign of blood in the helmet. Also located at the crash 
site were maps, weapons, and survival equipment. According the 
"JTF-FA Narrative" presented to the Vietnamese in 1989, 
this suggests "he either had to quickly flee the area or was captured."

Sgt. Glenn Tubbs was a rifle man on a Long Range Reconnaissance 
patrol. During a river crossing, Sgt. Tubbs lost his grip on the 
safety line. The current was strong and he was swept away. Search 
efforts were complicated when helicopters received enemy fire. 
Early records list  Sgt. Tubbs loss location as South Vietnam.  
The actual loss location, corrected years later, was Cambodia.

"Recently, we spoke with Pamela Tubbs, wife of 
Sgt. Glenn Tubbs. She remembers being contacted 
by the Army in mid 1973. She was asked to provide
additional photos and a detailed physical 
description of her husband. When we asked her if 
she knew why they were requesting this information, 
she said she was told it would help with identification 
should remains be recovered.
She was never told of a possible live sighting."

"Mrs. Tubbs confirmed her husband did have a 
tattoo, on the right forearm. Official 
documentation obtained by the National 
Alliance of Families shows that the tattoo 
described by the source does not match Sgt.Tubbs. 
Mrs.Tubbs also confirmed that Sgt. Tubbs did 
not have a scar behind the left ear. Based on 
the information we provided her, she does not 
believe the "Army Captain" could be her husband."

Both Captain McDonnell and Sgt Tubbs are from 
Texas and married. Capt. McDonnell has three 
children. Sgt. Tubbs has two. The physical 
description fits Capt. McDonnell, with one 
possible discrepancy. There is no record of
Capt. McDonnell having tattoos.

It is interesting to note that in discussing 
descriptions involving tattoos, official documentation 
indicates that many servicemen acquired tattoos while
in service, and therefore official records may not be 
accurate in this matter. As one analyst wrote, 
regarding another investigation; 
" Files should not be considered foolproof because 
service members might not have entered all tattoos." 
Therefore, the presence of a tattoo or tattoos should
not negate a sources information. Records available 
to the National Alliance of Families confirm 
Capt. McDonnell has a scar, as described by the source,
behind the left ear.

In addition to the physical description, 
the first name, the time frame of capture, 
rank of the POW, the fact that the POW was 
an ARVN advisor and artillery officer all 
match Capt. McDonnell. It should be noted 
that Capt. McDonnell was on his third tour 
of duty. His first two tours were served
with the Green Berets as an ARVN advisor.

In reviewing this material one must remember that 
all four conversations were conducted through an 
interpreter. Minor errors of translation may have
occurred regarding the number of children. It 
should also be remembered that the number of children 
is a minor detail which the source may have been
confused. It is critical to remember that all major 
facts relating to the American "Captain" correlate 
to John McDonnell.

Under ordinary circumstances the absence of a tattoo 
on each arm would raise concerns as to our conclusion, 
that Capt. McDonnell was the POW in Quang Ngai,if it 
were not for one additional fact.  This was not the first
sighting of Capt. McDonnell in captivity.

This first sighting provides a physical description 
almost identical to the description of the "Captain" 
in the Quang Ngai POW camp. The Joint Casualty
Resolution Center correlated that report to 
Capt. McDonnell, also.

February 16th, 1973 -- another North Vietnamese 
rallied to the GVN. This source was a former 
NVA sergeant. He served as squad leader with the 
5th Company, 14th Antiaircraft Battalion NVA 2nd 
Yellow Star Division. A report, generated by the 
Central Intelligence Agency on July 24th, 1973, 
provides a firsthand observation of two 
U.S. Prisoners of War with the North Vietnamese 
Army 2nd Yellow Star Division in Laos, on three
different occasions, between May and July of 1971.

The first sighting took place "in early 
May or June 1971 when he saw the two
POWs eating lunch with personnel of the 
Military Staff and political offices, 
North Vietnamese Army (NVA) 2nd Yellow 
Star Division [word unreadable] 
Doan 2 Sao Vang, at the 13th Commo-Liaison Station 
(WD876558),33rd Binh Tram, NVA 559th infiltration 
line (Doung Day 559) in Savannakhet
Province Laos. 
He observed them for about 30 minutes."

"The second time source saw the same POWs 
was for about two minutes in July 1971."

"The third time he saw the POWs was for about 
ten minutes in July 1971,while POWs were 
sitting in a hut in the division's base camp 
area."  The source was told that the POWs 
"had been captured by the NVA 2nd  Division 
in Quang Nam Province, South Vietnam.

Source Observed the POWs the first time from 
at a distance of about two meters. Both were 
Caucasian, one was about 30 years old, about
1.8 meters tall, and weighed about 90 kilos. 
He had a heavy build, a pink complexion, a
long face, short brownish blond hair, a 
receding hairline, a high straight nose, brown 
eyes, white regular teeth, a round mouth, and 
a red mole under his lower left lip. He was 
wearing a green NVA uniform consisting of a
short-sleeved shirt and trousers. He was also 
wearing a white metal "Seiko" wrist watch and 
a large gold ring with a red ruby on his left hand."

"In about October 1972, servant (sic) NAME, 
a radio operator in the NVA 2nd Division, 
told Source that the two POWs had been sent 
to North Vietnam. (According to JCRC 
"no correlation could be made on the second 
POW cited in the report.")

With regard to the first POW, JCRC stated in the 
"Field Comment" -- "Records indicate that source 
probably observed Capt. John T. McDonnell, USA
(JCRC Nr. 0176).... 

There is an indication that McDonnell may have been captured.... 
McDonnell's description follows: 
age in 1971 was 31, 
height: 1.77 meters; 
weight 75 kilos' 
hair; brown; 
race; Caucasian 
wears white silver Seiko 
watch and large ring on
left hand.
A photo of Captain McDonnell wearing such a 
ring was provided to the National Alliance of 
Families by the McDonnell family.

JCRC re-contacted the source. He was shown 
McDonnell's photo "mixed with 15 other 
photographs. However source was unable to 
make an identification. Then he was shown 
McDonnell's photographs. After five minute 
of study, source said that the photograph
looked very similar to the POW who wore the ring,
except that his hair was longer and that his nose 
was long and nostrils were less pronounced. He 
said that the shape of the face, the eyes, and the 
mouth were similar to the man in the photograph, 
but stopped short of making a definite 
identification because of the difference in the 
hair style and nose."

It is important here that we remember Major C.W. Watson's 
comments regarding photos of Captain McDonnell. 
Major Watson stated; "Photo of McDonnell in DIA
photo book does not resemble photos in OACSI files."

By June 20th, 1973, the Army was busy contacting 
men who served with Captain McDonnell, in an 
effort to obtain additional information regarding scars and
tattoos. There is no indication of such an effort 
regarding Sgt. Tubbs.

April 23, 1976 -- The next record, available to us, 
comes in a report compiled by the Joint Casualty 
Resolution Center. The report is titled "Project X." 
"Project X" was a study to "evaluate the possibility 
of any of the unaccounted for being alive. The 
conclusion reached is: There is a possibility that as 
many as 57 Americans could be alive...."

Among the 57 Servicemen mentioned in "Project X" is 
Capt. John T. McDonnell.
The Case Summary on Capt. McDonnell cites the 1971 
sighting of McDonnell stating "information in this 
report correlated to Capt. McDonnell." There is
no mention of the 1972 - 1973 sightings in Quang Ngai."

A Joint Casualty Resolution Center Biographic 
report, as 2 Oct 1986 summarizing Captain McDonnell's 
loss incident, makes no mention of the  Ba
To sighting. Of the Lao sighting the Biographic report 
states "The rallier made no positive identification 
of Capt. McDonnell's photo, (sic)  but states
that his photo looked very similar to the PW who wore 
a large ring.
(Information in this report correlated to Capt. McDonnell)."

In the late 1980's the name of 
John McDonnell 
was placed on the "Original
119" Vessey  Discrepancy List.

What was the significance of being on the 
"Original 119" Vessey  Discrepancy List? 
In a November 15th, 1989 letter to then 
Congressman Bob Smith, General John W. Vessey Jr. 
writes "The discrepancy cases I presented to the
Vietnamese were those in which Americans were known 
to have survived the incident in which they were 
involved. We believed they came into Vietnamese
hands and probably were prisoners of the Vietnamese. 
These individuals did not return during Operation 
Homecoming in 1973, nor were their bodies returned 
in the intervening years and no explanation was 
provided by the Vietnamese. Because these cases may 
shed light on the fate of an American serviceman 
believed to have been alive after his loss, they 
are the priority of our efforts."

On April 25th 1991, Kenneth Quinn, then 
Chairman of the Administration's POW/MIA 
Inter Agency Group testified before the 
Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on 
Asian and Pacific Affairs. In response to 
a question from Senator Alan Cranston, 
Mr. Quinn stated "In terms of actually 
conducting investigations on the ground, 
General Vessey has focused on 119 discrepancy
cases, which is to say those cases, which 
represent, from looking at all the information 
we know about them, represent the greatest 
possibility that the men involved might still 
be alive. We had evidence that they were alive
after the incident occurred where the plane was 
shot down or they were lost on the ground and 
we don't know what happened to them and what 
their fate was."

"So those represented to General Vessey 
the possibility where it is most probable 
or most likely that they might still be alive."

Statements by General Vessey and Mr. Quinn 
re-enforce our position that Capt. McDonnell, 
listed as an "Original 119" Vessey Discrepancy 
Case, was alive in February 1973.

The United States Government possessed strong 
evidence placing John McDonnell in captivity. 
That evidence shows John McDonnell alive in 
February 1973. With the exception of "Project X," 
we were unable to locate any information or 
intelligence dated after July 1973. In fact, as 
demonstrated by Project X, the 1972- 1973 
sighting was not even considered in the
evaluation of John McDonnell case. Why?

1992 - JTF-FA all but ignored the two sightings 
in case narratives, presented to the Vietnamese.  
Of the three JTF-FA Narratives us, dated,
August 1989, July 1990, and Jun 1993, only the 
July 1990 Narrative mentions the 1972-1973 sighting. 
None mentions the 1971 sightings, in which JCRC
concluded " that source probably observed 
Capt. John T. McDonnell."

JTF-FA ignored the strong evidence of John McDonnell's 
capture. They ignored evidence of his imprisonment and 
survival along with five (5) enlisted men.

Instead, in 1992 JTF-FA chose to interview witnesses 
supplied by the Vietnamese. All claimed to have 
witnessed the helicopter crash. None, however, saw 
Captain McDonnell. None witnessed his capture. None 
witnessed his death or participated in his supposed 
burial on March 7, 1969.

September 30, 1992 -- In their field activity 
report JTF-FA said, of the Vietnamese witnesses, 
"Although none of the witnesses actually took 
part in the capture and burial of the American, 
they all provided hearsay information that he died 
while being escorted probably to the Tri Thien Hue
Military region Headquarters..." 
According to the hearsay information the POW 
sustained a leg wound and died the next day. 
Note: Lt. Greenfield suffered a severe leg wound.

Based on the hearsay of 4 Vietnamese the 1993 Narrative 
incorporated the "corroborating hearsay testimony 
concerning the crash of a U.S. helicopter in 1969 and 
the subsequent capture and burial of an American." We 
wonder, would "corroborating hearsay testimony" be 
admissible in a court of law?

In other words, since the Vietnamese witnesses all 
told the same story, it was true.

During Joint Field Activities in conducted in 
April 1998, JTF-FA surfaced witnesses who 
supposedly participated in the burial of 
Capt. McDonnell. The summary reads, in part; 
"witnesses emphatically asserted the location
previously excavated was in fact the burial 
location, but bombing during the war and 
subsequent heavy rains and flooding completely 
wiped out all evidence or remains or an grave site. 
Consequently, the witnesses claimed it would be 
impossible for them to more accurately locate the 
burial site."

Today, the case of John McDonnell is considered 
fate determined. This determination is based, in 
part, on 4 hearsay accounts of Vietnamese witnesses 
who claimed they heard about a captured American, 
who died the next day. JTF-FA routinely ignores 
hearsay information about live POWs.
Yet, in this case they are willing to believe 
hearsay information regarding the death of a POW.
A POW, who by their own records and correlations, 
was alive in February 1973.

One must wonder, if these same four Vietnamese 
provided information that Capt. McDonnell was 
in the Quang Ngai POW Camp at Ba To, would JTF-FA
investigators be so willing to believe them.

In a memo dated 23 August, 1994, we get a glimpse 
of how a "determination of fate" is made. In the 
case of Capt. McDonnell, the memo reads; 
"JTF-FA did not agree with DPMO, argued there was 
sufficient information to confirm fate." 
In the end, the "panel voted 3 - 0 to confirm fate."

We were pleasantly surprised to find that 
someone at DPMO realized there was enough 
evidence to keep this case open. However, 
that analyst was overruled.
In the end, DPMO management prevailed, along 
with JCS and JTF-FA and voted 3- 0 to confirm 
fate. It is our opinion that when in doubt, 
the presumption should be in favor of the POW 
and the case in question should remain open.
Instead, cases are routinely stamped 
"fate confirmed" in spite of evidence
and objections.

The  National Alliance of Families, 
believe that based on the information cited 
above, there can be only one conclusion. 
Capt. John McDonnell was alive as a 
Prisoner of War at least until February 1973. 
We further believe that Capt. John McDonnell 
survived in captivity, as the Nixon 
Administration was declaring him, and the 
5 NCOs with him, dead.

They  believe that this case is ample evidence 
that the Vietnamese government is not 
"cooperating in full faith" on the POW issue. 
How many other cases, like this, are ignored?

They  have been unable to locate any documentation 
that would indicate a follow-up on the 1972-73 
sightings. They  have found no record of attempts to
investigate the MR-5 Prison Camp, referred to by 
the source. They have found no indication of any 
intelligence gathering efforts by the intelligence
agencies of the United States government. And, sadly 
They  have found no record of an official inquiry of 
the Vietnamese regarding the 6 POWs held at the 
Quang Ngai POW Camp.

However, DPMO states, in a memo dated 9 July 1998, 
that "our records indicate that the source was 
re-interviewed several times in 1973." Requests, by 
the McDonnell family, for copies of these reports 
remain unanswered.  The United States and the 
Vietnamese Government must be held responsible for the
fate of John McDonnell and the 5 NCOs with him.

Additionally, we are extremely concerned about 
the misrepresentation of information on this 
case contained in the February 14, 1996 - 
Comprehensive Case Review issued by Defense 
POW/MIA Office and in letters from DPMO dated
17 April 1998 and 9 July 1998..

Of the 1971 live sighting, the Case review describes 
it as "A wartime source reported observing 2 U.S. POWs in 
1971 in Laos. He reported the POWs were collaborating with 
the NVA. He picked a photo of Capt. McDonnell as possibly
resembling one of the POWs he observed. Correlation to case 1402 
is based solely on the tentative photo ID. It is highly 
unlikely that Capt.. McDonnell was seen two years after 
his incident in Laos. The source was very hesitant
in picking out a photo of McDonnell."

  Many notes obtained from The  National Alliance of Families

 Click on Dog Tags to go my Welcome page 
then on to my Menu page
The Dog Tags lead the way....