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by: Rick Downes
We all know the patriotic surge that goes
with sending Johnny off to war. The nation will be waiting with a hero's welcome when he
[or now she] returns. If Johnny is killed, he'll be buried with a hero's wake. Of course,
no man or woman will ever be left behind. Then reality sets in, wars develop a political
personality, and Johnny doesn't always return to the same patriotic fervor. If Johnny is
unaccounted for, it's not long before he is forgotten. The aftermath of war can be just
as predictable as its beginnings.
During the last half of the century, wars
were seldom won outright. One of the many cards stacked against the missing-in-action was
the unwillingness of opposing sides to resolve the issue. Fate dealt the Korean War MIAs
a joker for their hand. The Cold War lasted for decades. North Korea, the Soviet Union and
China protected their secrets with fierce determination. Any living MIA was dealt a life
sentence.
The winds have slowly changed direction for
their families. Over the past decade, Russia has allowed access to some records and freedom
to interview its citizens. North Korea has tolerated remains excavations. Now, China shows
signs that they are warming to the issue. A couple of crash sites have been made available.
The Chinese army is also considering cases where evidence indicates that information on the
MIA's case may exist in their archives.
Unfortunately, neither China's nor Russia's
records are maintained as we might hope. They are scattered throughout the country or housed
in rough conditions. The Chinese army's archives are still classified and there is no
declassification system. Even America has lost records to fires. There are answers out there,
however. More and more of them are becoming available. DPMO has established protocols for pursuing
cases with leads that might take them somewhere. Any government agency needs to be prodded and
poked, of course. That's the way things gets done anywhere. Avenues are opening, however.
Answers to the MIA mysteries will not appear on
their own. Governments can be persuaded to help but the dedication and determination of the
families is what will sustain the effort. Even direct contact with other nations will complement
official action our own government may take. In the end, our voice must reach all corners of the
world. Yes, that may be difficult , but as we have learned, our loved ones can only count on their
families to discover their fate. That is their legacy to us … and our responsibility to follow.
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