Changes in attitudes,

changes in latitudes

 

 

    It is sometimes good to reflect and remember that the question of missing servicemen was, at one time, a current political issue, visited by more than just a handful of our elected officials.

 

     Sadly, the political landscape has long since grown over with other issues, and most in Washington never stop to think of, or mention, the men who were left behind in the struggle to preserve freedom.

 

     But the men are still missing. Their families are still heartbroken. The United States still owes a debt it hasn’t paid.

     Believe it or not, there was a time when Congress actually concerned itself with this important matter …

 

Executive Session • House Resolution 292

Monday, June 24th, 1957

House of Representatives • Washington, D.C.

Committee on Foreign Affairs

Subcommittee on the Far East and the Pacific,

 

     Mr. Zablocki: As the members will recall, Congressman Lane, Congressman Burdick, Congressman Withrow and myself had concurrent resolutions pending before this committee on which we had hearings. The concurrent resolutions were to express the sense of the Congress with respect to a satisfactory accounting of 450 American prisoners of war who were not accounted for by the Communists.

 

     It is a simple House Resolution saying: “Whereas four hundred and fifty American military personnel taken prisoner by the Communists during the Korean War have not been repatriated or otherwise accounted for since the cessation of hostilities in Korea; and

 

     “Whereas under the terms of the Korean armistice agreement all American prisoners of war should have been accounted for long before now; and

 

     “Whereas the United States of America has never acquiesced in actions by foreign nations which illegally deprive our citizens of their liberty; and

 

     “Whereas the historic policy of firmly supporting the right of American citizens should be continued: Now, therefore, be it

 

     “Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that the President, through his own offices, and those of the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense, should continue to make the return of or a satisfactory accounting for the 450 American prisoners of war a primary objective of the foreign policy of the United States.”

 

     Mr. Zablocki. It is unanimously approved.