Unbelievable Uncovering of

Korean War POW/MIA Documents

(Part 2)

By: John Zimmerlee

When you've been searching as long as we have, you will soon realize that finding a worthwhile document with your loved-one's name on it just isn't going to happen.

What you will find are hundreds of other documents that might help someone else, but who else?

Due to the McCain Act and some other bureaucratic non-sense, we can't easily identify each other as having a common interest . . . the missing men from the Korean and Cold Wars. That's why the Coalition of Families was born.

In the last newsletter, I wrote about my search for an elusive document about my father that lead to many boxes of similar documents about other MIAs. Perhaps one of them is your missing loved-one.

In the following pages, you will come to realize how we can help each other. Within the meager amount of information you have on your missing loved-one, you probably have something that will shed light on at least one other missing serviceman.

The first of this series was published in the January issue of Update & Review. If you don't have a copy, check our website. There will be many more of these articles until we get through all of the KT reports . . . about 1500 of them that mention POWs.

These documents came from the Allied Translator & Interpreter Section - Far East Command. Note that the original interrogations may have been conducted by the Army or Marine Corp, then edited and reproduced by ATIS. Most of those interviewed are prisoners (PW) captured from the other side, but many are our servicemen who were behind enemy lines and managed to escape.

Shown here are excerpts from the interrogation documents . My (Editor) notes indicate my opinion as to whom the information might relate. These are only my personal opinions, not supported by fact or any Government agency.

Keep in mind that most statements are regarding incidents that occurred months before the interrogation and details may be confused. Some of those sighted may have subsequently returned. If you recognize someone who did return, please let us know.

As you will note, references are often made to age, race, rank, unit, height, hair color, etc. We need for all families of Korean War missing servicemen to send us their loved-one's information and contact information on the family to help identify these men.

Please note the following abbreviations and what I assume each one represents:

CCF Communist Chinese Forces

EM Enlisted Man (non-officer)

KT Perhaps Korean Theater or Translation or Tactical

NKA North Korean Army (Our enemy. We now have evidence that they were assisted by

China & Russia)

PW Prisoner of War. (Often the one interviewed, captured from the

opposing forces, but also our guys if preceded by UN or US)

ROKA Republic of Korea Army (The Army we were helping to keep their

country free from the Communists)

UN PW United Nations Prisoner of War (Could be American, Italian,

British, Turk, etc)

US PW Usually our guys, though often confused with Europeans.

ARMY Note that divisions, regiments and other references are similar

on both sides. It's often difficult to distinguish.

Coalition Headquarters
P.O. Box 7152
Roanoke, VA 24019-0152
email@coalitionoffamilies.org