Are POWs Coming Home?

Whenever we speak of POWs, controversy is always present. The very fact that there is even one POW or MIA still missing sparks controversy. For many, hope remains alive through organizations and individuals such as Glazov Front Page and Bob Dumas, who both tirelessly pursue the truth behind what has become of our POWs and MIAs. Still, almost everyone thinks about how many still remain captive in other countries from wars fought recently, or from years ago.

Sometimes, amidst the controversy, there are small conquests, such as what occurred over 30 years ago when more than 600 American POWs left North Vietnam after years of captivity, to be finally returned home in 1973 during Operation Homecoming. Another victory occurred April 20, 2003 in El Paso, Texas, where thousands of well-wishers cheered as seven former POWs returned to Texas from the war in Iraq and were reunited with their families. In May of 1999, three US POWs that were captured and held by Yugoslavia were repatriated. The POWS were immediately given cell phones to call home. Also reported in May of 1999, there were still 2,063 Americans unaccounted for from the Vietnam War.

Under the international humanitarian law and Red Cross law, it states that we much facilitate in every possible way the reunification of families separated as a result of armed conflict, and that the parties in conflict are urged to help locate and cooperate with the ICRC (International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent) and the National Societies in their work of accounting for the missing and the dead.