Vietnam War POW/MIA Southeast Asia FBI – CIA – State Department Files

Description

Southeast Asia POW/MIA Investigations and Documentation

Timeline of Main Events (Based on the Provided Source)

This timeline focuses on the periods and activities described in the document excerpts related to POW/MIAs in Southeast Asia.

• 1962 – 1992: Period covered by CIA operational files, intelligence reports, memoranda, background studies, and open-source files concerning American POWs/MIAs in Southeast Asia. The majority of these records are from the late 1960s and early 1970s.
• 1970 – 1973: FBI investigation of the Committee of Liaison with Families of Servicemen Detained in North Vietnam (COLIFAM). The FBI suspected COLIFAM, a U.S. antiwar group, of acting as a vehicle for North Vietnamese propaganda and believed their activities were detrimental to the welfare of POWs. The investigation considered possible prosecution under the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
• 1982: Efforts by the FBI to compile information regarding American prisoners of war or American citizens in Vietnam.
• Late 1980s – Early 1990s: Department of State memoranda dealing with diplomatic issues related to American POWs/MIAs in Southeast Asia.
• July 1992: Executive Order 12812 issued, requiring all executive branch agencies to review, declassify, and release all relevant documents pertaining to American POWs and MIAs missing in Southeast Asia. This order led to the release of many CIA files.
• 1992: The FBI provided assistance to the Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs by furnishing information and conducting investigations on behalf of the committee on all facets of POW issues.

Cast of Characters (Principle People Mentioned)

This section lists the principal entities mentioned in the source, as specific individuals are not detailed within the provided text.

• American POWs/MIAs: U.S. servicemen who were either prisoners of war or missing in action in Southeast Asia during and after the Vietnam War. Their status and whereabouts were the central concern of the investigations and document collection efforts.
• Committee of Liaison with Families of Servicemen Detained in North Vietnam (COLIFAM): A U.S. antiwar group that acted as a communication link between American POWs held in North Vietnam and their families. The FBI investigated them for potentially acting as agents of North Vietnamese propaganda.
• Families of Servicemen Detained in North Vietnam: The relatives of American servicemen held as prisoners of war in North Vietnam. COLIFAM aimed to serve as a liaison for these families.
• North Vietnamese Government: The government of North Vietnam, which held American prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. COLIFAM was suspected of being influenced by or acting on behalf of this government.
• FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation): The primary domestic intelligence and law enforcement agency of the United States. They conducted investigations into reported POW/MIA sightings, the activities of COLIFAM, and assisted the Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs.
• CIA (Central Intelligence Agency): The foreign intelligence service of the United States. They collected intelligence related to American POWs/MIAs in Southeast Asia, and their records from 1962-1992 were reviewed and released due to Executive Order 12812.
• Department of State: The U.S. federal department responsible for foreign policy and international relations. They dealt with diplomatic issues related to American POWs/MIAs, particularly in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
• President Richard Nixon: While not directly mentioned in the timeline of events, his administration likely oversaw the initial stages of the POW/MIA issue and the FBI’s investigation into antiwar groups like COLIFAM. His “Enemies List” is mentioned as a related product, suggesting the political climate of the time was relevant to these investigations.
• Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs: A committee of the U.S. Senate that investigated the issue of American prisoners of war and missing in action in Southeast Asia. The FBI provided assistance to this committee in 1992.

Vietnam War POW/MIA Southeast Asia FBI – CIA – State Department Files

7,670 pages of FBI, CIA, and State Department documents dealing with American POWs/MIAs in Southeast Asia.

FBI FILES

4,900 pages of files copied from FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C., covering American POWs/MIAs in Southeast Asia.

Files document various FBI state side investigations into reported sightings of the remains of and living U.S. servicemen in Vietnam and Laos.

Files chronicle a 1970-1973 FBI investigation of the Committee of Liaison with Families of Servicemen Detained in North Vietnam (COLIFAM), a U.S. antiwar group acting as “liaison” between POWs and their families. The group was alleged by the FBI to be a vehicle of North Vietnamese propaganda whose activities the FBI believed to be detrimental to the health and welfare of the prisoners held in North Vietnam. The FBI was investigating COLIFAM for possible prosecution for solicitation under the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

Files show the efforts of the FBI in 1982 to compile information concerning American prisoners of war or American citizens in Vietnam. In 1992, the FBI provided assistance to the Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs by furnishing information and/or performing investigations on behalf of the Committee on all facets of POW issues.

CIA FILES

2,200 pages of CIA operational files, finished intelligence reports, memoranda, background studies, and open source files dealing with American POWs/MIAs in Southeast Asia from 1962 to 1992, mostly from the late 60’s and early 70’s. These records concerning Vietnam-era prisoners of war and missing in action were located, reviewed and released as a result of requests from next of kin and other interested parties concerning specific individuals in this category.

Most of the records, however, were released as a result of Executive Order 12812 dated July 1992. This order required all executive branch agencies of the government to review, declassify and release all relevant documents pertaining to American POWs and MIAs missing in Southeast Asia.

 
DEPARTMENT OF STATE FILES

570 pages of Department of State American POWs/MIAs in Southeast Asia files. Files contain memoranda dealing with diplomatic issues from the late 1980’s and early 1990’s.