JohnGrafNAF.doc

Natl Alliance of POW/MIA Families Newsletter

What Do The Vietnamese Know About POW John Graf...So, We Asked Again And We Asked Again And Again And Again And Again.... What's In The Debrief...pages.prodigy.net/lynnpowmia/naf1.htm

"On March 17, 1969, Finney was flying in an A-6A aircraft on a night armed reconnaissance mission over Laos. Crewmen from other aircraft in the area observed an explosion in the vicinity of the target, then a second explosion nearby which was believed to be that of Finney's aircraft. There were no parachutes sighted and no emergency beepers were heard. Search and rescue efforts were terminated several days later when no signs of survivors were found. In 1995 and 1999, joint U.S.-Lao teams interviewed local villagers in the area of the crash, then conducted an excavation in Savannakhet province. A local worker turned over a military identification tag relating to Finney's fellow crewmember. The team also recovered numerous pieces of aircraft wreckage, personal effects and possible human remains. This evidence aided in the final identification..."

"Also on January 31 and February 1, the Defense Intelligence Agency prepared a list of American POWs not identified on DRV-PRG-PL lists. This list of 82, including 70 servicemen and 12 civilians, is attached. The DIA provided Henry Kissinger with loss information about 80 of the people on this list of 82. Dr. Kissinger selected 19 to present to the Vietnamese in Hanoi during his February trip. The make-up of his list of 19 is unclear; however, five were lost in Laos (DeBruin, Shelton, Hrdlicka, Creed, and Evans)."

"These same names were on the first list of priority cases (102 in all) presented in Saigon on April 17, 1973 to the DRV-PRG representatives. The U.S. received no response."

Two names appearing on the list of 82 were Captain Robert White and LCDR John Graf.

Do I Hear Two - In the March 11th edition of "Bits" we discussed a study published in June 1975, titled "Negotiating with the North Vietnamese: A Military Perspective." The study detailed the operations of the Four Party Joint Military Team (FPJMT).

According to the study, members of the FPJMT, "asked PRG to provide information on a specific MIA when (sic) intelligence sources reported as still being held captive." They weren't asking about John McDonnell although they should have. The POW in question was Navy pilot John Graf and at least some of the intelligence came from a real good source, returned POW Robert White.

On March 28th, 1973, the last Freedom Bird left Hanoi. Richard Nixon proudly announced that all the POWs were on there way home and the Vietnamese said, No they're not. On April 1, 1973, the Vietnamese released Army Captain Robert White. This is the same Robert White whose name appears on the "Kissinger List" presented in Paris in January 1973. At that time the Vietnamese denied any knowledge of Capt. White, Cmdr. John Graf, or any the 80 others named on that list.

By now you have all heard that the Defense POW/MIA Office, with the assistance of certain congressional representatives succeeded in attaching an amendment to the 2000 Defense Authorization Act that would keep all POW debriefs classified and under the control of DPMO. The amendment stipulates that any case specific information regarding a POW/MIA must be added that POW/MIA's file. We must depend on DPMO to get that job done.

We are, however, prepared to tell you what Robert White had to say regarding John Graf. The following is a summary of the debriefing of Robert White. It is typed verbatim, with all errors and abbreviations.

"29Mar73 W089 (White) instructed by VC area commander to tell US authorities Graf had drowned in Feb 72--VC guard corrected commander by saying date of death was Feb 1970. Date of death- poss 1972 Feb ---- W089 bases his belief that Graf may be dead solely on info from VC commander on 29 Mar 73 and fact that Graf not released. The following info furnished by W089 indicates, however Graf may still be alive --- 1 - on 1 Feb 70, 5 days after Graf escape W089 hrd man coughing in prison camp W089 stated that he hrd cough before and believed it to be Graf. --2- When W089 was initially captured he told VC that he had 2 children-was a lie. After Graf escape in Jan 70- W089 changed story told VC had no children. On other occasions dates not recalled - yrs 1971- 1972 - VC that W089 had never seen before would query him concerning number of children that he had would answer by saying had none. VC seemed surprised- insisted had 2 children W089 believes only way VC could gain info was through Graf.-- In July or Aug 1971 W089 was told by VC guard who he trusted that Graf had good understand of Vietnamese language. This was fact.-- 4 July or Aug 71 W089 told by same VC that a-craft carrier was 750 mtrs long- and guard also asked about AD-6 a-craft which are based on carriers- W089 knew that Graf was once stated on a-craft carrier and surmises that guard could have only gained this info thru Graf.---5- In Aug or Sept 1971, W089 was told by same VC guard that Graf had full beard-was less than 1 kilometer east where W089 was being held.---6- in Feb 73, W089 was told by VC guard that Graf knew of peace agreement for US PWS release W089 recalled that in 70 or 71 the VC area Co. asked about Denver and Honolulu. White had told Graf that is his duty station had been Denver Co. Graf had told White that he left his wife in Honolulu Hawaii. W089 said that when he was 1st captured he and Graf had supplied VC w- some biographical data but this not among facts given. White believes that only source of info was Graf. In Dec72 a VC officer came to CP with 2 Paper forms. VC Officer interested in biographical data. One had Whites name the other Graf on it, with a long narrative in Vietnamese. Later saw the same paper on Graf at release point. It was typed not handwritten as he had first seen it."

Based on this information, and perhaps other intelligence, the member of the FPJMT requested information on John Graf. According to the FPJMT Negotiating Chronology, for the period April 1 - Dec 31 1973, the first request came on April 7th, 1973. The chronology is divided into three categories; originating source, response and present status.

The April 7th entry reads:

Origination Source: "In private, US asked Chief, PRGDEL to provide USDEL with all available information on the status of LCDR John George Graf, USN, who has been missing since 15 November 1969. US also provided memo on this subject."

Response: Chief, PRGDEL stated he would study available information and inform US later.

Present Status: LCDR Graf's status still unresolved.

So, we asked again, on April 9th. That entry reads:

Originating source: US requests information on status of LCDR Graf.

Response: PRG responded that local PRG authorities had been instructed to provide all available information and that PRG hoped it would have a reply for US soon. PRG also linked overall MIA solution to RVN release of civilian detainees.

Present Status: LCDR Graf's status still unresolved.

So, we asked again, on April 30th. That entry reads:

Originating source: US., in private, again asked PRG for answers to US letters requesting information about the status of LCDR Graf and the location of the graves o f those persons who died in captivity.

Response: PRG reiterated that this information had been requested from local officials and that the answers would be forwarded to USDEL as soon as received.

Present Status: No information has been received.

So, we asked again, on June 5th. That entry reads:

Originating Source: In private, US again requested status of LCDR Graf.

Response: PRG informed US that it had been unsuccessful in getting information about LCDR Graf, but that additional information about DIC's and a visit to their graves may be provided in the future.

Present Status: Status of LCDR Graf still unresolved. No DIC information has been received and no visits to DIC graves have been allowed.

So, we asked again, on June 7th. That entry reads: Originating Source: US sent letter to PRGDEL requesting status of the search for information about LCDR Graf. US offered helicopter support to fly PRGDEL officials to Vinh Binh Province to confer with local officials and obtains information.

Response: Letter was received without comment

Present Status: No information has been provided.

So, we asked again, on October 3rd. That entry reads:

Originating Source: US submitted memo to PRG reviewing prior requests for information about LCDR Graf and again requested information.

Response: Memo was received without comment.

Present Status: No information has been received.

So, we asked again and we asked again and again and again and again. Twenty seven years have passed, and we are still asking. We are amazed anyone can use the words Vietnam and "full cooperation" in the same sentence without rolling on the floor doubled up with laughter. It certainly would be funny, if it weren't so damn sad.

What's In The Debrief That They Don't Want Us To Know About -- Look as the summary of the White debrief on Graf. Let's see what they don't want us to know. 1 - Graf may very well have been alive on April 1, 1973, when Wite was released. 2. The Vietnamese had a written record on Graf. That record was last seen by White at his release on April 1. (Safe Bet: no other American has seen that piece of paper since April 1, 1973.) 3. White was (and this is a biggie) informed of impending release of POWs by his guard. This means that there was communication between the camp and Hanoi and White was not the "newly found" POW the Vietnamese claimed him to be. 4. The Vietnamese can readily account for John Graf.

One must wonder what information may be contained in the classified portions of the White debrief?

All this sure shoots down the myth of Vietnamese "full cooperation."

Do We Hear Three - McDonnell and Graf.... Do we hear three. You will. Maybe we will get to Desaix Anderson's definition of what isn't a large enough number.

National Alliance of Families Eleventh Annual Forum is scheduled for June 22th - 24th, 2000, at the Wyndham Hotel, Washington, D.C. (Same as last year.) Room rates are $105.00 per night. For reservations call 202-775-0800. Contributions are needed to finance our forum. Donations may be mailed to:

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