The MIA Role in Vietnam Trade Policy

I am the son of a Missing in Action serviceman from the Vietnam War.

The article, “Door Into Vietnam: U.S. Companies Test Limits of Trade Embargo” (Aug. 30), accurately stated that the MIA issue is impeding the progress of normalization of relations between our two countries.

However, what the article failed to do is consider the feelings of the families, and their concern that their men will be lost forever if sufficient pressure is not kept up on both governments to accurately account for them.

There is no longer any speculation about whether men were left behind alive in Vietnamese prisons. The Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs has released reports of at least 133 men that were known to be in alive in captivity. Some were reportedly still alive as recently as four years ago.

Men like my father went to war prepared to do whatever their government asked--to fight, to be wounded, to die, but not to be abandoned!

I don’t begrudge anyone their potential business profits, but I think these businessmen should be using their influence to encourage greater participation in the solution of the MIA issue.

BRUCE E. BROWN

Highland