VANITY: URGENT REQUEST....RESEARCH HELP NEEDED

VANITY | 7/25/03 | ExSoldier

[ExSoldier]

This is an urgent request...a VANITY and I don't usually DO those. I need to find out as much solid information as I can on the subject of Korean War MIA's...and a specific group known as "The Ashley Five"

A relative of my wife was a member of the Ashley five, a B29 that was shot down near Pyongyang on Jan. 29th 1953 by Mig fire. All crew safely parachuted to the ground and were picked up by North Korean soldiers. They were among the 8000 odd POW's NOT returned to US or UN control at the end of the war, under Operations Big and Little SWITCH. There is ample evidence that this group was later sent into Russia because all of them (and the other 8000) were of scientific backgrounds or held those types of degrees. This sordid secret was suppressed by our government and many sitting Presidents of both parties...but most notably was the Eisenhower administration who knew and elected not to restart the war...effectively damning them to a fate worse than death.

There are several books on the topic which mention "the Five" as well as the Aug 17th issue of the Washington Times, from 1997. Books include "SOLDIERS OF MISFORTUNE" by Mark Sauter and James Saunders and "THE MEN WE LEFT BEHIND" by Mark Sauter. The women of their men who were the Ashley Five went to China in the 1950's seeking the release of their men. Some addressed the United Nations and even a joint session of Congress and various select committees. This was a time when women didn't DO such things. When the Pueblo was taken those familes contacted the relatives of "The FIVE" for help.

There was a UN Commando rescue mission to get them out. Operation: GREEN DRAGON was aborted due to heavy groundfire.

[armstras06]

Someone had mentioned, that Lt. Ashley was forced to help the North Koreans. Also that several of the offices might have been in China or N. Korea. We received a letter during that period of my Uncle “J.P.” as John was known as. The letter was in Mongolian and in his fraternity's color (Sigma Alpha Epsilon”. After that the letters stopped.

[armstras06]

She did address Congress on multiple occasions