Missing but not forgotten - Families of soldiers seek answers from Dept. of Defense

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | March 26, 2006 | Carolyn Jones

[Former Military Chick]

Barbara Novak remembers her big brother as an easygoing, good-humored guy who pushed her on a swing set and hoisted her on his shoulders when he came home on military leave.

"He was like a lot of young men at the time -- he wanted to serve his country," said Novak, 64, who lives in Livermore. "He had a lot of pride, and we were all very proud of him."

But on July 12, 1950, Pvt. Nicholas John Hansinger, a medic in the Korean War, was captured and marched to a prison camp in North Korea, where he apparently died three months later at age 19. His remains were never found.

Hansinger is one of 88,000 U.S. soldiers considered missing in action, mostly from World War II, Korea, the Cold War and Vietnam. Still haunted by his disappearance and presumed death, Novak went to a Department of Defense meeting in Foster City Saturday to see if, 56 years later, the military was any closer to finding him.

"When I told them his name, I got tears in my eyes," she said. "Even though he's been missing such a long time, he's still a family member and you want to bring him home."

Novak wasn't alone. About 150 relatives of other missing soldiers came from throughout California in hopes of finding relief to their decades-long grief.

The military has declared almost all of the soldiers dead, for purposes of insurance and benefits. But until the remains are found, identified and returned, the military has a "moral commitment" to keep searching, said DOD spokesman Larry Greer.

"These families have given the lives of a loved one," he said. "The country owes them something. We owe them answers."

[Former Military Chick]

I always take a moment to give pause to all those who are still considered MIA. They all should be brought home. Families deserve that. We should do all we can. I know they are not forgotten.

Currently we have SGT. Maupin who is considered MIA/POW and his fellow troops continue to search for him.

We also must not forget Capt. Speicher, he disappeared during Desert Storm when his plane crashed. His body has not been recovered.

[Former Military Chick]

PING

[La Enchiladita]

Thank you, FMC.

I and many other Americans would still like to know what happened to CPT Michael Scott Speicher.

A couple of my friends and I talk about him often.
We have not forgotten.

We talk about Matt Maupin too, but we have not heard a thing about him for so long.

God bless our POW/MIAs and their families.

[I got the rope]

http://www.freescottspeicher.org/speicher-flyer.pdf

[stylin19a]

Hansinger is one of 88,000 U.S. soldiers considered missing in action, mostly from World War II, Korea, the Cold War and Vietnam

Not true. John McShame and John F'n Kerry concluded, with no evidence, that there are no MIAs\POW's in Viet-nam.

[moonpie57]

Not true. John McShame and John F'n Kerry concluded, with no evidence, that there are no MIAs\POW's in Viet-nam.

I haven't thought about that lately. It makes me so mad I want to hurt someone. Any ideas who?

The man on my bracelet is Fred McMurray. His body was never recovered. I have a page in his honor at http://moonpie.home.att.net/fred.htm. (My html for the link wouldn't work for some reason, sorry.

[stylin19a]

The first question I ask people who say "I wore an MIA\POW bracelet" is "What's his name ?"
Sadly, almost none remember.

Nice memorial to 1st Lt. McMurray. Thank you.

(If you use html tags in your post (like italics or line breaks etc) then I think you also have to use the html tag for the url)

[OldFriend]

I have read much about Korean War prisoners and my personal conclusion is that they were sent to Russia.

[MACVSOG68]

Thanks for the article and reminder FMC. The pain for the families never subsides. My thoughts are with them.

[moonpie57]

I've never had problems before. I used tags for the URL and even double checked it in the sandbox, but it just wouldn't work for some reason. I prolly overlooked some kinda bump in the road somewhere...the least little thing can cause stuff not to work.