Recently, I read part of the videotape deposition of Admiral Thomas Moorer
obtained through this Listserve.  This deposition was in connection with Civil
action No CA07004-98, John K. Singlaub Plaintiff  vs  Cable News Network.  Put
together with other information, it gave me answers to the fate of  some of the
2200 or so United States servicemen missing in action in Viet Nam.

In my opinion, a great number of soldiers were truly missing in action or
killed in action.
Accessing the web sites of those  United States units which fought in Viet Nam,
the stories of  men who were lost makes for gripping reading.  But also in my
opinion some of those not named and part of the 2200 missing  were deserters.

Admiral Moorer relates “Defectors are deserters. And they were out there
seeking the best way to stay alive until they could escape and go home. . .
they endeavored to make
their way back home through Laos.  And they were picked up by Laotian military
people.  And they were biding their time until the war was over. And they could
make an escape back to the United States."  “They all got together and somehow
decided how to survive until they could get out.” "They would be interrogated.
With the view to see if that individual had a talent or capability to be used.
And if they did, the enemy would give them a job that they were fully
conversant with and also give them food.  And they would do anything to survive
until the war was over."

Admiral Moorer’s thinking  is revealed when he states, “I've been in three
wars, buddy, and when I was at Pearl Harbor, and I took -- I pulled 300 boys
dead out of the water there, and I've seen plenty of people like that.  I am
trying and have tried all my career to minimize and save the lives of American
boys….  And if a case came that I could save American boys' lives, I would use
anything to put a stop to their death.”

 Admiral Moorer further relates that “killing   defectors were always a top
priority target for  SOG. . . Because of the PR problem with defectors, that is
why the operation was given to a black operation like SOG. I do not think that
an organization such as SOG would be justified if there was just one
operation.”

So now comes the end of the Viet Nam war for the United States in 1973.
Kissinger wins the Nobel Peace Prize and announces that all  American Prisoners
had returned.  Would those who deserted/defected be allowed to return home at
wars end?  It appears not.  In what I speculate was a deal cut between the
United States and the North Viet Namese, those servicemen who had been waiting
out the war were notified by  the North Viet Namese to gather at certain points
for repatriation.  However, it appears these  people could not be  allowed to
bask in the glory and accolades given to the POW’s who also were
simultaneously  returning home from the Hanoi Hilton.   In a book (Monika
Jensen-Stevenson---Spite House…the last secret of the war in Vietnam---New
York: AVON Books printing September 1998) the  story of  Marine PFC Bruce
Womack was told. (Ibid pp 202 – 216).  PFC Womack related that just after the
end of the Viet Nam War in 1973 he was a member of a sharpshooter squad allowed
into Viet Nam near Tay Ninh at a certain place on the Viet Nam Border with
Cambodia .  His  mission was to eliminate former servicemen who had turned
against the United States (ibid p206).  He estimates 50 to 60 military
personnel had this assignment comprised of 15 marines with the remainder Army
personnel.  PFC Womack’s squad had 3 days off after every kill and his squad
spent 90 days in this area. (ibid p209).  I calculate that one kill every 4
days for 90 days by upwards of 20 squads comes out to about 660 personnel
eliminated.

Why would North Viet Nam turn these people over to a certain death?  The North
had just gotten the United States out of the war and were ready to take over
the South.  They sure didn’t want some noise coming out of Laos or Cambodia of
U.S. military personnel left behind.  When it became apparent that the North’s
military takeover of the South was inevitable, the North sure wouldn’t want
saturation arc-light bombing by b-52’s which were  ostensibly on the way to
rescue POWs in Cambodia or Laos.

 I really take exception to this slaughter.   I realize that deserters can be
shot in times of  war, but it’s my impression that it occurs after a Military
Court of Justice has so decided.  We are a nation of laws upon which our
country has achieved greatness. Apparently with the end of a war which was
undeclared it was decided to shoot these people without benefit of judicial
proceedings as it was doubtful such proceedings would order the bullet in the
head.

This whole thing is political.  I see no reason for much of this to remain
classified. Maybe we shouldn’t know  who  actually pulled the triggers,  but we
should at least know those who were killed.  We should also know those who
ordered the killings  and the reasons for doing so  A soul searching by our
country on such  consequences of an undeclared war would  get Congress back on
the Constitutional track.

Steven Koonse