In 1979, a resolution was passed by the United States Congress recognizing a National POW/MIA Recognition Day. Originally observed on July 18, National POW/MIA Recognition Day is now observed on the third Friday of September. This year, September 17, 2021 will mark the 42nd National POW/MIA Recognition Day.
Currently, there are more than 72,000 service members considered non-recoverable from World War II. More than 7,500 Americans remain unaccounted for from the Korean War, and 126 service members are still missing from the Cold War.
When the Vietnam War ended, 2,639 service members were considered POW/MIA. Today, only 39% of those (1,055) service members have been accounted for, according to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. 1,055 remain missing and/or unaccounted for—60% of those lost and not brought home remain lost and far from their families.
Locally, 11 of the original 27 Nebraskans listed as POW/MIA have been accounted for and recovered: Major Michael Bosiljevac, Specialist 5 Donald Grella, Staff Sergeant Larry Kier, First Lieutenant Paul Magers, Colonel Samuel Maxwell, Technical Sergeant Larry Newman, Commander Charles Peters, Lieutenant Willliam Roark, Captain Donovan Walters, and Captain Daniel Thomas, who was the most recent recovery in November 2017.
Regrettably, 16 Nebraska service members have not returned to American soil:
- Sergeant Gerald Biber (Army)
- Sergeant Major Willie Stark (Army)
- Chief Warrant Officer 3 Larry Zich (Army)
- Lieutenant Richard Brenning (Navy)
- Lieutenant Junior Grade Michael Confer (Navy)
- Fireman Apprentice Robert Cordova (Navy)
- Captain Thomas Scheurich (Navy)
- Lieutenant Stanly Smiley (Navy)
- Major Delmar Booze (Marines)
- Lance Corporal Howard Ogden (Marines)
- Major Larry Robinson (Marines)
- Major Doyle Sprick (Marines)
- Colonel Herbert Brennan (Air Force)
- Colonel Harold Kahler (Air Force)
- Second Lieutenant Michael Klingner (Air Force)
- Captain Ronald Stafford (Air Force)
On this day of recognition, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 1 in Omaha, Nebraska will have a ceremony at Memorial Park. Other VFW chapters, American Legion chapters, and businesses and restaurants, locally and nationally, will remember these and all POW/MIAs by setting a table as if expecting guests for a meal—but the seats will remain empty. If you encounter such a display, take a moment to silently reflect and thank our POW/MIAs, and their families, for their ultimate sacrifice.
Additionally, beginning at 8 a.m. on Friday, September 17, individual runners, squadrons and DoD ID card holders will begin the POW/MIA 24 Hour Remembrance Run at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. This annual run, which keeps a POW/MIA flag in motion for 24 hours to honor “service members who were prisoners of war and those still missing in action,” is sponsored by the Air Force Sergeants Association.
We hope you’ll take moment on September 17 to remember those who answered their country’s call to defend it but have not returned home. They are not forgotten.