Mission Travels to Vietnam - 2026

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Mission: POW-MIA is heading back to Vietnam April 11 – 24, 2026. Our team includes Board Members Jeanie Huffman, daughter of CDR Edward J. Jacobs Jr. USN MIA 25 Aug 1967 NVN, Kim Carlson Benner, daughter of CAPT John W. Carlson USAF MIA 07 Dec 1966 SVN, Michael McPherson, grandson of Tanos Kalil Civilian employed by Lear Siegler POW 08 Feb 1969 SVN, Captain Edward “Ned” Lundquist USN (ret), Senior Advisor Mr. Anh Nyguen, returned POW Colonel Mike Brazelton who spent 6.5 years in captivity and our Vietnam Wartime Accounting Initiative team of Dr. Andrew Wells-Dang, Hanoi Program Manager To Thi Bay and Ho Chi Minh City Program Manager Linh Nguyen. They have a full schedule planned meeting with Vietnamese officials and organizations, US officials, visits to battlefield sites and more. Please follow the team’s trip on our Facebook page.  (20+) Facebook 

Mission: POW-MIA split our team in Hanoi into two groups. Group one held meetings with the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) and the Vietnam Family Martyrs Association. Both of these groups have been supportive of working with Mission: POW-MIA to achieve information and answers for both American and Vietnamese families.  

Mission: POW-MIA Group 2 had a special Mission to locate the crash site of Colonel Mike Brazelton nearly 60 years after his aircraft went down. The team left early and drove over 100 miles north through some pretty narrow roads. The last couple of miles the team was out on foot traversing hills and jungle growth. The team was able to get Colonel Brazelton to within a half mile of his crash site. One team member was able to cover the last 1/2 mile through the jungle and reach the coordinates. Nothing left of his aircraft was visible. As we know, over the last 50-60 years many crash sites have been scavenged for scrap metal. Scrapping continues today, and we are running out of time to find what's left of these aircraft crash sites. Colonel Brazelton briefed the team along the way about his shootdown and subsequent capture. An amazing story that we hope to share further. Today, we salute Colonel Mike Brazelton, USAF (ret) for his endurance and perseverance not only 60 years ago, but today as well, back on the ground in Vietnam. A testament of bravery and resilience and being part of our Mission to "Never Leave a Fallen Comrade Behind"! 

Mission: POW-MIA had another busy day in Hanoi. The team attended a meeting with the International Center for Missing Persons and DNA lab. They visited with former US Ambassador to Vietnam, Marc Knapper. The team also met with the Defense POW / MIA Accounting Agency Detachment 2. Later in the week the team will be headed to a Joint Field Recovery operation to work alongside the DPAA team. Our Vietnam Wartime Accounting Initiative partners from Texas Tech University joined with our team today.     

Mission: POW-MIA spent the day at a Defense POW / MIA Accounting Agency Joint Field Activity Recovery Team location in Quang Tri (formerly Quang Binh). The site involves the excavation for the remains of a USAF F111 crew. The size and scope of the operation involves both US and Vietnamese partners. Our Mission team joined in the search today...put their backs and hands into the physical search for American MIAs standing shoulder to shoulder with US military personnel and Vietnamese locals. Not their loved ones but men who served just like their fathers and grandfather, men who have yet to come home. There are families out there waiting for answers, our Mission is not to wait but to do. This is what selfless service looks like...this is why we formed Mission: POW-MIA. 

Every American who fought for and served their country and perished on foreign soil deserves to come home!

Every American family that has suffered the trauma of "wondering" about the fate of their sons, fathers, grandfathers, brothers, uncles...deserves answers. 

"NEVER LEAVE A FALLEN COMRADE BEHIND!"

Mission: POW-MIA and our VWAI partners at Texas Tech University met with the Vietnamese National Steering Committee 515. NSC 515 is tasked with locating the remains of fallen Vietnamese soldiers from both battlefields and graves marked as "unknowns" across Vietnam. During the talks, Mission team members explained the importance of our Operation: H.E.A.R.T. artifact exchange program and our partnership with Healing Through History Inc for Project: S.I.T.R.E.P. imagery analysis.  The meeting closed with an exchange of artifacts between 515 and our team. Artifacts captured by a US Marine in 1968 were returned and the Vietnamese provided an ID card of a US Air Force pilot shot down in 1966. Until we can locate family members, the pilot's identity will remain confidential. We were pleased with another step towards reconciliation and the return of these captured artifacts to both sides.  

Mission: POW-MIA had the honor of escorting Colonel Mike Brazelton USAF (Ret) back to the Hoa Lo Prison, also known as the Hanoi Hilton. Then LT Brazelton ejected from his F105 on 07 Aug 1966 about 100 miles north of Hanoi. He spent over 6.5 years in captivity as a POW. During the visit to the prison, he pointed himself out in the photo from the day a group of Americans were released. He graciously spent time being interviewed by the museum staff and shared his experiences with the Mission team and members of the US Defense Attache Office. Colonel Brazelton set an example of resolve in the face of adversity and is truly an American hero.  

Mission: POW-MIA visited the studios of VTV in Hanoi. Dr. Andrew Wells-Dang, Jeanie Huffman (daughter of CDR Edward Jacobs Jr USN MIA 25 Aug 1967) and Colonel Brazelton were interviewed speaking about the Vietnam Wartime Accounting Initiative, Operation; H.E.A.R.T, Project: S.I.T.R.E.P. and more. VTV attracts more than 25 million users! We want all of Vietnam to know about our efforts to help both US and Vietnamese families achieve some semblance of peace and answers.    

Mission: POW-MIA visited with the Ho Chi Minh City Association for Victims of Agent Orange Dioxin (VAVA). Agent Orange is considered a "War Legacy" as is Unexploded Ordnance and Missing in Action. Our team met with VAVA to learn what they do and how they help Vietnamese people suffering from the same effects of AO as our US Veterans that served during the war.  

Mission: POW-MIA visited San Bay Loc Ninh which was the site of an airfield under control of the US Army and Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) during the war. The airfield was used for transporting food, ammunition and other supplies to the Loc Ninh - Cambodia front.  During the Easter Offensive in April of 1972, the Battle of Loc Ninh took place with the Viet Cong (VC) 5th Division attacking the airfield and surrounding area defended by ARVN 9th Infantry and American air power. The battle lasted three days with the heavily outnumbered ARNV troops abandoning their positions. Estimated losses between the combatants was nearly 2000 ARVN troops killed or wounded and an estimated 1000 VC and PAVN soldiers killed or wounded. Seven American advisors were taken as POWs and released in February 1973. This site did yield a mass grave with an estimated over 150 soldiers. As part of the Vietnam Wartime Accounting Initiative (VWAI) participating in meaningful dialogue and visiting these sites are important to both Vietnamese and Americans as we continue to seek answers between former enemies.     

Mission: POW-MIA visited the suspected crash location of Captain John W. Carlson USAF who went MIA on 07 December 1966. The site is located in the Ben Cat District. Captain Carlson's daughter Kim Carlson Benner, fellow MIA daughter Jeanie Huffman and MIA grandson Michael McPherson shared a special moment with Luke from Healing Through History Inc. to thank him for his support. This year will be the 60th anniversary of Captain Carlson's disappearance. With no remains found and no artifacts discovered...a site visit like this can make a difference in a family member's life. We will continue our efforts to support Kim and her sister Margot and our MIA families.  

Mission: POW-MIA visited the Dong Xoai Military Cemetery in southern Vietnam. "To Quoc Ghi Cong" translates to "The Fatherland Remembers Merit" and "Mo Tap The Sau Liet Si" translates to "Grave of the Fallen Soldier". This cemetery contains the graves of many unknown soldiers.  Our team placed incense, a traditional Vietnamese practice in which it is believed that aromatic smoke carries prayers into the afterlife. In December of 2025, when members of the Vietnamese National Steering Committee 515 visited Washington, DC we escorted them to the Vietnam Wall. Our visit here was a symbol of respect as our two countries work together to locate American MIAs and Vietnamese fallen martyrs.  

Mission: POW-MIA met with representatives of the Vietnam Martyr Family Support Association in Ho Chi Minh City. Each group shared stories of loss about their loved ones. Mission: POW-MIA was warmly welcomed, and our Vice President Michael McPherson did an excellent job explaining our artifact program, Operation: H.E.A.R.T. and our upcoming imagery initiative with Healing Through History Inc Project: S.I.T.R.E.P., all of the participants were very engaged in the meeting and follow on time to speak individually. 

Translation of the large sign at the meeting:

"Engaging in an exchange with the Mission: POW-MIA leadership delegation on the occasion of their visit to Vietnam."

Mission: POW-MIA met with the Veterans Association of Vietnam (VAVN) in Ho Chi Minh City and exchanged information about our organizations. Board Member Ned Lundquist, retired US Navy Captain, spoke about our mission. The informal discussions that followed the official meetings were very productive. We very much appreciated the hospitality of all of the veterans in Vietnam.