Updated: Oct. 6, 2022
Current Status of Unaccounted-for Americans Lost in the Vietnam War
| Vietnam | Laos | Cambodia | China | Total | |
| Original Missing | 1,973 | 573 | 90 | 10 | 2,646 |
| Repatriated and Identified | 729 | 288 | 42 | 3 | 1,061[1] |
| Remaining Missing | 1,241 | 286 | 48 | 7 | 1,582 |
Of the remaining 1,244Americans still unaccounted for in Vietnam, 470 are in a “non-recoverable” category. This means that as a result of rigorous investigation, we have conclusive evidence the individual perished, but do not believe it possible to recover his remains. On rare occasions, new leads can arise that bring a case back to an active status.
Field Operations
- The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) planned to conduct four Joint Field Activities (JFAs) this fiscal year in Vietnam. Each JFA involves approximately 95 U.S. personnel plus their Vietnamese counterparts. Together, they work on investigations and excavations throughout the country for a period of approximately 30 days per JFA. The COVID-19 (corona virus) pandemic forced the cancellation of the first DPAA-led JFA, but in its place, three all-Vietnamese teams began executing the 141st field activity at the end of October.
- Recovered remains believed to be those of Americans are transferred to DPAA’s laboratory in Hawaii for further analysis and identification by forensic anthropologists.
- Joint Field Activity (JFA) 22-1VN was completed October 21 - December 2, 2021. It included two Recovery Teams, two Host Nation Recovery Teams, an Investigation Team, an Investigation Team – Light and a Host Nation Investigation Team.
- JFA 22-2VN is ongoing and will be completed on April 22, 2022. The mission will include three Host Nation Recovery Teams.
Resolving “Last Known Alive” Cases
- Of the original 196 individuals “Last Known Alive” in Vietnam (those who survived or may have survived their loss incident and were either alive on the ground, in captivity, or in immediate proximity to capture, but did not return), DOD has confirmed the death of 177, with 19 still unresolved.
- Of the 177 whose deaths have been confirmed, the remains of 51 have been located and identified; efforts continue to recover the remaining 126.
- U.S. and Vietnamese specialists met in Hanoi last year to discuss Last Known Alive cases in Vietnam, as well as in Cambodia and Laos.
Research and Investigations
- U.S. POW/MIA investigators rotate into Hanoi on a continuous basis to pursue leads associated with the remaining 1,246 Americans still unaccounted for in Vietnam.
- A research effort continues in the Ministry of National Defense (MND) central archives. Since May 2012, Vietnam has turned over policy, strategic, and tactical level archival documents regarding unaccounted for Americans.
- In addition to the interviews conducted during JFAs, U.S. and Vietnamese investigators have conducted nearly 300 oral history interviews of former and current Vietnamese government and military officials. This program is ongoing.
- Since Vietnamese troops occupied large portions of Cambodia and Laos where Americans went missing during the War, the U.S. asks Vietnamese veterans and civilians to cooperate in our operations in the two countries. Vietnamese veterans have actively supported DPAA investigation and recovery operations in both Cambodia and Laos; many of these veterans have participated more than once.
1This number now includes the 63 Americans who were returned and/or identified from 1973 – 1975.
