OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- Members of Team Offutt, veterans, civic leaders and local community members came together during a luncheon held to honor prisoners of war and those who never returned from war at the Patriot Club Sept. 16.
“This is one of the most important things we do in the Air Force,” said Col. David Berg, 55th Wing vice commander. “This reaffirms that we, as active-duty members, will never leave another military member behind.”
As part of the event, guest speaker Matthew Jones, retired U.S. Army and Vietnam veteran, spoke about his experience in Vietnam.
“I had comrades who were wounded, killed or MIA,” Jones said. “I almost made the MIA list - I spent 48 hours in the jungles after my helicopter was shot down. I was finally rescued…I was one of the lucky ones. I would never know the anguish of captivity and my family would never have to face the pain of not knowing my fate.”
Jones said these types of events are important in recognizing the sacrifices service members have made in defense of our country.
“We’re here to honor the courage of Americans; captives and our missing countryman who risked everything facing the worst of war to preserve the best of America,” he said. “We’re here to remember the pledge our nation has made to account for every service person who has not come home.”
Jones also took the opportunity to recognize the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency and the work they do in locating and identifying missing military members.
“There are still 1,618 missing and unaccounted for in my conflict, Vietnam,” he said. “World War II still has 73,121 missing, and Korea has 7,799 missing. Every year we decrease the numbers but it can be a slow process. I want you to remember that these numbers are fathers, brothers, sons and husbands. We must never allow these service people to pass from our nation’s consciousness.”
As part of the luncheon, a Missing Man Table ceremony was performed by the Offutt Honor Guard. The ceremony, conducted at many military functions, includes an empty dinner table set for one for the POWs and MIAs who cannot attend.
The event was organized by Offutt’s Chapter 984 of the Air Force Sergeant’s Association in conjunction with the national day of recognition honoring POWs and MIAs. A memorial POW/MIA 5k run was also held prior to the luncheon as part of the remembrance events.
“POW/MIA days are important,” said Tech. Sgt. William Adams, Chapter 984 AFSA member and event organizer. “They afford us an opportunity to honor those service members who have yet to make it back home. Additionally, they send a clear message to current service members that if they ever face a similar fate, this nation will do whatever it can to bring them home.”