Correspondence Between Senator Bob Dole and a member of the National League of Families and POW Wife

Item

Other Media: s-con_293_022_006_Redacted_tr.txt

Transcription (Scripto): Read Full Text Only (TXT)
Extent (Dublin Core): 3 Pages
File Name (Dublin Core): s-con_293_022_006_redacted
Title (Dublin Core): Correspondence Between Senator Bob Dole and a member of the National League of Families and POW Wife
Description (Dublin Core): Correspondence between Senator Bob Dole and a member of the National League of Families and wife of a prisoner of war.
Date (Dublin Core): 1971-10
Date Created (Dublin Core): 1971-10-22
Congress (Dublin Core): 92nd (1971-1973)
Topics (Dublin Core): See all items with this value Vietnam War, 1961-1975; See all items with this value Families of prisoners of war; See all items with this value Prisoners of war--United States
Policy Area (Curation): Armed Forces and National Security
Creator (Dublin Core): Dole, Robert J., 1923-2021
Record Type (Dublin Core): correspondence
Names (Dublin Core): See all items with this value Dole, Robert J., 1923-2021
Rights (Dublin Core): http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/
Language (Dublin Core): eng
Collection Finding Aid (Dublin Core): https://dolearchivecollections.ku.edu/index.php?p=collections/controlcard&id=31&q=
Physical Location (Dublin Core): Collection 002, Box 293, Folder 22
Institution (Dublin Core): Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
Archival Collection (Dublin Core): Robert J. Dole Senate Papers-Constituent Relations, 1969-1996
Full Text (Extract Text): (page 1)
(handwritten) POW

October 26, 1971

(redacted)
Mt. Clemens, Michigan 48043

Dear Mrs. (redacted):

This will acknowledge your letter of October 17, regarding the recent National League of Families meeting in Washing- ton, and my comments at that meeting.

I am enclosing a reprint of my remarks, which I am certain you will find upon more careful examination, indicate my deep concern for American prisoners of war and missing in action in Southeast Asia. Also enclosed is a copy of the President's remarks, which confirms his commitment to bring home all American POW's. I do believe President Nixon is doing everything possible to bring about the earliest possible return of these brave men, and we will certainly explore every possible avenue available.

We certainly understand the terrible anguish and anxiety you and other POW/MIA family members face every day. However, I believe you will find it interesting to read the thoughts expressed in the enclosed copy of a letter I received from the sister of a young man missing in Southeast Asia, which, in my opinion, expresses the situation succinctly and perhaps better than can I.

Again, you may be assured of my continued concern for your husband and other POW/MIA's, and I will certainly continue to do whatever I can to expedite their return.

Sincerely yours,
BOB DOLE
U. S. Senate

BD:jc
Enclosures
(end of page 1)

(page 2)
(this page is a ripped scrap of a mailing envelope)
DON'T LET THEM BE FORGOTTEN
PRISONERS OF WAR

MRS. (redacted)
MT. CLEMENS, MICH. 48043

(the following three lines are handwritten with blue ink pen, the majority of text is missing from being torn away)
-ent
-date
-rs of War

(the following five lines are stamped in a circular seal with black ink in the upper rightmost corner of the scrap)
MOUNT CLEMENS, MI
48043
OCT 20
PM
1971
(end of page 2)

(page 3)
(unless otherwise noted, this page is handwritten with blue ink pen)
(the following four lines are stamped with blue ink near the upper rightmost corner of the page)
SENATOR BOB DOLE
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20510
RECEIVED
OCT 22 1971

(the following line is handwritten with pencil in the upper rightmost corner of the page)
Jo Anne

Oct. 17-1971
Four years to day that my husband lives in a Hanoi cell.

Dear Senator Dole,

I have listened to you in D.C and now it's time you listen to me. You may think there are some prices that are to high to pay for the release of American prisoners of war but your not rotting in that cell Mr. Senator - my husband and others like him are. 50,000 Americans did not die in vain, they died to keep South Vietnam free for the past ten years and 1700 are living in cells and cages for a country that carries signs "Americans go home." Lets not use the dead for an excuse to remain in South Vietnam. A military man believes if necessary, he will die for (underlined) his (end underlined text) country but to rot in a cell for as long as seven years for some, is not very American. You and this administration have proven where the "highest priority" lies. South Vietnam is first and the prisoners of war last. In D.C, I asked you a question "If the president has a time table for troop withdrawals - does he have a time-table on life for our prisoners" and you said "ask Hanoi that question." My dear Senator Dole, Hanoi did not order our men over there, the American government did and it's about time sacrifices be made at any cost to gain the freedom of these forgotten Americans. Our government was mighty quick to send our men over there and now they claim there are some prices that are to high to pay for there release. I don't want promises, I want honest answers. I have had almost three years of nothing but promises by President Nixon and I'm tired of it. I want my husband returned to me at (underlined) any (end underlined text) cost. He served his country for 19 years, four in a prison cell. He served beyond the call of duty and this administration has an obligation to his freedom first and South Vietnam second.

Sincerely, Mrs. (redacted)
(end of page 3)

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