Feb. 10, 2025

Push For Declassification of All POW/MIA Documents

Push For Declassification of All POW/MIA Documents

Help support our POW/MIA families by writing to President Donald J. Trump and ask that all POW/MIA documents still classified by our government intelligence agencies be released to the families and the public for full transparency! Feel free to use the letter below. All the families want are full accountability and transparency on the fate of their loved ones! 

 

[Your Name] 
[Your Address] 
[City, State, ZIP Code] 
[Email Address]
[Date] 
The Honorable Donald J. Trump 
President of the United States 
The White House 
Dear President Trump, 


Subject: Request for Declassification of Documents Related to All POW/MIAs 
I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to respectfully request the declassification of all documents related to our Prisoners of War (POWs) and Missing in Action (MIAs). This matter is of utmost importance to the families and loved ones of those who have served our nation with honor and bravery. 
In 1991, Senators John Kerry as Chairman and John McCain were involved in the Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs, which investigated the fate of American service members missing in action during the Vietnam War. Both senators faced criticism for their actions related to the declassification of POW/MIA records, with some sources alleging that McCain worked to keep certain information classified. This controversy remains a contentious issue and needs resolution once and for all! 
The declassification of all documents related to our POW/MIA’s would provide much-needed transparency and closure for the families who have been waiting for answers for far too long. It would also honor the Ultimate Sacrifices made by our servicemen and women by ensuring that their stories are fully told and remembered. 
I believe that declassifying these documents would demonstrate a commitment to accountability and truth, and it would be the most significant step towards healing for our Nation’s POW/MIA Gold Star Families still affected by the loss of their loved ones! Thank you for your attention to this important matter. I trust that you will consider this request with the gravity it deserves. 
 Sincerely, 
[Your Name]


John Bear Profile Photo

John Bear

Investigative Researcher & Host of Stories of Sacrifice Podcast

John Bear is an accomplished investigator and forensic genealogist with over 20 years of experience specializing in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam War POW/MIA cases. He has honed forensic-level skills in open-source intelligence (OSINT) and archival research, bolstered by coursework in Advanced Research Methods and Databases for Historians. Inspired by the loss of his uncle, a WWII POW/MIA identified posthumously in the Philippines, John volunteers directly with families of the missing to provide answers and closure. As a key member of the Asymmetric MIA Accounting Group (AMAG), he works directly with MIA families to support projects alongside Military Service Casualty Officers, DPAA Historians, and military intelligence experts. Through his contributions to the Cabanatuan POW Camp, Philippine Hellship Project, and Bataan Death March, John’s efforts have led to over 350 potential WWII identifications through Family Reference Sample (FRS) DNA collection. His investigation into the Vietnam War’s Baron 52 incident uncovered compelling OSINT-based evidence suggesting crew survival, and his work on WWII unrecovered MIAs on Mindanao has generated critical leads. Through his podcast, Stories of Sacrifice: American POW/MIAs, John amplifies families’ stories, ensuring the legacies of the missing are honored.

Baron 52 Docu series Podcast Link: https://www.storiesofsacrifice.org/category/baron-52/

Baron 52: A Family’s Half-Century Fight for Truth Against Bureaucracy and Greed

Picture a moonless night over the jungles of Laos, February 5, 1973. The Paris Peace Accords a week prior had just promised an end to America’s grueling Vietnam War, with POW releases days away. But for the eight-man crew of Baron 52—an …

Vietnam’s Exploitation of the MIA Issue: A Decades-Long Strategy for Financial and Political Gain

For over fifty years, the unresolved issue of American personnel listed as Missing in Action (MIA) from the Vietnam War has been a cornerstone of U.S.-Vietnam relations, intertwining humanitarian efforts with diplomatic and financial negotiations. R…