The work of DPAA continues to find the remaining 1,594 missing U.S. The total number of service members unaccounted for from the Vietnam War was 2,646, but through the work of DPAA, 1,052 of those missing have been found, identified and repatriated. The mission of DPAA is to provide the fullest possible accounting for missing service members to their families and the nation from past conflicts. Linguists are the underlining glue in the tireless steps we take to fulfill our nation’s promise to bring our fallen home.” “Linguists translate intent, interpret body language, serve as cultural advisors, facilitate negotiations and build camaraderie with the local community and government officials we work with so closely every day. Mark Strickert, DPAA senior recovery team leader. “Nothing in this mission could be accomplished without the skill sets and abilities of an experienced linguist on the team,” said Marine Corps Capt. Being at a site so removed, a linguist is a necessity for a successful recovery mission. The site is only accessible by helicopter, and the nearest village is about 5 and a half miles away, down a long steep rocky trail on the brink of being overgrown by the jungle. Lam works at an excavation site found on a remote mountain peak in one of the Vietnamese jungle’s most austere locations. He is acting as the lead linguist for a recovery team deployed by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency on its fourth mission to Vietnam. On a normal day, Lam is a master-at-arms with the military police at Naval Station Everett, Washington, but today he’s part of a unique assignment. At the top of the green mountain ridge, Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Quoc Bao Lam is waiting to greet them with a smile and a handshake before getting started on the day’s work.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |