Friday, June 2, 1972
'Appeal From Pows' Aired
WASHINGTON (UPI) --The Viet Cong "Liberation Radio" has broadcast an end-the-war appeal to Congress purportedly signed by 15 American prisoners of war in South Vietnam, including three men who previously were listed officially as missing in action.U.S. government monitors picked up the English-language broadcast May 30, and the Army began notifying relatives of the men named on Wednesday.A copy of the transcript of the broadcast was obtained by UPI from government sources. A Defense Department spokesman confirmed its authenticity but said department policy prohibited confirming the names of the prisoners mentioned.The Americans previously listed as missing and identified in the broadcast as Viet Cong captives were: --John Robert Cavaiani of the U.S. Army Special Forces, captured June 4, 1971. No rank given. --Don A. MacPhail, an Army private captured Feb. 5, 1969. The Liberation Radio gave a name which sounded like John A. McBerry, which was transcribed by U.S. monitors as MacPhail. --John G. Sparks, an Army private captured April 25, 1968. The broadcast name sounded like John D. Schwartz. In the appeal to Congress, the men were quoted as saying the Vietnam war was a mistake. "Rational beings rectify mistakes when recognized," the statement said. "The time is critical. Please take effective legislative action. We must choose between an immoral, tragic war with catastrophic consequences and the honorable future of the United States. The lessons derived form our history and experience leave little doubt as to the proper choice." The broadcast was brought to UPI's attention by Mrs. Valerie Kushner of Danville, VA., whose husband, Capt. F. Harold Kushner, is an Army physician held by the Communist since Dec. 2, 1967. Mrs. Kushner, a sharp critic of U.S. policy in Indochina, has been actively campaigning for Sen. George McGovern, D-S.D. Besides Kushner, those listed by the Liberation Radio broadcast as making the appeal were: --Army 1st Lt. Richard C. Anshus, captured March 8, 1971. --Army WO Frank D. Anton, Jan. 6, 1968. --Army WO David W. Sooter, Feb. 17, 1967. --Marine Cpl. Alfonso Ray Riati, April 25, 1967. --Army Spec. 4 John A. Young, Jan. 30, 1968. --Army Spec. 4 Robert P. Chenoweth, Feb. 8, 1968. --Army PFC King David Rayford, July 1, 1967. --Army PFC James A. Daly, Jan. 9, 1968. --Marine PFC Able L. Kavannaugh, April 26, 1968. --Marine Sgt. Jose Jesus Anzaldua Jr., Jan 17, 1970. The broadcast also produced a name which the Pentagon has been unable to link with anyone on its rolls -Marine Lance Cpl. Frederick Edward Jr., Aug. 15, 1968. According to the Pentagon's latest figures, there were 96 confirmed POWs held in South Vietnam by the Viet Cong. Another 506 are listed as missing. For all of Indochina, the POW and missing-in-action total is about 1,600 with known prisoners set at about 400."Appeal From POWs Aired" by (UPI), published in the Pacific Stars and Stripes Friday, June 2, 1972 and reprinted from European and Pacific Stars and Stripes, a Department of Defense publication copyright, 2002 European and Pacific Stars and Stripes.