In acknowledging those who have contributed to the Senate's
investigation, we owe a special thanks to the professional staff
who have helped us examine tens of thousands of documents,
interview hundreds of sources, depose nearly 200 witnesses, prepare
for public hearings, and provide the advocacy on both sides of the
POW/MIA issue that has been lacking in other examinations of this
matter. Their work represents more than a commitment to the job; it
is an abiding commitment to the POW/MIA issue.
The Committee selected its non-partisan staff based on their
investigative skills, and based on their abilities to argue
opposing sides of the central arguments: Were Americans left
behind? Are any alive today? What more can be done to find answers
about their fate? Their work has been tremendous, but it is their
insights that we value in particular because they have helped us
sort through the myriad of issues by giving us the strongest
arguments on every side of the issues.
The staff to whom we owe our special thanks are, in alphabetical
order: Kim Baker, Camilla Bartels, J. William Codinha, Nancy K.
Cuddy, Deborah L. DeYoung, Roger Epstein, John F. Erickson,
Hilton Foster, Dan Fox, Stephen Gekoski, Heather Grimsley, Doug
Hall, Keisha Hargo, Don F. Harrison, Jon D. Holstine, Bryce Hunter,
Neal Kravitz, James K. Lay, Col. William LeGro (USA-Ret.), John
Mattes, David McClung, Jon McCreary, Ken Mendelson, Col. Harold
Nicklas (USA-Ret.), Richard S. Smith, Robert P. Taylor, Roger
Thyen, Sedgwick D. Tourison, Jr., Barry L. Valentine, Jonathan
Wallace, Catherine C. Woods, and Frances A. Zwenig.
We also owe our gratitude to the staff of Members' personal offices
and committees, including, in alphabetical order, Dino Carluccio,
Peter Cleveland, Al Fortunato, Art Grant, Chris Kolesnik, Erin
McGrath, Neal McKnight, Lori Murray, Admiral James W. Nance (USN,
Ret.), Carter Pilcher, Mark Salter, Bob Seltzer, Nancy Stetson, and
Bill Woodward.
While there is always a danger in singling out any individual, all
members of the Committee believe several people deserve special
recognition:
Frances Zwenig - The Committee is particularly grateful for her
leadership and patience, often under difficult circumstances. As
Staff Director, she presided over the full range of passions on
this issue, coordinating divergent views and ultimately tenuous
much of the credit for the consensus in this report.
Bill Codinha - The Committee extends special thanks to its Chief
Counsel, who took leave from private law practice and family to
marshal the investigation's team. He displayed enormous legal and
political acumen, never losing his patience or direction even under
the most intense pressure.
Deborah DeYoung - Charged with responsibility for relations with
press and families, as well as coordinating production of the
Report, our Communications Director proved sensitive, dependable
and professional.
Bill Woodward - The Chairman's designee deserves special credit for
eloquently expressing the complex issues surrounding POW/MIA
questions. His work late into the nights, at times with failing
computers, gave voice to our conclusions; throughout the year, his
insight into the broader issues helped the Committee in its work.
Dino Carluccio - As the Vice Chairman's designee, he was
instrumental in keeping the Committee focused on every lead in key
areas of the investigation and worked in passionate pursuit of the
truth and with tireless attention to detail.
Finally, we have appreciated the attention devoted to the POW/MIA
issue by members of the press corps, and in particular C-SPAN, who
did a great deal to help the Committee show the public its work on
this unresolved question. For too long, the POW/MIA issue was the
province of fringe media; during the past 15 months, the mainstream
press corps has helped us to re-examine in a very open way an issue
that polls consistently show still haunts more than half of all
Americans.
