Weekly Column: Keeping Idaho's And America's Missing Servicemembers At The Forefront Of Our National Conscience

Through a Congressional Record Statement, I had the opportunity to honor Idaho’s and all of America’s prisoners of war (POW)s and missing in action (MIA), recognize the commendable efforts of those keeping attention on our missing servicemembers and thank those who are working hard to bring our missing servicemembers home.  The loved ones of missing servicemembers deserve resolution.  We can never let up in this American responsibility.

The following is the text of the Congressional Record Statement:

Madam/Mr. President, I join in acknowledging National POW/MIA Recognition Day this September 20, 2024, in heartfelt memory of Idaho’s and all of America’s prisoners of war, POWs, and missing in action, MIA.

In August, Idaho welcomed home Lieutenant Allan Wesley Knepper.  He was finally laid to rest at home in Lewiston, Idaho, on August 2, 2024, after making the ultimate sacrifice in service to our great nation during World War II.  The airplane he was piloting was shot down on July 10, 1943, and he was listed as MIA for decades.  He was brought home because of the love and respect of his family and people who knew him and many others who worked together to share information, find him and return him home.  This included the diligent research of his friend’s son and work of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, DPAA, the agency primarily responsible for recovering America’s servicemembers.

Lieutenant Knepper’s return and the steady return of other veterans across our country is encouraging as they show what can be achieved when relatives, friends and investigators are able to share knowledge and work together.  That is one of the reasons I continue to press for the enactment of the Bring Our Heroes Home Act, which I joined Senator Jeanne Shaheen, D-New Hampshire, in re-introducing this Congress.  This legislation would help eliminate obstacles preventing families and caseworkers from accessing the records needed for recovering America’s POWs and MIA. 

Thank you to the to the POW/MIA families and veterans who keep the pursuit of facts at the forefront of our national conscience.  I commend the individuals and groups, such as the POW*MIA Awareness Rally Corp. of Pocatello, Idaho, and across our country who keep a steady spotlight where it needs to be, on pressing forward until every American servicemember is brought home. 

Idahoan Lieutenant Knepper’s service and return were highlighted at the June unveiling of the DPAA’s 2024 POW/MIA Recognition Day Poster.  This year’s poster features the words “Honoring their sacrifice.  Earnestly searching for those still missing.”  In honor of their sacrifice and POW/MIA Recognition Day, and with a heavy but hopeful heart, I join our grateful country in praying for all those who await answers about lost servicemembers and thanking America’s servicemembers, veterans and their families for their extraordinary commitment to our country.  May our country continue to earnestly search for those still missing until they are all at last returned home. 

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