U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire) have reintroduced the Bring Our Heroes Home Act, aiming to streamline the process for families and caseworkers seeking information about America’s prisoners of war (POWs) and those missing in action (MIA). The legislation comes shortly after Idaho received the remains of 2nd Lieutenant Charles Atteberry, who had been missing since World War II.
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency reports that more than 80,000 Americans remain unaccounted for from various conflicts, including World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Cold War, and the Gulf Wars. This figure includes 359 individuals from Idaho.
“Idaho welcomed home another missing hero just a few weeks ago, and we cannot give up on our efforts to identify and bring home every remaining missing servicemember,” said Crapo. “We must cut the bureaucratic red tape that delays bringing them to an eternal resting place here at home. We owe their families and loved ones the assurances they have not been forgotten.”
Shaheen added: “The families of America’s missing service members carry the heavy weight of uncertainty, waiting years and often decades for answers about their loved ones who served our nation with courage and conviction. We owe it to these families to make that wait as short as possible and free from unnecessary bureaucratic burden. Our bipartisan Bring Our Heroes Home Act takes meaningful steps to ensure that vital records are preserved, responsibly declassified and made accessible so that families can finally gain the clarity they deserve. Our nation has a solemn responsibility to honor every hero’s legacy and to ensure none are forgotten or left behind.”
The proposed act would create a collection of records related to missing military personnel at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), require federal agencies to locate and send any such records for inclusion in this collection, and establish an independent review board tasked with identifying relevant documents, overseeing their disclosure, and reviewing decisions regarding classification.
Lt. Atteberry’s recent identification was achieved through DNA testing conducted by the U.S. military after his remains were discovered in a mass grave in Taiwan. His brother Lloyd Atteberry also served during World War II but remains unaccounted for after being reported shot down in 1943.
Seven senators have joined as co-sponsors: Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Alex Padilla (D-California), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota), Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois), Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada), Maggie Hassan (D-New Hampshire), and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii).
