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Acknowledgments

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.