POW-MIAFAMILIES
National League of Families of American Prisoners and missing in Southeast Asia
"The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency’s forensic lab in Hawaii has begun analyzing dozens of human remains retrieved from Laos and the Philippines in recent weeks. During a remembrance ceremony Wednesday in Vientiane Laos the agency received remains that might be those of U.S. personnel lost there during the Vietnam War."
About the National League of POW/MIA Families
The National League of POW/MIA Families is a nonprofit organization founded in 1970 to support the families of U.S. service members who are prisoners of war (POW) or missing in action (MIA). The League is dedicated to achieving the fullest possible accounting of missing service members and to advocating on behalf of families for truth, transparency, and accountability.
Who the Organization Serves
The National League of POW/MIA Families serves the immediate family members of U.S. service members who are listed as POW or MIA from past conflicts. The organization also engages supporters, advocates, and the broader public committed to honoring the nation’s promise to leave no one behind.
What the Organization Does
- Advocates for the fullest possible accounting of POW and MIA service members
- Supports families through information sharing, advocacy, and community connection
- Engages with the Department of Defense and other government agencies on recovery and identification efforts
- Raises public awareness of POW/MIA issues and remembrance
- Preserves the legacy and memory of missing and captured service members
Where the Organization Operates
The National League of POW/MIA Families operates nationally, with family members and advocates located across the United States. Advocacy and engagement occur through national leadership, regional family involvement, and coordination with federal agencies.
Membership and Participation Eligibility
The National League of POW/MIA Families is a mission-driven organization focused on family advocacy rather than general membership.
- Participation is primarily open to immediate family members of U.S. service members who are POW or MIA.
- Supporters, advocates, and allies may engage through events, education, and awareness efforts.
- No combat service or wartime service requirement applies to supporters.
- Family participation is guided by verification of POW/MIA status through official records.
How Participation Is Structured
Participation is structured through family advocacy, briefings, public awareness initiatives, commemorative events, and ongoing engagement with government recovery efforts. The League provides a collective voice for families while honoring the individual stories of missing service members.