Since 1973, the remains of more than 1,000 Americans killed during the Vietnam War have been identified and returned to their families for burial with full military honors.
Of the nearly 1,600 Americans still unaccounted-for from the Vietnam War, hundreds are believed to be in a “non-recoverable” category, meaning after rigorous investigation DPAA has determined that the individual perished but does not believe it is possible to recover the remains. On rare occasions, new leads can bring a case back to active status.
DPAA and our partners continue to build on nearly three decades of Joint Field Activities (JFAs) with the governments of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. Each year, DPAA plans multiple investigations in each country to collect evidence, investigate leads, and conduct excavations.
Current Status of Unaccounted-For Americans Lost in the Vietnam War
More than 280 Americans are still unaccounted for in Laos, with some of them in a “non-recoverable” category. This means that through rigorous investigation, we have conclusive evidence the individual perished, but do not believe it possible to recover his remains. On rare occasions, new leads can arise that bring a case back to an active status.
Current Status of Unaccounted-For Americans Lost in the Vietnam War
More than 40 Americans are still unaccounted for in Cambodia, with some of them in a “non-recoverable” category. This means that through rigorous investigation, we have conclusive evidence the individual perished, but do not believe it possible to recover his remains. On rare occasions, new leads can arise that bring a case back to an active status.
Current Status of Unaccounted-For Americans Lost in the Vietnam War
Of the remaining missing personnel still unaccounted for in Vietnam, over 400 are in a "non-recoverable" category. This information means that we have conclusive evidence that the individual perished due to rigorous investigation but do not believe it possible to recover his remains. On rare occasions, new leads can arise that bring a case back to an active status.
DPAA has identified more than 1,000 missing personnel associated with the Vietnam War conflict. This identification effort is called the "Vietnam War Identification Project" or VWIP.
U.S.-Russia Joint Commission on POW/MIAs
Joint Commision Support Division
Through its Joint Commission Support Division (JCSD), Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) provides administrative and analytic support to the U.S. Side of the U.S.-Russia Joint Commission on POW/MIAs (USRJC) and conducts research in Russia on missing U.S. service personnel. JCSD also assists the Government of Russia with efforts to account for its missing.
China Operations | Total Each Category | Identified |
---|---|---|
Remains repatriated through unilateral operations (2014) | 1 | 0 |
Remains repatriated through unilateral operations (1975) | 2 | 2 |
Remains recovered and repatriated through investigative and recovery operations since 1992 | 23 | 23 |
Total remains identified 1975 to present | -- | 25 |
Vietnam War
Facts & Figures
- Dates
- July 8, 1959 – May 15, 1975
- Location
- North and South Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia
- Missing as of 1973*
- 2641
- Accounted For**
- 1064
- Unaccounted For
- 1577