VETERFINS OF FOREIGN WFIRS OF THE UNITED STHTES FOUNDED 1899 KEITH E. HARMAN VFW MEMORIAL BUILDING EOO MARYLAND AVENUE, NE WASHINGTON, DC 20002-5799 June 6, 2018 The Honorable Donald Trump President of the United States 1600 Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: On behalf of the 1.7 million members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and our Auxiliary, I write to urge you to address the topic of missing and unaccounted Korean War remains during the upcoming summit between the United States and the Democratic People?s Republic of Korea. Between 1950 and 1953, more than 35,000 Americans died on the Korean peninsula, including more than 7,100 who were taken captive, and 7,700 who continue to be listed as missing-in-action. Of that, the remains of an estimated 5,300 American Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines are in North Korea. From 1990 to 2005, a repatriation agreement between our two nations resulted in the return of 229 sets of remains and the identi?cation of many others; however, that program was suspended due to deteriorating political conditions. Since then, several attempts have been made to reengage the North Korean government regarding this issue; however, those attempts have all been largely unsuccessful. As the nation?s oldest and largest war veterans organization, the issue of returning our missing is of paramount importance to the VFW. For the families of those who never returned, the passage of time does not heal their wounds. For them, the days became weeks, and the weeks became months, then years, and now, sadly, decades. As the leader of the free world, we urge you to do everything in your power to ensure that those who paid the ultimate price for freedom during the Korean War are ?nally returned home to their families. Respectfully, KEITH E. HARMAN Commander-in-Chief cc: The Honorable Michael Pompeo, US. Secretary of State The Honorable James Mattis, US. Secretary of Defense