REPORTING ON AMERICANS HELD BY THE SOVIET UNION

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP95B00895R000200040003-7
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
K
Document Page Count: 
5
Document Creation Date: 
December 21, 2016
Document Release Date: 
October 27, 2008
Sequence Number: 
3
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
November 7, 1983
Content Type: 
MEMO
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PDF icon CIA-RDP95B00895R000200040003-7.pdf147.5 KB
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Approved For Release 2008/10/27: CIA-RDP95B00895R000200040003-7 STAT STAT STAT STAT Approved For Release 2008/10/27: CIA-RDP95B00895R000200040003-7 Approved For Release 2008/10/27: CIA-RDP95B00895R000200040003-7 98TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION . J. RES. 390 Instructing the Secretary of State to provide the Congress with complete informa- tion concerning the number of American nationals now held by the Soviet Union or so held at any time since the cessation of hostilities at the conclusion of World War II, and all steps taken to identify and recover such persons. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OCTOBER 19, 1983 Mr. HANSEN of Idaho introduced the following joint resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs JOINT RESOLUTION Instructing the Secretary of State to provide the Congress with complete information concerning the number of American nationals now held by the Soviet Union or so held at any time since the cessation of hostilities at the conclusion of World War II, and all steps taken to identify and recover such persons. Whereas the Nation was shocked and enraged by the wanton murder of innocent- passengers and crew of Korean Airlines Flight 007 last month; Whereas this is not the first time the Soviet Government has shot down airplanes on the periphery of its empire; Approved For Release 2008/10/27: CIA-RDP95B00895R000200040003-7 Approved For Release 2008/10/27: CIA-RDP95B00895R000200040003-7 Whereas, in the more than thirty incidents of airplanes shot down by the Soviets, there have been several in which there were verified and possible survivors; Whereas it is the obligation of the Soviet Government to inform the Government of the United States of the identity of any American national held by the Soviet Government; and Whereas there is clear evidence that the Soviet Government hold and has held scores of American nationals as a result of shooting down aircraft without ever advising the United States and without admitting that it so holds American na- tionals: Now, therefore, be it 1 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives 2 of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 3 That the Secretary of State be instructed to provide the Con- 4 gress with complete information concerning the number of 5 American nationals now held by the Soviet Union or so held 6 at any time since the cessation of hostilities at the conclusion 7 of World War II; and be it further 8 Resolved, That the Secretary provide the Congress with 9 the total record of any and all steps taken by the Department 10 of State or by any other agency of the Government of the 11 United States to identify and recover the persons or remains 12 of American nationals held by the Soviet Government; and 13 be it further 14 Resolved, That, in particular, the Secretary provide 15 such detailed information with reference to the following inci- 16 dents: Approved For Release 2008/10/27: CIA-RDP95B00895R000200040003-7 Approved For Release 2008/10/27: CIA-RDP95B00895R000200040003-7 3 1 A. Baltic Incident, United States Navy Privateer, April 2 8, 1950, Soviets report firing on United States plane over 3 Latvia near Leipaja (Libau). The crew: 4 1. Howard C. Seeschaf-264095 5 2. John Fette-320676 6 3. Robert Reynolds-368573 7 4. Tommy Burgess-506762 8 5. Joe Henry Danens-3685438 9 6. -Jack Thomas-2242750 10 7. Frank Beckman-2799076 11 8. Edward Pureili-2540438 12 9. Joseph Rinniar-2542600 13 10. Joseph Bourassa-9539864; 14 B. Kamchatka Incident, United States Air Force B-29, 15 June 13, 1952, Soviets report firing on B-29 which was 16 downed over Kamchatka Peninsula or the Sea of Japan. The 17 missing personnel and their serial numbers from the B-29 18 are: 19 1. Samuel Busch-733811 20 2. James Scully-693414 21 3. Samuel Service-752509 22 4. Robert McDonnel-2222264 23 5. William Homer-7025704 24 6. David Moore-15229915 25 7. William Blizzard-19244175 Approved For Release 2008/10/27: CIA-RDP95B00895R000200040003-7 Approved For Release 2008/10/27: CIA-RDP95B00895R000200040003-7 4 1 8. Miguel Monserrat-13164064 2 9. Eddie Berg-17281746 3 10. Leon Bonura-18359162 4 11. Roscoe Becker-19391813 5 12. Danny Pillsbury-18245964; 6 C. Kamchatka Peninsula, Sea of Japan Incident, United 7 States Air Force B-50, July 29, 1953, Soviets report Soviet 8 fighters fired at B-50 for violating Soviet borders over 9 Gamona and Askold Island near Vladivostock. They say the 10 craft disappeared. One crewman was saved by an American 11 destroyer. He saw crewmates being picked up by Soviet 12 ships, sixteen airmen are missing; 13 D. Armenian Incident, United States Air Force C-130. 14 Soviets report United States Air Force transport shot down 15 in Armenia. Six bodies have been returned to the United 16 States. Eleven others unaccounted for. Union of Soviet So- 17 cialist Republics magazine "Ogoniok" citing article in East 18 German publication reports eleven crew members of C-130 19 parachuted safely and were captured. Union of Soviet Social- 20 ist Republics later denies report; and be it further 21 Resolved, That the Secretary include in his report all 22 information available with reference to those instances set 23 forth in the Congressional Record of September 14, 1983, on 24 pages S12128 and S12129. 0 Approved For Release 2008/10/27: CIA-RDP95B00895R000200040003-7