THE ALTERNATE IDENTITY PROGRAM
By David D. Hendrix
300 American POWs from Southeast Asia were
relocated throughout the world in a secret resettlement program.
Retired military personnel who say they were familiar with the program or helped operate it say the far-reaching enterprise involved new
identities,
The program stretches back to1979, and was at its
height in 1985-86. Its goal was to free prisoners while
avoiding embarrassment for U.S. officials .
The prospect of additional MIAs coming up alive was potentially too
embarrassing for U.S. officials,, especially after a
number of reports and commissions had determined there was no evidence the prisoners existed.
Families of these soldiers who questioned their loved one's unclear POW status were mostly convinced through false forensic findings that their loved one was dead.
Those given their new identities were and are surveilled so that they never contact their former family or friends or disclose the program.