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American Morning
Searching for POWs and MIAs
Aired May 29, 2001 - 09:22 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Want to tell you about a Web site that might help some of you who have some interest in the Korean War conflict. Two brothers have been working on this Web site. They are the Barker brothers, Hal and Ted, and they are joining us from Dallas, Texas. Also joining us today for a discussion is Jan Curran, and she's in our Los Angeles bureau.
Ted and Hal, let's start with you. Good morning to you.
What can you tell us about your Web site?
HAL BARKER, KOREAN WAR PROJECT: Well, the Korean War Project is a Web site based on remembrance of the Korean War. It's been on-line now five years -- six years, actually. And we get about 3, 000 people a day coming to the Web site. And we're there to remember.
KAGAN: Now, tell me about the solicitation for DNA. What's that project about?
BARKER: Well, the Department of Defense has been unable to find the families of over 6, 000 of the MIAs and the POWs who lost their lives in the Korean War. And we've been working to jump-start finding these remaining 6, 000 families. And the purpose of our Finding the Families Project at the Korean War Project is to make this known and find these families.
KAGAN: So you already have the Web site -- that's like a clearinghouse of information. So that's going to attract people looking for that service. And you're hoping when people log on, they might find out about the DNA search and might donate their DNA?
BARKER: That's correct. We have an area on the site where you can search a particular state and it breaks it down by counties. So if, for example, you're in Dallas County, Texas, you can come to the Web site, enter Texas and then pull up all the family names in the Dallas area. We're encouraging genealogists and individuals throughout the country to pick their county and start searching for these families and see if we can find them.
KAGAN: Well, let's talk to a woman who might be a member of one of those families. Jan Curran, joining us from our Los Angeles bureau.
Jan, good morning. JAN CURRAN, DAUGHTER OF MIA: Good morning.
KAGAN: I understand you would have an interest because of your father. What can you tell us about him?
CURRAN: His name was Lieutenant Charles Garrison. He went missing on May 18, 1951 -- just exactly 50 years ago last Friday. And he was a fighter pilot, served aboard of the USS Boxer. And I'm...
KAGAN: So for 50 -- so for 50 years your family has had questions about what happened to your dad?
CURRAN: That's right.
KAGAN: And have you been on this Web site? You been on the Barker's Web site?
CURRAN: Oh, yes, for at least four years.
KAGAN: And have you gone ahead and donated your DNA?
CURRAN: Well, as a daughter I cannot donate DNA. The mitochondrial DNA needs to be passed down from the maternal line and so the appropriate donors were my father's brother and sister. And they both donated. And that -- my Web site is concerned with telling people who is the appropriate donor and how to donate a sample.
KAGAN: Yes, now tell us -- now you, also, have a Web site. Tell us about yours and how is it a little bit different than the Barker's. I know you're kind of working in conjunction with each other.
CURRAN: Well, it's linked to their -- to their Web site.
KAGAN: But if I go on one of your...
CURRAN: And...
KAGAN: On your Web site, what am I going to find?
CURRAN: Well, you'll find information on what is involved. It's a simple blood test for the donor and so nothing more difficult than that. And it's sent through the mail. So it's -- the contact numbers are there and the appropriate people to donate are listed.
KAGAN: So some -- the appropriate members of your family have donated but it hasn't...
CURRAN: That's right.
KAGAN: ... led to a match with your father so far?
CURRAN: Not yet.
KAGAN: But are you still hopeful?
CURRAN: Definitely. KAGAN: And is it the more people who donate it's going to help, you think?
CURRAN: Well, the larger the donate the database, the more likelihood we will get -- we will get an answer. So...
KAGAN: Ted and Hal, let's bring you back in here. Can you tell us about a success story?
BARKER: Go ahead, Ted.
TED BARKER, KOREAN WAR PROJECT: Yes, as a matter of fact, just this last week a lady here in Coppell, Texas, Ann Dunton (ph), had news from DPMO office that her father, an Air Force aviator, a Lieutenant Wilson, had been positively identified -- is a major success story in her personal life and her family's life and for the people that she's associated with. Her search has been over 29 years and there are many other partial success stories that we've been privileged to be part of in helping the Department of Defense gather the information from the families.
KAGAN: So when you donate, though, you donate your DNA, it's going over to the government?
BARKER: It goes to AFDIL, which is the Armed Forces Identification Laboratories, and then ultimately to the Central Identification Laboratory in Hickam Field, Hawaii.
KAGAN: I would imagine some folks might have a privacy issue with that -- being concerned about turning their DNA over to the government.
BARKER: You are right. And this is an issue that the Department of Defense has to deal with every single day. And through our Web site and Jan's Web site and our personal touch with the veterans, some of those hesitancies dissipate. And we're very fortunate to be able to have the confidence level of the American veteran and their families.
KAGAN: And I imagine a lot of folks might be interested on more information. Once again, the Barker's Web site is koreanwar.org.
Thanks to the Barkers, Ted and Hal, and also Jan Curran. Thank you for joining us, and we wish you good luck with your continued search -- 50 years long.
CURRAN: Thank you very much.
KAGAN: Thank you so much for joining us.
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