August 01, 2023

A lifelong commitment to POW/MIAs of the Vietnam War

By The American Legion
Podcast

On this week’s episode of the Tango Alpha Lima podcast, Ann Mills-Griffiths discusses her history with the National League of POW/MIA Families and how it’s personal. 

For over 45 years, this week’s special guest on The American Legion Tango Alpha Lima podcast has been helping to ensure a full accounting and identification for all American POW/MIAs of the Vietnam War. The issue is personal to Ann Mills-Griffiths, chairman of the Board for the National League of POW/MIA Families.

On Sept. 21, 1966, Mills-Griffiths’ brother was listed as MIA. The Navy F4B on which Cmdr. James B. Mills served on disappeared over North Vietnam.  He was on his second tour, assigned to Fighter Squadron 21, USS Coral Sea.

“When you talk about honoring and remembering people, the ultimate honor and ability to remember is to do our best and honor our commitment to those who served our country and do our best to bring them home if they’re captured or missing,” said Mills-Griffiths, a member of American Legion Auxiliary Unit 364 in Virginia.  

The National League of POW/MIA Families was founded in 1970 with a mission “for the return of all POWs, the fullest possible accounting for the MIAs, and the recovery and identification of the remains of those who died serving our nation during the Vietnam War.” Mills-Griffiths’ father was the executive director of the National League of POW/MIA Families in 1974 for one year until he was diagnosed with Leukemia. After that, she “took over the reins for my family, and it ended up being a lifelong commitment for me.”

Through her commitment, Mills-Griffiths represents POW/MIA families through direct contacts with United States and foreign leaders. She has met with senior officials in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, as well as with Thai, Russian, Chinese and other diplomats and senior officials in an effort to expedite answers and accounting for POW/MIAs.

“Anything like that that you can do to show your support for our military, for those who serve our nation, I think is extremely important to do,” Mills-Griffiths said.

The National League of POW/MIA Families works alongside veteran service organizations like The American Legion to support its mission. “Today, those who do the accounting for the Vietnam War has expanded because of our efforts, including the Legion and all of our VSO (veteran service organization) colleagues,” she said, adding that it’s important for Legion members to continue supporting legislation and advocating for the accounting of America’s POW/MIAs and to fly the POW/MIA flag as a reminder to all of the service and sacrifice of military men and women.  

At 82 years young, Mills-Griffiths said, “I have to write a book. When you’ve been alive and been involved for this many years on an issue that is still very much ongoing and impacts our military and those serving today, you can’t just walk out and leave it.” The title of her book will be “In Search of a Brother.”

In 2018, her brother’s remains were recovered and brought home. “He did come back. I never thought it would happen,” Mills-Griffiths said. Listen to the podcast to hear how his accounting for is “really a miracle story.”

Co-hosts Jeff Daly and Ashley Gutermuth also riff on:

- A North Carolina woman who has helped 1,000 homeless veterans by using her outfitted Jeep to provide mobile showers, laundry services and meals.

- VA facing a growing number of claims as a PACT Act deadline approaches.

- Eight simple habits that could add decades onto your life.

 Check out this week’s episode, which is among nearly 190 Tango Alpha Lima podcasts available in both audio and video formats here. You can also download episodes on iTunes, Google Play or other major podcast-hosting sites. The video version is available at the Legion’s YouTube channel.

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