POW/MIA INSIDERS GLOSSARY

MACV:  Military Assistant Command Vietnam.  The U.S. agency in charge of U.S. military activities in Vietnam during the war.

MARK 2:  Handheld underwater sonar used to locate wreckage in the ocean.

MATERIAL EVIDENCE:  A term used to refer to the various types of physical evidence obtained or observed during the process of an investigation or excavation.

MEDCAP:  Acronym for Medical Civic Action Program.  Primarily conducted in Laos and Cambodia.  The Vietnamese said no to MEDCAP’s in their country least they give the impression they require assistance from the U.S. government.  Face is more important to them than actually helping people.

M-16:  A 5.56mm U.S. assault rifle.

M-60:  A U.S. 7.62mm light machinegun.

MFA:  Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  This organization is tasked with operating the VNOSMP along with the Ministry of Defense and work jointly with the U.S. government on the POW/MIA Issue.

MI-8 AND MI-17:  Soviet made utility helicopters used by the communists in Southeast Asia.  The IT and RT teams use these helicopters in Southeast Asia for transportation.

MIA:  Missing In Action.

MIG:  Soviet built Mikoyan-Gurebvih jet fighter.  Used in Southeast Asia.

MND:  Vietnamese Ministry of Defense.

MOI:  Vietnamese Ministry of Interior.

MOTOROLA RADIO:  Communication system (miniature) used between Investigative Team members while on patrol operations and convoy movement.

MRE:  The acronym for Meals Ready to Eat.  This is the packaged food provided to U.S. Military personnel to eat in the field.  It has come along way from the old C rations of the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

NAD:  Negotiating Analysis Division.  A section of JTF-FA that develops plans for Technical Meetings.

NATIONAL LEAGUE OF FAMILIES:  An organization established by the families of our missing men from the Indochina War.

NCO:  Non-Commissioned Officer.

NO FURTHER PURSUIT:  A term used to categorize cases based on the comprehensive review.  Defines cases where the individuals perished and regardless of any further action by the U.S. government and the governments of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.  This category is temporary (or so they say) until a new lead can be located.

NOI BAI:  The International Airport located in Hanoi, Vietnam.  During the war this was a military airport and was bombed extensively.

NEXT OF KIN (NOK):  The closest living relation of an un-accounted  for American.

NRO:  National Reconnaissance Office.  Established in 1960 to administer and coordinate satellite development and operations for the U.S. Intelligence Community.

NSA:  National Security Agency.  The primary U.S. signal intelligence agency.  Sometimes referred to as “No Such Agency”.

NVA:  North Vietnamese Army.  Term used during the war to describe the North Vietnamese Armed Forces.

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