Home

To Collection Description

Vietnam War Prisoners of War and Missing in Action collection

Vietnam War Prisoners of War and Missing in Action collection. – 1956-1989; predominant 1984-1990. – 1.2 m of textual records and graphic material. Research materials used in the book Kiss the Boys Goodbye: How the United States Betrayed Its Own POWs in Vietnam.

Series 1
Research materials: families and friends of POWs/MIAs, military personnel, CIA. – 1981-1989. – 55 cm of textual records and graphic material. – Series contains notes and transcripts taken by Monika Jenson-Stevenson at various interviews, correspondence, photocopies of various documents and a few photographs. There is also correspondence with and notes by her husband and co-author William (“Bill”) Stevenson.

Box 1
F.1       Brig. General Harry C. (Heinie) Alderholt: Interview notes, 5 June and 19 October 1987; also photocopy of a hearing before the Subcommittee on Foreign Affairs, 8 August 1984, labeled “Applegate Coverup”
F.2       Patty Aloot: Note written on back of mimeograph indicating it is “documentation of fraudulent use-date provided to families” from Congressman Bob Smith’s office. Also a circular letter from Major John W. Parsels to POW family members and friends.
F.3       Liam Atkins: Interview notes, n.d.
F.4       Sean Atkins: Interview notes, 14 December 1987
F.5       Tom Asworth: Interview notes, 30 April, also background information
F.6       Ken Barker: Interview notes, 8 January 1987; also background information, photocopies of material supplied by Barker
F.7       Richard Barker: Transcript of statement 2 April 1986; also ms. notes, photocopies of correspondence
F.8       Scott Barnes: Interview notes, 15 August 1987; transcript of audio recording, 12 March 1987; background information
F.9       Errol Bond: Interview notes, 19 June 1987; photocopies
F.10-1  Lillian (Grace) Bickel: Letter to Bill, 21 August 1989, with enclosures (photocopies)
F.12     John M.G. Brown: Ts. Titled “Points of Interest for Book”, Feb.-March 1988; also a leaflet for Brown’s book Rice Paddy Grunt
F.13     John M.G. Brown: “Meeting with George Shultz”, computer prints, one noted as an affidavit
F.14     John M.G. Brown: Interview notes, February, March, April 1987; also background information and photocopies
F.15     John M.G. Brown: Correspondence with both Bill and Monika, 1987-1988, encl. computer print from Brown and Ashworth’s forthcoming book, The Betrayed
F.16-7  John M.G. Brown: Photocopies of correspondence with others

Box 2
F.1-2    John M.G. Brown: Photocopies of correspondence with others
F.3       Canadian Vietnam Veterans: Correspondence, newsletters, incomplete ts., photocopies
F.4       Bob Cressman: Photocopy of a memo from Monika to Nellie Duncan Lide (also with CBS Sixty Minutes) re Cressman; 1 page of notes which mention Cressman among others
F.5       Evelyn Cressman: Letter to Patricia Kennedy encl. photocopies at the request of Monika, 1989
F.6       Norman Doney: Interview/background notes, 2 letters to Monika, photocopies
F.7       Danielson family: Mimeograph, “Abandoned Heroes? – The Shame of Our National Cover-up Worse than Watergate”, January 1986 re Mark G. Danielson
F.8       Jerry DuBose: Letter from Peg Treadway to Monika, 1 April 1986; also notes on Jerry DuBose
F.9       Betty Foley: Interview notes, 16 April 1987
F.10     Robert (“Bobby”) Garwood: Interview notes; CBS memorandums, photocopies
F.11-2  Robert (“Bobby”) Garwood: Notes, background information, photocopies
F.13-4  Robert (“Bobby”) Garwood: Photocopies of news clippings
F.15     Gary Goldman: Affadavit, 2 February 1989; notarized 17 Feb. 1989
F.16     Ann Mills Griffith: Interview notes, 10 Sept. 1985
F.17     James G. (“Bo”) Gritz: Interview notes, 29 June; also handwritten notes in Bill’s hand on Toronto Sun notepaper
F.18     James G. (“Bo”) Gritz: News clippings; periodical; photocopies

Box 3
F.1       Chris Gugas: Interview notes, 23 March 1987; photocopy of letter from U.S. Senator Jeremiah Denton to Anne C. Gugas
F.2       Mary C. Hall: Letter to Monika with encl. photograph of her husband Staff Sgt. Willis R. Hall; notes about Mary Hall. See also F.6.
F.3       Anne M Hart: Law suit against Vernon Orr, photocopy of document containing a statement from Michael Charney, 11 July 1985
F.4       Lt. Col. Howard Hill: CBS Memo from Nellie Duncan Lide to Monika, 9 September 1985 re Hill
F.5       Ann Holland: Interview and background notes; correspondence with Monika and Bill; photocopies of correspondence and news clippings.
F.6       Anne Holland: Letters from her and Mary C. Hall 1987 with regard to “Site 85”; photocopies of documents, news clippings
F.7       Joey Hughes: Notes about Hughes
F.8       Clarence Edward Johnson: Affidavit photocopy, 25 Jan. 1989
F.9       James E. Kennedy: photocopy of notes about
F.10     Col. Jerry King: Interview notes, 4 June
F.11     James L. Lamar: Notes about
F.12     Col. William LeGro: Interview notes, 7 and 23 March
F.13     Barbara Lewis: Letter to Eugene McDaniel, 12 November 1986; photocopies of documents
F.14     Donna Long: Notes on telephone conversation with Frank Snepp, 22 April 1985 written on verso of photocopy of chapter “In Good Faith” from Decent Interval
F.15     Sgt. Joseph A. Matejov: Background information; affidavit of Jerry Mooney re Matejov.
F.16     Capt. Eugene (“Red”) McDaniel: Interview notes, 13 Jan. 1987; photocopies of documents, photographs, letter from John McCain, 1985; extract from letter to Bill
F.17     Sgt. Melvin McIntire: Photocopy of typed notes re his disciplinary record. See also Box 4, F.5
F.18     Sandy Mercer (Milman): Typed notes about
F.19     Col. Lewis Millet: Interview notes
F.20     Jerry Mooney:  Interview notes, 30 July, 26 March, 31 March, 18 December, 30 December , 9January; correspondence from Mooney to Monika, 1987; photocopies of documents; satirical sketches. See also F.15.
F.21     National Forget-Me-Not Association: photocopies and one photograph of documents with Association stamp of ownership – one is of a letter written from Thailand in 1985
F.22     National League of Families: Notes, photocopies of document issued by the League; pamphlet “Report Concerning Misinformation on the Issue of American Prisoners of War and Missing in Action in Southeast Asia”, issued by the League, n.d.
F.23     National Vietnam Veterans Coalition: Photocopies, also one newsletter, January 1986
F.24     James Thomas Nelson: Notes about
F.25     John and Margaret Nevin: Letter to Monika, 1986
F.26     Rod Norberg (Youth Concerned for the 1,300 Missing in Action, Inc.): Letter to Monika and Bill, 1989, encl. photocopies of document, photographs
F.27     Jack Peffley: Background notes
F.28     Jean Ray (stepmother of Staff Sgt. James Ray): Interview notes; various photocopies
F.29     Ted Sampley: Interview notes, 26 June 1986; photocopy of article about Sampley by Michael Caron
F.30     “Sears Roebuck re Carlucci & van Marbod”:  Miscellaneous notes, title taken from original file folder
F.31     Gen. Richard Secord: Notes about; news clippings
F.32     Capt. Charles J. Scharf: Letter from Richard J. Barker [?] to Bill and Monika re Scharf enclosing photocopies of publications and correspondence about him
F.33     Danny Sheehan: Interview notes, 23 February, 2 July; other notes 30 May

Box 4
F.1       Col. Charles Shelton: Typed notes about the Shelton case; interview notes with his son, Father Charles Shelton; June 7, 1988, June 8, July 6; correspondence to Bill and Monika; statements; photocopies
F.2       Lt. Col. A. Shinkle: Letter from Monika; also photocopies found by “Cookie” with note
F.3       Capt. Lance Sijan: Notes about
F.4       William Skivington: Photocopy of mimeo about his son
F.5       Major Mark A. Smith: Notes and photocopies; some of the material concerns Melvin McIntire
F.6       Captain John Souknhindy: Interview notes; news clipping
F.7       Cmdr. Hugh R. Taylor: Notes about; letters to Bill and Monika, 1987 and 1989; book proposal on Site-85
F.8       Lt. Gen. Eugene Tighe: Interview notes, 13 and 14 May, in La Jolla; 23 March; Labor Day; 17 December 1987; 12 June; CBS memorandum; copy of the Tighe report; outline following the section on the Tighe report; transcript of CBS Sixty Minutes interview of Tighe by Ed Bradley, various takes; photocopies of other documents
F.9       Townley and Ritter Families: CBS memorandum from Nellie Duncan Lide to Monika, 24 September 1985
F.10     Peg Treadway: Letter to Monika, 13 January 1988
F.11     Michael Van Atta: Interview notes; letters to Bill and Monika, 1987; letter to Ross Perot, 1986; letter to Ann Mills Griffith, 1987; photocopies of documents; news clippings; letter to Monika 1985 re French reporter Remi Favret
F.12     Diane C. Van Renselaar: Letters to Monika, 1987-88 , enclosing information about her husband, Lars J. Van Renselaar, as well as copies of correspondence; interview notes
F.13     Gen. John W. Vessey: Interview notes; news clippings
F.14     Erich Fritz von Marbod: Background information on him, including notes taken from a book; notes from a conversation with Bob Fink, partly about von Marbod
F.15     White House meeting: Notes about a Feb. 1981 meeting at the White House re a possible return of POWs
F.16     General Westmoreland: Interview notes, 8 Feb.
F.16a   Edwin Wilson (former CIA): Interview notes, transcript of Wilson’s appearance on Larry King, 1987; photocopies

Series2
Research materials: journalists, politicians, lawyers, and others. – 1984-1989. – 36 cm of textual records. – Title based on content of series. – Series consists of CBS Sixty Minutes transcripts, correspondence interview notes, photocopies of various documents.

Sixty Minutes: Ed Bradley interviewer
F.17     Transcript of programme, 15 December 1985, including “Dead or Alive?”, produced by Monika. Includes Bradley interviewing General Eugene Tighe, Pte. Robert Garwood, Rep. William M. Hendon, Major Mark Smith, Sgt. Melvin McIntire, Richard Armitage.
F.18     Transcript of “Dead or Alive”, 15 December 1985
F.19     Richard Armitage transcript
F.20     Mark Smith transcript; also letter from Mark L. Waple to Monika re Smith
F.21     Marion Shelton transcript (appears not to have been broadcast)
F.22     Transcript; original file title “Rough Script”
F.23     Transcript, with note “Nellie [Duncan Lide] – This is everything that was there”.
F.24     Memos, blue sheets, letter from Barbara, 1987

Box 5
F.1       Richard Armitage: Various photocopies documents about Armitage; handwritten notes on United States Senate, Committee on the Budget notepaper.
F.2       Xujati Boonto, Thai Embassy, Ottawa business card stapled to photocopied telex message for Bill, 1989
F.3       Jerry Bonan (reporter): Notes about and information from
F.4       John Biddle Brock: Letter to Bill, 1988, also photocopies of letters from Brock to others
F.5       David P. Brose: Letter to Monika
F.6       Richard Childress: Notes about, photocopy of letter to Michael Van Atta
F.7       Centre for Law and National Security (John Norton Moore): Letter to Bill, 1986
F.8       Christic Institute, An Interfaith Public Interest Law and Policy Center: printed documents, some concerning Iran/Contra
F.9       Anthony Drexel Duke: Letter to Bill, 10 May 1988; photocopies including letter from Ronald Regan to Mrs. Duke
F.10     Drug Enforcement Administration: photocopies of letters
F.11     Daring Books (Patrice and Dennis Bartow): Letters to Monika and Bill, 1987, also photocopies of correspondence and transcript of conversations with Scott Barnes
F.12     Daring Books (Amy Thompson): Letter to Monika, 1987; encl. Phil Donahue transcript
F.13     R. Jon Emr (Emr-Douglas Productions): Letter to Monika, 1988; notes about; photocopies of legal documents re Scott Barnes
F.14     R. Jon Emr (Emr-Douglas Productions): Letter to Monika, 1988; “A Chance to Live: the Bobby Garwood Story” proposal; letter from Garwood to Monika; photocopies of contracts and mailgrams
F.15     Congressman Dennis Hastert: photocopies of correspondence, 1989
F.16     Senator Jesse Helms: photocopies of correspondence and other documents, 1989
F.17     Congressman Billy Hendon: notes and questions for an interview; photocopies of documents
F.18     Ed Joyce: Interview notes
F.19     John R. Kelly: Note with enclosing documents
F.20     John F. Kelly: Book proposal on Ronald Rewald

Box 6
F.1-2    Law Suit: William Stevenson vs. Bantam Doubleday
F.3       Lionheart Television: Letter to Monika, 1987; notes, other documents
F.4       Congressman John LeBoutillier:  Notes, photocopies
F.5       Victor Louis: Letter from Misha Allen, 1984 re Louis; photocopies
F.6       Sean McCarthy: Interview notes
F.7       Robert C. McFarlane: Letter from his assistant to Monika, 1987; computer print; news clipping
F.8       Congressman G.V. (“Sonny”) Montgomery: Press release, 1987, circular letter, 1977
F.9       Office of Richard Nixon: Letter from John H. Taylor, Nixon’s assistant, to Monika in 1988 in reply to an interview request
F.10     Cuong Nguyen: two letters to Bill and Monika, 1989
F.11     Robin Obassis aka Obassey: Notes about

H. Ross Perot:
F.12-6  Correspondence, 1986-1988; notes; transcripts; news clippings, tear-sheets, photocopies

F.17     E.W. “Bert” Pfeiffer: Interview notes
F.18     Ossi J. Rahkonen: Notes
F.19     Ron Rewald: Notes, photocopies
F.20-1  Lew Ross: Letter to Monika, 1985 with photocopied documents
F.22     Elvus Sasseen: Letter to Bill and Monika, 1988
F.23     Congressman Stephen Solarz: Memo to Monika from Nellie Duncan Lide containing comment by Solarz re Robert Garwood, 1985

Box 7
F.1       William “Bill” Stevenson: Notes; also letter to Bill from John Horton, 1985
F.2       David Taylor (BBC producer): Transcripts and notes
F.3       Charles Templeton: Computer print about
F.4-5    Mark L. Waple, Hutchens & Waple, re Mark A. Smith and Melvin McIntire: Correspondence, 1987; interview notes, photocopies
F.6       “Wichian Conversation in Dusi Thani Café”: 1 page of notes
F.7       Leonard Woodcock (former ambassador to China): Interview notes

Series 3
Other research materials. –1976-1989. – 15 cm of textual records. – Title based on content of series.
F.8-10  Photocopied documents removed from a binder. They are organized in sections numbered 1-10, followed by subject categories.
F.11-4  Laos, Post-war Laos and Vietnam: Handwritten lists with photocopied documents.

Box 8
F.1       Government reports: 1976-1986
F.2-3    Photocopy of a Government lists of POWs and MIAs, stamped declassified, 1979
F.4       Notes about Peter Mass’s book, Manhunt
F.5       Draft of letter to “sir” re John Kerry, n.d.
Printed materials:
F.6       Issue of Homecoming II, 1 June 1987 and other materials
F.7       The Insider, 1985-1989 and other materials
F.8       Tear-sheets; pamphlet “POW-MIA Fact Book”, 1985;  Convergence, spring 1987; Conservative Digest, August 1986; photocopies of news clippings.

Series 4
Photographs. – 1956-1989. – 5 cm of graphic material and textual records. – Title based on content of series.

F.9       Photographs not used in book: Includes three polariods of Capt. Mark Smith; 2 of Capt. James W. Grace (b&w); Mark Waple with others (b&w); POW-MIA meeting at Kings County American Legion (2 col); Melvin A. Holland’s name on Vietnam Wall in 1982. Also photographs of an  unidentified military man which appear to be taken in Vietnam in 1980s (5 col.)
F.10     Photographs (original file folder had no label): Includes Col Richard Childress (b&w, 1987); Sgt. Peter Cressman (b&w); Capt. Mark G. Danielson (b&w); Capt. Grace (2 b&w); Cpt. Robert L. Howard (b&w); Master Sgt. Jacob Mercer (2 b&w ); Sgt. Melvin McIntire and Major Mark Smith; Red McDaniel at the time of his release (b&w); McDaniel Family (b&w); Colonel Charles Shelton (b&w; col); General Tighe (b&w); Mark Walpe (b&w); 6 other unidentified photographs, notes.
F.11     Lillian (Grace) Bickle: Capt. Grace (col), 1969; Lillian at memorial service for Grace (3 b&w), 1976
F.12     Major Charles R. Coutts: 5 b&w photographs taken in Laos in 1956; 14 col. slides. Letter from Coutts, 1987 to Bill, states that he was stationed with the International Truce Supervisory Commission, Canadian Contingent in Laos near the village of Sam Neua.
F.13     Melvin A. Holland: 6 b&w, 3 col. 1965-1984; most are group family photos
F.14     Diane and Lars Van Renselaar: 5 col photographs, 1967-1968, n.d.; some include their son Erik as a baby and later a young man (n.d.); also letter to Monika, 1989
F.15     Laos:  Includes 2 b&w photographs of Lao Crash site excavation (REFNO 1809) with letter from Colonel Joel D. Creel to Nell Johnson, 1986 and other documents. Also 10 undated col. photographs mostly of the cave where Charles Shelton was held – these photographs were presumably taken in the 1980s. Some contain images of a man only identified as “me” – possibly Shelton’s son. One col. photograph of Phou Pha Thi, Laos; one col photograph of a helicopter.
F.16     White House demonstration: Two col photographs, n.d.

Series 5
Book drafts and other materials. – [1989?]-1990. – 4 cm of textual records and graphic material. – Title based on content of series.

F.18     Drafts: Two isolated pages.
F.19     Drafts: 41 pages from 107 to 527 with typed comments interleaved; pages concern Eugene McDaniel.
F.20     Drafts: 28 pages, various numbers, noted as “examples of editing Dyja sent to [Eugene] Scheiman”.
F.20     Drafts: Appendix, quotations
F.22     Drafts: Footnotes, annotated by Monica
F.23     McClelland and Stewart: Notes by Pat Kennedy about the book with letter to Mike [Van Atta], 1990; a few proofs; two col. photographs sent to Kennedy by Ted Moore; other notes and correspondence, sticker “Vietnam Still Holds American Prisoners”
F.24     Book tour: 1990


Back to Top


Contact: archives@mcmaster.ca
Last Reviewed: November 10, 2008
URL: