State Representative Douglas Gutwein (R-Francesville) has co-authored a resolution that urges the Indiana General Assembly to fly the POW/MIA flag in both the House and Senate chambers. The resolution passed unanimously in the House and now moves to the Senate for consideration.
The black and white POW/MIA flag is a symbol of efforts to fully resolve the fates of Americans held prisoner or missing in action. The design features a silhouette of a soldier before an implied prison camp and the words “you are not forgotten” underneath.
In his presentation, Gutwein recalled the story of Chief Warrant Officer George Andrew (Andy) Howes, a helicopter pilot from Starke County stationed in South Vietnam in 1970. After a mission over mountainous terrain and dense jungles, Howes and the other personnel on board did not return. With the advancements of technology, Howes’ partial remains were identified by DNA samples taken from his siblings.
“Howes’ family now has the opportunity to lay him to rest,” said Gutwein. “We as a state and as a country support nothing more than bringing our heroes home. Welcome home, Andy.”
According to the Department of Defense, there are currently more than 83,000 military personnel unaccounted for from World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Cold War and Gulf War.
