WILMINGTON - According to Bruce Cabana, POW/MIA Coordinator for the Korean War Veterans Association (KWVA), servicemen and women are promised that if they become missing, are captured or die while serving this nation in combat, every effort will be made to see they are recovered and returned with all the dignity and honor they deserve and that they will be given proper burial with the honor and respect they have earned - that's official government policy.

Sadly, from the Korean War alone, there are approximately 8,100 POW/MIAs still missing and the government has yet to make good on that promise.

In fact, according to some veterans, the government policy in regards to heroes left behind in North Korea now is "don't ask, don't search."

For what seems like an eternity, the families of those heroes have been waiting and praying for the government to fulfill their promise and to return of the remains of their loved ones.

One Wilmington family has waited over 56 years to honor United States Navy Ensign Ronald Dow Eaton, who was KIA (Killed In Action) while on a mission in the Korean War.

Retired Navy Captain Tracy Connors, chronicled the attempted mission to rescue Eaton in his book Baited Trap, the Ambush of Mission 1890 [www.baitedtrapambush.com] and Truckbusters From Dogpatch, the Combat Diary of the 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing in the Korean War, 1950-1953 [www.truckbustersfromdogpatch.com].

Connors felt compelled to tell the story of the men who sacrificed much on that dreadful day - June 25, 1952 in North Korea.

Connors' beloved uncle, First Lieutenant Archie Connors and Captain Wayne Lear, both of the US Air Force, were killed trying to rescue Eaton.

While neither Eaton nor Lear's remains have been recovered from North Korea, Connors' body was returned to the United States for a proper burial.

There are many questions still unanswered. Why was only one airman's remains (Archie Connors) returned after the Korean War despite the fact that three men were buried within sight of each other?

Why haven't the heroic aviators received medals for their bravery?

Has the government forgotten their promises to honor these war heroes and to bring them home?

What does the "don't ask, don't search" policy do for the morale of today's men and women serving this country?

The site of Ensign Ron Eaton's death in North Korea was well documented, but the government has not made a request to the North Korean government for permission to search.

In fact, the U.S. government cut off discussions with the North Korean government regarding search locations more than three years ago.

The KWVA are taking steps to secure a policy change.

Cabana (KWVA Coordinator) recently stated in a letter to the Administration, "Many of our veterans gave the ultimate sacrifice to provide lives of hope and fulfillment through freedom, for us and for our Allies across this great land and around the world. That sacrifice is worth remembering. That is worth a sincere national thank you."

Cabana continues, "It is on that note that I, as the POW/MIA Coordinator for the Korean War Veterans Association, am both shocked and saddened by the fact that President Bush has chosen to remove North Korea from the list of terrorist nations, lift sanctions, and to make a priority of resolving the abduction of Japanese citizens by North Korea."

Citing the significance of what U.S. heroes sacrificed, Cabana maintains, "Freedom is not, nor has it ever been, free. It comes with a price. Veterans of the Korean War paid that price for America and the world half a century ago. History has shown that the price was worth it. Our Korean War Veterans saved a nation from a future of unimaginable bleakness, restored an Ally, and stopped Communist aggression."

Much the same can be said about the heroes of each and every war.

Cabana maintains, "We should be sending a message of hope to the families of any POW/MIA, from any war or conflict, that they and their service member are not forgotten—that we as a nation that honors its promises will not rest until all of the POW/MIAs, from all of our nations' conflicts are accounted for."

In May of 2007, Ensign Eaton's sisters, Joyce Dalton and Verlie Quinan of Wilmington, were invited to have breakfast with President Bush and to attend the Memorial Day service at Arlington National Cemetery.

The crowd listened intently as the President of the United States spoke.

Eaton's sisters met President Bush afterward and had hope that some attempt could be made to bring Ron Eaton home. Unfortunately, no progress has yet been made.

Wilmington's Director of Veterans' Services, Louis Cimaglia (who is also the President of the Massachusetts Veterans' Service Offices Association), comments, "United States citizens and free people everywhere owe a great debt of gratitude to ALL military service personnel, especially POWs/ MIAs/ KIAs.

"Freedom isn't free! Many soldiers were seriously injured or killed in action, and thus, sacrificed their lives for us all. It is important to remember these courageous men when we enjoy our liberties today. Say a big 'THANK YOU!' to a vet whenever you can. We as a nation should not rest until we achieve the fullest possible accounting of ALL missing American military service members from all wars."

Directors of Veterans' Services in neighboring communities agree wholeheartedly that we should bring all of our heroes home. Tewksbury Veterans Agent Jim Williams says, "I believe that our government should vigorously attempt to recover all MIAs and free all POWs from any war in order to bring closure to their families."

Director of Veterans' Services in Woburn, Ralph Garvey, offers, "I was involved with a MIA group in Massachusetts and I know that anybody who was in a combat unit wants an accounting of all their members if the body is recoverable."

Echoing those sentiments, Navy Captain (retired) Tracy D. Connors, the author of two recent histories of the Korean War notes, "Most Americans understand that defending Freedom will sometimes mean that our precious young men and women have to put their lives on the line. Sadly, at times, that young life of our service men and women is the price they pay so that we or our Allies can enjoy the benefits, freedoms and opportunities of living freely - with hope and opportunity."

A recurring theme in the statements made by veterans' groups and thousands of families across the nation is to bring our heroes home and give them the honor they so richly deserve. They yearn, not for special treatment, but anxiously await the promise that the United States government makes to all our armed forces - to bring our deceased heroes home with all the dignity, honor and respect they have earned.

According to Cabana (KWVA), failure to search for the remains of Korean War heroes confirms to their families and other Veterans that their sacrifice is forgotten and that a national promise to bring them home is empty.

Thus far, pleas to the administration to change the current policy have not been heard. Perhaps they will listen when one voice becomes a million-and-one voices.

To make your voice heard today, send a letter to your representative in Congress asking that they become instrumental in changing the current policy of "don't ask, don't search" in regard to Korean War heroes who are still MIA or were KIA.

You may also send your letter to the Don't Ask/Don't Search, c/o Town Crier, 226 Lowell Street, Wilmington, MA 01887 and it will be forwarded to the proper office.

The more letters that are sent, the better chance there is that the current policy will change and the promises made to those Korean War veterans were not hollow. Then it can finally be said - no heroes were left behind.