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Missing, Presumed Dead:
The Search For America's POWs -
reviews


Video Librarian - March/April 2006

***1/2 Stars - Highly Recommended

(2004) 65 min. DVD: $49.95 (teacher’s guide included). Choices, Inc. PPR. Color cover. ISBN: 1-930545-82-7.

Although America's armed services proudly claim that they "leave no one behind" during battle—and for the most part have done admirable work in getting prisoners of war home—some people ultimately "fall through the cracks." Narrated by Ed Asner, Missing, Presumed Dead tells the story of Roger Dumas—a POW captured by North Koreans during the Korean war—and the efforts of his brother Bob in trying to get the Pentagon to even acknowledge that his brother is a POW. Despite overwhelming evidence that Roger was alive in the mid-‘90s, Bob Dumas is rebuffed at every step by officials at the highest levels of government, including some current senators who are blocking any negotiations with North Korea. Combining congressional testimony, personal interviews, and historic newsreels to backup the allegations here, this film—which features Senator John Kerry, Senator John McCain, Representative Bob Dornan, and others—is sure to stir up a sense of disbelief and outrage in viewers over the callous and even devious handling of some American POW cases. Highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (J. Carlson)

Library Journal - September 2006

Missing, Presumed Dead: The Search for America's POWs color & b/w. 65 min. with teacher's guide. Bill Dumas.  Dist. by Choices, Inc., 421 S. Beverly Dr. 5th Floor, Beverly Hills CA 90212; www.choicesvideo.net. 2006. DVD ISBN 1-930545-82-7. $49.95. MILITARY HISTORY


Every so often something comes along that forces a citizen to question the services offered by government (we're not talking trash collection here). Dumas puts forth a convincing argument that the U.S. government made the decision specifically to abandon pursuing the repatriation of American prisoners of war (POWs) from the Korean conflict who were not returned to U.S. control following the cease-fire, estimated in 1953 to be 8000 troops. For reasons explained here, it was expedient for the government to proclaim them missing, presumed dead. The film focuses on the quest by Bob Dumas to find his brother Roger, a 1952 POW never returned yet seen several times since then, and considers the disregard that our legislators have for evidence, the military, and the concerns of the citizenry. This nicely engineered blend of historic film and photos, newsreel footage, and interviews with experts will make viewers wonder why. Highly recommended.— Cliff Glaviano, Bowling Green State Univ. Libs., OH

Educational Media Reviews Online - February 8, 2006

Missing, Presumed Dead

Reviewed by Michael Fein, Central Virginia Community College

Directed By Bill Dumas
DVD – 65 minutes

Sr. High – Adult

Military Science, Political Science, Korean War, History

Highly Recommended

This production, which is also available on VHS, concerns the half-century long search of Bob Dumas for his brother Roger, both Koren War veterans, and is based on Bob’s book “The Day the Eagle Cried: an epic journey of brotherly love.” Roger was captured by the Chinese on 4 November, 1950 and was one of some 8,000 declared “missing, presumed dead” in 1954. Using newsreel footage as well as talking head interviews with, among others, Senator Bob Smith (NH) and former Representative Bob Dornan (CA), we are presented with the unsettling fact that American POWs were left behind in Korea and that some of them were transferred to Communist China and the Soviet Union. The government has known this for decades, though it has publicly denied it.

This is technically a superb production with (on the DVD) a number of nice special features including: scenes not included in the theatrical release, a director’s statement, and classroom resources among others. Sound and picture quality are excellent and the background music skillfully adds to the somber and sober tone of this production.

Booklist - February 15th, 2006

Missing, Presumed Dead: The Search for America’s POWs. 2005. 65min. Choices, DVD, $49.95 (1-930545-82-7). 888-570-5400.

Narrated by Ed Asner, this film “chronicles Bob Dumas’ 50-year search for his brother who was captured by North Korea.” Both Bob and his younger brother Roger served in the Korean War, but Roger never returned and was listed as missing by the U.S. government. The program documents Dumas’ exhaustive efforts to have his brother’s status changed from MIA to POW. He presents evidence that indicates the government abandoned military personnel in Korea and Vietnam. The program is arranged both chronologically and thematically and combines archival footage, news clips, and on-camera commentary. The information is solid but definitely one-sided. A guide and lesson plan are available online. Suggested to spark debate in college and high school history and political science classes. —James Scholtz

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