Military briefs families on MIAs at Nevada meeting

RENO - For years, Barbara Novak wondered why her brother never returned home from the Korean War.

The Livermore, Calif., woman finally learned the answer at a weekend meeting in Reno with officials from the Pentagon's POW/MIA Office: Army Pfc. Nicholas Hansinger was captured in July 1950 and died three years later.

"I now know when he was captured, where he was captured and that he was taken to a prison camp where he died," Novak told a Reno newspaper.

"This is a true jewel," Novak said, holding newly obtained military documents detailing what happened. "Without this, a lot of us wouldn't know."

Novak, 63, was among 120 people from Nevada and California who were briefed about relatives missing in action from conflicts ranging from World War II to the 1991 Gulf War.

The Defense Department has held similar meetings in cities across the country since 1995, but Saturday's session at Boomtown Hotel and Casino was the first in Reno.

Invitations were sent to family members listed as next of kin within 300 miles of Reno.

"We bring their cases to them so they don't have to go to Washington," said Larry Greer, spokesman for the POW/MIA Office.

Family members learned about the government's ongoing effort to account for Americans missing in action and how the identification process works.

Remains of Novak's brother were identified through DNA testing using a blood sample taken from his sister. Others at Saturday's meeting also were urged to give samples.

Collecting DNA samples from relatives is vital because many are aging and might be the last remaining family members, Greer said.

John Balfour, 79, of Reno, said he learned more about the circumstances surrounding the death of his brother, Army Cpl. George Balfour. He was captured in the demilitarized zone during the Korean War, but the zone is off limits.

"I've hoped they might find teeth or a possible skull," John Balfour said. "That would be some closure for our family."

Wendy Menes, 51, of Reno, said she attended to learn about the latest efforts to account for her brother, Army Sgt. Gary Westcott, who turned up missing in the Vietnam War.

"They thought they honed in on where the bunker was, but they didn't find any remains," Menes said.

"If they could find remains, it would be so meaningful to the family. It's been 33 years."

Lelia Post, 60, of Reno, said she attended the meeting after getting a letter from the Air Force. She last heard from her husband, Capt. James Hamm, in 1968 during the Vietnam War.

"They informed us they would review his case file with us," Post said. "I want to learn more about efforts ongoing to try and locate the men missing and what the plans are."