The National Alliance Of Families For the Return of America's Missing Servicemen is an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 organization founded in 1990. According the group's web site, its goal is to resolve the fates of any unreturned U.S. prisoners of war or missing in action

Missing in action

Missing in action is a casualty Category assigned under the Status of Missing to armed services personnel who are reported missing during active service. They may have been killed, wounded, become a prisoner of war, or deserted. If deceased, neither their remains nor grave can be positively...

 from World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

 on forward, and to gain the return of any live prisoners.

The group is a 1980s-origined splinter from the older National League of Families

National League of Families

The National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia is an American 501 non-profit organization that is concerned with the Vietnam War POW/MIA issue...

, created by members who were dissatisfied with Ann Mills Griffiths' leadership. Compared to the older group, the National Alliance takes a more activist, radical stance, especially with regards towards the Vietnam War POW/MIA issue

Vietnam War POW/MIA issue

The Vietnam War POW/MIA issue concerns the fate of United States servicemen who were reported as missing in action during the Vietnam War and associated theaters of operation in Southeast Asia...

 and belief in the existence of live prisoners in Southeast Asia.

The chair and co-founder of the group is Dolores Apodata Alfond, whose brother was shot down in 1967 during the Vietnam War

Vietnam War

The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...

. The group was visible during the United States Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs

United States Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs

The Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs was a special committee convened by the United States Senate during the George H. W. Bush administration to investigate the Vietnam War POW/MIA issue, that is, the fate of United States service personnel listed as missing in action during the Vietnam...

 hearings of the early 1990s, but disagreed with the committee's findings that there was no compelling evidence of any live prisoners in Southeast Asia. To date, more than sixteen hundred U.S. servicemen are still listed as missing in action in Southeast Asia. The National Alliance of Families has also championed the case of Gulf War

Gulf War

The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...

 missing airman Scott Speicher

Scott Speicher

Michael Scott Speicher was a United States Navy pilot who was shot down over Iraq during the Gulf War. He was the first American combat casualty of the conflict. His remains were not recovered until Aug. 2, 2009...

, and also U.S. Prisoners of War or Missing in Action statused service members in the current Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts as well.