RAISING THE FLAG OF HOPE; POW-MIA BANNER HOLDS SPECIAL MEANING FOR VETS.

Byline: David Greenberg Daily News Staff Writer

Navy Lt. Cmdr. James Mills, 26, was flying a night mission Sept. 21, 1966 when his plane vanished over what was then North Vietnam.

Thirty-three years later, his sister Judie Mills Taber still wonders about his fate.

``If he survived, that means he's been a prisoner for 32 years,'' she said.

Since it was formed in May 1970, Taber, of La Habra, has been one of thousands of members of the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia.

The Washington D.C.-based organization is dedicated to raising awareness of and locating the remains of the 2,090 Americans still listed missing in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and the territorial waters of China.

Now its western states coordinator, Taber was the featured speaker at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library at a ceremony to raise the POW/MIA flag Saturday, which was Armed Forces Day.

``It's an encouragement to those families who still have a loved one missing that they have not been forgotten,'' Taber said. ``It's the responsibility of our nation to account for as many as possible.''

To the nearly 80 civilians on hand, the event was a time to learn and reflect.

To some 20 Vietnam veterans present, the hoisting of the flag was a long time coming.

The Reagan Library joined other presidential libraries across the nation for the first of what will be at least six flag-raising days each year.

Plans call for the POW/MIA flag to fly every Memorial Day, Flag Day, Fourth of July, POW/MIA Recognition Day, which this year is Sept. 25, and Veteran's Day.

Congress earlier this year mandated that all U.S. Post Offices and military institutions fly the flag on those days.

With no official confirmation that James Mills was dead, his family, living in Bakersfield at the time, was hoping he would be among the three groups of prisoners - 591 total - released by the North Vietnamese government from February through April 1973.

The Paris Peace Accords were signed that January.

Over the years, the family gradually came to the realization that Mills would likely never come home.

But they have never given up complete hope.

``We don't have any false hopes,'' Taber said. ``We just want to know the truth.''

Added Taber's mother, Lois Mills: ``It's meaningful anytime I see the flag raised. It means people care.''

Mills, a highly decorated pilot, flew 148 missions during his first tour of duty, she said.

He volunteered for more action and vanished during the first flight of his second tour, according to Taber.

She said the POW/MIA flag also served as a symbol of the lesson she hopes current military and government officials learn.

``We know a nation can repeat its mistakes if it doesn't learn from its mistakes,'' Taber said.

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4 Photos

PHOTO (1-2--Color in Simi Edition only) (Photo 1 ran in Simi and Conejo Edition only; Photo 2 ran in Simi Edition only) At left, Air Force Staff Sgt. Andy Andrew readies the POW-MIA flag. Above, George Bergez, left, and Robert Clark salute.

(3--Color) (Ran in Simi Edition only) Lauren Mills of Westlake Village looks up at the raised veterans flag at the Reagan Library.

(4--Color) (Ran in Simi Edition only) Air Force Staff Sgt. Michael Hartberger salutes the POW-MIA flag. Some 80 civilians and 20 Vietnam veterans were on hand Saturday at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley.

Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News