DUSTWUN vs. MIA

[Mr. Brown of MD]

This question goes out to anyone who is or has been in the military, or is interested enough in the military to know the answer.

What is the difference between these two terms? Is there a difference?

There have been several instances this war where I have seen DUSTWUN - duty status whereabouts unknown, for those who don't know - used, but there has not been any MIA, that I recall.

I'm curious because I try to learn what I can about the military speak used in the casualty notifications and such. I also try to learn what I can of what is going on over there, because I feel like it makes me a more informed critic to be able to say, "Well, here's what it's like over there, and here's how I know."

This DUSTWUN/MIA thing tickles my curiosity because I have this idea in my head that the DUSTWUN is a creation that is the same in meaning to MIA, but doesn't carry the connotation of MIA that is still with our culture today from the Vietnam War. I wonder if I'm right, and if not, what the difference really is.

Thanks in advance.

-CollegeDude
Asker of random questions

[ogminlo]

1. Could it refer to the ones

who, while home on leave, just didn't return?

[For PaisAn]

2. Here's some reference to it

It appears that DUSTWIN could apply to MIA, AWOL or unknown whereabouts. Nice catch-all term they came up with to avoid using MIA and probably also to avoid using AWOL. I wouldn't be surprised if it's a new term they created for this purpose but not sure.

Certainly sounds to me like these 2 men are MIA.


DoD Identifies Army Casualties
The Department of Defense announced today the identity of three soldiers listed as Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown (DUSTWUN) who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. The soldiers under the operational control of the 101st Airborne Division were involved in two incidents in Mosul, on Sunday, Jan. 25. During a river patrol with local police, four soldiers fell into the Tigris River after their watercraft capsized. Two OH-58 Kiowa Warrior helicopters conducted a search, and one of the search helicopters crashed into the river.

Reported as DUSTWUN are:

Staff Sgt. Christopher Bunda, 29, of Washington State. On Jan. 25 Bunda’s boat capsized during a river patrol on the Tigris River. He is assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry, Fort Lewis, Wash.

1st Lt. Adam G. Mooney, 28, of Cambridge, Maryland.

Chief Warrant Officer Patrick D. Dorff, 32, of Minnesota.

Mooney and Dorff’s helicopter went down in the Tigris River during a search. They are assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.

These incidents are under investigation.

http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/2004/nr20040127-0932.html

[Mr. Brown of MD]

3. Yeah, those were the most recent

That's what made me wonder about it. I think it has been used for the whole Iraq conflict - before Baghdad was taken, I know there were some who were reported DUSTWUN who were later reported KIA. Maybe they found some, though, I don't really know.

-CollegeDude
Whereabouts known