National POW/MIA Recognition Day: Recognizing those held captive or still missing in war

2021-09-17T12:14:12-04:00

Most American prisoners of war throughout history probably share similar emotions at the time of their capture: Uncertainty. Dread. Fear. Terror.

Union Army Private Wilson Wood, of the 6th U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery Unit and captured in 1864, likely knew that representatives of the Confederacy fighting for slavery would treat him as an insurrectionist and not as a prisoner of war. (And he would be right: While held prisoner, Wood (or “Woods”) was shot by rebel forces, according to The Civil War Prison System, a course taught at the University of Connecticut.)

1st Lt. Reba Z. Whittle, a pilot who became the first and only female World War II POW after crashing under fire into German territory on Sept. 27, 1944, could only imagine her fate. She was one of the lucky ones: The enemy mended her lacerations, and allowed her to treat other injured prisoners until her repatriation in January 1945.

Then-Capt. Mike Brazelton, shot down over Vietnam on Aug. 7, 1966, may not have summoned the strength to persevere in the early days of captivity had he known he’d spend the next 2,402 days of his life — over 6.5 years — in the infamous Hanoi Hilton.

Brazelton persevered and, at 79, lives on to share his story as a POW survivor. He retired from the U.S. Air Force as a colonel in 1987 and served for 12 years as a captain for American Airlines, piloting commercial aircraft on domestic and international routes until 2002.

In July of this year, Brazelton attended the Department of Defense’s unveiling of a new poster commemorating National POW/MIA Recognition Day, which is Sept. 17, 2021. It’s when stories like Brazelton’s — and of other Americans held captive and returned, and those still missing — are observed in ceremonies around the country and the world.

National POW/MIA Recognition Day is Sept. 17

It’s also when family members of and advocates for POWs and MIAs recommit policymakers to providing answers to what happened to their loved ones in the fog of war and the often-messy aftermath of conflict.

DOD estimates that more than 500,000 U.S. service members have been held as POWs. Between World War II and Operation Iraqi Freedom, another 81,900 U.S. personnel were designated missing in action, according to DOD, including 72,000 from WWII; 7,500 from the Korean War; and 1,500 from the Vietnam War.

“Americans have been held captive as prisoners of war during many wars and in many places,” writes Alan Marsh, a cultural resources specialist with the National Park Service, in “POWs in American History: A Synopsis.”

These “places” include the dreadful holds of British prison ships during the Revolutionary War and deadly “hell ships” and jungle camps in the Pacific Theater of WWII.

Not all captured are beloved back home

“Most Americans who have been prisoners of war are ordinary people who have been placed in extraordinary circumstances by no planning of their own,” writes Marsh. Yet not all prisoners of war are beloved back home, as Americans captured during the Korean War (1950-1953) could attest.

“Treatment of American prisoners of war during the Korean War rivaled that of prisoners in the hands of the Japanese during World War II,” says Marsh.

Service members captured in Korea were held in brutal indoctrination camps, according to the Korean War Legacy Foundation. Although some resisted brainwashing, others succumbed to pressure in captivity and denounced the United States or engaged in other disloyal acts. Many war-weary Americans were unforgiving and called these American prisoners of war collaborators, the foundation notes.

In an article, the foundation argues that this indictment was too harsh: “Though many Americans accused those POWs of being traitors, their actions are understandable in the context of what they were forced to endure.”

The much more recent case of Bowe Bergdahl became a source of controversy, which endures. As an Aug. 19, 2021, report by Military.com recalls, the former Army sergeant was serving in an Afghanistan outpost in 2009 when he was captured by the Taliban, which held him captive for five years.

“His departure from the remote observation base set off a massive search-and-rescue mission that involved thousands of U.S. troops, some of whom were injured in the effort,” according to the publication.

President Barack Obama secured Bergdahl’s return in 2014 in exchange for the release of five Taliban leaders from the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Not everyone supported the decision to bring Bergdahl back.

According to a June 2014 Pew Research Center poll of 1,004 Americans, 43% said the prisoner exchange was the “wrong thing” to do. However, 56% of respondents told Pew that the United States has a responsibility to “do all it can” to return a captive American soldier, regardless of the circumstances.

And, following his release, the circumstances of Bergdahl’s capture attracted deeper examination. In 2017, Bergdahl pleaded guilty to desertion and misbehavior before the enemy, according to the Military.com report. He was dishonorably discharged and fined. Despite appeals, Bergdahl has failed to get the convictions overturned.

POW/MIA flag flies again

This year, National POW-MIA Recognition Day takes place with the POW/MIA flag again flying atop the White House, in a spot below the U.S. flag.

This placement is mandated by a law signed by President Donald Trump on Nov. 7, 2019, which requires the POW/MIA flag be placed beneath the Stars and Stripes and flown at certain federal installations, including the White House, U.S. Capitol, war memorials and other locations.

In 2020, the Trump administration moved the flag from its traditional place on the roof of the White House to a memorial on the White House grounds, where Veterans’ organizations, members of the POW/MIA community and a group of senators said it was less visible.

In April, President Joe Biden restored it to the White House rooftop.

Learn more

DOD unveils National POW/MIA Recognition Day Poster: https://www.defense.gov/Explore/News/Article/Article/2709572/dod-unveils-2021-powmia-recognition-day-poster.

Korean War Legacy Foundation: https://koreanwarlegacy.org.

“Justice Department Moves to Dismiss Bowe Bergdahl’s Case to Overturn His Conviction”: https://www.military.com/daily-news/2021/08/19/justice-department-moves-dismiss-bowe-bergdahls-case-overturn-his-conviction.html.

NPS article: “POWs in American History: A Synopsis”: https://www.nps.gov/ande/learn/historyculture/pow_synopsis.htm.

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Response by PFC David Foster made Sep 17 at 2021 12:21 PM

2021-09-17T12:21:52-04:00

Salute

Response by PFC David Foster made Sep 17 at 2021 2:27 PM

2021-09-17T14:27:05-04:00

Bravo, Salute

Response by SSG Eddye Royal made Sep 17 at 2021 3:34 PM

2021-09-17T15:34:55-04:00

Thanks for sharing

Response by SPC Rob Smith made Sep 19 at 2021 8:06 AM

2021-09-19T08:06:09-04:00

awesome share...

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 19 at 2021 7:56 PM

2021-09-19T19:56:19-04:00

I think Tarawa yielded 200 Marines who were buried respectfully in linear mass graves.

Response by Bobby Ch made Sep 23 at 2021 11:22 AM

2021-09-23T11:22:01-04:00

I saying from bottom of my heart by reading the messages of great friends we can remember him once again what he did in his work for the world by saving the people from bad people.

Response by SFC Randy Hellenbrand made Sep 23 at 2021 6:07 PM

2021-09-23T18:07:22-04:00

Never forget.

Response by SPC Rob Smith made Sep 24 at 2021 6:29 AM

2021-09-24T06:29:28-04:00

Story of pow viet nam.
5years to freedom
great story
great soldier

Response by Bobby Ch made Sep 24 at 2021 11:00 AM

2021-09-24T11:00:14-04:00

I like this article by remembering the great men who worked for the people from bad people.