National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day on April 9th honors the courageous men and women who endured brutal treatment at the hands of their captors. As a result, they also suffered separation from family and displayed incredible endurance and faith during their captivity.
On this day in 1942, the largest number of U.S. Forces were captured by Japanese troops in the Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines. After battling through extreme conditions and prolonged battles, the captured troops were forced to march 65 miles to the prison camp. Without medical attention, food or water thousands died. The mistreatment continued for those who survived the brutal journey. In the compounds, deep in the unfamiliar jungle, the hardships, brutality, and suffering lasted more than two years for those who could survive.
Since the Revolutionary War, over half a million service members have been captured. This number does not reflect those lost or never recovered. However, each POW endures conditions much like the ones described above. These heroes deserve a day of recognition.
In 1984, a movement led by former POWs began seeking a day recognizing for former Prisoners of War on April 9th each year. In 1988, Congress approved legislation setting April 9th to commemorate the date the tragic number of captives were taken prisoner on Bataan. President Ronald Reagan proclaimed National Former Prisoners of War Recognition Day on April 1, 1988, through Presidential Proclamation 5788. He set the observance for April 9, 1988. Since then, through legislation and Presidential Proclamations, the observance carries on. These men and women deserve our respect and profound gratitude.
The Veterans History Project collects, preserves, and makes accessible the firsthand accounts of American wartime veterans so that future generations may learn about veterans’ experiences in their own words to better understand the realities of war. The United States Congress created the Veterans History Project (VHP) in 2000, and the project is overseen and archived by the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress (LOC).
All veterans who reside in the 26th Congressional District are encouraged to register to be interviewed for the Veterans History Project. Interviews will be conducted every Tuesday at U.S. Congressman Michael Burgess’ Lake Dallas district office.
You can sign up by submitting your interview request to Congressman Burgess’ office by mail, email, or by calling his district office at 940-497-5031. (If you are unsure of your residency, please check here.)
The Project collects first-hand accounts of U.S. Veterans from the following wars:
World War, 1914-1918
World War, 1939-1945
Cold War
Korean War, 1950-1953
Vietnam War, 1961-1975
Grenada–History–American Invasion, 1983
Panama–History–American Invasion, 1989
Operation Restore Hope, 1992-1993
Persian Gulf War, 1991
United Nations Operation in Somalia
Haiti–History–American intervention, 1994-1995
Operation Allied Force, 1999
Peacekeeping forces–Bosnia and Hercegovina
Operation Joint Guardian, 1999-
War on Terrorism, 2001-2009
Afghan War, 2001-
Iraq War, 2003-2011
In addition, U.S. citizen civilians who were actively involved in supporting war efforts (such as war industry workers, USO workers, flight instructors, medical volunteers, etc.) also are invited to share their valuable stories.
Note: This post does not constitute an endorsement of U.S. Congressman Michael Burgess on the part of the American Legion or its members.
Peter J. Courcy Post 178 was honored to present the colors at the 2018 NAMPOW (Vietnam era Prisoners of War) 45th Anniversary Freedom Reunion on August 18, 2018. This is an annual reunion and was held at the Omni Hotel at The Star Frisco, Texas.
Honor Guard members (L to R): Dave Fautheree, Terry Meyering, Larry Marshall, Ted Ruybal, Delbert Parsons
2018 NAMPOW 45th Anniversary of Freedom Reunion Highlights
The national organization of former Vietnam POWs (NAMPOWs.org) held their 45th Anniversary of Freedom reunion August 15-19, 2018 in Frisco, Texas. Over 440 family and friends attended the event, along with over 120 former POWs. The video provides a highlight of the activities over the 4-days of the reunion. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBLBYJ96GfI
2018 NAMPOW FAREWELL BANQUET SPEAKER – DR ROGER E SHIELDS
This video includes the Farewell Banquet speaker, Dr. Roger Shields remarks on the last night of the national organization of former Vietnam POWs (NAMPOWs.org) 45th Anniversary of Freedom reunion August 15-19, 2018 in Frisco, Texas. Dr. Roger E. Shields worked in President Nixon’s administration and was responsible for the planning and execution of Operation Homecoming that returned the POWs to freedom in 1973. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipA3kpQ-EjY&feature=youtu.be
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has previously reported that North Korean officials have notified the U.S. that they have as many as 200 sets of U.S. remains from the Korean War, however it is not clear how many would be transferred in this ceremony.
In this September 2000 file photo, United Nations soldiers carry a coffin of a missing U.S. soldier’s remains upon arrival at Yokota airbase in Tokyo. The most tangible outcome of the summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un seems to be a commitment to recover the remains of U.S. military personnel missing in action and presumed dead from the Korean War. (Shizuo Kambayashi/AP)
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