While most people would prefer to live in times of peace, the men and women who serve in the military work hard to serve, protect and defend their nation in peace time and war time.
And sometimes this even means sacrificing their freedom and their lives.
National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day is here to show special appreciation for these men and women who have given up so much.
National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day Timeline
Treaty of Westphalia Mentions Prisoners of War
The Peace of Westphalia, which ended the Thirty Years’ War, includes provisions treating captured soldiers as prisoners of war with certain protections, rather than as criminals to be executed or enslaved, reflecting a shift toward more humane customs of war in Europe.
First Geneva Convention Lays Groundwork for POW Protections
The First Geneva Convention, initiated by Henry Dunant and the International Committee of the Red Cross, standardizes protections for wounded and sick soldiers on the battlefield and promotes the idea that combatants who are hors de combat, including captives, merit humane treatment.
Hague Convention Expands Laws and Customs of War on Land
The Hague Convention (IV) and its Regulations codify detailed rules on the treatment of prisoners of war, including requirements for humane treatment, shelter, food, and the prohibition of reprisals, helping to formalize POW status in international law.
Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War
In response to experiences in World War I, states adopt the 1929 Geneva Convention specifically devoted to prisoners of war, defining standards for housing, labor, medical care, correspondence, and repatriation of captured combatants.
Bataan Death March Highlights POW Vulnerability
After the surrender of U.S. and Filipino forces on the Bataan Peninsula, Japanese troops force tens of thousands of prisoners of war on a brutal, days‑long march in the Philippines, during which thousands die from starvation, exhaustion, and abuse, becoming a symbol of POW suffering in World War II.
Third Geneva Convention Modernizes POW Protections
In the aftermath of World War II atrocities, including widespread POW abuses, the Third Geneva Convention of 1949 comprehensively updates and expands legal protections for prisoners of war, setting global standards for their treatment and repatriation that remain in force.
U.S. Establishes Defense Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Office
The U.S. Department of Defense creates the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Office as a central body to coordinate policy, research, and accounting efforts for American POWs and MIAs, reflecting a growing national commitment to locate and identify missing service members.
How to Observe National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day
Show appreciation for the sacrifices made by former prisoners of war and those service people missing in action by honoring them on National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day with some of these activities:
Visit the POW and MIA War Memorial
One way to observe National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day is to visit the prisoner of war memorials.
These memorials and museums aim to embrace, honor, educate and celebrate the future with respect to former POWs and MIA service members.
Several are located throughout the US, including in Jacksonville, Florida; Winchester, Virginia; Andersonville, Georgia; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Visit one of these or another military museum to gain a better understanding of the trials and sacrifices made by these POWs and MIA military persons.
Fly a POW/MIA Flag
Developed in 1972, the flag representing POW/MIA persons carries a black background with a bent head and the words “You are Not Forgotten”.
Fly this flag at home or at a business in honor of National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day, whether only throughout the week or all throughout the year.
Learn More about Prisoners of War
In observance of National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day, it would be a great idea to find out more about the movement and the cause.
One good place to get information is through the US government Department of Defense website.
History of National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day
Each year, the President of the United States sets forth a proclamation to honor the courage of men and women who are former Prisoners of War (POWs), as well as recognizing those who are still Missing in Action (MIA).
National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day is held on April 9 in recognition of the Bataan Death March of 1942.
This was when tens of thousands of American and Filipino prisoners of war were made to march as part of the World War II activities. Around 78,000 prisoners were forced to walk a 66 mile trail, lasting 5-10 days, during which many of them were attacked, abused, beaten and killed.
In 1988, after four years of a movement seeking recognition, the US Congress approved the legislation set forth to recognize this as an annual day of honor for former POWs.
Since that time, National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day seeks to honor and pay tribute to the more than 500,000 members of the American military who have sacrificed their own freedom as prisoners of war.
Facts About National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day
Psychological Aftermath for Former Prisoners of War
Long-term studies of former prisoners of war have found significantly higher rates of post‑traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety than among other combat veterans, and these effects can persist for decades after captivity.
One major study of American World War II and Korean War POWs showed that almost half met criteria for PTSD even 40 years after release, and many also suffered chronic physical conditions related to malnutrition, torture, and infectious disease endured in captivity.
The Bataan Death March and its Human Toll
The Bataan Death March in April 1942 involved the forced transfer of approximately 60,000 to 80,000 American and Filipino prisoners of war by the Imperial Japanese Army over roughly 65 miles in the Philippines, with thousands dying from execution, starvation, dehydration, and abuse along the way.
After the war, several Japanese officers were prosecuted by U.S. military commissions for atrocities related to the march, which has since become one of the most studied examples of large‑scale abuse of POWs in the Pacific theater.
How the Geneva Conventions Protect Prisoners of War
Modern international rules for the treatment of prisoners of war are rooted in the 1949 Third Geneva Convention, which requires humane treatment, forbids torture and coercive interrogation, and mandates adequate food, medical care, and contact with families.
These rules were strengthened after World War II in response to widespread POW abuses, and have been ratified by almost every country, making the protections for captured combatants among the most widely accepted norms in international humanitarian law.
Origins and Legal Status of the POW/MIA Flag
The black‑and‑white POW/MIA flag was created in 1972 for the National League of Families to symbolize concern for U.S. service members missing or held captive during the Vietnam War, featuring a silhouette of a captive, a watchtower, and barbed wire above the words “You Are Not Forgotten.”
In 1990, the U.S. Congress passed a law directing that the flag be flown on specific federal properties and military installations on certain days, making it one of the few flags besides the U.S. flag with formal federal recognition.
Accounting for Missing Service Members
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) is responsible for locating, recovering, and identifying missing U.S. personnel from past conflicts, using a combination of historical research, field investigations, forensic science, and DNA analysis.
As of the 2020s, DPAA and its predecessor organizations have accounted for thousands of missing service members from World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, and continue to conduct missions in more than 45 countries to investigate crash sites, battlefields, and burial locations.
Survival Rates of American POWs by Conflict
Survival chances for American prisoners of war have varied sharply by conflict and captor, reflecting differences in conditions, logistics, and adherence to international law.
According to Department of Veterans Affairs data, approximately 93 percent of Americans taken prisoner in World War I survived, compared with about 57 percent held by Germany and Japan in World War II, and only around 43 percent of those captured during the Korean War, where death from exposure, forced marches, and inadequate rations was common.
Hidden Health Consequences of Captivity
Former POWs have been found to face elevated risks of chronic health problems that go beyond psychological trauma, including cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal disorders, and accelerated aging effects.
Research suggests that prolonged starvation, exposure to extreme cold or heat, and repeated physical abuse can permanently alter metabolism and stress‑response systems, leaving survivors with higher rates of disability and earlier onset of conditions such as arthritis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease than other veterans.
