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.
National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day FAQs
What is a prisoner of war under international law?
Under the Third Geneva Convention, a prisoner of war (POW) is a member of the armed forces of a party to a conflict, or certain associated groups like militias or volunteer corps, who falls into the power of the enemy during an international armed conflict.
To qualify, they must meet criteria such as being under responsible command, having a fixed distinctive sign recognizable at a distance, carrying arms openly, and conducting operations in accordance with the laws and customs of war.
Once captured, they are entitled to specific protections, including humane treatment and immunity from prosecution for lawful acts of war.
How are prisoners of war supposed to be treated under the Geneva Conventions?
International humanitarian law requires that POWs be treated humanely at all times, without any adverse distinction based on race, nationality, religion, political opinion, or similar criteria.
They must be protected from violence, intimidation, insults, and public curiosity; provided with adequate food, shelter, and medical care; allowed to send and receive letters and cards; and given safeguards if they are tried for alleged crimes.
Forced labor is tightly regulated and may not be connected to military operations or be dangerous, unhealthy, or humiliating.
What are some common long-term health effects experienced by former prisoners of war?
Former POWs have higher rates of chronic physical and mental health problems than many other veterans.
Studies of former POWs show increased risks of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders, along with chronic pain, gastrointestinal problems, cardiovascular disease, and conditions related to starvation and exposure such as osteoporosis.
The severity and duration of captivity, including torture or deprivation, are strongly associated with later health outcomes, and symptoms can persist or emerge decades after release.
How do the experiences of prisoners of war differ from those of other war survivors?
While many war survivors experience trauma, POWs often endure prolonged captivity, enforced dependence on their captors, severe deprivation, and sometimes torture or forced labor.
This combination of life threat, loss of control, isolation, and humiliation can produce distinct patterns of psychological distress, including captivity-related PTSD and moral injury.
Compared with other combat veterans, former POWs generally report higher levels of intrusive memories, nightmares, and physical health complaints, especially when captivity conditions were harsh or cruel.
What protections exist for prisoners of war who go missing or whose status is unknown?
International humanitarian law requires parties to a conflict to account for persons who have fallen into their hands, to register POWs, and to provide information about them to a central agency so families can be informed.
When POWs are missing, states must search for them, investigate their fate, and handle human remains with respect.
The International Committee of the Red Cross plays a key role by visiting detainees, facilitating family contact, and operating the Central Tracing Agency, which helps clarify the fate and whereabouts of missing persons in armed conflicts.
What support services are typically available to former POWs and their families?
In many countries, former POWs may qualify for specialized medical and mental health care, disability benefits, and pension programs that recognize captivity-related injuries and illnesses.
In the United States, for example, former POWs are eligible for priority enrollment in Department of Veterans Affairs health care, certain presumptive disability conditions, counseling, and readjustment services.
Similar programs exist in other nations through veterans’ ministries or defense departments, often including family support, trauma counseling, and assistance with reintegration.
What are some common misconceptions about prisoners of war and missing in action personnel?
A frequent misconception is that POWs have few legal rights and can be treated as ordinary criminals, when in fact they are protected combatants with extensive safeguards under the Geneva Conventions.
Another misunderstanding is that “missing in action” always means a person is alive in captivity; in reality, MIA status simply means their fate is not yet verified and may involve death, unlocated remains, or unresolved records.
It is also wrongly assumed that captivity ends when a POW is released, yet research shows that psychological and physical effects often continue throughout a survivor’s life.
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