The FReeper Foxhole Profiles The American Ex-Prisoner of War Organization - Dec. 20th, 2002

American Ex-POW Organization ^

[SAMWolf]

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A brief history of the
American Ex-Prisoner of War Organization

In 1942, information was leaking out about the atrocities and sub-human treatment that American prisoners of war were receiving in Japanese prison camps in the Pacific. When wives and mothers heard about their sons and husbands who had been taken prisoners, they started calling and writing their Congressmen in an effort to find help or get assistance for their loved ones. Finally, two mothers whose sons were members of the 200th Coast Artillery and had been captured by the Japanese came up with an idea.

It was Mrs. Charles W. Bickford and Mrs. Fred E. Landon who, on April 10, 1942, persuaded other parents and relatives to hold a mass meeting and formed an organization to get relief to the captured boys on Bataan. On April 14th, the Bataan Relief Organization was formed with Dr. V. H. Spensley, of Albuquerque, as Chairman. Their motto was "We will not let them down."

This group was very active trying to get relief to the POW’s and exchange of information as it came through. From this group in Albuquerque, other chapters sprang up all over the United States. The "BRO" was incorporated September 8th, 1943.

In 1945, the control of the Bataan Relief Organization was turned over to the liberated members of the New Mexico’s 200th Coast Artillery Regiment at an annual meeting held in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In 1946, the name was changed to Bataan Veteran’s Organization.

The first National convention was held May 14, 1948, in Albuquerque. The second National convention was held in Hollywood, California, April 1949. At this convention, it was voted to change the name to American Ex-Prisoners of War and change the name of the bulletin to XPOW. The reason for the change was so veterans from the European Theater would realize that they were eligible for membership. By changing the name to American Ex-Prisoners of War, it would welcome all former POW’s from any war. There were 800 at the 1949 convention.

In 1949 there were 7 local groups within the framework of the organization:

The Bataan Veteran’s Organization, The Lost Battalion

The Seattle Barbed Wire Club, Orphans of the Pacific

The Dad MacMannis Post, The Southwest Barbed Wire Club

The Barbed Wire Club of North Carolina.

Click on the Logo to Visit Their Site

The AX-POW emblem was designed as a lapel pin by former prisoner of war, Bryan T. Doughty of Denver, Colorado, in 1949. The heraldic symbols, representing Justice, are balanced on swords. The curves at the top of the shield portray the two massive military defeats suffered by the United States Armed Forces in World War II: Bataan and the Belgium Bulge. Later, the Ex-POW motto was adopted: NON SOLUM ARMIS, Latin for "Not by Arms Alone."

[The Real Deal]

Misty, I don't think that the war in Veitnam will be truly over until the last one of us to serve there is dead. I still shudder some times when I think about things that I saw and did while I was there.

[SAMWolf]

During World War II, 124,079 U. S. Army personnel were captured by the enemy, of these 41,057 were members of the Army Air Forces (AAF), most of whom were in airplanes which were shot down while in aerial combat over hostile territory. Germany and its European Allies captured 35,621 Americans, while Japan captured 5,436.

Germany was a signatory of the Geneva Convention of 1929 which prescribed humane treatment for prisoners of war (POW). However, there were many failures to abide by the convention's provisions and marked differences in treatment of POWs, and in living conditions, at German WWII camps. Officers in at least one camp controlled by German air force personnel at times found camaraderie existed among flyers of the warring nations. They received reasonably humane treatment, including distribution of recreational equipment, some medical and dental care, and delivery of mail and Red Cross food parcels. But conditions in some other officer camps fell below this level. Enlisted AAF POWs often faced the harshest conditions, such as shortages of food and water, no medical care, no mail or clothing distribution, and brutal treatment by guards. By late 1944, as the war progressed and conditions in Germany deteriorated, the plight of all POWs had worsened, sometimes almost to starvation. Fortunately at war's end, most of these AAF POWs returned home, often bitter, but safe at last.

[SAMWolf]

Southeast Asia
Prisoners of War
During the course of the Southeast Asian war, many American servicemen were taken prisoner by both Viet Cong and North Vietnamese forces. Most of the Americans captured were eventually transferred to prison compounds located in North Vietnam where their treatment was far below the minimum standards required by the Geneva Convention of 1949. North Vietnam took the position that since there had been no formal declaration of war, even though the Geneva Convention made no such distinction, captured Americans were to be treated as international gangsters, not Prisoners of War.

North Vietnam also viewed the American prisoners as another potential weapon in their propaganda campaign to convince the American people that the U.S. personnel in Southeast Asia were war criminals and tried every means to exploit them. The physical and psychological hardships endured by these valiant Americans in resisting such exploitation is a testament to their dedication, endurance, and heroism.

Before 1970, the treatment of POWs was brutal, and the punishment for non-compliance of the rules was severe and degrading. The basic requirements for humane treatment such as food, medical treatment and clothing did not exist.

Although rules and regulations among the various POW camps in North Vietnam varied to a small degree, the POWs were not afforded any opportunity for breaking the monotony of imprisonment. Whatever they did for variety had to be done when the prison guards were not watching and any amusement or hobby items they made had to be hidden. Any violation that was discovered resulted in confiscation and destruction of the item, be it a sewing project, religious symbol, or game. One POW spent weeks scraping and grinding two rocks to make a pair or dice as a Christmas gift for a fellow POW. Just before Christmas and completion of the project, the dice were discovered, taken from him, and destroyed.

The terms of the cease-fire required the release of all Prisoners-of-War. To expedite the repatriation of the American POWs held by North Vietnam, USAF C-141s in a series of operations, flew to Hanoi, loaded the returnees and flew them to freedom.

[SAMWolf]

"Each hour seemed like a month and every second was filled with pain. I now had three interrogation teams working on me, in shifts."

--Lt. Wallace Brown, B-29 co-pilot shot down over North Korea, on his experience as a Chinese prisoner

Korea
Prisoners of War
Air Force prisoners of war (POWs) held by Communist forces endured horrible conditions during their imprisonment. In the face of constant brutality, American airmen held prisoner during the Korean War acted with great courage.

The majority of the 224 airmen captured during the Korean War were held in solitary confinement for a large part of their captivity. Prisoners suffered from bitter cold and inadequate food, clothing and medical care. Airmen, especially pilots, were considered potential sources of intelligence and were subjected to frequent psychological and physical torture.

The debate over the return of prisoners of war began with the start of armistice talks in late 1951. The UN demanded that no prisoner be returned to Communist control against his will. The Communists immediately refused. When the UN revealed that more than half of the UN-held POWs did not want to return, tensions increased.

The Communists tried to sway world opinion against the UN by forcing "confessions" of atrocities against North Korea from American POWs. They also provoked riots within UN-held POW camps to cause worldwide outcry against UN treatment of "helpless" prisoners.

The Communist stance concerning POWs changed abruptly with the death of Joseph Stalin in March of 1953. Weary of fighting, both sides soon agreed to allow the exchange of sick and wounded prisoners. Between April 20 and May 3, 1953, "Operation Little Switch" exchanged a total of 6,670 Chinese and North Korean prisoners and 669 UN personnel. The main exchange of prisoners took place after the armistice was signed three months later. "Operation Big Switch" returned 75,823 POWs to the Communists and 12,773 UN forces, including 3,598 Americans, to the UN. By February 1, 1954, all former prisoners choosing not to return to Communist rule were released as free civilians.

[MistyCA]

Amen to that!

[PhilDragoo]

Henry Mark Holzer and Erika Holzer published AID AND COMFORT: Jane Fonda in North Vietnam in January.

It is a thoroughly researched and documented indictment for treason of Hanoi Jane by a pair of lawyers: he is an Army intelligence veteran of Korea and professor emeritus of Brooklyn Law School; she is the author of Eye for an Eye, made into a Paramount film with Sally Field and Keifer Sutherland.

The loathesome actions of Fonda would have clearly brought a treason indictment which would have resulted in conviction and would have been upheld on appeal--this is the thesis of the authors.

It bears a double impact, as Hanoi Jane has purchased property an hour south, and I was priviliged to assist in the prepublication work for the book, doing one more small bit for the thousands whom she insulted, defamed, jeopardized and wounded.

A Christmas prayer for Lt. Commander Michael Scott Speicher, subject of No One Left Behind: The Lt.. Commander Scott Speicher Story by Amy Waters Yarsinske, who is now in contact with the family of Ted Maher, for whom a site is maintained by his Army vet brother Mike, and a FRee Ted site here.

God Speed the finest fighting force on earth to victory and safe return to their families.

Let the POW! be on Saddam's head, and the BDA show nothing but crater.

[MistyCA]

No...been doing the dinner thing. I will check it in a few minutes though.

[Darksheare]

The interesting question is: What does teh military do when they swore an oath to defend the constitution from any and all enemies both foreign and domestic?

I'm getting super wierd on the other thread. So I'm starting to get close to running on battery. Let you go for the evening. Laters- Stay safe, stay well, Darksheare

[MistyCA]

Thanks, Peaches. Same to yourself!

[Darksheare]

Don't laugh too hard, and don't drink anyting when you see it all....

[MistyCA]

Good luck. If you get stumped, I have some things I could check out for you.

[SAMWolf]

Thanks for the Links, PhilDragoo.

I've never forgiven Hanoi Jane and the rest of her crowd. It's just not in me.

[Darksheare]

It's not in me to forgive traitors either, and I didn't serve during Nam myself. I wasn't really born yet until mid 75.

[MistyCA]

Where and when did you serve? Which branch of the military? I know. I am sorry for what it has cost you. My husband and many others I know simply don't talk about it. I think that is tragic. You are free to share whatever you want here.

[The Real Deal]

I went to Nikkie's site and signed her petition. I challenge all FReepers to do the same.

[sarasmom]

I knew I should have stopped reading when I saw the topic...

Thanks for posting the stories.

[MistyCA]

Thanks for that post. Yes, Fonda certainly should have been held to account for what she did. Of course, the fact that she wasn't was like rubbing salt in the wounds of those who admirably and honestly served our country. Fonda isn't worth a plug nickle, in my book.

[MistyCA]

Good night, Darksheare. Thanks for hanging out today. :)

[MistyCA]

Thank God it isn't in you to forgive the likes of Fonda. It would make you a different person then the one we all appreciate so much! I really don't get it how some can be so forgiving of Fonda. I really don't get it at all. All I can think is that people simply do not know and do not care to know the facts.

[SAMWolf]

You're welcome, sarasmom.

Anthony J. Principi, Secretary of Veterans Affairs said it the best when he said about POWs;

You know the worst of deprivation;

You know the worst of isolation;

You know the worst of frustration;

And you know the worst of man.