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

American Ex-POW Organization ^

[SAMWolf]

U.S. Military History, Current Events and Veterans Issues

Where Duty, Honor and Country
are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.

Our Mission:

The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans.

We hope to provide an ongoing source of information about issues and problems that are specific to Veterans and resources that are available to Veterans and their families.

In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel free to address their specific circumstances or whatever issues concern them in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, brotherhood and support.

Resource Links For Veterans

Click on the pix

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."

[MistyCA]

LOL

[MistyCA]

AmVets is a great idea. I hadn't even thought of that one. Could you do a profile on them?

[MistyCA]

Click for Link

[MistyCA]

Thanks for coming in Amy. How was the FReep tonight?

[MistyCA]

Dittos.

[MistyCA]

Goodnight, Jen. See you tomorrow.

[MistyCA]

Don't feel alone. My family does the same thing to me all the time! :)

[MistyCA]

Thanks for the news, Seven.

[MistyCA]

LOL. I am glad to hear of that addiction. :) We enjoy having you here with us! :)

[SAMWolf]

It's bad enough withh the wife and kids, now they enlisted my parents too.

[MistyCA]

[MistyCA]

oh oh. Well, maybe you ought to relent and just go, Sam! I refused to go as long as we were connected with the pathetic HMO system. We just got out of that when we came here, thank God. Health care is a joke when the docs can't doctor. However, the advancements of technology and techniques are amazing. Take advantage of it, Sam. :)

[SAMWolf]

NEW THREAD

[SAMWolf]

It's just a matter of making the time. Always seems to be something else to do.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!

[JustAmy]

don't tell anyone but I played hookey tonight.
Fresno State played a Friday night basketball game and I really enjoy basketball. I usually attend every home game but I've alread missed 3 this year. Two because I was sick with the crud and a third because it was so foggy by 6:00 that we were afraid to chance what it would be like by 9:30.
I've been looking for a thread on the Rally, but can't find it!

[top of the world ma]

POWs in Ireland-WWII

We live and learn. I didn't realize Ireland was neutral in WWII. She captured and held pilots shot down over Ireland as well as German submariners. This is the actual story of a Canadian pilot flying with the Brits in Sept. '41. Ireland interred Brits, Canadians, Americans, Germans in a POW camp near Dublin for the duration. This is their story. It's a Canadian film, so I don't know how available it is in video stores here. It was loaned to me by someone who purchased it. As an aside, Jean Butler is the lovely Irish lass who danced with Michael Flately in "Riverdance."