Companions,
Friday September 16 is National POW-MIA Recognition Day. The Naval Order celebrates the service of all of those who have chosen to serve and laments the loss of those who did not return home. We will not forget the sacrifices and commitments of these service members and their families. Many of our Commanderies are observing the 16th as a day of remembrance. I call on each of our Companions to take a moment or two and remember those who sacrificed and their families who endured their captivity as well as those who do not have closure; we will never forget and will support all efforts to complete their mission!
Below is offered to center us on what has been sacrificed and what is still at stake!
POW
A prisoner of war (POW, enemy prisoner of war (EPW) or “missing-captured”) is a person, whether combatant or non-combatant, who is held in custody by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict. The earliest recorded usage of the phrase “prisoner of war” dates to 1660.
Belligerents hold prisoners of war in custody for a range of legitimate and illegitimate reasons, such as isolating them from enemy combatants still in the field (releasing and repatriating them in an orderly manner after hostilities), demonstrating military victory, punishing them, prosecuting them for war crimes, exploiting them for their labor, recruiting or even conscripting them as their own combatants, collecting military and political intelligence from them, or indoctrinating them in new political or religious beliefs.
MIA
Missing in action (MIA) is a casualty classification assigned to combatants, military chaplains, combat medics, and prisoners of war who are reported missing during wartime or ceasefire. They may have been killed, wounded, captured, or deserted. If deceased, neither their remains nor grave has been positively identified. Becoming MIA has been an occupational risk for as long as there has been warfare or ceasefire. The more correct term used today is Missing and Unaccounted For. We will continue to search!
For the Good of the Order
Bob Whitkop, CAPT USN (Ret)
Commander General