Prisoner of War Medal

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Prisoner of War Medal

The Prisoner of War Medal (PWM) is authorized for any person who, while serving in any capacity with the U.S. Armed Forces, was taken prisoner and held captive after 5 April 1917.

The POW Medal is to be issued only to those U.S. military personnel and other personnel granted creditable U.S. military service, who were taken prisoner and held captive-

(1) While engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States.
(2) While engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force.
(3) While serving with friendly forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.
(4) By foreign armed forces that are hostile to the United States, under circumstances which the Secretary concerned finds to have been comparable to those under which persons have generally been held captive by enemy armed forces during periods of armed conflict.

U.S. and foreign civilians who have been credited with U.S. military service which encompasses the period of captivity are also eligible for the medal. The Secretary of Defense authorized on 27 January 1990, the POW Medal for the Philippine Commonwealth Army and Recognized Guerrilla Unit Veterans who were held captive between 7 December 1941 and 26 September 1945.

For purposes of this medal, past armed conflicts are defined as World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam Conflict, Grenada, Panama, Southwest Asia Conflict, and Somalia. Hostages of terrorists and persons detained by governments with which the United States is not engaged actively in armed conflict are not eligible for the medal. For the procedures to award the POW Medal for Afghanistan and Iraq see Army Regulation 600-8-22, sub-paragraph j (Page 23).

Any person convicted of misconduct or a criminal charge by a U.S. military tribunal, or who receives a less than honorable discharge based upon actions while a prisoner of war, or whose conduct was not in accord with the Code of Conduct, and whose actions are documented by U.S. military records is ineligible for the medal. The Secretary of the Army is the authority for deciding eligibility in such cases. Cases involving questionable character of service or misconduct during captivity will be processed through the receiving command channels to HQ, USAHRC, AHRC-PDO-PA, Alexandria, VA 22331-0481, for coordination with the Repatriation and Family Affairs Division and final decision by the Secretary of the Army.

Description: The PWM is a bronze medal, 1 1/4 inches in diameter, with an eagle with wings opened surrounded by a circle of barbed wire and bayonet points. The reverse has the inscription "AWARDED TO" around the top and "FOR HONORABLE SERVICE WHILE A PRISONER OF WAR" across the center in three lines with a space between the two inscriptions for engraving the name of the recipient. The shield of the U.S. coat of arms is centered on the lower part of the reverse side with the inscription "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" around the bottom of the medal.
The ribbon is predominately black, with two bands of white divided by an narrow band of blue, the edges of the ribbon are red.

Category of Award: DoD Campaign, Expeditionary, and Service Medals

Authorized: Public Law 99-145, 10 USC 1128, 8 November 1985, as amended by, 10 USC 1128, 1989

Device(s): Bronze Service Star (if applicable)

References:
AFI 36-2803, The Air Force Military Awards and Decorations Program; Pages 135 and 136.
AR 600-8-22, Army Regulation, Military Awards; Pages 22 to 24.
SECNAVINST 1650.1H, Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual; Pages 4-2 and 4-3.
DoD Manual 1348.33-M, Manual of Military Decorations and Awards; Pages 43 to 45 and Page 87.
DoD Manual 1348-33, Vol 1, Nov 23, 2010, Change 5, 15 May 2015, Manual of Military Decorations & Awards, General Information, Medal of Honor; Page 65
DoD Manual 1348.33, Volume 2, Manual of Military Decorations and Awards: DoD Service Awards 2 Campaign, Expeditionary, and Service Medals; Pages 61 to 64.