The Patriot Files Forums - DoD Agrees Purple Heart Eligibility Should Be Expanded

For Immediate Release: Contact: Natalie Ravitz or Sarah Misailidis
August 30, 2007 (202) 224-8120
DEFENSE DEPARTMENT AGREES PURPLE HEART ELIGIBILITY SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE ALL POWS WHO DIE IN CAPTIVITY

Washington, D.C. – The Department of Defense has finally agreed to a long-time request by Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and is recommending that the President expand eligibility for the Purple Heart to all prisoners of war who die in captivity, regardless of the cause of death.

Currently, only POWs who die during their imprisonment of wounds inflicted by an instrument of war meet the criteria for posthumous Purple Heart recognition. Those who die of starvation, disease, or other causes during captivity do not.

In a letter to the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Under Secretary of Defense David Chu stated that the Department advised changing the Purple Heart eligibility criteria to include all POWs who die in captivity.

"I am so pleased that the Defense Department has finally agreed that Purple Heart eligibility should be expanded to include all prisoners of war who died in captivity," Senator Boxer said. "General George Washington wrote that we should honor with the Purple Heart, ‘not only instances of unusual gallantry but also of extraordinary fidelity and essential service.’ Those brave Americans who paid the ultimate sacrifice as prisoners of war should be eligible for this honor. I hope the President will act swiftly on the Defense Department’s recommendation—the families of our fallen POWs deserve no less."

In December 2005, Boxer first introduced the "Honor Our Fallen Prisoners of War Act," legislation to expand eligibility of the Purple Heart to all POWs who die in captivity.

In March of this year, Senator Boxer and Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) wrote to President Bush expressing their disappointment that the Administration missed a congressionally-mandated deadline for a decision on expanding eligibility. Section 556 of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2007 required the President to submit a report to Congress on expanding eligibility for the Purple Heart to include all those who die in a prisoner of war camps—including those who cause of death is unknown.

Approximately 17,000 prisoners of war have died while in captivity since December 7, 1941 – the start of World War II. More than 8,000 Korean War servicemen and more than 1,800 Americans remain unaccounted for from the Vietnam War.
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NEWS FROM CALIFORNIA’S BORDER CONGRESSMAN!

CONGRESSMAN BOB FILNER

Serving California’s 51st Congressional District
333 F Street, Suite A. Chula Vista, CA 91910
1101 Airport Road, Suite D. Imperial, CA 92251
2428 Rayburn Building, Washington, DC 20515

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: AMY POND

August 30, 2007 (619) 422-5963 or (619) 889-5963

Congressman Filner Announces

Victory for Deceased POWs

Congressman Bob Filner’s bill, Honor Our Fallen Prisoners of War, to present a posthumous Purple Heart to the families of POWs who had previously been overlooked, has been approved for implementation by the United States Department of Defense (DoD).

Currently, only POWs who die during their imprisonment, of wounds inflicted by an instrument of war, are eligible for posthumous Purple Heart recognition. Those who die of starvation, disease, abuse or other causes while imprisoned are not eligible. Congressman Filner’s bill corrects this injustice. “This distinction is arbitrary, and it does not make any sense. Every soldier who dies while imprisoned by an enemy of war should be recognized and honored!” said Congressman Filner.

His bill was included as a section in the National Defense Authorization Act for 2007, which passed in October of 2006 and directed the President and the DoD to review the criteria used to determine eligibility for the award of the Purple Heart for POWs. The review has been completed, and the report has been released to Chairman Ike Skelton of the House Armed Services Committee and to Chairman Carl Levin of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

“The report says that changing the eligibility criteria for the Purple Heart has merit for POWs who die while in captivity and who are eligible for the Prisoner-of-War Medal, which includes virtually all POWs,” said Congressman Filner.

Senator Barbara Boxer introduced the companion bill in the Senate. The inspiration for the bill came from Wilbert “Shorty” Estabrook of Selma, Texas, who was imprisoned during the Korean War for over three years, and Rick and Brenda Tavares of Campo, California. Brenda’s uncle, Corporal Melvin Morgan, died of starvation and beatings in 1950 at the age of 20 in Korea.