DoD Agrees Purple Heart Eligibility Should Be Expanded

[HARDCORE]

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.
___________________________________________
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.

[DMZ-LT]

Way to go Rick and Brenda

[HARDCORE]

Thank you very much, it was a long hard fight.

Rick & Brenda

[Boats]

Gosh HC I really missed your input. A battle that is worthwhile sometimes results in hard fights. You fought the battle and won the war and that sometimes is the way it goes. My best to you and your wife.

[HARDCORE]

Boats;

I am informed that the Posthumous Purple Heart matter for the Prisoners of War who perished in enemy captivity (7 December1941 - to the present and beyond, if needs must) is in the hands of the DoD for implementation!

RICK :idea:

[Stick]

Is it so difficult to identify our defense forces that died while being held as prisoners of war us? Do we owe those defenders of our nation only a medal? How can any bureaucrat deny every ounce of energy that they have to make sure that those are not honored and not forgotten?

[HARDCORE]

For the record:

Below, please find the last communication that I received from DoD as relates to the Purple Heart Measure that Brenda, Shorty Estabrook and I have been working diligently
upon since January 04.

As you can see, it has been a long, hard road, but when this is implemented, it will be well worth it!

Rick

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Sent: Friday, October 12, 2007 5:07 AM
Subject: RE: Very Important Request???

> Rick and Brenda,
>
> There has been no change since our last contact. I anticipate being
> directed to begin administratively staffing a request to change the
> applicable Purple Heart Executive Order sometime after the National Defense
> Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY08 is passed.
>
> V/R