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| American Ex-POW Organization | |
|---|---|
| Name | American Ex-POW Organization |
| Founded | 1942 |
| Founder | Capt. Edward S. Campbell |
| Location | Alexandria, Virginia |
| Mission | Advocacy for former prisoners of war of the United States |
| Status | Nonprofit |
American Ex-POW Organization
The American Ex-POW Organization is a veteran service organization formed to represent former prisoners of war from World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and subsequent conflicts. It provides advocacy, support, and commemoration for former prisoners formerly held by forces such as the Imperial Japanese Army, the Wehrmacht, and North Vietnamese Army detention systems. The organization has interacted with institutions including the Department of Veterans Affairs, the United States Congress, and veterans groups like the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
The organization traces its origins to interwar and wartime associations of former prisoners such as groups formed after Bataan Death March survivors and POW reunions following V-J Day. Founders drew upon networks built through contacts with United Service Organizations, Red Cross (United States), and veterans attending commemorations at locations like Arlington National Cemetery and the National World War II Memorial. Throughout the Cold War, the organization expanded membership to include ex-interned personnel from incidents including the Korean Armistice Agreement aftermath and the Fall of Saigon. Leaders engaged legislative allies associated with committees such as the United States House Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs to secure benefits and recognition. In later decades the group cooperated with humanitarian and historical entities such as the American Historical Association and the Smithsonian Institution for oral history projects documenting experiences from theaters including the Pacific War and the European Theatre of World War II.
The stated mission encompasses caring for former prisoners of war, preserving testimony related to captivity under regimes like the Empire of Japan and the German Reich, and educating the public about incidents including the Bataan Death March and Hanoi Hilton detentions. Objectives include assisting claimants with benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs, promoting research with archives like the National Archives and Records Administration, and supporting memorialization initiatives such as monuments at Arlington National Cemetery and exhibits at the National Museum of American History. The organization also seeks legislative remedies via allies in the United States Congress and partnerships with nonprofits like the Wounded Warrior Project.
Governance follows a constitution with an elected national board, regional deputies, and local chapters modeled after structures in groups like the American Legion and the Disabled American Veterans. National officers coordinate with committees on benefits, membership, and historical projects, interacting with agencies such as the Department of Defense and the Veterans Benefits Administration. Annual conventions convene at venues in cities like Washington, D.C., Chicago, and Philadelphia where committees report and delegates vote. Honorary positions have included decorated veterans recognized by awards such as the Silver Star and the Congressional Gold Medal.
Membership criteria include former internment by hostile forces during conflicts including World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War, along with service in occupations under capture by entities like the Imperial Japanese Navy or North Vietnamese Army. Eligibility often mirrors standards used by the Department of Veterans Affairs and documentation requirements consistent with records from the National Personnel Records Center and the National Archives and Records Administration. Associates and family members may join as auxiliary members similar to auxiliaries of the American Legion.
Services have included claims assistance for disability compensation and pension matters through coordination with the Department of Veterans Affairs, peer support groups modeled after programs at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center system, and outreach at memorial observances like Veterans Day and Memorial Day. Educational programs include oral history collection partnerships with the Library of Congress Veterans History Project, symposiums at universities such as Georgetown University and American University, and exhibits in cooperation with the Smithsonian Institution. The organization also provides emergency financial aid, counseling referrals, and burial support with cemeteries like Arlington National Cemetery.
Advocacy priorities have included securing equitable compensation through legislation debated in the United States Congress, improving medical care via the Department of Veterans Affairs, and preserving prisoner-of-war records in the National Archives and Records Administration. The organization has testified before committees such as the United States House Committee on Veterans' Affairs and lobbied for recognition measures like inclusion on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. It has supported legal actions involving benefits adjudication and partnered with groups such as the American Red Cross and the Disabled American Veterans on policy campaigns.
The organization publishes newsletters and journals reporting on issues affecting former prisoners, often citing research from the National Archives and Records Administration, the Library of Congress, and historians affiliated with the Society for Military History. Communications channels include a quarterly magazine, press releases to outlets such as the Associated Press and Stars and Stripes, and oral history archives contributed to the Library of Congress Veterans History Project and university repositories. Social media and digital outreach connect members to resources offered by entities like the Department of Veterans Affairs and academic centers including the George Washington University.
Notable events include centennial and wartime commemoration ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, anniversary reunions for groups like survivors of the Bataan Death March, and symposia featuring scholars from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the National WWII Museum, and universities including Yale University and Princeton University. The organization and individual members have received honors from bodies such as the United States Congress and have participated in medal ceremonies including the Congressional Gold Medal. Memorial dedications and public history collaborations have been held with partners like the Smithsonian Institution and the National Park Service.
Category:Veterans' organizations of the United States