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1. Eligibility Requirements

A. Authorized by Section 1128, title 10, U.S.C. reference (o)). b. Authorized for any person who, WHILE SERVING IN ANY CAPACITY WITH THE U.S. ARMED FORCES, was taken prisoner and held captive after April 5, 1917.

(1) Civilians and Foreign Nationals. The POW Medal shall be issued only to U.S. and foreign civilians who have received credit for U.S. military service, as determined by the DoD Civilian and/or Military Service Review Board and Advisory Board under DoD Directive 1000.20 (reference (p)). The period of creditable military service must include the period of captivity from date of capture through date of release. While no minimum time period of captivity exists as eligibility criteria for the POW Medal, the Services should determine each case on its merits using the language in 10 U.S.C. and the Secretary of Defense Memorandum (references (e), (f) and (q)). The Secretary of Defense authorized on January 27, 1990, the POW Medal for the Philippine Commonwealth Army and Recognized Guerrilla Unit Veterans who were held captive between December 7, 1941, and September 26, 1945.

(2) Missing in Action. The POW Medal only shall be issued to the legal next-of-kin (NOK) of military personnel or civilians who have received credit for U.S. military service and whose POW status officially has been confirmed and recognized as such by the Military Departments. The NOK of persons listed as "missing, but for whom there is no evidence of having been a POW" shall not be issued the POW Medal. Return of remains, in and of itself, does not constitute evidence of POW status. The NOK of the POWs who die in captivity maybe issued the POW Medal irrespective of the length of the captivity period.

(3) Hostages, Detainees, and Internees. The POW Medal shall be issued only to those taken prisoner 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. For that medal, armed conflicts are defined as "World War I, World War II, Korean Conflict, Vietnam Era and Southwest Asia Conflict." c. Character of Service. Any person convicted by a U.S. military tribunal of misconduct or a criminal charge or whose discharge is less than honorable based on actions while a POW is ineligible for the medal. The POWs whose conduct was not in accord with the Code of Conduct and whose actions are documented by U.S. military records, are ineligible for the medal. Resolution of questionable cases shall be the responsibility of the Secretaries concerned.

2. Subsequent Awards. No more than one POW Medal shall be awarded. For subsequent acts justifying award of the medal, service stars shall be awarded and worn on the suspension and service ribbon of the medal. A period of captivity terminates on return to U.S. military control. Escapees who do not return to U.S. military control and are recaptured by an enemy do not begin a new period of captivity for subsequent award of the POW Medal.

3. Presentation. While service medals (unlike decorations for valor, meritorious achievement, and service) are not normally presented in formal military ceremonies, military representatives of the Active and Reserve components may participate in POW Medal presentation ceremonies, if requested, under guidance and procedures issued by the Secretaries of the Military Departments. Additionally, veterans organizations, former POW associations, public officials, etc., may receive and present the medal to former POWs or their NOK. Engraving of the POW Medal, if desired, shall be at the expense of the recipient.

4. Manner of Wearing. Section 1128 of title 10, U. S.C., "Prisoner-of-war medal: issue," (reference (o)) establishing the POW Medal specifies that it shall be displayed immediately following decorations awarded for individual heroism, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service, and before any other service medal, campaign medal, or service ribbon authorized to be displayed. To ensure consistency among the Services, the POW Medal shall be placed ahead of the Good Conduct Medal in the order of precedence.

5. Posthumous Awards. The POW Medal maybe awarded posthumously and, when so directed, may be presented to such representatives of the deceased as the Secretary concerned considers appropriate.

6. Procedures for Issuing the POW Medal. The Military Departments shall receive requests for, and issue, the POW Medal to eligible individuals or their NOK, as follows:

Prisoner of War Medal Instituted: 1985 Dates: All Criteria: Awarded to any member of the U.S. Armed Forces taken prisoner during any armed conflict dating from World War I. Devices: (Silver Star, Bronze Star) Notes: Gold and Silver Star attachments apply only to USN, USMC and USCG. Bronze and Silver Oak Leaf attachments apply only to Army and USAF.

Authorized by Congress, and signed into law by President Ronald Reagan in 1986. Awarded to any member of the United States Armed Forces who was a prisoner of war after April 5, 1917 (the date of America's entry into World War I), and to any person who was taken prisoner or held captive while engaged in action against an enemy of the United States, or while serving with friendly forces engaged in armed conflict. The recipient's conduct, while in captivity, must have been honorable. The medal can be received posthumously by the next of kin of the recipient.

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DoD Revises Purple Heart Eligibility Criteria to Allow Award to POWs Who Die in Captivity

Bulletin No. 845-08
October 06, 2008