Today, September 20th, is a special day of remembrance.
For those of you who have read my previous posts, it’s also a day to remember the sacrifice of family ties.
POW/MIA Recognition Day is a time to remember those that are still missing and those that suffered tragically to the trials of war.
In 1979, congress passed the national holiday to recognize the POW/MIA from the Vietnam War. The families of the missing or imprisoned men, pushed for this holiday in order to keep their loved ones remembered.
MIA
Here are the numbers of the missing according to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency:
- WWII: more than 72,000 Americans
- Korean War: More than 7,800 Americans
- Vietnam War: More than 1,500 Americans
- Cold War: 126 Americans
- Other conflicts since 1986, including Iraq: 5 Americans
Now, obviously some will never be found due to those lost in the oceans surrounding the conflicts. An estimated 41,00 are presumed lost at sea. Records from WWII are also controversial, its hard to estimate an exact number due to duplicate records and entries with errors.
Those numbers are more than tragic as we think about families that still feel a loss.
POW
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs:
- 142,246 men were captured and interned between World War I and Iraq. This includes WWII, Korea, Vietnam and Desert Storm as well as other conflicts.
- 17,010 died while in captivity
- 125,213 were returned to U.S. Military control. (These numbers are from a table created in 2005.)
These men were subjected to extreme treatment, often times by those refusing to abide by the Geneva convention rules. Starved, beaten and used as labor, they suffered malnourishment, disease and for many, death.
Today, remember the prisoners of war and those still missing. Honor their sacrifice and acknowledge that there are families still wondering where their loved ones are. Follow this link to learn more about POW/MIA Recognition Day.
