Has there been any recent activity (since 2002) in regards to awarding the POW Medal to the Swiss Internees? I applied on my deceased father's behalf in 1989 but was turned down by the Air Force.

Norman G. Lewis, son of James W. Lewis 612, 32747481, BTO on the Wendell O. Scott crew on board AC # 42-102457 of the 94th BG, 410th BS, interned in Switzerland on 12 Jul 1944, escaped 11 Oct 1944, repatriated 15 Oct 1944.

Has there been any recent activity (since 2002) in regards to awarding the POW Medal to the Swiss Internees? I applied on my deceased father's behalf in 1989 but was turned down by the Air Force.

 
Open the site below.
 
http://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=466&mtch=7&cat=TS14&tf=F&sc=11675,11660,11679,11667,11669,11676,11672,11673&bc=sl,fd&txt_11660=Lewis+James&op_11660=0&nfo_11660=V,24,1900&rpp=10&pg=1&rid=19602&rlst=87163,19602,87164,87165,87166,87167,87168
 
To answer your question...yes, Richard Pettit, former pilot was awarded the POW medal recently.  His daughter had enough concern for the veteran not receiving what was earned, bless her.  She contacted their U.S. Congressman Matheson of Utah.  I have a copy of the Board's response approving the POW medal.
 
While attempting to escape, he was apprehended and sent to the punishment camp Wauwilermoos Prison where conditions were "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.”
 
I noticed there were 485 views to your question, and I am the first to respond.  That tells me there possibly not much interest/concern in the subject.  I placed the letter shared below in a B-24 forum, and received no reponse. 
 
 I would like to share with you a situation that has existed too long. I was watching CNN earlier, when it was broadcasting from Washington, D.C. In the background, the Capital Building stood. Between CNN, and the Capital was an American flag with a POW/MIA flag below. Near the bottom it had "YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN."

Could you define the four words after you read my letter? I was contacted by the grandson of a former pilot (deceased) that was held at camps, including Wauwilermoos Prison in Switzerland during World War II. After being apprehended during his attempt to escape, the Swiss transferred the individual to the punishment camp for a substantial period of time.

Conditions were found to match 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.

To be eligible for the POW medal, armed conflicts are defined as “World War I, World War II, Korean Conflict, Vietnam Era, and Southwest Asia Conflict.”

The Air Force has been denying his requests for 5 years, regardless the track record of the medal. I was fortunate to obtain copies of letters signed by the Secretary of the Air Force; Secretary of the Navy; and Acting Secretary of the Navy authorizing the POW medal to over 200 American airmen held in Russia during WWII, another foreign armed force not hostile to the United States.

According to documents, only 2 out of 200-300 airmen held at Wauwilermoos Prison have been awarded the POW medal.

1. The veteran contacted AF Chief of Staff General Fogleman. The general responded by instructing personnel at Randolph AFB to prepare the ceremony. In 1996, Lt. General Record presented the POW medal.

2. The daughter of a former pilot contacted their U.S. Congressman. For being held at Wauwilermoos Prison, he was awarded the medal, recently.

My research has identified at least 54 bombardment groups that were involved with aircraft that crashed/landed in Switzerland. Approximately 1500 airmen were held while over 200 were sent to the punishment camp.

Why does such a number of veterans accept such an unbalanced system of recognition? You may respond that many members are deceased or too old to be involved. President Reagan approved the POW medal in 1986. That would make all members younger than what I am today.

You may believe I am too harsh in my introduction of the subject. As a 22-year retiree of the military, I have discovered too many discrepancies in the system, including statements contained in letters from a Major General, and information shared by former POWs.

Finally, I do not claim to be a WWII veteran or a former POW.

Now, what were those four words?

Robert E. Johnson
(END)
 
A recent response by the Board for Correction if Military Records to the grandson of the deceased pilot mentioned in the letter:  Denied
 
Justification (in part) "Pertinent provisions of the Geneva Convention do not support a conclusion that internees have the same status as prisoners of war under international law." 
 
What about the internees in Russia, and the two identified in the letter?  When are veterans going to get involved to change the unbalanced scale of recognition?
 
If you care to respond by private email:  Robersabel@aol.com
 
Robert
 
 
 

The URLs below are dated 1992, and 1996.  They speak for theirselves.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v191/Robersabel/Swiss%20Internee/USAFRussianInternee.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v191/Robersabel/Swiss%20Internee/MearsFogleman02.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v191/Robersabel/Swiss%20Internee/DanCuller-DFCPOWMedal1996.jpg

Robert

I recently learned of the POW medal.  I contacted my mother's US Senator's local office and asked them to help get the medal for my late father to be given to my mother.  You may want to contact your own US (not state level) Senator's or US Congressperson's local constituent office and ask them to help.  I had to provide a copy of my father's discharge papers and we found a letter from the local VA to my mother confirming that my father was a POW, so I sent a copy of that also.
 
I hope this helps.
 
Jeanie

Jeanie,
 
 >You may want to contact your own US (not state level) Senator's or US Congressperson's local constituent office and ask them to help. 
 
I have.  No help.
 
Robert

By Public Law 99-145, section 1128, title 10, US Code (10 USC 1128), 08 NOV 1985, the Secretary of Defense has the final authority for deciding eligibility. 

By PL 99-145 (10 USC 1128) the Prisoner of War Medal is authorized "for any person who, while serving in any capacity with the US Armed Forces, was taken prisoner and held captive after 05 APR 1917" and is to be issued only to those US military personnel (and other personnel granted creditable U.S. military service) who were taken prisoner and held captive:

1. While engaged in an action against an enemy of the US.
2. While engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force.
3. While serving with friendly forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.

Each individual application for receiving the POW Medal is reviewed also to ensure the applicant for the Medal:

1. Was not convicted of misconduct or a criminal charge by a US military tribunal.
2. Did not received a less-than-honorable discharge based upon actions while a POW.
3. Did not conduct in a manner not in accord with the Code of Conduct.

By PL 99-145 (10 USC 1128), not eligible are "any person detained by governments with which the US is not engaged actively in armed conflict." So far, the Secretary of Defense does not recognize Switzerland as "a government with which the US was engaged in armed conflict" during WW II.  In fact, requests for POW Medals by former internees usually receive the following reply:

 Relative to POW/Internee status, pertinent provisions of the Geneva Convention in force during World War II do not support a conclusion that internees in non-belligerent nations have the same status as prisoners of war under international law at the time of World War II. 

All individual requests for consideration for the POW Medal will be initiated by eligible former POWs, or their next of kin, using a personal letter or DD Form 2510 "Prisoner of War Medal Application/Information". Applications should be forwarded to:

Commander- ARPERCEN
ATTN: DARP-VSE-A
9700 Page Boulevard
St. Louis, M0 63132-5200

CPT(VT) W.P. Sullivan
HQ Company - Asst G-3
Camp Johnson, VT

___‹(•¿•)›____
Kilroy was here

>By PL 99-145 (10 USC 1128), not eligible are "any person detained by governments with which the US is not engaged actively in armed conflict." So far, the Secretary of Defense does not recognize Switzerland as "a government with which the US was engaged in armed conflict" during WW II.

You are quoting a guideline more recent than 1985.  It is not retroactive.

Secretary Rice issue a blanket authorization involving approximately 218 airmen held by the Soviet Union.  Are you saying it was "a government with which the US was engaged in armed conflict" during WW II"?

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v191/Robersabel/Mears/?action=view&current=USAFRussianInternee.jpg

I have copies of letters by the Navy Secretary, and Acting Secretary of the Navy authorizing approximately 65 additional airmen the POW medal to airmen held in the Soviet Union.
 
During the period of the Doolittle raid up to the remaining days of WWII the Soviet Union was not at war with Japan.  I believe one would classify it neutal as Switzerland.

People involved with the POW medal for airmen held during WWII in neutal countries:
A U.S. Congressman
Secretary of the Air Force
Secretary of the Navy
Acting Secretary of the Navy
Members of AFBCMR
AF Chief of Staff
CNO 
Two Lt. Generals    
I could go on...I do not believe they misinterpreted the Public Law.

Robert

Robersabel


Jeanie,

>You may want to contact your own US (not state level) Senator's or US Congressperson's local constituent office and ask them to help. 

I have.  No help.

Robert

Robert,

I wanted to wait until we had my late father's POW Medal in hand before replying.

I'd suggest you read the profiles of your US Representative and 2 US Senators and pick one that either was in the military or on a committee relating to the military.  Then I'd contact my State Senator and ask her/him to contact the US person on your behalf.  You may want to get your records in advance from the National Personnel Records www://vetrecs.archives.gov (I had to pay $50. charge).

You can also make the request yourself by “using a personal letter or DD form 2510 (prisoner of War Medal Application/Information). Applications should be forwarded to the Commander, ARPERCEN, ATTN: DARP-VSE-A, 9700 Page Boulevard, St. Louis, M0 63132-5200.”
 
I hope this helps.

Jeanie

Jeanie B 

Proud Kriegie Kid of:
Carl L. Potter, Sr.
Ex-POW #106404, Stalag XVII B, Barracks 29A
306^th Bomb Group (H), 369^th squadron, the Fightn’ Bitin’
Waist Gunner in B-17 #42-30730, "Dearly Beloved"

Jeanie ,

"I'd suggest you read the profiles of your US Representative and 2 US Senators and pick one that either was in the military or on a committee relating to the military.  Then I'd contact my State Senator and ask her/him to contact the US person on your behalf.  You may want to get your records in advance from the National Personnel Records www://vetrecs.archives.gov (I had to pay $50. charge)."

Regarding the Purple Heart, and POW medals for WWII veterans , I have contacted: Congressman Trent Franks 
                             Senator McCain
                             Senator Kyl

For A WWII veteran former POW:
A Senator in Texas
A U.S Congressman in Texas

For a WWII veteran former POW in Oklahoma:
a Representative of Congress

and others I do not want to bore you with specifics.  I learned the offices do not take a position, but provides a pipeline for correspondence to, and from the office involved. 

The simple way is to send the material directly to the office, eventually receiving the identical response.

The thing that puzzles me is I am unable to locate someone in this country to provide the agency that enforces the Public Law 104-106, date February 10, 1996 involving wounded POWs.

The law is not being followed by the Army Board for Correction of Military Records, (ABCMR).

Robert