Robersabel
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Total Posts
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585
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Reward points
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200
- Joined: 08/15/2004
- Location: Surprise, Arizona
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Status: offline
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RE: POW Medal???
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07/16/2007 10:24:07 AM
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.â€
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
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