The Patriot Files Forums - Honor Our Fallen Prisoners Of War

Subject: HR 4425

As per our past conversations on the subject of Prisoners of War who perished in enemy captivity, here is the first portion of the Bill - H.R. 4425 entitled ?Honoring Our Fallen POWs,? as introduced by Congressman Bob Filner of California....

I respectfully hope that you will support this non-partisan Bill (HR 4425), as it pays tribute to ?ALL? who gave their last full measure of devotion to our great nation!

Rick & Brenda
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UNITED STATES Congressional Record of AMERICA

PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 108th CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION

THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 2004

House of Representatives

HONORING OUR NATION?S VETERANS!

HON. BOB FILNER OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MR. FILNER: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce two pieces of legislation in this House that recognizes and honors the service and sacrifice of members of the United Stales Armed Forces throughout the history of our great Nation.

The first bill is H.R. 4425, called the Honor Our Fallen Prisoners of War Act. Currently, prisoners of war who die during their imprisonment of wounds inflicted in war are eligible or a posthumous Purple Heart recognition. However, those who die of starvation, for example, or beatings or freezing to death are causes that are not eligible for the Purple Heart.

Can this be right? There should be no false distinction indicating more courage or more sacrifice by some who died and less by others. ALL POWs who died in service to our Nation should be eligible for this Purple Heart recognition, and H.R. 4425 will allow all members of our aimed forces who died while a prisoner of war, regardless of the cause of death, to be awarded this honor. This will apply to all wars, past and present.

I am indebted to Rick and Brenda Morgan Tavares of Campo, California, and to Wilbert ?Shorty? Estabrook of Murrieta, California, who brought this issue to my attention. Shorty survived the Tiger Camp death march during the Korean War and was imprisoned for over 3 years. Brenda?s uncle, Corporal Melvin Morgan, died of starvation and beatings lie suffered in 1950 at the age of 20 in Korea. Surely Corporal Morgan is deserving of Purple Heart.

I am also introducing H. Con. Res. 434, a resolution to commend all persons who were inducted for service in the United States Aimed Forces during World War II. I repeat inducted into service. etc., etc
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Honor Our Fallen Prisoners of War Act (Introduced in House)

HR 4425 IH

108th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 4425
To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the Purple Heart to be awarded to prisoners of war who die in captivity under circumstances not otherwise establishing eligibility for the Purple Heart.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 20, 2004
Mr. FILNER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services
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A BILL
To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the Purple Heart to be awarded to prisoners of war who die in captivity under circumstances not otherwise establishing eligibility for the Purple Heart.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Honor Our Fallen Prisoners of War Act'.

SEC. 2. AWARD OF PURPLE HEART FOR PRISONERS OF WAR WHO DIE IN CAPTIVITY.

(a) Persons not Otherwise Eligible for the Purple Heart- Chapter 57 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

`Sec. 1134. Purple Heart: members who die while prisoners of war that are not otherwise eligible under the circumstances causing death

`(a) For purposes of the award of the Purple Heart, the Secretary concerned shall treat a member of the armed forces described in subsection (b) in the same manner as a member who is killed or wounded in action as the result of an act of an enemy of the United States.

`(b) A member described in this subsection is a member who dies in captivity under circumstances establishing eligibility for the prisoner-of-war medal under section 1128 of this title but not under circumstances establishing eligibility for the Purple Heart.

`(c) This section applies to members of the armed forces who die on or after December 7, 1941. In the case of a member who dies as described in subsection (b) on or after December 7, 1941, and before the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary concerned shall award the Purple Heart under subsection (a) in each case which is known to the Secretary before the date of the enactment of this section or for which an application is made to the Secretary in such manner as the Secretary requires.'.

(b) Clerical Amendment- The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

`1134. Purple Heart: members who die while prisoners of war that are not otherwise eligible under the circumstances causing death.
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As of this date 12/1/04, there are 5 Congressional Co-Sponsors of this Bill as well as a plethora of other prominent American Patriots back this measure [HR 4425]