[HARDCORE]

I have been receiving a goodly volume of mail lately, from veterans and other patriotic groups and entities around the nation in regard to this Bill.

As you know, HR 2369 was introduced into Congress last year. It would award a posthumous Purple Heart Medal to those service members who died in enemy captivity between 7 December 1941, to the present, and even into the future?

These are the brave United States soldiers, sailors and airmen who expired while being held as captives of our Nation?s enemies, from causes such as beatings, starvation, lack of medical care, diseases, prolonged exposure, etc.

Many who have an interest in this Bill are asking what has happened to HR 2369, the Honoring Our Fallen Prisoners of War Act. They know that a very patriotic congressman presented this worthwhile Bill to Congress last year by the name of Bob Filner. Many other legislators, veterans, veterans groups, and a plethora of involved citizens backed the Bill itself as well! As a matter of fact, even a retired Senator from North Carolina, as well as his many friends who are yet in government, have expressed a sincere interest. For that matter, even the media on both coasts and many points in between, have shown support and asked to be updated on the Bill?s progress, and this I will gladly do!

The Bill, now sitting before the House Armed Services Committee, chaired by Congressman Duncan Hunter (Republican - California), was not addressed last year because of time considerations I am told. It was, however, reintroduced again this year under a different number (HR 2369). Congressman Hunter was kind enough to sent me a letter in this regard, in which he said, and I quote:

?As Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee and a combat veteran myself, I firmly believe that it is incumbent upon our federal government to honor those individuals who die in the defense of our nation. Further, I am well aware of the sacrifices and emotional distress placed on those held captive by the enemy!?

Although his words were indeed eloquent, I wished that the Honorable Duncan Hunter would have also mentioned the physical hardships and ultimate sacrifice (death) that many thousands of POWs also endured!

Those who died in enemy captivity, many of who?s remains were never recovered, most definitely expired and at the hand of a dastardly foe, and certainly by ?An Instrument of War!!? An instrument of war is, after all, exactly what an enemy prisoner of war facility is, this according to the Military Order of The Purple Heart!! And these men received no special recognition in the form of the Purple Heart, even though killed by a vicious enemy! Granted, they received (posthumously) POW Medals, but them so did those who were fortunate enough to return home!!

Congressman Hunter then went on to say: ?Please be assured that as we continue to discuss this issue that I will continue to keep your specific thoughts firmly in mind.?

Again, these are not my thoughts alone, as a growing multitude of patriots also feel that these brave and gallant POWs who died in captivity (or from causes thereof), now need us all to speak out for them. They have lost the power of speech through death, their lives expended for us all, in our nation?s times of need!

As it is now fast approaching November, I have even had several member of nationally recognized, powerful, and great in numbers, veterans group and organizations, ask if there was something amiss, or if the Bill and those who fell in captivity had been forgotten? Let me try to answer that as best I can:

It is very difficult to get a Bill introduced into the House. It is not an overnight procedure as some may think! And this Bill, as I said, is still sitting within the House Armed Services Committee....

From there, it has other steps to make, including the Senate itself. We have asked several Senators to make this a ?Companion Bill?, but as of this moment we are still waiting for a positive response. It must be noted, however, that several Senators have displayed some genuine interest along these lines, if I read them correctly.

The Sponsor of this Bill is Congressman Bob Filner of California..

The Co-Sponsors (thus far) in Congress are:

Rep. Sherwood Boehlert - New York
Rep. Bob Etheridge - North Carolina
Rep. Thaddeus G. McCotter - Michigan
Rep. Chris Van Hollen - Maryland
Rep. Danny K. Davis - Illinois
Rep. William L. Jenkins - Tennessee
Rep. Michael R. McNulty - New York


?Even the President of the United States is aware of this Bill!?

The above listed Congress Persons are fine and caring individuals indeed, and they, and all other legislators as well, realize (I am sure) that this Bill transcends political party or gender. HR 2369 is as American as it gets, and patriotic to the core!

?For the record, here are the members of the House Armed Services Committee who will, with your most valued help, see to it that HR 2369 is moved on as quickly as possible, and hopefully passed into law!?

Duncan Hunter - California (Chairman)
Ike Skelton - Missouri
Curt Weldon - Pennsylvania
John Spratt - South Carolina
Joel Hefley - Colorado
Solomon P. Ortiz - Texas
Jim Saxton - New Jersey
Lane Evans - Illinois
John M. McHugh - New York
Gene Taylor - Mississippi
Terry Everett - Alabama
Neil Abercrombie - Hawaii
Roscoe G. Bartlett - Maryland
Marty Meehan - Massachusetts
Howard P. (Buck) McKeon - California
Silvestre Reyes - Texas
Mac Thornberry - Texas
Vic Snyder - Arkansas
John N. Hostettler - Indiana
Adam Smith - Washington
Walter B. Jones - North Carolina
Loretta Sanchez - California
Jim Ryun - Kansas
Mike McIntyre - North Carolina
Jim Gibbons - Nevada
Ellen O. Tauscher - California
Robin Hayes - North Carolina
Robert A. Brady - Pennsylvania
Ken Calvert - California
Robert Andrews - New Jersey
Rob Simmons - Connecticut
Susan A. Davis - California
Jo Ann Davis - Virginia
James R. Langevin - Rhode Island
W. Todd Akin - Missouri
Steve Israel - New York
J. Randy Forbes - Virginia
Rick Larsen - Washington
Jeff Miller - Florida
Jim Cooper - Tennessee
Joe Wilson - South Carolina
Jim Marshall - Georgia
Frank A. LoBiondo - New Jersey
Kendrick B. Meek - Florida
Jeb Bradley - New Hampshire
Madeleine Z. Borallo - Guam
Michael Turner - Ohio
Tim Ryan - Ohio
John Kline - Minnesota
Mark Udall - Colorado
Candice S. Miller - Michigan
G.K. Butterfield - North Carolina
Mike Rogers - Alabama
Cynthia McKinney - Georgia
Trent Franks - Arizona
Dan Boren - Oklahoma
Bill Shuster - Pennsylvania
Thelma Drake - Virginia
Joe Schwarz - Michigan
Cathy McMorris - Washington
Michael Conaway - Texas
Geoff Davis - Kentucky

Members on leave from committee -

Tom Cole - Oklahoma
Dutch Ruppersberger - Maryland
Bob Bishop - Utah
Phil Gingrey - Georgia

Again, we humbly submit that this worthwhile Bill, HR 2369, should and must be passed into law! Our great nation can do less for those who gave their last full measure of devotion for each and every one of us, past, present and future!!

Respectfully Yours,

Rick

Brenda, niece of Melvin H. Morgan, a 20 year old POW who died of starvation in captivity in North Korea, 6 December 1950

Sergeant Wilbert (Shorty) Estabrook (r), Ex-POW & Founder of The Tiger Survivors Group