Thursday, September 25, 2008

Belvoir Soldier, Joint Base Balad remember POWs, MIAs

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq — Prisoners of war and those missing in action have earned a respected place in history. In all wars, families have paid the ultimate price with lost husbands, wives, sisters, brothers, daughters and sons.

Congress has commanded the POW/MIA flag be flown on six days of the year: Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, Veterans Day and POW/MIA Recognition Day.

In remembrance of those service members who never returned from war or were held as prisoner of war, Command Sgt. Major James Hill, a Pittsburgh native and the senior ranking NCO for the 55th Sustainment Brigade, based out of Fort Belvoir, joined fellow servicemembers in observing National POW/MIA Recognition Day Friday.

“I think we should never forget POWs,” Hill said. He is a veteran of the Vietnam War and participated in many missions to find POW camps while assigned to the Marine Corps’ 1st Force Reconnaissance Company.

According to Hill, his company would find the camps, but they were always vacated. In some circumstances the campfire embers were still hot when the 1st FRC arrived.

“I still carry my teammates’ names in my wallet,” said Hill, “I still got one of my former teammates that’s still MIA.”

Even though the wars of the past are over, the search for the lost is not. The Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office continues to search for POWs and MIAs.

Army Graves Registration teams searched Korean battlefields from 1951 to 1956. Even with the professionals combing the battlefields, there are continuing reports of possible American remains in South Korea.

Numerous POW/MIAs were accounted for due to the courage of the Soldiers with whom they served. Pfc. Wayne A. “Johnnie” Johnson recorded the names of 496 POWs killed during his captivity under a North Korean Army major, known as “The Tiger.” Johnson was
awarded the Silver Star for his actions.

The United States has learned from these past wars. Of the 49 POW/ MIAs from Operation Desert Storm, 48 are accounted for.