DoD expands Purple Heart eligibility to POWs


The Department of Defense has expanded Purple Heart eligibility criteria, allowing prisoners of war who died in captivity to posthumously receive the award. The revised policy presumes, for servicemembers who die in captivity as prisoners of war, that their deaths were the "result of enemy action," or the result of wounds incurred "in action with the enemy" during capture, unless compelling evidence is presented to the contrary.

The revised Purple Heart policy allows retroactive awarding of the Purple Heart to qualifying prisoners of war since Dec. 7,1941. Posthumous awards will be made to deceased U.S. service-members' representatives, as designated by the secretary of the military branch concerned, upon application to that department.

Each department will publish application procedures and ensure they are accessible to the general public. Family members with questions may contact the services:

Army - Military Awards Branch,
(703)325-8700

Navy - Navy Personnel Command,
Retired Records Section,
(314) 592-1150

Air Force - Air Force Personnel Center,
(800) 616-3775

Marine Corps - Military Awards
Branch, (703) 784-9340