**AMERICAN PRISONERS OF WAR**

**IN**

**WWI, WWII, KOREA, VIETNAM, PERSIAN GULF, SOMALIA,BOSNIA,**

**KOSOVO AND AFGHANISTAN**

**\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_**

**STATISTICAL DATA CONCERNING NUMBERS**

**CAPTURED, REPATRIATED AND STILL ALIVE**

**AS OF JANUARY 1, 2002**

**PREPARED FOR THE**

**DVA ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON FORMER PRISONERS OF WAR**

**MENTAL HEALTH STRATEGIC HEALTH CARE GROUP, VHA, DVA**

**AMERICAN EX-PRISONERS OF WAR ASSOCIATION**

**BY CHARLES A STENGER, PH.D.**

**Typed by: Dennis Lipscomb,**

########  Mental Health Strategic 

########  Health Care Group 

**AMERICAN PRISONERS OF WAR**

**IN**

**WORLD WAR I, WORLD WAR II, KOREA, VIETNAM, PERSIAN GULF, SOMALIA,
BOSNIA,**

**KOSOVO AND AFGHANISTAN**

**JANUARY 1, 2002**

This annual report, which began in 1976 was developed in cooperation
with the Department of Defense, National Research Council, National
Archives and other sources. As such it reflects consensual agreement as
to the accuracy of the information presented. Inquiries or comments
should be directed to Dr. Charles A. Stenger, American Ex-Prisoners of
War Association, 7425 Democracy Boulevard, Bethesda, Maryland 20817,
(301) 365-5452

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<tr class="odd">
<td><h6 id="all-wars"> ALL WARS</h6></td>
<td><strong><u>Total</u></strong></td>
<td><strong><u>WWI</u></strong></td>
<td><strong><u>WWII</u></strong></td>
<td><strong><u>Korean</u></strong></td>
<td><strong><u>Vietnam</u></strong></td>
<td><p id="persian-gulf" class="heading">Persian Gulf</p></td>
<td><strong><u>Somalia</u></strong></td>
<td><strong><u>Bosnia</u></strong></td>
<td><strong><u>Kosovo</u></strong></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>Captured and Interned</td>
<td>142,233</td>
<td>4,120</td>
<td>130,201</td>
<td>7,140</td>
<td>745</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>3</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>Died While POW</td>
<td>17,004</td>
<td>147</td>
<td>14,072</td>
<td>2,701</td>
<td>84</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>Refused Repatriation</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td><p>Returned to U.S.</p>
<p>Military Control</p></td>
<td>125,208</td>
<td>3,973</td>
<td>116,129</td>
<td>4,418</td>
<td>661</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>3</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>Alive on January 1, 1982</td>
<td>93,030</td>
<td>633</td>
<td>87,996</td>
<td>3,770</td>
<td>631</td>
<td>-----</td>
<td>-----</td>
<td>-----</td>
<td>-----</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>Alive on January 1, 2002</td>
<td>42,781</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>39,719</td>
<td>2,434</td>
<td>601</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>3</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

**[NOTES:]{.underline}**

1.  Vietnam MIA data is on page 4 and except for 28 escapees and 632
    released POWs, is not included in this table.

2.  As of January 1, 2002, [82,427]{.underline} (66%) POWs out of the
    original total of 125,208 surviving captivity are now deceased.
    Annual morality rate is 8% WWII, 6% Korean, 5% Vietnam, and 3% for
    Gulf War Veterans and POWs.

3.  Not included in this table is the fact that more than 92,000 were
    lost in either combat or MIA status and remains were never
    recovered, The breakdown by wartime period is as follows: WWI --
    3,350; WWII-78,773; Korea-8,100; Vietnam-1,948; Persian Gulf-1;
    Somalia-0; Bosnia-0; Kosovo-0; Cold War-126

4.  Also not included in WWII data is Merchant Marine casualties of
    4,780 missing 882 dead (including 37 POWs) and 572 released from
    captivity and one civilian POW accounted for. Approximately 201 are
    alive as of January 1, 2002. (Summary of Merchant Marine casualties,
    WWII, from U.S. Coast Guard report dated July 1, 1950.)

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5.  While initially 21 Korean Conflict POWs refused repatriation, only
    one remains in China, one died and 19 left China for Western
    countries.

6.  Also, not included in WWII casualty data are 1,146 construction
    workers on Wake Islands and 69 American Airline employees on Guam.
    Both, by class, were deemed to be veterans for VA purposes in
    accordance with DoD Directive 1000.20 (P.L. 95-202). Approximately
    600 were captured, with approximately 128 of that number alive on
    January 1, 2002.

7.  During the Civil War 220,000 were captured by the North, with 26,436
    dying during confinement and 126,950 were captured by the South,
    with 22,576 dying during confinement. ([The Civil War]{.underline},
    Garden Press, New York, New York.) During the American Revolution,
    unofficial reports indicate up to 11,000 died during captivity, most
    while confined in prison ships in New York harbor.

## WORLD WAR II

## TOTALS ARMY, AIR CORPS, NAVY AND MARINES

  ------------------------------------------------------- ---------------
  **Captured and Interned**                               **130,201**

  **Died While POW**                                      **14,072**

  **Returned to U.S. Military Control**                   **116,129**

  **Alive on January 1, 1982**                            **87,996**

  **Alive on January 1, 2002**                            **39,719**
  ------------------------------------------------------- ---------------

+-----------------+------+-----------+------+-----+-------------------+
| **[Army and Air | **[  | **[ET     | *    | **  | **Philippine Is.  |
| Corps           | Tota | O/Mediat. | *[Pa | [Ot | (Dec.7, ^b/c^**   |
| ]{.underline}** | l]{. | ]{.underl | cifi | her |                   |
|                 | unde | ine}^a^** | c]{. | ]{. | **[1941 thru May  |
|                 | rlin |           | unde | und | 10,               |
|                 | e}** |           | rlin | erl | 194               |
|                 |      |           | e}** | ine | 2)]{.underline}** |
|                 |      |           |      | }** |                   |
+-----------------+------+-----------+------+-----+-------------------+
| Captured and    | 124  | 93,941    | 27   | 2,  | (25,580)          |
| Interned        | ,079 |           | ,465 | 673 |                   |
+-----------------+------+-----------+------+-----+-------------------+
| Died While POW  | 12   | 1,121     | 11   | 425 | (10,650)          |
|                 | ,653 |           | ,107 |     |                   |
+-----------------+------+-----------+------+-----+-------------------+
| Returned to     | 111  | 92,820    | 16   | 2,  | (14,930)          |
| U.S.            | ,426 |           | ,358 | 248 |                   |
|                 |      |           |      |     |                   |
| Military        |      |           |      |     |                   |
| Control         |      |           |      |     |                   |
+-----------------+------+-----------+------+-----+-------------------+
| Alive on        | 84   | 71,736    | 11   | 1,  | (10,295)          |
| January 1, 1982 | ,753 |           | ,280 | 737 |                   |
+-----------------+------+-----------+------+-----+-------------------+
| Alive on        | 38   | 32,610    | 4    | 782 | (4,473)           |
| January 1, 2002 | ,312 |           | ,920 |     |                   |
+-----------------+------+-----------+------+-----+-------------------+

^a^Includes 23,554 captured during the Battle of Bulge (Ardennes,
December 16, 1944 -- January 25, 1945).

^b^Also known as the Bataan-Corregidor combat zone. Statistics in this
column are incorporated in the Pacific totals.

^c^U.S. Forces captured included approximately 17,000 American nationals
and 12,000 Filipino Scouts. During the first year of captivity, a
reported 30% of the American and 80% of the Filipino died. Data is
unclear as to the proportion of each group surviving to repatriation,
but a very rough estimate would be 11,000 Americans and 4,000 Filipino
Scouts. This information is based on military records developed during
the war and no accurate breakdown was made after repatriation. In
addition, some 7,300 American civilian men, women, and children were
involuntarily incarcerated by the Japanese in 1941 -- 1942.
Approximately 1,969 are alive as of January 1, 2002. An additional
13,000 Amerasians holding American citizenship hid out during this
period were never interned, and 1,528 are estimated to be alive as of
January 1, 2002.

+----------------------------+---------+-----------+-------------------+
| #### Navy and Marine Corps | **      | **[N      | **[Marine         |
|                            | [Total] | avy]{.und | Cor               |
|                            | {.under | erline}** | ps]{.underline}** |
|                            | line}** | **^a^**   | **^b^**           |
+----------------------------+---------+-----------+-------------------+
| Captured and Interned      | 6,122   | 3,848     | 2,274             |
+----------------------------+---------+-----------+-------------------+
| ##### Died While POW       | 1,419   | 901       | 518               |
+----------------------------+---------+-----------+-------------------+
| Returned to U.S.           | 4,703   | 2,947     | 1,756             |
|                            |         |           |                   |
| Military Control           |         |           |                   |
+----------------------------+---------+-----------+-------------------+
| Alive on January 1, 1982   | 3,243   | 2,032     | 1,221             |
+----------------------------+---------+-----------+-------------------+
| Alive on January 1, 2002   | 1,407   | 884       | 523               |
+----------------------------+---------+-----------+-------------------+

^a^Navy casualty data related to naval vessels, not to theater of
operation.

^b^Marine Corps personnel captured in Philippine Island December 1941 --
May 1942 totaled 1,388. Data on numbers dying during captivity,
repatriated, and still living are not available for this theater of
operations.

+---------------------+------+-------+-------+---------+--------------+
| ### KOREAN CONFLICT | **[  | **    | **    | **[     | **[Air       |
|                     | Tota | [Army | [Navy | Marine] | Force]{.     |
|                     | l]{. | ]{.un | ]{.un | {.under | underline}** |
|                     | unde | derli | derli | line}** |              |
|                     | rlin | ne}** | ne}** |         |              |
|                     | e}** |       |       |         |              |
+---------------------+------+-------+-------+---------+--------------+
| Captured and        | 7    | 6,656 | 35    | 225     | 224          |
| Interned            | ,140 |       |       |         |              |
+---------------------+------+-------+-------+---------+--------------+
| Died While POW      | 2    | 2,662 | 4     | 31      | 4            |
|                     | ,701 |       |       |         |              |
+---------------------+------+-------+-------+---------+--------------+
| Returned to U.S.    | 4    | 3,973 | 31    | 194     | 220          |
|                     | ,418 |       |       |         |              |
| Military Control    |      |       |       |         |              |
+---------------------+------+-------+-------+---------+--------------+
| Refused             | 21   | 21    | \-\-- | \-\--   | \-\--        |
| Repatriation        |      |       |       |         |              |
+---------------------+------+-------+-------+---------+--------------+
| Alive on January 1, | 3    | 3,390 | 26    | 166     | 188          |
| 1982                | ,770 |       |       |         |              |
+---------------------+------+-------+-------+---------+--------------+
| Alive on January 1, | 2    | 2,199 | 9     | 108     | 118          |
| 2002                | ,434 |       |       |         |              |
+---------------------+------+-------+-------+---------+--------------+

**[NOTES:]{.underline}**

1.  Does not include eighty-one Navy personnel who were involved in the
    > Pueblo incident.

# VIETNAM

Approximately 745 were captured and 84 of them were designated by DoD as
dying in captivity. The total escaping or surviving to repatriation is
661. Latest data on MIAs from the National League of Families of
American Prisoners of War and MIAs in Southeast Asia through November 7,
2001, is summarized as follows:

**Alive,**

**[Returned Alive]{.underline}** **[Jan 1, 2002]{.underline}** **[MIA
Remains Returned]{.underline}** **[Still MIA\*]{.underline}**

##### USAF 333 307 USAF 354 USAF 649

US Navy 151 140 US Navy 131 US Navy 401

US Army 139 121 US Army 89 US Army 617

[US Marines 38]{.underline} [33]{.underline} US Marines 54 US Marines
242

[Other 7]{.underline} US Coast Guard 1

[Civilians 38]{.underline}

######### Totals: 661 601 635 1,948

\*Originally there were 2,583 MIAs (League of Families data).

# PERSIAN GULF {#persian-gulf-1}

The total number of American servicemen captured by Iraq was 23 and all
were immediately repatriated when hostilities ceased. Source: Defense
POW/MIA Office (DPMO).

# SOMALIA/BOSNIA/KOSOVO

One U.S. serviceman was captured and briefly held prisoner in Somalia,
zero in Bosnia, and three in Kosovo. Regardless of the length of time
held captive, being under the complete control of forces, who could
kill, maim, or injure you at any moment causes psychological trauma that
is not only extreme, but also endures throughout ones lifetime.

**[AFGHANISTAN]{.underline}**

##### No data available as of yet 

**[VETERAN POPULATION AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2001]{.underline}**

> **[All Veterans]{.underline}:** 25,038,459
>
> **[Wartime Veterans Only]{.underline}**: 18,865,926
>
> **[War Veterans By Conflict]{.underline}**
>
> **WWI (102)**^a^ 2,212 (760 deaths preceding 12 months, only WWI).
>
> **WWII (80)** 5,032,591 (414,032 deaths preceding 12 months, multiple
> wartime service).
>
> **Korea (69)** 2,976,446 (104,471 deaths preceding 12 months, only
> Korean service).
>
> **Vietnam (55)** 7,495,029 (68,566 deaths preceding 12 months, only
> Vietnam service).
>
> **Gulf WAR (35)** 2,791,688 (6,834 deaths preceding 12 months, only
> Gulf War service).
>
> **Total Deaths**: 605,148 (preceding 12 months wartime service only).

^a^ Median Ages

Note: 1. Data on Somalia, Bosnia, Kosovo not available.

2\. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Program and Data Analysis

> (008A) provided basic information for the above.
>
> **[Sources]{.underline}**

**[World War II]{.underline}**

1.  Army Battle Casualties and Non-Battle Deaths in WWII: Final Report,\
    7 December 1941 - 31 December 1946, Published 1 June 1953.

2.  Combat Connected Naval Casualties: WWII by States -- 1946 UNS -- MC
    -- GC, 2 Vol. Published by Casualty Section, Navy Department.

3.  History of Medical Department of Navy in WWII: Statistics of
    Diseases and Injuries, US Govt. Printing Office (Nav. Med. P. 1318,
    Vol. 3).

4.  History of U.S. Marine Corps Operations in WWII: Volume V. Appendix
    A, Published 1968 by Historical Branch, G-3 Division, Headquarters,
    U.S. Marine Corps.

**[Korean Conflict]{.underline}**

1.  DoD Public Information Release No. 1088 -- 54, November 5, 1954.

2.  DoD Tentative Final Report of U.S. Battle Casualties in the Korean
    War, Office of Secretary of Defense, November 4, 1954.

**[Vietnam Conflict (Southeast Asia)]{.underline}**

1.  Original data developed by National Archives Machine Readable
    Division from records provided by the Office of the Secretary of
    Defense.

2.  Number of VN POWs still alive on January 1, 2002, provided by Mike
    McGrath, NAM-POW Association.

3.  Updates on remaining VN MIAs provided by National League of Families
    and by Defense POW/MIA Office.

**[General]{.underline}**

1.  The number of WWI, WWII, and Korean Conflict returnees alive on
    January 1 of each year is based on information on mortality rates
    for all wartime veterans provided by VA Office of Program and Data
    Analysis (008A).