Korean War POW
Jun 14, 2019
Korean War POW
Treatment of American prisoners of war during the Korean War rivaled that of prisoners in the hands of the Japanese during World War II. American captors did not abide by the Geneva Convention. More than 7,100 Americans were captured and interned and just over 2,700 are known to have died while interned.
There were 8,177 Americans classified as missing-in-action (MIA). The United States in February 1954 declared them presumed dead.
Life as a POW meant many forced marches in subfreezing weather, solitary confinement, brutal punishments and attempts at political "re-education." Here prisoners received their first systematic dose of indoctrination techniques by their captors. This was a relatively new phenomena and resulted in the Code of Conduct that now guides all American servicemen in regards to their capture. Many Americans were the victims of massacres. After an armistice was signed in 1953, a major exchange known as "Operation Big Switch" finally brought Americans home. More than 8,000 Americans are still listed as missing in action in Korea.
Source: www.nps.gov
