
Prisoner of war - Wikipedia
A prisoner of war (POW) is a person who is held captive by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict. The earliest recorded usage of the phrase "prisoner of …
Prisoners of war: What you need to know | ICRC
In international armed conflict, such persons are known as prisoners of war (PoWs) and have always been particularly vulnerable to abuse, due to their affiliation with the enemy and the …
Prisoner of war (POW) | Britannica
Feb 21, 2025 · prisoner of war (POW), any person captured or interned by a belligerent power during war. In the strictest sense it is applied only to members of regularly organized armed …
Prisoner of War Medal - Wikipedia
It is awarded to any person who was taken prisoner or held captive while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict …
National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day, 2025
6 days ago · My Administration is steadfastly committed to taking care of our great veterans — especially every former American prisoner of war (POW).
POWs in American History: A Synopsis - U.S. National Park Service
Oct 25, 2022 · 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 …
Prisoners of War - How the Rules of War Work | HowStuffWorks
Like the sick or wounded, prisoners of war (POWs) are protected under the Hague and Geneva laws from any violence, indignity, or biological experimentation. POWs must receive medical …
POW/MIA History - National POW/MIA Memorial & Museum
A prisoner of war (POW, enemy prisoner of war (EPW) or “missing-captured”) is a person, whether combatant or non-combatant, who is held in custody by a belligerent power during or …
PRISONER OF WAR Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
Apr 1, 2025 · The meaning of PRISONER OF WAR is a person captured in war; especially : a member of the armed forces of a nation who is taken by the enemy during combat.
Prisoner of war - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A prisoner of war (short form: POW) is a non-combatant who has been captured or surrendered by the forces of the enemy, during an armed conflict. In past centuries, prisoners had no rights.