US P.O.W. Medal

The POW Medal is authorized for any person who, while serving in any capacity with the U.S. Armed Forces, was taken prisoner and held captive after April 5, 1917. The POW Medal is to be issued only to those U.S. military personnel and other personnel granted credible U.S. military service who were taken prisoner and held captive:

1. while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States
2. while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force
3. while serving with friendly forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing force in which the United States is not a belligerent party
4. by foreign armed forces that are hostile to the United States, under circumstances which the Secretary concerned finds to have been comparable to those under which persons have generally been held captive by enemy armed forces during periods of armed conflict.