Skip to content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Talk to the Veterans Crisis Line now
Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Https

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

  • VA.gov
  • Locations
  • Business
  • VA Careers
  • Contact Us

VA|News

  • News
    • Top Stories
    • Latest News
    • Benefits News
    • Health News
    • Secretary’s Blog
    • America 250
    • VA Career Stories
    • Date Archives
  • Resources
    • VetResources
    • VA/Linkedin Partnerships
    • Social Media Policy
    • How to submit a guest post
    • My HealtheVetThis will take you to the MyHealtheVet website
    • Suicide PreventionThis will take you to the Suicide Prevention website
    • VA FormsThis will take you to the VA Find a Form page
    • VA PublicationsThis will take you to the VA Publications page
  • VA Podcast Network
  • VA Press Room
  1. Tag:
  2. POW

POW

  • #VeteranOfTheDay Air Force Veteran Vermont Garrison

    #VeteranOfTheDay Air Force Veteran Vermont Garrison

    Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Air Force Veteran Vermont Garrison. Garrison served as an aviator during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

  • #VeteranOfTheDay Army Veteran Ruby Bradley

    #VeteranOfTheDay Army Veteran Ruby Bradley

    Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay Army Veteran Ruby Bradley, a nurse captured as a prisoner of war in the Philippines during World War II.

  • Robert Shumaker: An extended stay at the Hanoi Hilton

    Robert Shumaker: An extended stay at the Hanoi Hilton

    Navy Veteran Robert Shumaker served during the Vietnam War. He was captured by North Vietnamese forces and held as a prisoner of war for eight years.

  • #VeteranOfTheDay Navy Veteran Joseph Charles Plumb Jr.

    #VeteranOfTheDay Navy Veteran Joseph Charles Plumb Jr.

    Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Navy Veteran Joseph Charles Plumb Jr., who served as a pilot during Vietnam and was captured as a POW.

  • Army Veteran, 98, honored on POW/MIA Day

    Army Veteran, 98, honored on POW/MIA Day

    Gulf Coast VA honors Dayton Shell, held as a POW after his unit was forced to surrender to German forces in France in 1944.

  • #VeteranOfTheDay Air Force Veteran Edward J. Mechenbier

    #VeteranOfTheDay Air Force Veteran Edward J. Mechenbier

    On the Air Force birthday, today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Air Force Veteran Edward J. Mechenbier, an F-4C pilot during the Vietnam War.

  • Rexford H. Dettre Jr.: Evading Capture

    Rexford H. Dettre Jr.: Evading Capture

    Maj. Gen. Rexford Dettre served in the Army Air Force during World War II and became a prisoner of war (POW) after being captured by the Germans. He later served in the Air Force during the Korean and Vietnam Wars and worked with the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

  • National POW/MIA Recognition Day Sept. 17

    National POW/MIA Recognition Day Sept. 17

    Air Force Capt. John Clark flew an RF-4C Phantom II over North Vietnam. After being shot down, he spent nearly six years in captivity.

  • Reba Whittle: POW who will not be forgotten

    Reba Whittle: POW who will not be forgotten

    During World War II, Reba Z. Whittle served in the United States Army Nurse Corps. After the aircraft she was aboard was shot down in September 1944, she became the first American female military prisoner of war in the European Theater.

  • Fiske Hanley II: I’m a survivor

    Fiske Hanley II: I’m a survivor

    First Lieutenant Fiske Hanley served in the Army Air Forces during World War II. During a mission in March 1945, he was shot down and imprisoned in Japan until the end of the war. Here is his story.

  • #VeteranOfTheDay Air Force Veteran Kenneth Cordier

    #VeteranOfTheDay Air Force Veteran Kenneth Cordier

    Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Air Force Veteran Kenneth Cordier, who was a pilot and prisoner of war during the Vietnam War.

  • #VeteranOfTheDay Army Veteran Rupert Starr

    #VeteranOfTheDay Army Veteran Rupert Starr

    Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Veteran Rupert Starr who became a prisoner of war (POW) in Germany during World War II and later became a well-known LGBTQ+ activist.

Previous123Next

Sign up for our newsletter

We’re here anytime, day or night - 24/7

If you are a Veteran in crisis or concerned about one, connect with our caring, qualified responders for confidential help. Many of them are Veterans themselves.

  • Call 988 and press 1
  • Text to 838255
  • Chat confidentially now
  • Call TTY if you have hearing loss 1-800-799-4889

Get more resources at VeteransCrisisLine.net.

Last updated May 16, 2025

United States Department of Veterans Affairs

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
810 Vermont Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20420
1-800-698-2411

VA News

An official website of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

  • VA.gov
  • ChooseVA
  • DiscoverVA
  • DigitalVA
  • VA Outreach Events
  • VA Forms
  • VA Publications
  • About VA
  • VA mobile apps
  • Accessibility at VA
  • No FEAR Act data
  • Whistleblower Protection
  • Office of the Inspector General
  • VA plans, budget, finances, and performance
  • Agency Financial Report
  • Privacy policy
  • FOIA requests
  • Disclaimers
  • Open data
  • Vulnerability disclosure policy
  • Copyright policy

Looking for U.S. government information and services?  Visit USA.gov

Page load link
Go to Top