M21-1 Manual / Part VIII, Subpart iv, Chapter 2, Section B
Former Prisoner of War (FPOW) Service Records
M21-1, Part VIII, Subpart iv, Chapter 2, Section B
Overview
In This Section | | This section contains the following topics:| Topic | Topic Name | | 1 | General Information on FPOW Records | | 2 | World War II (WWII) Record Groups Held by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Suitland Reference Branch | | 3 | Sources of WWII Record Groups, Other Than NARA | | 4 | Korean Conflict (KC) Record Groups |
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1. General Information on FPOW Records
Introduction | | This topic contains general information on FPOW records, including- importance of verifying FPOW status
- FPOW information available at NARA, and
- obtaining
- FPOW information from NARA, and
- evidence from the claimant.
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VIII.iv.2.B.1.a. Importance of Verifying FPOW Status | | It may be necessary to obtain former prisoner of war (FPOW) records when determining FPOW status- for purposes of determining eligibility to benefits under 38 CFR 3.309(c), and
- instances where certification of FPOW status is relevant to benefit eligibility.
Reference: For more information on developing for FPOW status, see M21-1, Part VIII, Subpart iv, 2.A.2. |
VIII.iv.2.B.1.b. FPOW Information Available at NARA | | The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) has- a significant amount of information on FPOWs from World War II (WWII)
- limited information on FPOWs from the Korean Conflict (KC)
- no records on FPOWs from the Vietnam era, and
- on rare occasions, service treatment records.
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VIII.iv.2.B.1.c. Obtaining FPOW Information From NARA | | In order to obtain information from NARA, send a request to the following address:Military Reference Branch
National Archives
Washington, DC 20408The request should include- the Veteran’s
- name
- service number
- branch of service, and
- dates of internment, and
- the name of the country or group that held the Veteran prisoner, such as the Germans or Japanese.
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VIII.iv.2.B.1.d. Obtaining Evidence From the Claimant | | If unable to obtain personnel or medical records for an FPOW, request this evidence from the claimant.Reference: For more information on requesting evidence of FPOW status from claimants, see M21-1, Part VIII, Subpart iv, 2.C. |
2. WWII Record Groups Held by NARA Suitland Reference Branch
Introduction | | This topic contains information on WWII record groups held by NARA, including- Record Group 92, Missing Air Crew Reports (MACR)
- Record Group 153, Records of the Office of the Judge Advocate General (JAG), Army
- Record Group 242, the NARA Collection of Foreign Records Seized in 1941
- Record Group 332, Records of the U.S. Theaters of War, WWII, and
- Record Group 407, Strength and Accounting Branch.
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Change Date | | August 13, 2009 |
VIII.iv.2.B.2.a. Record Group 92, MACR | | Record Group 92, Missing Air Crew Reports (MACR), in the records of the Quartermaster General, provides information regarding- air crashes, and
- subsequent captures.
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VIII.iv.2.B.2.b. Record Group 153, Records of the Office of the JAG, Army | | Record Group 153, Records of the Office of The Judge Advocate General (JAG), Army, contains interrogation reports of individual FPOWs after repatriation to the United States. Individuals who were victims of, or who observed the atrocities in, the prisoner of war (POW) camps made the reports. |
VIII.iv.2.B.2.c. Record Group 242, the NARA Collection of Foreign Records Seized in 1941 | | Record Group 242, the NARA Collection of Foreign Records Seized in 1941, provides an alphabetical listing of American flyers that were shot down and captured in Europe and North Africa. The listing includes- name
- rank
- service number
- date shot down
- physical condition when captured, and
- hospital or camp to which the flyers were taken.
Notes: - Certain records include a list of the crew members who were with the flyers at the time of capture.
- Both the original German records and the English translations of the lists are in NARA’s possession.
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VIII.iv.2.B.2.d. Record Group 332, Records of the U.S. Theaters of War, WWII | | Record Group 332, Records of the United States Theaters of War, WWII, contains the G-s, MIS-X file. Note: This is an alphabetical file of interrogations of escaped FPOWs. |
VIII.iv.2.B.2.e. Record Group 407, Strength and Accounting Branch | | Record Group 407, Strength and Accounting Branch, has strength returns and lists the following information:- names
- service numbers, and
- dates of internment.
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3. Sources of WWII Record Groups, Other Than NARA
Introduction | | This topic contains information on sources of WWII record groups, other than NARA, including- Record Group 389, Records of the Office of the Provost Marshal General (PMGO)
- master indexes, and
- lists from the American POW Information Bureau
- Record Group 407, the Philippines Archives Collection, and
- requesting FPOW records for Merchant Mariners.
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VIII.iv.2.B.3.a. Record Group 389, Records of the PMGO: Master Indexes | | Record Group 389, Records of the Office of the Provost Marshal General (PMGO), contains master indexes from the International Red Cross that identify American FPOWs during WWII.The records available include:- 26 volumes of records on German POWs
- 6 volumes of records on Japanese POWs, and
- 1 volume of records on POWs interned in other countries.
The FPOWs are listed by - name
- service number, and
- branch of service.
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VIII.iv.2.B.3.b. Record Group 389, Records of the PMGO: Lists From the American POW Information Bureau | | Record Group 389, Records of the Office of the PMGO, contains lists from the American POW Information Bureau, Records Branch, in the General Subject File, for the period 1942 to 1946. Countries included in the lists are - Germany
- Japan, and
- the Philippines.
The listings are arranged - first by country of internment, then
- by location of camp, and finally
- alphabetically by name.
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VIII.iv.2.B.3.c. Record Group 407, the Philippines Archives Collection | | Record Group 407, the Philippines Archives Collection in the Records of The Adjutant General's Office, 1917, includes some records for the following camps and others:- Bilibid
- Cabanatuan, and
- O'Donnell.
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VIII.iv.2.B.3.d. Requesting FPOW Records for Merchant Mariners | | Time spent as an FPOW is recognized as qualifying service for U.S. Merchant Mariners. The Coast Guard (address code 52) has most of the names of those who were held captive. The Coast Guard provided a database for U.S. Merchant Marine FPOWs which is documented at Merchant Marine POWs of WWII.Notes:- If verified FPOW dates are available, they should be listed in Item 18, REMARKS, of the DD Form 214, Certificate of Uniformed Service, above the actual voyages/dates of each voyage.
- For FPOW records, the release from active duty date on the DD Form 214 can be later than August 15, 1945. If the Merchant Mariner was captured, the period of qualifying service is from the beginning date of the voyage during which the Merchant Mariner was captured to the date the Merchant Mariner was repatriated.
Example: John Smith served on the ship SS President Harrison. The voyage began December 4, 1941, and the crew was captured and held December 8, 1941, until September 13, 1945. Mr. Smith was repatriated on September 13, 1945. His service from December 4, 1941, to September 13, 1945, is considered one period of qualifying service.Reference: For more information on obtaining service records for U.S. Merchant Mariners, see M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, 5.B. |
4. KC Record Groups
Introduction | | This topic contains information on the KC record groups, including- where to obtain POW records from the KC
- Record Group 319, Records of the Army Staff, and
- records relating to the FPOW status of Veterans of the KC.
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VIII.iv.2.B.4.a. Where to Obtain POW Records From the KC | | The records listed in this topic are available from the groups indicated as having custody. |
VIII.iv.2.B.4.b. Record Group 319, Records of the Army Staff | | The NARA Military Reference Branch has custody of Record Group 319, Records of the Army Staff, which contains paper records for American FPOWs of the KC and includes lists of the names of allies exchanged with the communists.- Volume 1
- lists locations of POW camps identified by number and location, and
- includes 140 pages of American FPOWs listed by name, service number, rank, unit and camp number, and
- Volume 2 includes supplemental lists of both military and civilian prisoners of various nationalities.
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VIII.iv.2.B.4.c. Records Relating to the FPOW Status of Veterans of the KC | | The NARA Center for Electronic Records- handles requests for records relating to the FPOW status of Veterans of the KC, and
- has custody of the casualty lists that indicate FPOW status.
Important: NARA will not release this information to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). To obtain this information, the claimant must request it directly from NARA. |
Source: VA M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual, M21-1, Part VIII, Subpart iv, Chapter 2, Section B (U.S. government work, reproduced for reference). Browse all sections →