ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- As part of Prisoner of War and Missing in Action (POW/MIA) Recognition Day the 97th Air Mobility Wing held a 24-hour remembrance run, Sept. 18-19, 2020. Members from around Altus AFB took turns carrying the U.S. and POW/MIA flags, keeping them in constant motion in remembrance of those who are prisoners of war or missing in action. In addition to the moving vigil a list of names of the almost 82,000 missing American servicemen and women were read aloud.
POW/MIA Recognition Day was established in 1979 after families of more than 2,500 Vietnam War POW/MIAs demanded full accountability. President Jimmy Carter and Congress passed a resolution that year making it an official day to be commemorated on the third Friday of September.
This day is meant to honor the memory of and reaffirm our commitment to bring them all home. As the motto emblazoned on the POW/MIA flag reads, “You Are Not Forgotten.”
According to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) out of the 82,000 missing, 75% of the losses are located in the Pacific theater, with over 41,000 presumed lost at sea (i.e. ship losses, known aircraft water losses, etc.). To date, American servicemembers remain missing from WWII, the Korean War, Vietnam War, Cold War, Gulf Wars and other conflicts that took place after 1991.
Want to be a part of the DPAA mission? Air Force personnel can apply for positions on Equal Plus (enlisted only). Officer positions are listed on AMS. For more information on how you can get involved please visit The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency’s website at https://www.dpaa.mil/.