Code of Conduct
“Return with Honor”
Code of Conduct
(Historical)
• Law of the Hague (1899), Annex, Article 9
– “Bound” to give ”Only” Name, Rank
• Geneva Accords (1929), Article 5
– Name, Rank, Date of Birth, Service Number
• Korean War (1950 – 1953)
– “Brainwashing” (Indoctrination)
– Anti-government Statements
– Significant Number of POWs Refused Repatriation
Korea: POW Stats
(Kinkead, Eugene. In Every War But One. Norton, 1959)
• 7190 Total Prisoners Taken
– 92% in the first year of the war
• 2634 Died
– 38% - largest percentage since the Revolution
– Most (99.6%) died in the first year of the war
• 4435 Americans Released
– 31 Navy, 196 Marine, 235 Air Force
– 3973 Army
Korea:
Army POW Statistics
• 30% of All Prisoners Behaved Inappropriately
– General Collaboration
– Criminal Acts Against Fellow Prisoners
– Failure to Lead Properly
•
•
•
•
•
425 Seriously Collaborated (13%)
82 Cases Approved for Court-martial
47 Cases Passed a Four Tier Review Board
12 Collaborators Tried - Guilty
21 Collaborators Remained Behind
Korea:
POW Study Findings
• Loss of Organizational Structure
– “Every Man For Himself”
• Breakdown of Discipline
• Unrealistic Expectations of Captivity
– Food Aversion, Sanitation, Basic First Aid
• Loss of Hope
– Loss of Activity, Loss of Interest
• Some Units Faired Better Than Others
– Turks, Marines
Code of Conduct
(Historical)
• 1955 Executive Order – President Eisenhower
• Formal training for all military personnel
Code of Conduct
(Historical)
• Vietnam (1964 – 1973)
– Torture Added to Emotional Distress
– Still Minimal Defections
– But many felt dishonored by giving in to torture
– President Carter signs executive order in 1977
revising Article V:
• Deleted the Word “Only”
• Changed “Bound” to “Required”
Code of Conduct
• ARTICLE V (revised):
– When questioned, should I become a prisoner of
war, I am required to give name, rank, service
number, and date of birth…
• ARTICLE V (original):
– When questioned, should I become a prisoner of
war, I am bound to give only name, rank, service
number, and date of birth….
Code of Conduct
(Historical)
• President Reagan signs executive in 1988
– Made Articles I and II gender neutral
• The Code of Conduct is NOT an ORDER,
but a Guideline
Code of Conduct
• ARTICLE I (revised):
– I am an American, fighting in the forces
which guard my country and our way of life. I
am prepared to give my life in their defense.
• ARTICLE I (original):
– I am an American fighting man. I serve in the
forces which guard my country and our way
of life. I am prepared to give my life in their
defense.
Code of Conduct
• ARTICLE II (revised):
– I will never surrender of my own free will. If
in command, I will never surrender the
members of my command while they still
have the means to resist.
• ARTICLE II (original):
– I will never surrender of my own free will. If
in command, I will never surrender my men
while they still have the means to resist.
Remember:
The Code of Conduct is
NOT an ORDER, but a
Guideline
Return With
Honor