|
In 1942, information was leaking out about the atrocities and sub-human treatment that American
prisoners of war were receiving in Japanese prison camps in the Pacific. When wives and mothers heard about their
sons and husbands who had been taken prisoners, they started calling and writing their Congressmen in an effort
to find help or get assistance for their loved ones. Finally, two mothers whose sons were members of the 200th Coast Artillery and had been captured by the Japanese came up with an idea.
It was Mrs. Charles W. Bickford and Mrs. Fred E. Landon who, on April 10, 1942,
persuaded other parents and relatives to hold a mass meeting and formed an organization to get relief to the captured
boys on Bataan. On April 14th, the Bataan Relief Organization
was formed with Dr. V. H. Spensley, of Albuquerque, as Chairman. Their motto was "We will not let them down."
This group was very active trying to get relief to the POW’s and exchange of information as it
came through. From this group in Albuquerque, other chapters sprang up all over the United States. The "BRO"
was incorporated September 8th, 1943.
In 1945, the control of the Bataan Relief Organization was turned over to the liberated members
of the New Mexico’s 200th Coast Artillery Regiment at an annual meeting
held in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In 1946, the name was changed to Bataan Veteran’s Organization.
The first National convention was held May 14, 1948, in Albuquerque. The second National convention
was held in Hollywood, California, April 1949. At this convention, it was voted to change the name to American
Ex-Prisoners of War and change the name of the bulletin to
XPOW. The reason for the change was so veterans
from the European Theater would realize that they were eligible for membership. By changing the name to American
Ex-Prisoners of War, it would welcome all former POW’s from any war. There were 800 at the 1949 convention.
In 1949 there were 7 local groups within the framework of the organization:
The Bataan Veteran’s Organization, The Lost Battalion
The Seattle Barbed Wire Club, Orphans of the Pacific
The Dad MacMannis Post, The Southwest Barbed Wire Club
The Barbed Wire Club of North Carolina.
The AX-POW emblem was designed as a lapel pin by former prisoner of war, Bryan T. Doughty of
Denver, Colorado, in 1949. The heraldic symbols, representing Justice, are balanced on swords. The curves at the
top of the shield portray the two massive military defeats suffered by the United States Armed Forces in World
War II: Bataan and the Belgium Bulge. Later, the Ex-POW motto was adopted: NON SOLUM ARMIS, Latin for "Not
by Arms Alone."
The above information was furnished to the Bulletin by
Past National Commander Richard M. Throckmorton. |
