Prisoner Of War

3 Pages 667 Words

Prisoners of War: Living With Uncertainty

Is it possible that people can live in such horrible conditions and live to tell about

it? In regards to World War II and people who were taken as prisoners of the war, the answer is

yes, but only for a few. A prisoner of war, or POW, is a term for a member of the armed forces

who is captured and confined during war. The Geneva Convention of 1929 was a series of agreements that stated that prisoners of the war would be treated humanely. But as one can imagine, humane treatment towards POWs was not strictly enforced.
During times of war, enemies take men as prisoners. During World War II, both the axis and the allies took prisoners. However, those men captured by the allies were treated somewhat better than those of the axis powers were. Japan never signed the Geneva Convention and therefore did not feel obligated to its rules. In World War II, the Japanese captured 30,000 men. Among them was Arnold Green who was captured at Wake Island. This island was very small and was situated in the North Pacific Ocean. It was captured by the Japanese and held until the end of World War II. Mr. Green remembers gruesome details and his shocking words revealed only part of the reality of the forty-four months he was held captive. At the time of his capture, he weighed 180 lbs. and when he was released, he weighed a mere 100 lbs. Obviously, prisoners of war were malnourished. Red Cross supplied them with food but only one packet was actually given to his camp during the 3 and a half years he was there. The Japanese would keep the rest for their soldiers. Bread was supplied but it was mixed with sawdust so that more of it could be distributed. Many prisoners would get sick because of the food and even resorted to eating grasshoppers. Being malnourished did lead to intestinal and respiratory problems and diseases were wide spread such as malaria, tuberculosis and beriberi.
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