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To All:
My apologies for initiating and prolonging this thread.
Mea culpa.
v/r
John D.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2001
04:21
Subject: Re: BW Controversy
I cite this quote from the 1964 version of "The Officer's
Guide", page 254. It is the core of a 1955 Executive Order by President
Eisenhower covering the actions of the Armed Forces of the United States while
in combat or captivity:
CODE OF CONDUCT
Article I. 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.
Article
II. 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.
Article
III. If I am captured I will continue to resist by all means available. I will
make every effort to escape and aid others to escape. I will accept neither
parole nor special favors from the enemy.
Article IV. If I become a
prisoner of war, I will keep faith with my fellow prisoners. I will give no
information or take part in any action which might be harmful to my comrades.
If I am senior, I will take command. If not I will obey the lawful orders of
those appointed over me and will back them up in every way.
Article V.
When questioned, should I become a prisoner of war, I am bound to give only
name, rank, service number, and date of birth. I will evade answering further
questions to the utmost of my ability. I will make no oral or written
statements disloyal to my country and its allies or harmful to their cause.
Article VI. I will never forget that I am an American fighting man,
responsible for my actions, and dedicated to the principles which made my
country free. I will trust in my God and in the United States of America.
The only "smoking gun" which came out of the BW claims was Article
V which theoretically DOES make it a courts-martial offense to willingly sign
confessions.
The first one I remember from Viet Nam was loudly touted
by the NVA as "proof" of American perfidity -- right up to the point that they
found out who "Clark Kent" and "Bruce Wayne", the guilty pilots, really
were...
This is a dead horse and not worthy of further discussion. Move
on.
Cookie
Sewell
AMPS
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