Purple Heart Update
Those brave heroes who were Promoted to Glory while a POW from Dec 7th 1941 to the present have been awarded the Purple Heart Medal! The regulations have been changed and now Next Of Kin (Moms and Dads and siblings) can apply to get that medal. This happened because of an outstanding effort by Brenda and Rick Tavares. Brenda’s Next of Kin, Melvin Morgan died while with the Tiger Survivors in North Korea. Without these two outstanding individuals this would never have became law. Many helped and I thank you all for your efforts. Congressman Bob Filner and Senator Barbara Boxer worked very hard to accomplish this and we thank them from the bottom of our hearts.
Brenda Tavares was presented her Next Of Kin’s Purple Heart for Melvin Morgan by Congressman Bob Filner on 18 April 2009 in San Diego California. Tiger Survivors, Henry Arakaki, David (Moo Moo) Vilafana and Shorty Estabrook were in attendance. Brenda’s husband, Rick, was there and all smiles was he.
Submitted by Shorty Estabrook
I was just wondering how come it went to Brenda, and not to one of his brothers or sisters, on the day it was presented he still had five living siblings, and she is one of 26 grandchildren.
4-14-2020
My aunts and uncles said that my Uncle Melvin had received the Purple Heart back in the 1950s. I never saw his so-called Purple Heart.
My husband and I wanted to get a posthumous Purple Heart For All Who Died In An Enemy Prisoner of War Camp because my uncle died in a North Korean Prisoner of War Camp at the age of 20 on 6 December 1950 as well as between 17,000 & 21,000 who did not get a Purple Heart. We talked to someone who was in the same camp and he told us that these heroes who died in an enemy prisoner of war camp DID NOT GET A PURPLE HEART BECAUSE THEY DID NOT DIE IN BATTLE. He wanted to get these heroes a posthumous purple heart after he was released. He tried and could not.
Thanks to Congressman Bob Filner and all 100 Senators and over half of the House as well as 35 different Veterans Associations to get this medal for these heroes. It took us over four years to accomplish this feat. We did this without any financial help as we were and still living on limited income. It was a LABOR OF LOVE for me. My husband wrote all the letters and I posted them on patriotfiles.com as well as other patriotic websites. I sent a copy of his letter to all 100 Senators and Over Half Of The 435 Members of The House by email. I also called all of these members of Congress
Here is a copy of the press release from Congressman Filner on 14 October 2008.
Congressman Filner’s Bill Extends Purple Heart to All Deceased Prisoners of War!
Department of Defense to Present Award
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 14, 2008
Bob Filner, Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, announced that the Purple Heart will be presented posthumously to all prisoners of war who die in captivity. The legislation that makes this possible is Filner’s bill, the Honor Our Fallen Prisoners of War Act, passed by Congress in 2006. The Department of Defense announced its complete implementation on October 6, 2008.
“The law now presumes that the death of all service members who die in captivity was the result of enemy action or the result of wounds incurred in action with the enemy during capture and imprisonment,” said Chairman Filner (D-CA). “Before passage of my bill, prisoners of war who died during imprisonment of wounds inflicted by an instrument of war were eligible for posthumous Purple Heart recognition, but those who died of starvation, disease, abuse, freezing or other causes during captivity were not. There should be no false distinction indicating more courage or more sacrifice by some prisoners of war over others,” said Filner.
The Honor Our Fallen Prisoners of War Act had over 200 co-sponsors and broad bi-partisan support in Congress. In addition, many major Veteran Service Organizations supported the bill, including the American Legion, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, and the American Ex-Prisoners of War. The Senate bill was introduced by Senator Barbara Boxer.
“The inspiration for my bill came from Wilbert ‘Shorty’ Estabrook, who was imprisoned for more than three years during the Korean War, and Rick and Brenda Tavares. Brenda’s uncle, Corporal Melvin Morgan, died in Korea of starvation and beatings in 1950 at the age of 20,” said Filner.
Each military department will publish application procedures and will ensure that the information is accessible to the general public. Family members with questions may contact the Services: Army Military Awards Branch (703) 325-8700, Navy Personnel Command Retired Records Section (314) 592 -1150, Air Force Personnel Center (800) 616-3775, and Marine Corps Military Awards Branch (730) 784-9340.
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Shelia – Are you a relative of mine? I am also a Member of The Daughters of the American Revolution also with the 24th Infantry Division and The Tiger Survivors.