Purple Heart HR2369 update July 2007:

The Purple Heart bill is living and doing quite well in spite of attempts to defeat it. Below is an Update on the Purple Heart for Prisoners of War Who Died In Captivity.

A source in the Pentagon informed us that they are behind the Bill the way that we had originally written and intended it. The Colonel that we talked to at the Pentagon has sent a letter over to the various Secretaries of the Armed Services informing them of this!

When he gets their responses back, he will send their responses over to Dr. Chu in DOD who will, in turn, send it up to Secretary Gates for his approval or disapproval.

It would be wonderful if this change to the Purple Heart Regulations became effective before the Reunion in July-August.

Senator Barbara Boxer said that her office is keeping track of this fine piece of legislation and has talked to DOD about it.

Your continuing support is greatly appreciated. Together we will get this done.

Rick & Brenda Tavares, prime movers of this bill for more than 3 years, sent the above for all to read.

Please direct any inquiries to Shorty Estabrook.

Combat Pay

While being held as Army POWs during the Korean War, we were only paid for three months of "Combat Pay" that was due to us at a rate of $45.00 a month. As such, it is our contention that the government still owes us for "Combat Pay". According to the data that I have seen, all of the other services (not the Army) did indeed continue to pay "Combat Pay" to their people who were captured.

This has long been a project of Tom Lyke who initiated action in the past.

We are currently engaged in a crusade that would mandate the payment of this money to all who served their time in Hell in North Korea POW facilities. Please contact Shorty if you have any paperwork or input on this subject, any help from you along these lines would be greatly appreciated. Also, if you have the ear of a Congressperson or Senator, please implore them to help to introduce Legislation that would finally rectify this matter after over 50 years of ignoring the issue! This is a matter of national pride, responsibility, and a note of thanks to those Korean War Army POWs who gave up no small portion of their lives for our defense and security. - Shorty Estabrook