Title Programs Meta Meta description Programs at VA Detroit Healthcare System Content Page introduction Explore Detroit VA's diverse program offerings, which include patient health care, cutting-edge clinical research, and other specialties. Generate a table of contents from major headings Include table of contents Main content Former Prisoners of War Program Who Are Former Prisoners of War? Since World War I, more than 142,000 Americans, including 85 women, have been captured and interned as POWs. Not included in this figure are nearly 93,000 Americans who were lost or never recovered. Only one fifth of America's former POWs since World War I are still living (about 22,641). More than 90% of living former POWs were captured and interned during World War II. About 15,367 former POWs are in receipt of compensation for service-connected injuries, diseases, or illnesses.