New Jersey § 38a:15-4

§ 38a:15-4.

a. The Governor may present in the name of the State of New Jersey a POW-MIA medal

of appropriate design, and ribbon to be worn in lieu thereof, to: (1) any person who, on the date of induction into the organized militia or federal

military service, was a resident of this State and who, while serving in the organized

militia or in federal military service on active duty in a combat theater of operation

during time of war or emergency, shall have been officially listed as a prisoner of

war or missing in action by the United States Department of Defense; or (2) any person who, on the date of induction into the organized militia or federal

military service, was not a resident of this State but currently resides in this State

or was a resident at time of death and who, while serving in the organized militia

or in federal military service on active duty in a combat theater of operation during

time of war or emergency, shall have been officially listed as a prisoner of war or

missing in action by the United States Department of Defense; and (3) was taken prisoner and held captive or declared missing in action: (a) while

engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States; (b) while engaged in

military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or (c) while

serving with friendly forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing force

in which the United States is not a belligerent party. b. The period of creditable military service must include the period of captivity

from date of capture through date of release. While no minimum time period of captivity exists as eligibility criteria for the

medal, the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs should determine

each case on its merits. c. The medal shall be issued only to those taken prisoner by foreign armed forces

that are hostile to the United States, under circumstances which the Adjutant General,

or his designee, finds to have been comparable to those under which persons have generally

been held captive by enemy armed forces during periods of armed conflict. d. Any person convicted by a United States military tribunal of misconduct or a criminal

charge or whose discharge is less than honorable based on actions while a POW-MIA

is ineligible for the medal. Any POW-MIA whose conduct was not in accord with the Code of Conduct and whose actions

are documented by United States military records,is ineligible for the medal. Resolution of questionable cases shall be the responsibility of the Adjutant General

or his designee. e. No more than one medal shall be awarded. For subsequent acts justifying award of the medal, service stars shall be awarded

and worn on the suspension and service ribbon of the medal. A period of captivity terminates on return to United States military control. Escapees who do not return to United States military control and are recaptured

by an enemy do not begin a new period of captivity for subsequent award of the medal. f. The medal may be awarded for a deceased person or a person absent as a prisoner

of war or missing in action and, when so directed, may be presented to such representatives,

as the Adjutant General considers appropriate, who submit all of the required forms

and documentation on behalf of that person. Return of remains, in and of itself, does not constitute evidence of POW-MIA status.