POW Code Applies to Women Now

WASHINGTON — President Reagan has signed an order removing all gender references in the code of conduct for American military prisoners of war, the Defense Department said today.

The code, written in 1955 after some GI POWs collaborated with the North Koreans and Chinese during the Korean War, had begun, “I am an American fighting man.” It now states, “I am an American, fighting in the forces which guard my country and our way of life.”

The section of the code which said, “If in command, I will never surrender my men while they still have the means to resist,” was also changed to read, “If in command, I will never surrender the members of my command while they still have the means to resist.”