AMARILLO, TX -- Since World War I, an estimated 142,000 Americans have been captured as prisoners of war.

Some 30,000 are still with us, and Tuesday, the Panhandle chapter of Ex-POW's met at a special luncheon.

"I was shot down in May of 1944 and repatriated the next year by my bomber squadron in 1945.

87-Year old Charles Sturgeon remembers being shot down like it was yesterday. His plane was hit, he was literally on fire, and two crew members tried to extinguish the flames before bailing out. He was captured on the ground, and spent the next year or so as a P-O-W at 3 camps.

"It brings back memories, but you can make 'em what you want to..."

Charles and his fellow Ex-POW's and their wives meet at special luncheons in their honor a couple times a year here at the V-A. Since World War II, about 142,000 men and 87 women have been taken as prisoners of war, and now those numbers are starting to dwindle as we lose out brave servicemen and women.

"They're really, really good people."

Charles and the members of the Panhandle chapter of Ex-POW's say they were just serving their country when they ended up as captives...glad to be home, and enjoying a great meal with each other.

"I think whether you're a POW or any other service member, you have to build your own reputation with what you do."

About 90% of our POW's were held in world war two...and it's estimated we lose about 2800 of them every year.