To provide for the award of the Purple Heart to persons held as prisoners of war before April 25, 1962, on the same basis as persons held as prisoners of war after that date.

Directs the Secretary of the military department concerned, for purposes of eligibility for the award of the Purple Heart, to treat a former prisoner of war (POW) who was wounded before April 25, 1962, while held as a POW (or while being taken captive) in the same manner as a former POW who is wounded on or after such date.