Things We Should know as Citizens

The DOD Law of War Manual states that "Members of the armed forces and other persons who are wounded, sick, or shipwrecked, shall be respected and protected in all circumstances. Such persons are among the categories of persons placed hors de combat [out of combat]. Making them the object of attack is strictly prohibited."

The Manual is particularly explicit about this as an example of clearly illegal orders: "orders to fire upon the shipwrecked would be clearly illegal."