POWs released 40 Years ago? Seems like ancient history now.

[74-911]

I suspect a lot of pelican posters weren't even born (or certainly don't remember) when this was going on....

Vietnam POW 40th Reunion News Coverage - YouTube

[SteamWolf]

Recently found out my Grandfather was stationed in Borneo when the POW's were rescued from Changi at the end of WWII. He only this year opened up about seeing them arrive there. Apparently they would not have survived the trip all the way home so they were taken to Borneo to recuperate. It's only now when his health is failing he is willing to let on about some of the things he saw there.

[jwgn777]

I remember. My brother was in Vietnam.First he went to Fort Sill in Oklahoma then the army sent him packing. He had to take on the chin for a year while all his friends ran.

[Baz]

I was in my 2nd year of college.

Thanks for posting this, Jack.

[widgeon13]

I have a college classmate that was a POW. Hope to see him next Sept at our reunion.

Great post, thanks.

[IROC]

A friend of mine that was a few years older than I was wore one of the bracelets with a name inscribed on it and I remember we would sit and watch the TV coverage of the POWs getting off the planes and look for "her" POW.

[74-911]

Originally Posted by jwgn777

I remember. My brother was in Vietnam.First he went to Fort Sill in Oklahoma then the army sent him packing. He had to take on the chin for a year while all his friends ran.

One could write a book on how screwed up, unfair, or whatever term you choose to describe the draft and military service in general in the Vietnam era.

I don't know which is worse, the current all volunteer army where all to often the same troops are deployed over and over to Iraq / Afghanistan, etc: and everyone else just goes about their business (why worry about it if you have no skin in the game?).

or Vietnam era draft where local draft boards initially determined who was unlucky (i.e. you didn't qualify for one of the many deferments or know the right people) and it eventually ended up with a lottery system?

I was somewhat fortunate to say the least. I was reclassified 1-A immediately after graduating from college (remember, you only got 4 one-year deferments for college), decided to take my chances with the USAF and ended up serving my 4 years at Randolph AFB in San Antonio...

[Sunroof]

I am a Vietnam Veteran (1968-1969) and to this day you still see the POW-MIA black flags waving in recogntion of those who remain "lost" or missing in Nam. The word was that after the war ended hundreds of POWS were still interned in hidden "slave camps" working for the Viet Cong. The US Government negotiated with the Vietcong in hopes of locating and releasing these prisoners. Hollywood even jumped on the bandwagon and several movies were made about post war rescue of these guys. Gene Hackman stared in one of them. Several rescue missions funded by private citizen were rumored to have taken place after the war to get thiese guys. Lots of pressure was placed on the government to help.

Many held for years as some do today that American soldiers may still be held in Vietnam as strange as that may seem. Delegations of Americans including John McCain a former POW went to Nam to bring back remains of those recently discovered in crashes, lost patrols, etc., that were unaccounted for. I am certian partof his mission was to convince the Cong to releasea all who still might be be held. The Cong always denied ever holding prisoners after the conflict was over. Remember the bracelots with the names of the missing? Some still wear these to this day in respect to those who never returned.

As the Vietnam Veterans age (geeze, it was 44 years ago I was there), all cannot help but wonder of the fate of those who were missing, the buddies lost and left behind. Like all wars, their never is an exact accounting of all who entered the war and safely returned. Hundreds if not thousands are still missing and presumed dead going back to WWII. Those former POWs on film were the lucky ones despite the hardship of internment and torture.. They made it through and got home.

Keep the POW-MIA flag waving to honor all those we left behind.

Bob

[genrex]

I was a junior in high school. I remember the POW release was big news in all the media, and our joy was muted by the fact that many POWs were not returned. Vietnam claimed those POWs "chose" not to return (or some such hogwash).

Thank you for posting this. There are many Vietnam veterans on Pelican.

__

[GH85Carrera]

I remember it very well. I was a press photographer in Alabama. Many of the POWs came into Maxwell AFB and had their first reunions right there.

Governor Wallace wanted in on the publicity and he hosted an official state reception for the POWs at the Governor's mansion. I was the selected as the pool photographer. I was the one press photographer allowed inside to take some press photos. I shot a lot of film and we processed it and printed pictures and the different press groups all split the pictures. My pictures went out with bylines of UPI or AP press photos.

I was working hard to be 100% respectful of all those heroes. They were all just overwhelmed to back home and safe and back with their families. It was an emotional event.

[afterburn 549]

I am a Viet vet also. 71 / 72
very sad deal
Were not all the POW officers?
What happened to the rest? hmmmmmmm
This country with out a "draft" has created a a people lethargic to Govt, complacent, Lazy, not able to think generation.
Just a Entitlement crowd.
It is one of the worse and crippling things done.
Now NO one cares .

[carreradpt]

My former DO and friend spent 5 and half years as a POW. We used to sit on a bridge on Wake Island fishing and drinking and he might just start in on "back when I was a convict...." and he would tell some incredible story. You never asked but he didn't always talk about those days. Always wished I knew him before he was captured. He was one hell of a good man and held no bitterness to his captors. He attended the first dinner at the White House, no others. Flew many Repatriation missions over the years.

[Geary]

Thank you, Sunroof .. The numbers of the unaccounted for are staggering. Most folks only read about the success stories.

[jwgn777]

Originally Posted by jwgn777

I remember. My brother was in Vietnam.First he went to Fort Sill in Oklahoma then the army sent him packing. He had to take on the chin for a year while all his friends ran.

I would also like to add even though he is not with use today, he did make it home at the time 68-69. Unlike some of the POW My family also had one of those bracelets. I don;t have it any more. I am trying to remember the name on it. Perhaps it is with my moms belongings.

[NY65912]

Just watched the video, now I have tears in my coffee. I still have my POW bracelet somewhere with the name of one of those brave men on it. I can vividly remember watching the first plane arrive and the POW's walk (some not so well) down the stairs from the airplane and hoping to hear the name of man on my bracelet.

[afterburn 549]

The most interesting thing this reunion did not make a headline or the news....not worthy to "them"
It was / is a sad deal.

[flyenby]

I was in the 1st Infantry Div. grunt. And the 25 th infantry Armor Scout. 69-70.

[jwgn777]

Good evening gentleman and Lady's. Are their any Vietnam vets that can tell me what the missing metals on my brother service display are? I think to the far right where the glue mark is might have been a Vietnamese flag.And between the flags and the country there looks like something else might have been glued there?

[afterburn 549]

perhaps the incountry yellow and green ribbon? (campaign )

[jwgn777]

Originally Posted by afterburn 549

perhaps the incountry yellow and green ribbon? (campaign )

Thanks for the suggestion the ribbon is possible I have a smaller set in a case. I hope someone has one of these in front of him or her.