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Former Alabama Sen. Jeremiah Denton, Vietnam war hero, dies at age 89
The Washington Times ^ | March 28, 2014 | Seth McLaughlin

Posted on 03/28/2014 10:39:05 AM PDT by jazusamo

Former Alabama Sen. Jeremiah A. Denton Jr., a prisoner of war for more than seven years in North Vietnam, died on Friday in Virginia Beach. Mr. Denton was 89 years old.

His son, Jim Denton, told The Washington Post, which first reported the news, that his father died of a heart ailment.

Mr. Denton, a retired U.S. Rear Admiral, was shot down over the city of Thanh Hoa in Vietnam in 1965 and captured while leading a bombing mission.

He later wrote a book about his experiences.

Mr. Denton grabbed national attention in 1966 when he was forced to give an interview as a prisoner, and he blinked in Morse code with his eyes to spell out the word “torture.”

He later received the Navy Cross and other decorations...

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; US: Alabama
KEYWORDS: alabama; christian; denton; jeremiahdenton; morsecode; navalaviator; navycross; obituary; patriot; pow; profamily; prolife; senator; vietnam
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Senator Jeremiah Denton.

RIP Admiral and Senator Jeremiah Denton.

1 posted on 03/28/2014 10:39:05 AM PDT by jazusamo
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To: jazusamo
“Three in the green,pressure and brakes,call the ball for your final trap”

Rip Aviator

2 posted on 03/28/2014 10:44:37 AM PDT by Robe (Rome did not create a great empire by talking, they did it by killing all those who opposed them)
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To: jazusamo
RIP Admiral Denton. The movie, When Hell Was In Session, I believe was about him and was played by Hal Holbrook. I hope the Executive branch doesn't ignore his passing as they did Chris Kyle's.
3 posted on 03/28/2014 10:45:59 AM PDT by vetvetdoug
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To: Robe

RIP Admiral.


4 posted on 03/28/2014 10:47:12 AM PDT by mongo141 (Revolution ver. 2.0, just a matter of when, not a matter of if!)
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To: jazusamo
During the interview, he pretended to have light sensitivity that caused him to blink his eyes. What he was actually doing was blinking in Morse Code to spell out "t-o-r-t-u-r-e".

This alone is a testimony to the strength of the man.

RIP, Admiral

5 posted on 03/28/2014 10:48:17 AM PDT by xzins ( Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! Those who truly support our troops pray for victory!)
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To: vetvetdoug

That was his book, well worth your time.


6 posted on 03/28/2014 10:48:22 AM PDT by phormer phrog phlyer
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To: xzins
This alone is a testimony to the strength of the man.

Absolutely!

7 posted on 03/28/2014 10:51:54 AM PDT by jazusamo ([Obama] A Truly Great Phony -- Thomas Sowell http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3058949/posts)
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To: jazusamo

Admiral Denton made all of us here in Mobile proud. When my mother was the asst manager at the commissary at the Coast Guard base here in Mobile he would always ask for her whenever he and his wife came in to shop. She absolutely adored him and he thought the world of her. Sad day for America as we have lost another hero.


8 posted on 03/28/2014 10:54:03 AM PDT by BamaDi ("The definition of a racist today is anyone who is winning an argument with a liberal.")
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To: jazusamo
Seven years a POW in Hanoi. I can't even imagine.
RIP sir ...
9 posted on 03/28/2014 10:57:25 AM PDT by oh8eleven (RVN '67-'68)
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To: BamaDi

Thanks for relating that, BamaDi, a true hero and gentleman.


10 posted on 03/28/2014 10:59:42 AM PDT by jazusamo ([Obama] A Truly Great Phony -- Thomas Sowell http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3058949/posts)
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To: jazusamo

VIDEO-Denton Blinking Morse Code 'T-O-R-T-U-R-E'

R.I.P. Sir

11 posted on 03/28/2014 11:02:26 AM PDT by smoothsailing
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To: jazusamo
He came back from that long lonely captivity and horrors and right off the plane, facing the cameras said simply “God Bless America”. He did not make his return about himself.

He suffered grievously from the aftereffects of his captivity, mentally more than physically, but despite emotional frantic episodes he was a brave man who kept at it and cast his conservative votes in the Senate supporting the Reagan initiatives.

He was indeed a hero.

12 posted on 03/28/2014 11:04:05 AM PDT by Monterrosa-24 (...even more American than a French bikini and a Russian AK-47.)
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To: jazusamo

He came to speak at my high school. We gave him a great reception. I miss having heroes.

RIP


13 posted on 03/28/2014 11:05:28 AM PDT by Romulus
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To: smoothsailing

Thanks much for linking, Smooth, remember seeing that many years ago.


14 posted on 03/28/2014 11:06:12 AM PDT by jazusamo ([Obama] A Truly Great Phony -- Thomas Sowell http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3058949/posts)
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To: vetvetdoug
I hope the Executive branch doesn't ignore his passing as they did Chris Kyle's.

The 'R' after Denton's name pretty much guarantees it.

15 posted on 03/28/2014 11:07:16 AM PDT by Hoodat (Democrats - Opposing Equal Protection since 1828)
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To: Hoodat

He was defeated in 1986 by then democrat Richard Shelby who, as we all know, is still in office as an R.


16 posted on 03/28/2014 11:11:38 AM PDT by bjcoop
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To: jazusamo

RIP, Admiral Denton. You served your country honorably under extreme conditions. God bless.


17 posted on 03/28/2014 11:12:29 AM PDT by ScottinVA (Obama is so far in over his head, even his ears are beneath the water level.)
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To: smoothsailing

Thanks for sharing.

This was a great act of defiance that sends chills upon me, knowing Adm. Denton’s courage and what likely happened when his captors figured out how they had been humiliated by him.

Flying with the Angels now, Admiral.


18 posted on 03/28/2014 11:13:17 AM PDT by llevrok (F the government)
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To: jazusamo

My dad was a USNA classmate...this will be hard for him when he hears this news...we’ve lost another hero.....


19 posted on 03/28/2014 11:13:22 AM PDT by matginzac
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To: vetvetdoug

They will fawn all over his antithesis McLame when he goes though.


20 posted on 03/28/2014 11:15:55 AM PDT by Resolute Conservative
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