FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Jeremiah Denton ~ 16 January 2017

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[Kathy in Alaska]

 

Our Troops Rock!  Thank you for all you do!

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Thank the Veterans who served
in The United States Armed Forces.

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~ Hall of Heroes ~
 

Jeremiah Denton

Info from here.

 

           

Thank you, Mountainlion, for the heads up on the passing of this hero.  RIP, Mr. Denton.
 

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Jeremiah Andrew Denton Jr. (born July 15, 1924 in Mobile, Alabama) is a retired United States Navy rear admiral, naval aviator and a former Republican U.S. senator, for the state of Alabama. He spent almost eight years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam and later wrote a book about his experiences.

Denton attended McGill Institute and Spring Hill College and graduated from the United States Naval Academy, class of 1947. His 34-year naval career included service on a variety of ships, in many types of aircraft, including airships (blimps). His principal field of endeavor was naval operations. He also served as a test pilot, flight instructor, and commanding officer of an attack squadron flying the A-6 Intruder.

In 1957, he was credited with revolutionizing naval strategy and tactics for nuclear war as architect of the "Haystack Concept," while serving on the staff of Commander, Sixth Fleet, as Fleet Air Defense Officer. Denton graduated from the Armed Forces Staff College and the Naval War College, where his thesis on international affairs received top honors by earning the prestigious President's Award. In 1964, he received the degree of Master of Arts in International Affairs from George Washington University.

While serving as Naval Aviator during the Vietnam War, Denton was Commanding Officer (CO) of Attack Squadron SEVENTY-FIVE (VA-75) aboard the aircraft carrier USS Independence (CVA 62). On 18 July 1965, then-Commander Denton was flying an A-6A Intruder, Bureau Number 151577, from the Independence with his bombardier/navigator, Lieutenant, junior grade Bill Tschudy, to participate in a bombing mission over the Vietnamese city of Thanh Hoa. Their plane was shot down and the two men were captured by hostile forces.

Denton and Tschudy were both held as prisoners of war for almost eight years, four of which were spent in solitary confinement. Denton is best known for the 1966 North Vietnamese television interview he was forced to give as a prisoner, in which he ingeniously used the opportunity to communicate to American Intelligence. During the interview Denton blinked his eyes in morse code to spell out the word "T-O-R-T-U-R-E" to communicate that his captors were torturing him and his fellow POWs. He was also questioned about his support for the U.S. war in Vietnam, to which he replied: "I don't know what is happening, but whatever the position of my government is, I support it fully. Whatever the position of my government, I believe in it, yes sir. I am a member of that government, and it is my job to support it, and I will as long as I live." For his continuous resistance and leadership, even in the face of torture and inhumane conditions, he would be awarded the Navy Cross. While imprisoned, Denton was promoted to the rank of Captain.

Denton was part of a group of about 11 prisoners known as the "Alcatraz Gang", also consisting of George Thomas Coker, George McKnight, James Stockdale, Harry Jenkins, Sam Johnson, James Mulligan, Howard Rutledge, Robert Shumaker, Ronald Storz and Nels Tanner, which was separated from other captives and placed in solitary confinement for their leadership in resisting their captors. "Alcatraz" was a special facility in a courtyard behind the North Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense, located about one mile away from Hoa Lo Prison. In Alcatraz, each of the 11 men were kept in solitary confinement, where cells measured 3 feet by 9 feet and had a light bulb kept on around the clock; the prisoners were locked each night in irons by a guard. CAPT Denton at Clark Air Base, Philippines, after his release as a POW.

Finally, on 12 February 1973, both Denton and Tschudy were released from prison along with numerous other POWs. Stepping off the plane as a free man back in his home country, Denton said: "We are honored to have had the opportunity to serve our country under difficult circumstances. We are profoundly grateful to our Commander-in-Chief and to our nation for this day. God bless America." The speech has a prominent place in the 1987 documentary Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam.

Denton's next assignment, beginning in January 1974, was as commandant of the Armed Forces Staff College (now known as the Joint Forces Staff College). He stepped down as commandant in April 1975 but continued to work at the college until he left the military in June 1977.

He retired from the Navy with the rank of Rear Admiral, and would later go on to write the book When Hell was in Session detailing his detention as a POW in Vietnam. The book was later turned into a movie of the same name starring Hal Holbrook.

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To watch the video of Jeremiah Denton's famous interview, click here.

To watch the video "An Honor To Serve," a musical tribute to Jeremiah Denton from Ray Boltz, click here.
 

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Following his retirement from the Navy, Denton accepted a position with the Christian Broadcasting Network as consultant to his friend, CBN founder Pat Robertson, a position Denton held until 1980. During this time, both Denton and Robertson repeatedly expressed military support for the Contra forces in El Salvador.

In 1980, Denton ran as a Republican for a U.S. Senate seat from his home state of Alabama and achieved a surprise victory over Democrat Jim E. Folsom, Jr., who had defeated the incumbent, Donald W. Stewart, in the primary. In doing so, he became the only retired admiral to be elected to the United States Senate, as well as the first Republican in modern times to represent Alabama in the Senate. In the Senate, he compiled a solidly conservative voting record. He was featured in a 1981 article in Time Magazine called "The Admiral from Alabama".

In 1986, he narrowly lost his bid for reelection to 7th District Congressman Richard Shelby, who later became a Republican in 1994. Rear Adm. Jeremiah Andrew Denton Jr., USN (Ret.) died  on Friday, March 28, 2014, in a Virginia Beach, Va. hospice due to complications from a heart ailment, according to local press reports.

He was 89.

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission! 

[luvie]

Indeed he did! I was watching a video on the SWFL eagles. Good to see since the cam is still kaput.

Yep, PRO...you can go to bed with a smile on your face! WooHoo!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Nice, and funny, video.

[radu]

This time of year in that part of the country is definitely a gamble.
Glad they made it that far today. Must be better road conditions and that’s a plus. And they’re out of the ice storm at last! WHEW!

[radu]

I wonder what happened to the cam and if it’s something they’ll be able to fix while the eaglet is on the nest.
I haven’t spent much time with that one, though, since the view isn’t good.

I’ve had Savannah up in hopes of an appearance by Momma. Nothing yet. It’s starting to get light overseas so it’s about time to check on the European nests.

[Kathy in Alaska]

A good time was had by all.

Does the cellist keep the cello in the car, just in case an opportunity arises?

You and your guitar travel together as well?

[luvie]

Indeed, I breathed a sigh of relief when I got that text. I’m sure they’re all tired of the inside of the van! LOL!

[radu]

I’ll bet they’re tired of it too! That’s a long haul and the weather slowing them down makes it longer. I hope they’re able to reach Jackson tomorrow and have it all behind them.

[Kathy in Alaska]

w h !!

Pro.....#50!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Poor Darla...throwing up is not fun. Hope she feels better soon.

[Kathy in Alaska]

High adventure...quite the journey. Glad they are settled for the night.

[radu]

Yeah, it’s hard knowing she doesn’t feel well. And it worries me because she’s old and there are several things that could make her sick like this. Her liver and kidney numbers were good when she did this a few weeks ago but he pancreas numbers showed probable inflammation. IIRC, she got a shot and that did the trick for a while. That’s what I hope for this time.

I’ve noticed that if I give her strained baby meat, she seems to keep that down. It’s when she eats cat food that she gets sick. So I’m feeding her that for now and we’ll see what the vet says tomorrow.

[luvie]

I’m pretty sure they will...that was the plan, should all go well and the weather doesn’t change. it was a beautiful day in Jackson today, and hopefully that will hold tomorrow.

This is the first time those girls have been anywhere...especially Callie. Piper has been here a few times and to see her Gigi in Tucson, so they are enjoying the adventure.

I suggested to Piper when I chatted with her that she could maybe sleep in the car and she said “NO”. LOL! She wants to see everything. :)

[radu]

I’ll bet it’s been a real thrill for the girls to see the mountains and ride up into them. Nothing like that in OK!

Sleep in the car with all that gorgeous scenery to admire? HA!

Hope they’re ready for the cold climes they’re moving to. Gonna be a bit of a shock. Oooooo BRRRRRR!

[luvie]

Well, I’m guessing that ice storm they just went through was a good preview. Plus, OK does have its share of crappy weather in the winter. It doesn’t LAST as long as it will in WY. They might not see the bare ground till April or so! LOL!

Isn’t it that way...sort of...in AK, Kathy?

Y’all...I need to get to sleep. Say a little prayer for my MIL. She has her surgery in the morning at about 10am. I won’t be going with them, but will stay here in case our company needs to stay another night. Also, if she comes to stay with us, I’ll need to change sheets in the B&B. LOL!

[radu]

At the rate it’s been snowing in Jackson, you’re probably right about when they’ll see bare ground again.
We know of a pretty place they can learn to ice skate, if they’re so inclined. :-)

Prayers have been going for your MIL tomorrow. I hope the surgery’s successful. This is scary stuff for all of you to be going through.

Good night and sleep well.

[E.G.C.]

A very pleasant good Monday morning to everyone a the Canteen and to all our military at home and abroad. Thanks for your service to our country.

((HUGS))Good morning, Ladies. Thanks for this morning's thread, Star. How's it going?

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

A true hero in every sense. Thanks for the ping.

[beachn4fun]

Good morning, Canteen.

Good morning to our

Military, our Allies, and their families.

Thank you, Star, for preparing
the Canteen for today's activities.

Jeremiah Andrew Denton Jr. (born July 15, 1924 in Mobile, Alabama)
is a retired United States Navy rear admiral,
naval aviator and a former Republican U.S. senator,
for the state of Alabama.
He spent almost eight years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam
and later wrote a book about his experiences.

That says it all, doesn't it?
IMO, it should say Vietnam POW first
and then all he accomplished after that.

I mean, to spend 8 years as a POW; then, go on to do all those things
after THAT is quite the accomplishment.

May God grant him eternal rest from all his troubles.

Hope most everyone got some kind of break
in the weather over the weekend.
We had some freezing rain at the homestead,
so that was a blessing since it wasn't
a major ice storm down our way.
We're in for a warm up this week.

One last thing before I go,
please, please pray for those who will stand between
the crazies and the Inauguration ceremonies this Friday.
Pray for calm.

Gonna run, but please stay right where you are.
Chat up the military or a family member.
No need to fret...you know I'll be back!

Come in and sit for a while.
There's always plenty of coffee, tea,
pancakes, conversation, silliness,
and plain old BS

REMEMBER THEM ~ DEFENDERS OF FREEDOM

FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT

Showing support and boosting the morale of our military and our allied military and the family members of the above. Honoring those who have served before.

[E.G.C.]

((HUGS))Good morning, Beach. How’s it going?

[SandRat]