The FReeper Foxhole Profiles The American Ex-Prisoner of War Organization - Dec. 20th, 2002

American Ex-POW Organization ^

[SAMWolf]

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A brief history of the
American Ex-Prisoner of War Organization

In 1942, information was leaking out about the atrocities and sub-human treatment that American prisoners of war were receiving in Japanese prison camps in the Pacific. When wives and mothers heard about their sons and husbands who had been taken prisoners, they started calling and writing their Congressmen in an effort to find help or get assistance for their loved ones. Finally, two mothers whose sons were members of the 200th Coast Artillery and had been captured by the Japanese came up with an idea.

It was Mrs. Charles W. Bickford and Mrs. Fred E. Landon who, on April 10, 1942, persuaded other parents and relatives to hold a mass meeting and formed an organization to get relief to the captured boys on Bataan. On April 14th, the Bataan Relief Organization was formed with Dr. V. H. Spensley, of Albuquerque, as Chairman. Their motto was "We will not let them down."

This group was very active trying to get relief to the POW’s and exchange of information as it came through. From this group in Albuquerque, other chapters sprang up all over the United States. The "BRO" was incorporated September 8th, 1943.

In 1945, the control of the Bataan Relief Organization was turned over to the liberated members of the New Mexico’s 200th Coast Artillery Regiment at an annual meeting held in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In 1946, the name was changed to Bataan Veteran’s Organization.

The first National convention was held May 14, 1948, in Albuquerque. The second National convention was held in Hollywood, California, April 1949. At this convention, it was voted to change the name to American Ex-Prisoners of War and change the name of the bulletin to XPOW. The reason for the change was so veterans from the European Theater would realize that they were eligible for membership. By changing the name to American Ex-Prisoners of War, it would welcome all former POW’s from any war. There were 800 at the 1949 convention.

In 1949 there were 7 local groups within the framework of the organization:

The Bataan Veteran’s Organization, The Lost Battalion

The Seattle Barbed Wire Club, Orphans of the Pacific

The Dad MacMannis Post, The Southwest Barbed Wire Club

The Barbed Wire Club of North Carolina.

Click on the Logo to Visit Their Site

The AX-POW emblem was designed as a lapel pin by former prisoner of war, Bryan T. Doughty of Denver, Colorado, in 1949. The heraldic symbols, representing Justice, are balanced on swords. The curves at the top of the shield portray the two massive military defeats suffered by the United States Armed Forces in World War II: Bataan and the Belgium Bulge. Later, the Ex-POW motto was adopted: NON SOLUM ARMIS, Latin for "Not by Arms Alone."

[SAMWolf]

American Prisoners of War

Prisoners of war have traditionally been the unsung heroes of any conflict. In the ancient Mayan civilization prisoners of war were the primary objective of warfare. Once taken prisoner Mayan prisoners were then sacrificed by having their hearts cut-out in a public display. In ancient Rome POWs became slaves of the empire and the Roman Empire was built by slave labor. In modern warfare POWs are utilized in the same manner. When Nazi Germany went to total war measures, slave labor is what kept the war machine producing. Imperial Japan was a similar situation. With the resurgence of the code of Bushido (way of the warrior) from feudal times, when an Allied soldier surrendered he lost all status as a human being and if not killed out-right became a beast of burden.

Forgotten Heroes US Prisoners of War

The Revolutionary War produced thousands of POWs. American patriots were held aboard decommissioned British hulks in Wallabout Bay off the Brooklyn shore. Some historians estimate as many as 11,500 men died aboard these fetid death traps. Other British prisons, such as the Van Courtland Sugar House in New York, were almost as lethal. Americans generally treated British prisoners well. But many loyalists were abused in patriot jails.

During the Civil War, both Union and Confederate authorities had to deal with thousands of prisoners and find ways to care for them. Neither side expected a long conflict (as is the case in most wars) or the eventual need to care for large numbers of prisoners. In the South, Union prisoners were at first housed in old warehouses and barns. As the number of prisoners increased, special prison were built. Most were in the infamous Andersonville style, built of pine logs enclosing an open field. These camps were numerous and located in such places as Florence, South Carolina, and Millen and Andersonville, Georgia, to name just a few. Federal officials converted many of the Union camps of instruction into prisons. A stockade was placed around such camps as Butler, Illinois, Elmira, New York, and Chase, Ohio, to provide security. Some Confederate prisoners were kept at forts like McHenry at Baltimore, Maryland, and Warren in Boston Harbor, Massachusetts. There were more then 211,400 Union soldiers captured by Confederate forces, of these 30,208 (14%) died in prison camps. Union forces captured over 462,000 Confederates, including those belonging to the armies surrendered at the war's end. Of these, 25,976 died in prison camps. Most deaths occurred in the later part of the war. Between August 1862 and November 1863 captured men were either exchanged or paroled on their oath of honor not to reenter their armed forces. This allowed the captured men to return to camps of instruction as noncombatants, but more importantly the conquering army did not have to provide for the prisoners' needs. By October 1863, however, much disagreement over the exchange system had arisen and it soon ceased to function altogether. The most common problems confronting prisoners both North and South were overcrowding, poor sanitation, and the lack of proper diet. The confined soldiers suffered terribly. Mismanagement by prison officials, as well as by the prisoners themselves, brought on additional hardships. The end of the war saved hundreds of prisoners from an untimely death, but for many it was already too late.

The Spanish-American War is an exception. Spanish and America POWs were treated more like guests then prisoners. The primary reasons for this are: the conflict lasted only 3 months 22 days, not nearly long enough for the war to accumulate very many POWs and the conflict never became bitter as most wars that drag on and on. The Span-Am War was more of a chess match between a new world power and a declining world power. The US was expanding it's influence and had a leadership that was very clear where the nation was heading, whereas, Spain after 400 years of New World control was hanging on to it's American possessions as a matter of pride and had a questionable monarchy and a government that was more interested in controlling rather then leading Spain.

The United States resisted involvement in World War I until no other alternative was available. The US entered the bloodiest conflict then know to civilization in the final 18 months of the war. The American Army bolstered the spirit and effectiveness of the British and French armies who had literally been almost bled dry from four years of constant warfare. There were 4,120 US soldiers taken prisoner, of which 147 (3.5%) died while POWs. The First World War was the war to end all wars, but due to the short sighted terms of the peace settlement, World War 11 was a direct result of vengeful nations.

The Second World War is unparalleled as far as death, destruction and suffering. There was 130,201 US military personnel taken prisoner@ Germany held 96.614 POWs, of which 1,121 (1.1%) died as prisoners, whereas, Japan held 33,587 POWs, of which 12,526 (37.3%) died as prisoners. Civilians held by the Axis powers fared no better. Germany held 4,749 civilians, of which 166 (3.5%) died as captives, whereas, Japan held 13,993 civilians, of which 1,539 (1 1 %) died as captives.

With the Cold War in full storm and with Communism seemingly taking control in all areas of the world, the Korean Conflict was an inevitable showdown. The war in Korea was a United Nations action, although the US took the brunt of the struggle. The battles during the war were practially equal to any of the Second World War, especially when the Chinese communists became involved. There were 7,140 Americans taken as POWs, of these 2,701 (37.8%) died in captivity. One interesting note. There were 21 American POWs who refused to be repatriated at the end of the conflict, wars are no longer about taking lives, now they take their souls.

The Vietnam Conflict was certainly the most controversial and long lasting of of any of the wars the United States has been involved. By the nature of the conflict most of the POWs were flyers. Very few ground soldiers were captured and when they were taken even fewer ever returned. Some of the flyers taken in the early stages of the war spent seven years in captivity. There were 771 Americans taken as POWs from August 4, 1964 to January 27, 1973, with 113 (14.6%) never returning alive and 1 still listed as a POW.

Considering the hard learned lessons of Vietnam the United States was determined to conduct the Persian Gulf War with precision. The conflict was primarily an air war and because of this most of the POWs were airmen, although there were a number of ground personnel captured when they strayed into Iraqi held territory during Desert Shield. The ground war lasted only a few days, so there were no American soldiers taken. There were 23 Americans taken as POWs, of which all were returned safely.

www.geocities.com/butch9805/pow.html

[SAMWolf]

The Bet at Barth - A Christmas Story
Earl Wasson - 466th Bomb Group - ex-POW - Barth, Germany

In war-time, a place called Barth was Hell. It was a prisoner of war camp located only a few miles south of the Baltic Sea in Northern Germany. Downed aircrews were interned there after having been shot down and captured by the enemy. Ten thousand were held there as prisoners.

The camp was divided into four administrative compounds with 2,500 airmen in each unit. These “guests of the Germans” were elite quality men – leaders and brave American youths. They had been effective in their aerial combat activity against Nazi Germany.

But now, their role had dramatically changed. Internment brought suffering beyond belief; the unending frigid weather, the unpredictable behavior of the guards. Inadequate food, lice, sickness, boredom, death by starvation or by exposure, was their unchanging agenda. Yet there were times when the spirits of the Prisoners of War were lifted. It was always through their own methods of creativity and ingenious that this happened.

One on-going “high” occurred when each new contingent of “guests” arrived in the camp. Up-to-date uncensored information became immediately available. The reports brought in by these new POW’s gave fresh, unbiased running accounts of how the war was progressing on both the Eastern Front with the Russians and on the Western Front.

The increasing numbers of bombers and fighters appearing in the air overhead brought silent but exuberant joy and hope to Barth’s imprisoned. As optimism flourished small group conversation centered on the war’s end and their freedom. Liberation was on everyone’s lips. The war was indeed winding down! Talk of being home for Christmas became a Utopian Dream.

Although all embraced the Dream, not all were optimistic. This difference in opinion brought about the “Bet at Barth”. A wager was on. New life came to the camp. But what was there to wager!? There was no money, no freedom of 3-day passes to London, no material possessions for the loser to forfeit, no points or promotions to be gained or lost.

In a heated conversation two men got carried away in their claims. An optimistic airman bet a pessimistic one on the following terms. “If we aren’t home by Christmas, I will kiss your a** before the whole group formation right after head-count on Christmas morning.” They shook hands. The bet was on!

Well, the optimist hadn’t counted on the Battle of the Bulge in early December. Consequently, the war was prolonged and they were still in Barth on Christmas Day, 1944. Christmas morning was cold, there was snow on the ground and frigid air was blowing in off the Baltic Sea. The body count for the compound began, each man was counted off. ein…, zwei…,drei…, vier…,funf…,sechs…, sieben…,acht…

Under ordinary circumstances, when the counting was completed and the German guards were satisfied that everyone was accounted for, the group split up and everyone went to their barracks. But this time, everybody stayed in formation. The two betting “Kriegies” walked out of the formation and went into the barracks. No one else moved! The guards were puzzled They didn’t know what was going on.

Soon, the two men came back out of the barracks. One was carrying a bucket of water with a towel over the other arm. The second one marched to the front of the formation, turned his back toward the assembled troops and guards, pulled down his pants and stooped over. The other took the towel, dipped it in the soapy water and washed his posterior. The whole formation was standing there looking and laughing. The German guards and dignitaries of Barth stood gazing in amazement, they didn’t know what was going on. Then the optimist bent over and kissed his opponent on the rear! A mighty cheer went up from over 2,000 men. Then the puzzled guards joined in the fun.

Nothing changed on Christmas day – the same black bread and thin soup, sparse and flavorless. As evening fell, the weather worsened, the barracks were cold, the last of the daily allotted coal briquettes were reduced to nothing but white ash. Boredom was setting in and the prisoners anticipated another long miserable night. Suddenly, the door opened…a voice shouted, “The curfew has been lifted for tonight! We’re going to have a Christmas service over in the next compound.” The weather was bitterly cold, the new fallen snow crunched under the feet of the men as they quickly shuffled towards their congregating comrades in the distance.

The nightly curfew always kept men inside – this Christmas night’s reprieve allowed them to be outside after dark for the first time. Above, the stars were shining brightly and were high in the northern skies; the dim flicker of Aurora Borealis added a magical touch as the troops assembled. Gratitude was felt in their hearts… a lone singer led out with one of the world’s most familiar and loved carols. Others joined in and soon there was joyful worship ringing throughout the camp.

Silent night! Holy night!
All is calm, all is bright…

The German guards marching their assigned beats stopped in their tracks... they turned their heads toward the music. The words were unfamiliar but they recognized the tune…after all, Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht was composed by a German. They loosened up, smiled, and joined in the celebration; the praise became bilingual.

Round yon virgin mother and Child
Cinsam wacht nurdas traute hoch heilige Paar

Holy Infant so tender and mild
Holder Knabe im lockigen Hoiar

Sleep in heavenly peace. Sleep in heavenly peace.
Schlaf in himmlischer ruh! Schlaf in himmlischer ruh.

The Bet at Barth had paid off. Everyone had won! As the words of the carol rang in their hearts, there was a literal fulfillment. Tonight they would sleep in peace. War and internment did not have the power to destroy the meaning and beauty of this special day.

It was Christmas. They were not at home. But they declared, “Next year we will be! All of us!” And they were!

The Betters:

Winner - 2nd Lt. Stanley M. Johnson of Port Allegany, PA

Loser - 2nd Lt. Richard D. Stark of Tampa, FL.

Location: North 2 Compound of Stalag Luft I

[SAMWolf]

The Honorable Anthony J. Principi
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
American Ex-POWs
Rochester, Minnesota
September 28, 2002

Commander Klumpp, distinguished members of the American Ex-Prisoners of War, my fellow veterans, friends and guests:

Good morning, and thank you, John (Klumpp), for that very kind introduction.

It is a great honor for me to address the American Ex-Prisoner's of War. It is also humbling.

It is an honor because I know I am in the presence of veterans whose service to America rose above and beyond the call of duty; and it is humbling because your ordeals as prisoners of war far surpass anything I and the vast majority of your fellow citizens can imagine.

You and I and the Nation's 25 million living veterans all took the same oath to protect and defend the United States, and we were trained to prepare ourselves for what might be the worst we could face.

Many of us saw combat -- and as bad as it got, that was the worst we saw.

Many of us were wounded -- and as bad as the wounds were, that was the worst that happened to us;

Many of us lost friends on the battlefield -- and as deep as those losses were, that was the worst, and our most heart-wrenching, loss.

In every instance -- the worst we faced was tempered by our return to the familiar and comforting sight of an American flag. It might have been flying over a firebase…maybe it was waving above a rear-area hospital…perhaps it was painted on the side of an evacuation aircraft…or it was hoisted aloft on a troop ship bound for America…In any event, it was snapping in the wind in the hometowns that greeted us when our tours were over.

Thank God, for most of us, preparing for the worst was as close as we got.

But you -- and the fewer than 50,000 other Ex-POW's still living and the 100,000 more who have gone on -- know what that "worst" can be;

You know the worst of deprivation;

You know the worst of isolation;

You know the worst of frustration;

And you know the worst of man.

But your captors soon learned that no deprivation, no isolation, no frustration, no iron bond or shackle of hatred forged by a tyrant can restrain the spirit of an American POW, and it was that spirit that brought forth the best of humanity in you and your fellow prisoners -- and I am humbled to know such men.

Dwight Eisenhower once said, "Americans, indeed all free men, remember that in the final choice, a soldier's pack is not so heavy a burden as a prisoner's chains."

You have borne both the pack and the chains…and you bore them with unquenchable faith, unrelenting resolve, and unquestionable courage.

You never gave up on America. You didn't give in to the hate and the torment that washed over you on a daily…even hourly basis. You stood firm in the face of your jailers. And you stood up for each other.

From Stalags in Germany to slave labor camps in the Philippines and in North Korea, to the infamous Hanoi Hilton and the Zoo in Vietnam…you suffered the blows and endured the pain as individuals and as a band of patriots. You proved time and time again -- From World War I to Somalia -- that the spirit of the American warrior cannot be broken.

Many of you know the story of Frank Bigglow -- captured at Corregidor, subjected to the Death March, forced into labor in a mine that collapsed on his legs. His buddies had to amputate one of Joe's legs to get him out of the mine, and the enemy offered no anesthesia.

I tell this story often…and every time, I have to ask myself, "What kind of man can go through that ordeal and, like Frank Bigglow, survive to come home one day and make a new life?"

The answer is right here in this room. The answer is right here in front of me. The answer is you. You and every man and woman who has known the cruel barbed wire of a prison camp, the sunless days and moonless nights spent in a cold and wet cell, and the pitiless isolation of solitary confinement.

Your special brand of heroism is your ability to endure the unendurable one moment at a time…and then one moment more.

Your special brand of patriotism is your ability to raise the Stars and Stripes up high in the hearts of your fellow captives even as your captors sought to tear you down in body and mind.

It is because you have given so much for America by never giving up on America, that all Americans know for certain that the righteousness of our destiny is written in the indelible mixture of blood and tears of America's ex-prisoners of war.

As your captors were vanquished and their prison gates were opened, a grateful Nation welcomed you home.

For most of you, five decades or more have passed since you took that cleansing breath of freedom and returned to the waiting arms of loved ones and a chance to get back to the basics of life in America.

For many POWs, the transition from imprisonment to repatriation to life-as-you-knew-it, was a matter of fact…it was accomplished with little fanfare and, as is typical for POWs, with great humility. You asked only what any soldier asks, and that is to be made whole so that you could enjoy fully the benefits of the liberty you served to protect.

POWs who suffered physically and mentally at the hands of the enemy needed all the care and consideration our Nation could muster on their behalf…and laws were passed, and programs put in place to meet our obligation to you whose liberties were suspended for days, weeks, months, and years.

Did we do enough? Did we meet our obligation to you with all the honor and dignity your sacrifice deserved?

I don't believe we did, and I am committed to press harder for just and timely benefits improvement for America's ex-POWS. I pledge to you today that I will not let up in my efforts to support compensation and DIC reform for ex-POWs, and I will pursue every avenue to meet your health care needs.

I know you are concerned about dental care for POWs incarcerated for less than 90 days…and I'm aware of the bills pending on Capitol Hill addressing a variety of conditions afflicting POWs and, particularly, elderly veterans.

President Bush and I are no less committed to making sure your health care is protected and championed by my leadership team at VA.

I am also committed to clearing the disability claims road of the backlogs that were slowing down our ability to process your claims in a timely and responsible manner.

At the beginning of my tenure as Secretary, I declared war against the size of our claims backlog. Today, I am pleased to report to you we are coming closer than ever to achieving our objective.

Last year, I initiated Tiger Teams to speed the process of resolving the long-standing claims of our oldest veterans. They are making remarkable progress in this effort, resolving more than 1,300 claims a month.

For America's ex-POWs, the claims numbers are showing even more progress. In February of this year, we had 1,666 total pending claims from ex-POWs, and more than 900 of those were 6 months old or older. As of September 20, the total pending claims from ex-POWs was down to just over 1,100, and we've cut the 6-months claims down to 380 -- a nearly two-thirds reduction!

I am heartened by our efforts on your behalf.

I've received many letters from World War II veterans whose claims for disability compensation had been languishing for years.

One wrote "God and the government have been so good to us. I thank everyone who has helped."

Another wrote: "I am very pleased and happy for all that you've done for me." And a third wrote: "Now I won't have to be a burden for my family."

I am deeply touched by those letters, and pleased we have been able to do so much for you and your comrades who honorably served our nation.

We have to do more.

I commit to you we shall stay the course with strong leadership, focus, discipline and accountability.

Along the health care front, we are facing a challenge of demands for care from veterans who are coming to VA in record numbers. Numbers like we've never seen before.

Open enrollment…the increase of the eligible population of veterans with access to comprehensive care from VA…combined with 850 outpatient clinics across the United States…adds to the demand for VA medical care.

We cannot look on this trend without also being extremely concerned about its effect on the quality of our care and on our ability to succeed in our core mission…to care for veterans who are service-connected, poor, or who need our specialized services.

Service-connected disabled veterans and former prisoners of war are the very reason VA exists. Our every action must focus first on your needs.

Ex-POWs should not have to wait in line for VA care -- you waited in Germany; you waited in Japan; you waited in Korea and Southeast Asia…on my watch, I don't want you to wait in a VA line, either for health care or benefits. That is one reason why I directed VA to suspend active marketing VA healthcare to veterans not now enrolled. We are not serving well our core veterans, including former POWs, when we invite new veterans into the system at a time when we have already exceeded our capacity to provide care.

I also don't want you to wait any longer for results from health-care studies that might provide additional presumptive relief for former POWs. I am thinking specifically of epidemiological studies of stroke and other cardio-vascular disabilities. I am frustrated, as I am sure you are, that these studies go on and on without resolution. You want answers and I want you to have them, and I will continue to push for definitive, and timely, results.

I encourage all our POW coordinators in our Regional Offices and our Medical Centers to reach out to ex-POWs -- to work with you and your colleagues to maximize your benefits and your health care services.

Some of our coordinators, like Tom Toczek (Toe-zek) in Chicago, who has been on the job for 18 years, are striving every day to make sure you and your families receive all you are due.

Like so many of his VA colleagues, Tom logs in more time on behalf of our veterans than his check reflects…but he does so because he, like the 220,000 men and women across VA, believes that we can never fully repay our debt to you.

I know one of your frustrations is that some of our coordinators seem to rotate into and out of their posts before you can even get to know their names; I will work with VA's POW Advisory Board, VHA, and VBA, to shore up our coordinator services so you will not be lacking for a familiar, friendly, and dedicated advocate.

I also encourage you to call me in Washington to tell me what more I can do for you. I want to know what VA needs to do to best serve your needs…what we can do better, or what we should do that we are not doing…to meet our obligation to the Nation's 40,000 former POWs.

VA's challenges are not limited to health care and benefits; our National Cemetery Administration faces its own set of challenges as well.

Maintaining our National Cemeteries as National Shrines -- improving our properties, opening up new cemeteries and preparing plans for the future of the system as more and more of our aging veterans pass on -- are challenges we must surmount to provide final resting places for the men and women who have so nobly earned the right to a honorable tribute to their lives.

Your service to America did not end when you walked or were carried out of your prisons…you continue to this day to teach the lesson of freedom, in how you live your lives and through your dedication to the lives of the next generation.

America's Ex-Prisoners of War have a well-earned reputation for inspiring and stimulating America's youth to become worthy citizens of our country. I cannot think of a mission more important than helping foster and perpetuate Americanism by offering yourselves as living examples of the best America can be.

You who have given so much merit the highest praise from a Nation exalted by your service and humbled by your sacrifices.

It is my great privilege to lead VA for you and the 25 million men and women who earned the right to be honored and respected by VA's doctors, nurses, and researchers, and our VA benefits professionals, our National Cemetery team, and VA's leadership in Washington.

VA is going to properly redeem America's debt to you and your comrades, and we will not fail in our responsibility to face full-on the challenges of providing the best care and services.

I am always inspired by the gathering of the American Ex-Prisoners of War. Though your numbers are diminishing at a disheartening rate…15 of your colleagues pass on every day…the brilliance of the light you cast across our Nation never dims, nor will it ever be extinguished.

Just when America seems to be reeling from the blows of war or the winds of terror…just when it seems that fear of the next assailant is about to engulf us, and every shadow portends disaster…you come forward to assure America that heroes live among us…that through all our generations, the seeds of greatness are sown among our young …and that courage and sacrifice endure in the heart of a righteous Nation.

This is not a time of fear. This is a time of hope and vision -- a vision of America as the Founders intended. You protected that vision…you stood up to the full force of tyrants; you offered your bodies to fend off their brutal blows against your country. And through all your trials, your vision never failed.

In his book, Profiles in Courage, John Kennedy wrote, "Without belittling the courage with which men have died, we should not forget those acts of courage with which men...have lived. The courage of life is often a less dramatic spectacle than the courage of a final moment; but it is no less a magnificent mixture of triumph and tragedy."

The courage with which you lived -- your triumph of faith over the tragedy of captivity -- was, indeed, magnificent. Your devotion to America...your dedication to your fellow prisoners...your commitment as liberty's warriors to resist at all costs...upheld the highest standards of citizenship in our great country.

What was magnificent then, is magnificent today, and your legacy of selfless service will be forever written in the highest halls of honor as a triumph for human dignity and freedom.

Through your courage, and your steadfast belief in the great goodness of our Democracy, you tore down the walls of your prisons and emerged into the bright light of a peaceful world that we will forever dedicate to your sacrifices.

Thank you, and may God bless you and the United States of America.

[SAMWolf]

'Ex-POWs should not have to wait in line for VA care -- you waited in Germany; you waited in Japan; you waited in Korea and Southeast Asia…on my watch, I don't want you to wait in a VA line, either for health care or benefits.'

-- Anthony J. Principi
Secretary of Veterans Affairs

[SpookBrat]

Good morning Veterans!

<-------click on the picture

[Aeronaut]

Good morning SB.

[Jen]

Drop on in to the FReeper Foxhole!

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[SAMWolf]

Good Morning Aeronaut, Spooky.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!

[Jen]

Thanks for bumping by!

[Jen]

Click the logo for more information.

The Veterans History Project is a unique opportunity for Americans of all ages and backgrounds to play an important role in the preservation of our national collective memory and to learn important lessons from the rich historical resource we have in our military veterans and civilians who served in support of the war effort.

[CholeraJoe]

During my Air Force service I had the distinct honor of serving with and caring for many Vietnam-era POWs including Col George E. "Bud" Day.

[SAMWolf]

GEORGE DAY
Colonel - United States Air Force
Shot Down: August 26, 1967
Released: March 14, 1973

Bud Day was born on February 24, 1925. He dropped out of high school in 1942 to join the Marine Corps where he spent thirty months overseas in the
Pacific Theatre, leaving active service in 1945. He joined the Army Reserve,
acquired a Juris Doctor from the University of South Dakota in 1949, and a
BS and Doctor of Humane Letters from Morningside College, Sioux City, Iowa.

The "smartest move of my life", says Bud was his marrying Doris Marlene
Sorensen in 1949. Bud was recalled by the USAF as a Second Lieutenant in
1951 and he attended jet pilot training followed by two tours in Korea and
four years flying fighters in England (He made Air Force history with the
first no-chute bailout from an F-84-F in 1957!)

The Days adopted their first son, Steven, and were soon reassigned as
Commandant of Cadets, St. Louis University, Missouri. Bud acquired a Master
of Arts in political science. They adopted a second son, George E. Jr., in
1963 and the family spent three years in Niagara Falls, N.Y., where Colonel
Day flew fighters. The family was increased by twin adopted girls, Sandra
M., and Sonja M., just before Bud was assigned to fly a F-100 fighter bomber
in South Vietnam. After seventy-two missions, he was reassigned as Commander of MISTY, the first jet FAC unit flying in North Vietnam. He was shot down on the sixty-seventh mission while striking a missile site. During ejection he had three breaks in his right arm, and a dislocated left knee.

Colonel Day was the Commander of several Vietnamese prisons, the Zoo,
Heartbreak Hotel, Skidrow, and Misty and Eagle Squadrons. He was
incarcerated for sixty-seven months, and executed the only successful escape
from North Vietnam into the South. He was recaptured near Quang Tri City,
South Vietnam, after about two weeks of freedom. He was shot in the left leg
and hand, and had shrapel wounds in his right leg. For this he was heavily
tortured, since he was labeled as having a "bad attitude." He was "hung",
his arms were broken and paralyzed.

As Commander of the Barn in the Zoo, he was the last of the "Old Heads"
tortured - a four month stretch in irons, solo, and massive beatings with
the fan belt and "rope". Of six, he was one of three who survived from
Heartbreak Hotel in 1970.

Asked many times what sustained Americans in this environment, Colonel Day
answers: "I am, and have been all my life, a loyal American. I have faith in
my country, and am secure in the knowledge that my country is a good nation,
responsible to the people of the United States and responsible to the world
community of nations. I believed in my wife and children and rested secure
in the knowledge that they backed both me and my country. I believe in God
and that he will guide me and my country in paths of honorable conduct. I
believe in the Code of Conduct of the U.S. fighting man. I believe the most
important thing in my life was to return from North Vietnam with honor, not
just to return. If I could not return with my honor, I did not care to
return at all. I believe that in being loyal to my country that my country
will be loyal to me. My support of our noble objectives will make the world
a better place in which to live."

Note: Colonel Day has written a book telling of his experiences in
more detail. It is entitled, "Return with Honor."

Colonel Day's decorations include our nation's highest - the Medal of Honor,
Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Air
Medal, Purple Heart, POW Medal and other Vietnam service awards and medals.
He has numerous awards and medals from his service prior to Vietnam.
His family resides in Glendale, Arizona. His wife was intensely active in
POW/MIA affairs and was chosen TAC wife of the year as well as receiving
other honors for service to the POW-MIA cause. They expect to continue
residence in Phoenix and enter law and politics after retirement from the
service.


Citation:

On 26 August 1967, Col. Day was forced to eject from his aircraft over North
Vietnam when it was hit by ground fire. His right arm was broken in 3
places, and his left knee was badly sprained. He was immediately captured by
hostile forces and taken to a prison camp where he was interrogated and
severely tortured. After causing the guards to relax their vigilance, Col.
Day escaped into the jungle and began the trek toward South Vietnam. Despite
injuries inflicted by fragments of a bomb or rocket, he continued southward
surviving only on a few berries and uncooked frogs. He successfully evaded
enemy patrols and reached the Ben Hai River, where he encountered U.S.
artillery barrages. With the aid of a bamboo log float, Col. Day swam across
the river and entered the demilitarized zone. Due to delirium, he lost his
sense of direction and wandered aimlessly for several days. After several
unsuccessful attempts to signal U.S. aircraft, he was ambushed and
recaptured by the Viet Cong, sustaining gunshot wounds to his left hand and
thigh. He was returned to the prison from which he had escaped and later was
moved to Hanoi after giving his captors false information to questions put
before him. Physically, Col. Day was totally debilitated and unable perform
even the simplest task for himself. Despite his many injuries, he continued
to offer maximum resistance. His personal bravery in the face of deadly enemy
pressure was significant in saving the lives of fellow aviators who were
still flying against the enemy. Col. Day's conspicuous gallantry and
intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in
keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Air Force and reflect great
credit upon himself and the U.S. Armed Forces.

[MistyCA]

Thanks for the subject today, Sam! Good morning!

[SAMWolf]

Good Morning Misty, AntiJen

[MistyCA]

Good morning, Spook! That picture is pretty with all the snow. That is what it looks like here today...without the hills!

[MistyCA]

Good morning, Aeronaut. Nice to see you.

[MistyCA]

Good morning, Sweet Freedom! How ya doing, Jen? :)

[MistyCA]

Thanks for your support each day! It is very much appreciated! :)

[MistyCA]