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Lance Peter Sijan (Serbian: Лазар Шијан/Lazar Šijan (April 13, 1942 – January 22, 1968) was a United States Air Force officer and fighter pilot. On the night of November 9, 1967, for his 52nd combat mission, Sijan and pilot Lt. Col. John Armstrong were tasked with a bombing mission over North Vietnam. As they rolled in on their target to release their ordnance, their F-4C was engulfed in a ball of fire, due to the bomb fuses malfunctioning and causing a premature detonation on their release. Sijan had suffered a fractured skull, a mangled right hand, and a compound fracture of the left leg from his rough landing. He was without food, with very little water, and no survival kit; nevertheless, he evaded enemy forces for 46 days (all the time scooting on his back down the rocky limestone karst on which he landed, causing more injuries). He was finally captured by the North Vietnamese on Christmas Day, 1967. Emaciated and in poor health, he still managed to overpower his guard and escape, but was recaptured several hours later. Sijan was transported to a holding compound in Vinh, North Vietnam, where he was placed in the care of two other POWs, Air Force Colonel Robert R. Craner and Air Force Captain Guy Gruters. In considerable pain from his wounds, he suffered beatings and extensive torture from his captors, but never gave any information other than what the Geneva Convention allowed. Suffering from exhaustion, malnutrition, and disease, he was sent to Hanoi. In his weakened state, he contracted pneumonia and died in Hoa Lo Prison (the notorious Hanoi Hilton) on January 22, 1968. First Lieutenant Sijan was promoted posthumously to captain on June 13, 1968. His remains were repatriated on March 13, 1974 and were positively identified on April 22, 1974. He was buried with military honors in Arlington Park Cemetery in Milwaukee. It was Colonel Craner who recommended him for the Medal of Honor. This award was corroborated with Captain Guy Gruters' testimony and Sijan received the Medal of Honor posthumously in 1976. His parents received the medal on his behalf on March 4, 1976 from President Gerald R. Ford.

Lance Peter Sijan (Serbian: Лазар Шијан/Lazar Šijan (April 13, 1942 – January 22, 1968)...

I am not sure just why you addressed this to me, but I will answer it.

It so happens I knew Lance Sijan quite well, those many years ago. He was a man of inner strength and character anybody would be proud to call a friend. What he did is no surprise to me or others who knew him. It was a great loss to all when he was shot down, captured, and ultimately died of abuse and neglect in captivity.

Lance was a supremely decent, hardworking, tenacious, gutsy guy who simply didn't know the meaning of the word "quit". When his story eventually came out I doubt anybody who knew him could say anything other than, "Oh, yes, that's the Lance Sijan I knew!". He was a true American hero who not only embodied those characteristics we hold dear, but ultimately carried them out resulting in the loss of his young life.

America desperately needs more men just like him. They are still here, and we need them more than ever.

PC@$ thank you for posting this information about Lance Sijan. I never knew his story until I read your post. When I did the math, it stunned me that he perished before his 26th birthday.

Gritty, thanks for giving us your first hand account of Lance.

Too often, these names become, at best, inscriptions on a piece of stone, with their deeds not known to us.

We were indeed blessed to have such a man serving our country. May America have many more—Lord knows we will need them, and sooner than we think.

Merry Christmas.