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

Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | StarCMC and The Canteen Crew

[Kathy in Alaska]

 

Our Troops Rock!  Thank you for all you do!

For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday...
Thank the Veterans who served
in The United States Armed Forces.

Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom? Support The United States
Armed Forces Today!

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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! 

[E.G.C.]

Good morning Sandrat. How’s it going?

[SandRat]

Finally was able to start a cup of coffee.

[beachn4fun]

Good morning EG ((HUGS))

All is well. Getting ready to sign off and jump on chores.

Howz it out your way? Did you have trouble with ice?

[beachn4fun]

Good morning SR ((HUGS))

Yup, it’s Monday. How was your weekend?

[SandRat]

Weekend was good. We even got to be with Madi, all Sunday afternoon, after Church.

She LOVES Grandpa, Gamma, and Charlie.

[left that other site]

Both cellos and guitars are made of fine wood, and are profoundly affected by fluctuations in cold and heat. Although my friend has a nice hard shell case for her cello, I am sure she does not leave it in the car between uses.

However, the little group of musicians on the South Shore stay in touch and know who is playing where. Even if it isn’t “Open Mike Night” we are always happy to let someone “sit in” as long as we know them.

[E.G.C.]

Nope. No weather problems. Northwest Oklahoma got the brunt of it. A lot of folks are without power up there right now. Especially around Woodward.

OG&E Systemwatch

[luvie]

*Yaaaaaaaawwwn*
Yep.....I slept in...again! :)
That's the BEST part of being retired!
It's a beautiful day here this morning!
Blue skies and a slight breeze.
It's cool...but not bone-chilling.
I've even got the front door open!
Hope all you Early Birds
...have a Mahv'lus Monday!
[Are y'all off for the holiday?]
And a great week!
((((hugs))))

[mylife]

I love our community ☺

[E.G.C.]

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

[HiJinx]

If I read your posts correctly, the family should be well into Wyoming by now. My Google Maps says that US-191 is a better route due to traffic conditions on US-287.

For what it’s worth, US-191 originates down here in Douglas on the AZ/Mexico border and runs all the way into Canada.

Any word from the hospital re: MIL? She should be in surgery about now, right? Praying...

[luvie]

They are about 400 miles away. They went north to Wichita in an ice storm [he would have gone farther if the weather hadn’t been so dangerous] and then over to north of Denver yesterday on I-70. My DIL reported that they were almost Cheyenne about 20 minutes ago on FB. Remember they are traveling with two girls that probably have to go to the bathroom every 50 miles. LOL!

My MIL is probably in surgery right now. Sent a text to hubby who took her to the hospital, and he texted back that she had gone into surgery at 11:11 am and it will take about 1 hour. Thanks for the prayers, Jinxy! [and all!]

[luvie]

BTW.....Good to know that US-191 is a straight shot to where you are, because they will probably take it to go see her mom who lives in Tucson! She hasn’t seen them for a while.

[luvie]

Howdy, EGC! (((hugs)))

All is well here! We got a very good rain over the weekend and cold temps, but no ice or snow.

Glad you didn’t get the worst of the OK weather there! Hope it warms up so you and Bo can get out to the lake!

[HiJinx]

Not necessarily a straight shot - but it sure is scenic!

[luvie]

I’ll bet it is! I’d love to see your part of AZ some time!