Roque Matagulay, Vietnam POW

Roque Matagulay born 3 Oct 1931 in Guam.  He was an E-8, USA. He was
captured 7/23/62 while on a mission for SVN forces in the south.  He was
exchanged for politcal prisoners 12/24/62.  He and his wife had 6 children,
2 daughters and 4 sons. He was held by the Japanese on Guam as a child in
WWII, He was an “Atomic Vet” and was also exposed to Agent Orange in
Vietnam.  He spent 20+ years in the Army and then 19 years in the postal
service.  His last Army tour was as the NCOIC of a training academy in the
Korean DMZ when the Pueblo crew was released. He was the first Army POW to
go to Pensacola for medical care. Despite multiple medical problems he was a
happy and cheerful man.  He passed away December 29, 1999. He was buried at
Arlington January 12, 2000.

Other Publications You Might Be Interested In

Hanoi releases 108 American POWs (Hubert Walker)

A gaunt but cheerful 108 American prisoners of war regained their freedom today, with the senior ranking prisoner in North Vietnam declaring the U.S. POWs “performed magnificently … they were first class soldiers.” “I would like to say I’ve been in better places but I have never been with better

Read More »

Wilkes native Denver Key was POW with Senator McCain

Wilkes County native Wilson Denver “Denny” Key was a prisoner of war in the infamous “Hanoi Hilton” in North Vietnam during essentially the same 5½-year period Sen. John McCain, who died Saturday, was held there. McCain, being remembered this week for his bravery and resolve as a POW, was captured

Read More »

Linebacker II (Michael H. Labeau)

n December 1972—40 years ago this month—the US executed Linebacker II, the largest B-52 bombing campaign of all time. The period from Dec. 18 to Dec. 29 saw the huge USAF bombers mount shattering strikes on North Vietnamese railways, airfields, surface-to-air missile storage sites, petroleum dumps, and other infrastructure targets

Read More »