On November 6, 2013 at Military Emphasis Week’s Convocation, North America’s largest weekly gathering of Christian students, Gerald Coffee spoke to students and faculty about the four different levels of faith, that being faith in yourself, your fellow man, America, and ultimately, faith in God. He explained that even after spending seven years as a prisoner of war, “God equals strength.” Born in Modesto, California, Gerald “Jerry” Coffee joined the Navy in 1957 after graduating from UCLA with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He spent seven years as a POW in the Communist prisons of North Vietnam. His military decorations include the Silver Star, two awards of the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, two Bronze Stars, the Air Medal, two Purple Hearts, and the Vietnam Service Medal with 13 stars. For the past 20 years, Captain Gerald Coffee, has been considered one of the nation’s top speakers, addressing thousands each year.
Meritorious Fireside Chat: Barry Bridger, Vietnam POW (January 28, 2021)
Hear from, and about the exciting life of, Lt. Col (Ret.) Barry B. Bridger, a six year survivor of Hoa Loa Prison, who was shot down by a surface-to-air missile over a North Vietnamese city in January of 1967. Ignoring international agreements on treatment of prisoners of war, the enemy resorted to mental and physical cruelties to obtain information, confessions and propaganda materials. Barry Bridger resisted their demands by calling upon his deepest inner strengths
