Eyewitness to Operation Homecoming – A Story Untold for 50 Years

Penny Grossman served 21 years of active duty as an Air Force nurse. In 1973, She was stationed at Clark Air Base in the Philippines during Operation Homecoming, when nearly 600 American Prisoners of War were freed. The first leg of their journey home took them from Hanoi to Clark Air Base, where Penny witnessed their first steps of freedom.

She has not spoken of these difficult memories in 50 years.

Other Publications You Might Be Interested In

Dream House Design Sheltered Navy POW (Danny Glenn)

Dan Glenn sometimes dreams he’s back in North Vietnam as a prisoner of war. Imprisoned for six years, the former Navy pilot had plenty of time to get to know the prison buildings well. The Norman architect can recall the prisons’ layouts, the mortar or bamboo they were made of,

Read More »

Silver Star Recipient, Vietnam POW Speaks to Online History Class (Franke, Doremus)

When a CM junior found out his great-grandmother wrote to American POWs in Vietnam, he shared the discovery with Mr. Bradley. West Roxbury, Mass.– As Catholic Memorial School junior Kevin Pumphret held the letter in his hands and read the words of Navy captain Bill Franke, his mind returned to a discussion from his American War in Vietnam course – the experience of prisoners of war.

Read More »