Christmas celebration of US POWs in Hoa Lo prison through exhibition (Hervey Stockman)

 

The exhibit features war memorabilia, photographs, drawings, and documents depicting the lives of the American pilots held in Hoa Lo prison and their desire to end the war and return to their families.

Small bells with “Merry Christmas” written on them, Christmas trees and candy on the table… This is Christmas in Hoa Lo Prison, as painted by Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Hervey Studdiford Stockman, born in 1922.

The paintings Stockman made while imprisoned at Hoa Lo are featured in the “Sounds of War” exhibition organized by the Hoa Lo Prison Relics Board to commemorate the 51st anniversary of the “Victory of Dien Bien Phuin in the Air” in Hanoi in December 1972 and the 50th anniversary of the release of American pilots (1973-2023).

Other Publications You Might Be Interested In

POW recalls captivity (Bradley Smith)

Navy Lt. Brad Smith was on a bombing run to destroy a bridge in North Vietnam when he was shot down in 1966. He didn’t see what ripped into his A-4 Skyhawk, but he saw the ground approaching at 600 mph as his crippled jet nose-dived toward the ground. Smith

Read More »

James Lollar, Together We Served

Jim Lollar was born on August 23, 1945, in Kilmichael, Mississippi. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on March 26, 1967, and was trained in Weapons Maintenance. He served a double-tour at Phan Rang AB, South Vietnam, first in aircraft armament, and then as a door-gunner from August 1967

Read More »