40 Years of Freedom Former POW Allan Carpenter, a Sanford native, celebrates a ‘rebirthday’ milestone

Allan Carpenter celebrated his 40th rebirthday on Monday, March 4.

His actual birthday is this coming Tuesday. But it’s due to that rebirthday that he’s here this day to celebrate all things in life with family and friends.

On March 4, 1973, Carpenter’s six years as a prisoner of war came to an end and he was released from a Vietnamese prison in Hanoi. A few days later, he touched American soil for the first time since the mid-60s when his plane home landed at Logan Airport in Boston. A few days after that — after he received the proper medical attention — he returned to his hometown of Sanford to be with his family and to start life anew.

Other Publications You Might Be Interested In

POW/MIA Day events honor missing military members (Dale Raebel)

Jacksonville will remember missing military members Friday and Saturday at events marking National POW/MIA Recognition Day. An open house is scheduled Friday at Jacksonville’s National POW/MIA Memorial at Cecil Airport on the city’s Westside. Speakers on Saturday will include Meghan Wagner, daughter of Navy Capt. Scott Speicher, a Cecil-based aviator who became the

Read More »

Potomac: MPT Salutes Local Hero (Michael Cronin)

Retired Navy Captain Michael Cronin graduated in 1963 from the Naval Academy from pilot training in Cecil Field, Fla. in 1965. He immediately deployed for Vietnam, proud to be serving in the U.S. Navy and protecting his country. He flew the A4 Skyhawk on 175 solo combat missions in which

Read More »