And with honor I return (Ronald Webb)

The bombing started on Dec. 18, 1972 and lasted 11 days. Waves of B-52s dropped 20,000 tons of ordnance on and near the North Vietnamese capital of Hanoi and the port city of Haiphong.

For the nearly 600 American POWs held by the North Vietnamese, the destruction wreaked by Operation Linebacker II was a signal of their deliverance.

A few weeks after the bombing, on Feb. 12, 1973, the North Vietnamese released the first group of American POWs. The releases continued through March 29.

Among the passengers on a March 4 flight out of Hanoi — 45 years ago today — were three Air Force officers who would eventually settle in Northwest Florida.

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Other Publications You Might Be Interested In

Prather, Phillip Dean, Vietnam POW

Name: Phillip Dean Prather Rank/Branch: W1/United States Army, pilot Unit: HHC 11th INF BDE Date of Birth: Home City of Record: Armarillo TX Date of Loss: 08 March 1971 Country of Loss: South Vietnam/North Vietnam Loss Coordinates: 165720 North 1070300 East Status (in 1973): Returnee Category: Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: OH6A Other Personnel

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Major Steve Long

Stephen Long, 74, of Las Vegas, flew west for the last time August 10, 2018. He died from complications arising from Parkinson’s Disease. Steve graduated from Willamette University in 1966 and entered the U.S. Air Force March 13, 1967. He trained as a fighter pilot, was selected for 0-2 Forward Air Controller

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