There were a few things that kept Lt. Col. William “Bill” Schwertfeger company in the 13 months he was held as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. Duty. Honor. Country. “We took an oath to serve and defend the Constitution of the United States, and that was against all enemies foreign and domestic,” Schwertfeger said. “And that still holds true today for the youngest pup walking through the door. That was the core to how we all survived. Then came leadership. We maintained the military organization … and although the North Vietnamese were very intent on destroying that line of leadership through torture, the next officer in line always stood up on down the line.”
‘I shouldn’t be alive’: At reunion of Vietnam POWs, one recounts his capture 47 years ago (Lewis, Berg)
After more than five months in which he had no control over his life, Keith Lewis found a world of virtually unlimited possibilities when he emerged from captivity in early 1973. He chose religion. Lewis’ F-4 fighter-bomber had been shot down over Vietnam in October 1972. Saturday will mark the
