Former POW Ralph Galati ’70 Found Purpose in Service

State Tells Vietnam Ex-POW Only Dead POWs’ Kin Get Aid (Johnnie Ray)

For nearly 20 years, former Army Capt. Johnnie Ray remained grateful that Oklahoma had eased his return as a Vietnam prisoner of war by granting free college tuition to his children. But when he tried to get free tuition at his own alma mater, Oklahoma State University, for his daughter,

A Romance by Air, Sea, and Land (Tom Latendresse)

Tom Latendresse has what his wife Melinda calls “the Latendresse laugh,” a big, boisterous chuckle that can shake up a room. It’s hard not to appreciate the sound and the man who voices it. Born in Yakima, Wash., Tom was infatuated with aviation as a child. “I would jump on

A GOOD AGE: The Stratton incident becomes the Stratton way (Richard Stratton)

News stories about the Vietnam conflict were a daily staple in the spring of 1968 when I joined The Patriot Ledger as a copy reader on the news desk. I soon learned that the year before a Quincy native, Lt. Cmdr. Richard Stratton, had been captured after he was forced

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

The Marine who was held longest as a Vietnam POW has passed away (Harlan Chapman)

When Lt. Col. Harlan Chapman arrived in Hawaii after his release from seven years in North Vietnamese prisoner of war camps, Marine Lt. Gen. Louis Wilson was there to meet him. “Welcome back to the Marine Corps,” Wilson told Chapman. “Thank you, general,” Chapman replied, “But I never left.” Chapman