Former POW speaks to Vietnam veterans (Elbert)

U.S. Marine Corps Vietnam War veteran and former prisoner of war

ROCHESTER — Those who know Lance Cpl. Fred Elbert describe him as quiet and sincere, but the Vietnam veteran and former prisoner of war began his speech at the Vietnam Veterans of America meeting Wednesday with a proud, strong “Semper Fi.”

Elbert, 62, of East Liverpool, Ohio, enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in October 1966, when he was 19.

“I was gung-ho,” he said. “I was trying to get into the National Guard.”

Elbert said the Army was sending troops directly to Vietnam after basic training, and when a recruiter told him he could use his aviation mechanics training in the Marine Corps, Elbert signed up. It didn’t turn out the was he expected, though.

When he completed his training some time later, Elbert decided to go into reconnaissance duty and was deployed to Vietnam in January 1968.

Other Publications You Might Be Interested In

POW recounts Operation Linebacker II (Peter Giroux)

It was December 26, 1972. The vibration from bombs exploding in the distance resonated through the walls of the North Vietnamese prison. In his cell, an American pilot peered through the barred windows where he saw the silhouette of a B-52 Stratofortress in flames. He could only watch as the

Read More »

COLONEL NORMAN S. WELLS

In 1971, COL Wells returned to Vietnam for a second deployment. This time, he commanded the 4th MI Battalion, (Provisional), 525th MI Group, US Army Pacific.

Read More »

Honoring a Local Veteran: Meet Michael & Ruth Lane

It was nearly 54 years ago, in 1966, when retired Air Force pilot, Col. Michael Lane was shot down in North Vietnam. He spent 2,270 days (nearly six and a half years) living in the Hoa Lo Prison camp, better known as the “Hanoi Hilton.” His first experience was being

Read More »