Former prisoner of war reflects on capture (Pete Camerota)

In honor of Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Recognition Day, a former prisoner of war came to Ramstein Air Base, Sept. 16 to share his experience and visit one of his last duty stations before he retired.

At the time of becoming a prisoner of war, retired Maj. Pete Camerota, was a Captain, assigned to the 22nd Bomb Squadron, 22nd Bomb Wing, at what was then designated as March Air Force Base, California.

Camerota was forced to eject from a B-52 over Vietnam on December 22, 1972.

“My very first thought when my parachute opened was, oh my God, I’m hanging in the straps here, and Joy, my wife, is 10,000 miles away from home and she’s pregnant,” said Camerota.

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Behind Barbed Wire: A POW’s Story (Ed Leonard)

I arrived at Udorn RTAFB in early May, 1967, to fly A-1E and A1-H Skyraider with the 602nd Fighter Squadron (Commando). I was to fly 247 combat missions during three consecutive tours and participated in the rescue of 18 aircrew members. On May 31, 1968, going for number 19, I

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108 more POWs are flown to freedom (Dave Winn, Profilet)

One hundred and eight former American prisoners of war landed here Wednesday, and the first man to debark told a cheering crowd, “Thank God, the United States of America, and all you wonderful, good-looking people.” The first of three C141 Starlifters that brought the returnees from Gia Lam Airport outside

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