The Patriot Guard Riders have been asked to escort US Air Force POW Vietnam Veteran, LtCol John O. Davies to his final rest at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery. LtCol Davies entered officer training school in 1964 and graduated with a commission as a 2nd Lt. he went on to graduate from Undergraduate Navigator and Electronic Warfare Officer Training. His first assignment was as an Electronic Warfare Officer aboard an EB-66 Destroyer with the 41st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron of the 432nd Tactical Recon Wing at Takhli Royal Thai AFB Until he was forced to eject over North Vietnam
On February 4, 1967, an EB66C was sent on a mission Over North Vietnam. The crew and Technicians that day were. Maj. Jack W. Bomar, 1Lt. Joh O. Davies, Capt. John Fer, Capt. Russell Poor, Capt. Herb Doby and Maj. Woodrow Wilburn.
Three officers were taken prisoner that day. Capt. Davies (at that time) Maj. Bomar and Capt. Fer were released 2207 days later as part of Operation Homecoming on February 18, 1973. The fates of the remaining three crew members remained unknown. Until Capt. Herb Doby was repatriated to the United States and in 1990 Maj. Woodrow Wilburn was also repatriated. Capt. Russell Poor remains MIA
Vietnam P.O.W. remembered as devoted grandfather, hunter (Thomas Van Putten)
To his children, Thomas Van Putten talked little about his service in the Vietnam War and his 13 months as a prisoner. But they knew he was a hero. “We all knew it was a big deal,” said Linda Milley, his daughter. Mr. Van Putten, whose escape from a Viet
