Monument resident, a former Vietnam POW speaks at 50th anniversary of Operation Homecoming (Mike McGrath)

Richard Bates, POW

On this date in 1973, the Viet Cong released First Lieutenant Richard Bates of the U.S. Air Force. While flying a mission nearly 6 months before, he was shot down over North Vietnam and taken prisoner. Bates was from Plaza, ND, and was 24 when he was captured.

Story of Lancaster County man held as Vietnam POW now being preserved (Donald Smith)

WGAL’s film preservation project with Millersville University rediscovered the footage of that homecoming. While digitizing film that once aired on WGAL, Adam Omar learned the story of Donald Glen Smith. Smith was declared missing in action, then killed in action before he’d finally been found as a prisoner of war.

40 Years of Freedom Former POW Allan Carpenter, a Sanford native, celebrates a ‘rebirthday’ milestone

Allan Carpenter celebrated his 40th rebirthday on Monday, March 4. His actual birthday is this coming Tuesday. But it’s due to that rebirthday that he’s here this day to celebrate all things in life with family and friends. On March 4, 1973, Carpenter’s six years as a prisoner of war

Where is the most austere or arduous place you spent the holidays while deployed? (Hughes, Alcorn)

On 22 December 1965, on a combat mission over North Vietnam, I was shot down and captured. I spent Christmas on a concrete floor in a North Vietnamese prison, arms tightly bound behind my back. For eight holiday seasons I enjoyed “the humane and lenient treatment of the North Vietnamese people,”

This Day in History: Vice Admiral William P. Lawrence

On this day in 2005, retired Navy Vice Admiral William “Bill” Lawrence passes away. Decades earlier, Lawrence had been a prisoner of war at the Hanoi Hilton. He was one of the highest-ranking members of our military to be held in that infamous prison. Trouble began in June 1967. Lawrence