Navy Pilot Chronicles his POW Experiences (Jack Ensch)

POW Ben Pollard

Ben Pollard got a lot of mail his last week in prison, as many letters as he’d received in the preceding six years combined: four. – No matter that they dated to 1968, .and this was 1973. ; That sort of conduct “made (the iNorth Vietnamese) wonderful enemies,” said Pollard,

Vietnam POW shares lessons in resiliency & leadership (Leon Ellis)

It was Nov. 7, 1967 and U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Leon Ellis was co-piloting an F-4C Phantom over North Vietnam when his aircraft was suddenly hit by enemy fire. It exploded into pieces and was quickly tumbling to the ground. He managed to eject safely, but found himself parachuting

Museum display honors veteran (Richard Logan Francis)

The Bartlesville Area History Museum received a unique remembrance for its permanent gallery from graduates of a local College-High School class on Thursday. The Wildcat class of 1961 typically uses its “flower fund” to send condolences and flowers to classmates who have lost loved ones. But the former students dipped

Robert Shumaker: An extended stay at the Hanoi Hilton

Prior to his POW experience, Robert Shumaker had other memorable moments in the service. During one mission in the Mediterranean, multiple mechanical malfunctions forced him to freefall 2,000 feet before he could open his parachute. He was also one of the top 32 candidates for NASA’s Apollo program during the

Derby resident Ken Johnson was a POW, decorated Air Force pilot

Not many local residents know the name Kenneth R. Johnson, nor his story, but like millions of his fellow citizens, Johnson served his country as a member of the U.S. armed forces. His service as an Air Force pilot, though, was exemplary, and for it, he received numerous commendations. Among