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.

P.O.W. Is Freed by U.S. In Return for G.I. Release
A North Vietnamese lieutenant was released today as part of a one‐for‐one prisoner exchange initiated by the enemy, United States officials said. These sources said that when the Vietcong released S. Sgt. John C. Sexton Jr. of the Army three days ago they told him that they expected the United


