Strength through endurance: from POW to Ohio farmer (Paul Kari)

A story of survival, endurance, and overcoming obstacles for your Memorial Day.

Lt. Col. Paul Kari spent nearly eight years as a POW after being shot down over North Vietnam. What happened afterward also tested his limits.

Kari and I walked the land on his pristine spread in West Liberty. “I started with nothing and now I have what you see. 907 acres total.” Kari said.

For the old fighter pilot, the journey from freedom, here to West Liberty, was anything but as straight as the plane flies.

When asked to pick one word to describe his life, Kari thought for a moment and answered, “Perseverance” another long pause, “I never give up”.

Other Publications You Might Be Interested In

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

Read More »

Former Vietnam POW Gaither ‘stood tall’ in captivity

Dozens attended a funeral service at Barrancas National Cemetery (BNC) onboard Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola May 16 for retired Cmdr. Ralph Ellis Gaither Jr., a naval aviator well-known in the Pensacola community as a Vietnam veteran and Prisoner of War (POW) who had exemplified defiance while in enemy hands.

Read More »

George Coker: A story of perseverance

It was supposed to be a routine mission, a “milk run” in the words of George Coker, who was serving on his 55th missions in Vietnam as a bombardier/navigator. Usually, his missions consisted of flying over Vietnam from the aircraft carrier USS Constellation and bombing strategic points like bridges and

Read More »

Tony Marshall – Pushing Boundaries

Marion “Tony” Marshall had a penchant for pushing boundaries.  This led to some rather intriguing experiences during his time as a POW in Vietnam. Tony always wanted to be a pilot. Despite “skating” in high school he secured an interview for a military academy appointment and was one of only 6

Read More »