The last American POW released by North Vietnam wanted “one last return” to an aircraft carrier (Alfred Agnew)

Lt. Cmdr. Al Agnew was on a reconnaissance mission over Hanoi, Vietnam during the tail end of the Vietnam War on December 28, 1972 when a fighter jet escorting him across enemy territory radioed in with an urgent message: Turn right.

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Former Vietnam War POW recalls time in captivity (Norman McDaniel)

The Unity Masonic Lodge honored veterans this week with a dinner, a presentation on the history of America’s flag and a speech from retired Air Force Col. Norman McDaniel, a prisoner of war in Vietnam for more than six years. The flag presentation, “building the flag,” was given by members of

How John McCain’s Years as a Vietnam POW Shaped His Life

John McCain, the Arizona Senator who died on Saturday, lived much of his life in the public political eye — but Americans started to learn about his famous courage at a time he was notably absent. The saga began 51 years ago. As TIME reported in 1967, North Vietnamese planes had, for the first

Lakeway veteran POW tells story of survival (Jayroe Julius)

On Jan. 19, 1967, Air Force Captain Julius “Jay” Jayroe was flying an F-4C Phantom on a reconnaissance mission over Hanoi, Vietnam, when he was shot down. After landing by parachute in the rice paddies sprinkled across the countryside, Jayroe became a prisoner of war during the thick of the

Ex-POW recalls Hainan Island (Phillip Smith)

News of the emergency landing of a U.S. spy plane on China’s Hainan Island is giving flashbacks to a retired U.S. Air Force colonel who spent 7-1/2 years as a POW in China. It was on that island that Philip Smith spent his first hours after he was shot down

Prisoners of War – The Honored (John Anderson)

Six men assigned to AFVN were taken prisoner during the Vietnam War, five specking about years in