Vietnam / Fighting / POW

Col. Thomas H. Kirk Jr. ’50B: Most Decorated Living VMI Alumnus

On Oct. 28, 1967, 38-year-old Thomas H. Kirk Jr. ’50B left Takhli Air Base in Thailand flying an F-105 Thunderchief aircraft. He was heading for Hanoi, the most heavily defended city in the world. Kirk led 48 bombers, plus supporting aircraft, in the largest air attack on Hanoi during the

“14 March 1973, That Was A Pretty Good Day”: The Journey Home From The Hanoi Hilton (Robert Jones)

This interview is a continuation of Bob Jones’ first interview from May 2008. In that interview, equipment limitations resulted in an abrupt conclusion to the recording. This interview picks up where his first interview finished: his journey from the Hanoi Hilton to the Gia Lam Airport, where C-141s were waiting

The Story Behind the Story: An Inside Look at the Extraordinary True Events that Inspired ‘Glory Denied’ (Floyd Thompson)

Glory Denied is about the cost of war, in this case the Vietnam War, to an American family. But in many ways, it is also the story of our country’s painful growth in the 1960s and 70s. United States Army Colonel Floyd “Jim” Thompson, the longest held prisoner of war (POW)

Avenue Of Heroes Banner Recipient … Captain Render Crayton, USN

In early 1966, while flying a combat mission over North Vietnam, Captain Render Crayton’s A4E Skyhawk was struck by anti-aircraft fire. The plane suffered crippling damage, with a resulting fire and explosion. Unable to maintain flight, Captain Crayton ejected over enemy territory. What happened next, though, demonstrates his character and

Colonel Benjamin Purcell: 5 Years in Hell

Colonel Benjamin Purcell was executive commander of the 80th General Support Group in Vietnam when his helicopter was shot down on February 8, 1968. He and five other passengers were captured by the Viet Cong. Colonel Purcell was the highest ranking Army officer captured during the Vietnam War. He spent more

Other Publications You Might Be Interested In

Col. Thomas H. Kirk Jr. ’50B: Most Decorated Living VMI Alumnus

“14 March 1973, That Was A Pretty Good Day”: The Journey Home From The Hanoi Hilton (Robert Jones)

The Story Behind the Story: An Inside Look at the Extraordinary True Events that Inspired ‘Glory Denied’ (Floyd Thompson)

Avenue Of Heroes Banner Recipient … Captain Render Crayton, USN

Colonel Benjamin Purcell: 5 Years in Hell

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