In 1973, hundreds of American Prisoners of War being held captive in Vietnam finally gained their freedom, boarding planes en route to the United States by way of Travis Air Force Base. On Friday, those veterans were honored for their service and sacrifice during the second and final day of the 50th Anniversary of Operation Homecoming celebration at Travis. Despite memories of the horrific war, the mood was jubilant and the veterans present were wreathed in smiles. “It’s the way many of us dealt with things,” veteran Michael O’Connor, retired pilot and chief warrant officer, explained later. In a video, Gen. Michael Minihan with Air Mobility Command shared deep gratitude for Vietnam veterans.
Diploma caps long-fought struggle – Son draws on father’s experiences as Vietnam POW to accomplish goals (John Deering)
Told he would never walk again after a car accident left him a quadriplegic at age 15, earning a college degree was the last thing John Deering ever thought he’d care about. Against all odds, the White House resident graduated from Volunteer State Community College Dec. 12, earning a degree
