Captured and held in a prisoner of war camp for five years, Dr. Kushner’s tale of torture, abuse, survival, humanity, and perseverance was both sobering and moving. As our closing keynote speaker for VMI’s Vietnam symposium ‘The Vietnam War at 50,’ our audience leaves on a powerful note among the several personal stories they heard today.
American Veterans Center’s 2006 conference panel on Vietnam: The POW Experience, featuring Col. George “Bud” Day, Maj. Gen. Edward Mechenbier, Capt. Jack Fellowes, and Lt. Col. Anthony Marion Marshall.
Col. Edward L. Hubbard spent 2,420 days (over 6 years) as a prisoner of war after being shot down during combat missions over Northern Vietnam. Hubbard was an EB-66C Navigator with the 41st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron flying out of Takhli Royal Thai AFB, Thailand during this time. Hubbard was released from captivity during Operation Homecoming on March 4, 1973. During Edward L. Hubbard’s captivity, he was able to teach his fellow POW’s tap code and
Col James L. Lamar flew over 200 combat missions in Korea and Vietnam. He was also a prisoner of war in Vietnam. Col Lamar was well received by cadets as he talked about both his missions and life as a prisoner of war.