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CherriesWriter - Vietnam War website 
Been there Class of 67/68
Doorgunner
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Catherine Dunn
Very interesting, as a child of WWII, have heard stories, but wondered if they were true, and after hearing stories from so many vets . What wonderful folks we had to protect us all these years. My parents had a cousin that was a POW during the WWII and he was never the same, so we have had so many that never left Vietnam, or WWII. Just look at what they gave us. God Blass them, and thank you all who served to keep us safe.
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Fantastic love all info about pows
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CAG:
NRA5 is where I worked for Capt Stratton. Many of the stories from the Hanoi Hilton by The Beak, I had the privilege of hearing over a multitude of luncheons. While Capt Stratton was the Area Five Commanding Officer he was in demand for speaking engagements, he must have done a hundred or more. As his duty driver I always had a seat, Captain, serving under your leadership, has always been a source of pride for me, the success I had in the Navy is due in large part to your example, and hearing your stories. Which I could apply to accomplishing our Navies mission, At these luncheons there were always questions, one that I remember was, “How do you know if you can stand the confinement and the torture” The response was, you don’t know until you are there. That question and answer came after the Capt told how his arms were tied behind his back until his elbow’s touched. I have never tired of hear about The incredibly stupid one.
An old Shipmate
Duane Swift
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When I entered boot camp at Great Lakes in July of 1981 we were shown a video of CAPT Stratton sharing this story. In that moment Doug Hegdahl and Richard Stratton became my heroes; they remain so today. As I remember, it was a message of honor, duty, courage, and faith. We were told that we were not superhumans, but we do have the ability fight with limited resources. As I see it Doug fought with humility, Beak fought with a bow. Well done! This story needs to be told, and retold. #welcomehome
*CAPT Stratton, earlier this week I sent my greetings through your neighbor Eileen N. I am glad to hear all is well. An Item on my bucket list is to buy you a cup of coffee…
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When I entered boot camp at Great Lakes in July of 1981 we were shown a video of CAPT Stratton sharing this story. In that moment Doug Hegdahl and Richard Stratton became my heroes; they remain so today. As I remember, it was a message of honor, duty, courage, and faith. We were told that we were not superhumans, but we do have the ability fight with limited. As I see it Doug fought with humility, Beck fought with a bow. Well done! This story needs to be told, and retold. #welcomehome
*CAPT Stratton, earlier this week I sent my greetings through your neighbor Eileen N. I am glad to hear all is well. An Item on my bucket list is to buy you a cup of coffee…
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So many men and women like Doug and Dick bear the scars of protecting our freedom.Some gave their life’s and others carry the nightmares that do not go away.Thank God we have them standing guard over us.O-Rah to all our military and all our Vets.God bless all of you,God bless America..
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Read today, first time. 1/14/2021. Knew some of the Hanoi Hilton but none of this. thank you for this. much to teach my kids. God bless you all. And God help our country.
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Very good and insightful, to say the least. Thanks for it.
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Hello Alice and Dick. The article is GREAT
Look forward to talking with you Recently spoke with Marlene and Mike McGrath It has been a long time I am updating the POW book. Talk with you soon Best to you both Barbata Wyatt
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Greetings Barbara. It is Doug that is great; it is his story. It is you who are great for giving us an unedited voice upon our return. Look forward to hearing from you. The Beak
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I was a shipmate of Doug Hegdahl. I was in the 5 inch gun mount and crew Doug was on relieved us each night.
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this is an awesome story of a brave and dedicates sailor. “the incredibly stupid one” turned to be a real hero. This was Navy Cross material, but sadly I read nothing about any kind of recognition from the Navy. But that’s the way it was in the Navy for enlisted ranks.
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Hello Captain Stratton.
I hope this Email finds you and your Family in Good Health.
I had the Privilege of Serving under you in the Naval Recruiting District New York.
I served aboard the USS NK Perry
During the war.
My Daughter Kathleen Parr applied for and she’s hoping for a Navy Commission and Scholarship for Dental School. Our entire Family is Navy and she hasn’t heard anything yet.
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Harris,
Good to hear from you. We had a fine group of folks at NRDNY and grand community support. Those were not easy years for recruiting but we did our share.
One of my granddaughters who is also our Goddaughter is awaiting response to her application for USCG Boot Camp, college program and USCG OCS on graduation. We wish Kathleen the best of good fortune in a Navy career; the Navy (and USMC) was good to me and my family.
May God bless you in this Holy Season and Hapy Easter.
R, The Beak
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Sir,
Please correct me if I’m wrong….I’m the oldest son of Chief Kurt Heilbronner, we we’re stationed at NAS So Centro and lived in Wesley. I was quite young then and recall you visiting Dad before deploying.
We had your P.O.W. bracelet for years afterwards, Kurt instilled in us his respect for you and spoke often of you.
Thank you.
Karl Heilbronner
USMC 76 TO 80
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Sorry. The town was Seeley.
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Incredible story. Thank you all for your bravery and your service.
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Outstanding! As a Vietnam veteran I had never heard this story. As a retired Navy Master Chief corpsman I have seen first hand the resourceful courageous men and women America produces.
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I felt so insignificant after learning of Doug’s spectacular and selfless performance of his duties. Though I served my 4 years honorably in the Navy, I regret not having done more. It is men like Doug whose service will serve sailors through the ages as someone to aspire to become what can reside within us all. Americans.
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Why hasn’t Hollywood turned this into a movie. What a great story about equally great Americans both Commissioned and Enlisted.
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Hollywood would not turn this into a movie unless the Communist North Vietnamese were the heroes and David Hogg was their enlightened messiah at Guantonamo.
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One of the ways the Hollywood folks use to suppress stories that do not serve their political purposes is to execute the purchase of life-story rights without a reversion clause and then never exploit the purchased rights. Many a naive soul is conned into signing such a document without benefit of the advice of a qualified agent or lawyer and live to regret that decision. The story never gets told.
https://www.marklitwak.com/purchasing-life-story-rights.html
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TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR COUNTRY….. THE ONE’S THAT ANSWER THE CALL …..FROM THE PAST, AND THOSE IN THE FUTURE…. MY GRATITUDE…… THANK YOU ALL.
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I’ d like to carry on learning more of Capt. Stratton’ s tales in the future…Ever been intrigued about all those events having taken place in that war.But not just those having to see with battles and strategies applied to win them. Mostly yet not exclusively those feats revealing the strenght of the human spirit when faced with unsurmountable odds!.The one having just been described exemplifies perfectly the true nature of the warriors and the nations they belong to as well as the undercurrents of the conflict that eventually contribute to shape its unfolding!.
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There are three more tales published on this website…this was the first. Check the directory on the RS of the page…they should follow one another. / John
On Mon, Oct 26, 2015 at 9:20 PM, Cherries – A Vietnam War Novel wrote:
>
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Victor, The best use of your time is HONOR BOUND – The History of American Prisoners of War in Southeast Asia, 1961-1973 by Stuart I Rochester and Federick Kiley. They talked vace to face with most of us. They paint a good picture of the good, the bad and the ugly. My stuff consists mainly of sea stories. I stand by them but they are no where as good as Rochester and Kiley. The Beak
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my name is Michael Shambora from Wilkes-Barre PA, and I was aboard the Canberra as a CT (Communications OR Division) from 1965 to Oct. 1967 when discharged. I often reflect on those days and the missions through which we went. I never met this shipmate, as far as I recall, and read this story with delight. Pushing 70 now and wondering where all these years have gone., Congratulations to all who served aboard this magnificent looking and powerful vessel. Mike.
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I am commenting to regretfully inform you fine folks that Nels Tanner passed away today in Florida. I am researching him online for a story in his hometown newspaper. We’ve featured him many times, but I was reading more about him online. Some of you may know that Patriot Park in Covington, Tennessee, is there in his honor. He was one of the Alcatraz Eleven in the Hanoi Hilton as you have noted. God bless you all who have served our country and those of you in particular who had the opportunity to know Nels Tanner.
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Good day! I could have sworn I’ve been to this site before but after going through many of the posts I realized it’s new to me.
Nonetheless, I’m definitely delighted I came across it and I’ll be book-marking
itt and checking back frequently!
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Thank you for sharing. I am a daughter of a Vietnam Vet(deceased now) all I can say is WELCOME HOME.
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i first heard Doug’s incredible story when he debriefed my SERE school class in 1979. I remember some of the stories he told. I’m proud to have served in the same Navy as people like him.
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I was on the ‘Canberra’ when Doug went AWOL – but didn’t know him; Big Ship, lots of us Squids…. I recall him being reported missing, a “WTF” sort of situation….. We were down in Melbourne, Australia several weeks later when we got word that he’d been plucked out of the drink and was tucked away in an NVN POW Camp…. Reckon it was better than being Fish Food……
A few years ago I ran across an extra copy of our ship’s “Cruise Book” for 1967 – kind of like a yearbook. I contacted Doug and asked him if her ever got one; “No” – so I sent it on. Got a nice “‘Thank You” note from him” Said: “Being a P.O.W. was shittie duty, but at least it was ‘Shore Duty'” Now that’s a sense of humor!!!
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Each unit, each tour produces its own unique set of shipmates which make you glad, no, proud, to be a part of our Navy. Doug is one of the most unique individuals I have ever served with. His sense of humor, his acceptance of the things one cannot change and his loyalty to God and Country mark him as “special”.
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Several years ago a legal acquaintance of mine (from my cop days – after the Navy) mentioned that as a CIA officer he and his partner worked on estimating the number of POW’s in NVN prior to any possible ‘Prisoner Swaps.’ I mentioned Doug Hegdahl’s name to him… Bingo! They were part of the ‘Debriefing Team’ – small world.
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To “Dontcare”: The coolest thing about stories like this is they prove that these men had honor, courage, strength and a love for their fellow brothers and country. You’re nothing but a part of the “ME” generation. These stories along with your stupid comment prove just how low your generation has become. You and those like you couldn’t hold a stick compared to these men. Now beat it, you lily winged prick holster!
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The story is awesome but man now I want to see the USS Canberra getting a port call in Canberra…
Was she fitted with wheels or some sort of tracks?
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I served on the Canberra from October of 1965 until June of 1968 and was on three of the five tours the ship made to Viet Nam. A couple of notes: I was unaware that Hegdahl was overboard that long before being missed. All sailors are accounted for each morning and that is how it was discovered that he was missing. I do remember we spent one full day steaming around looking for him. Though we all recognize the tremendous contribution Hegdahl made as a released POW, it has always been puzzling how he could have been blown off the ship by a five inch mount.
The Canberra was the only cruiser not named for a US city. As it was being built it was to have been named the USS Pittsburg, but following the sinking of the HMAS Canberra the decision was made to name her in honor of that ship. We did go to Melbourne, Australia as part of that cruise to join them in celebration of the Coral Sea festival. We were treated far better by the Aussies than we were on our return to San Diego.
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THEY ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE AFRAID OF THE DARK AND ARE LOYAL ONLY TO THE ITCH BETWEEN THEIR LEGS… I HOPE YOU NO PRAY YOU NEVER GO TO WAR BECAUSE IF YOU WERE EVER CAPTURED YOU WOULD TURN IN YOUR OWN PARENTS
roy
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Or, in Obama’s case, the first person you can get your hands on!
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Thank you both for your service. My father is a Korea, Vietnam, Dom Rep and Cold War Vet with five kids 4 of which are also vets three of them including myself are disabled. The story of Doug was very uplifting and delightful all at the same time. I loved it and have sent it to my father. It was sent to me buy my brother, an Air Force Vet now FBI attorney(of all things) he found it such a good story that he had to send it to all of his siblings . We really appreciate what all the veterans have done for this country in every capacity but those who made the extra sacrifice are really very special in our hearts and minds, again thank you.
Anne Clarkson, CPT, US MP Corp, DAV
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Sky Hawk not Sky Lark
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Thank you for your service Beak. I think Doug may have saved my Uncle with his list of names. He was listed as MIA for 2 years before we were informed that he was a POW. Thank you for letting everyone know what Doug accomplished.
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A wonderful story, and closer to home because I’m a graduate of Georgetown who, as a boy of eleven living in San Diego, spent a Family Day aboard the USS Canberra.
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One of the deepest regrets of my life is never having served in the military. I did not dodge the draft like Clinton, but neither did I enlist. I turned 18 in 1968 and was brainwashed against the war effort by Walter Cronkite and his fellow commie sympathizer-useful idiots: Sam Donaldson, Dan Rather, etc. I have been an ardent foe of the liberal media ever since learning of their deceipt and hatred for America. And I support the military, and their missions!, 110%. Tried to enlist a few years back but they have this pesky rule about age……Nuts!
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I had the privilege of meeting Mr. Hegdahl in SERE school in 1987 in rural
San Diego county. He took the role of the political officer during our POW experience and was quite convincing. I had the gall during his lecture to speak up and defend our political system. He told me later that that’s the sort of thing that would single you out for “special” treatment, and I should just keep my mouth shut if ever I had the misfortune to be a POW. Good advice, and thank God I never had to use it.
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Did Doug meet John Kerry in Paris? Just wondering.
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I salute all the brave men and women that have served and are serving our country. My husband was a WWII vet and seved in the CBI arena. This article and Admiral Denton’s book told of our true American heroes. Thank you for telling this remarkable piece of American history. My God bless all those,past and present,who gave us the freedom we enjoy today.
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As far as I know Doug never ran into Kerry in Paris or elsewhere. His post release efforts were in support of our families and their National League. They chose to focus on the improvement of treatment for prisoners and their release rather than confronting anti-war activists.
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Great story. My very best regards to both Doug and the Beak. God surely was with the pair of you, and that’s a fact. Welcome home, brothers!!!
D. C. Wright
USMC Retired
RVN, 1969
III/OK
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Captain Stratton, this old sailor SALUTES both you and Doug. Thank you for your service and sacrifice in the cause of FREEDOM.
RM2, USN, 1969-1980
RVN 1970-71
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The coolest thing about stories like this is that in about 20 years all you self-centered dumbasses will be dead and we won’t have to hear you going on and on and on about Vietnam anymore. Or anything else really.
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Thank you for exposing to us that there are still those out there who hate and despise the military and the sacrifices they have made so you can freely post this kind of trash.
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Ahh, the bravery of internet anonymity. It’s unfortunate that trolls can’t see the futility of their own existence and end their own lives so as to spare us the drivel coming out of their pie hole
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Perhaps you will be as well, and then we won’t have to hear you going on either. I see that there wasn’t a lot of teaching respect in your upbringing. Please God, perhaps you will find some yourself. These men did their duty and did it well. And they did it for you.
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Seems to me that people like you would be better off reflecting on the sacrifices made by those that this article was written about, rather than spending time exposing your ignorance, stupidity, and hate. I can only hope that one day, those who you so disparage will have their chance to confront you.
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While you do have the right of ‘FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION’ as all of us citizens of the US do, you should reflect on the fact that the Bill of Rights, the Constitution and our way of life (freedoms) were protected by brave men and women who served in our armed forces, like Deak and Doug and even my former skipper from AFS-3 Capt. TERRY.
former ETC USN
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Canberra was on its port of call list? Last time I went there it was about 90 miles from the coast!
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Not to mention an elevation of 1900 ft, so even if the Molonglo was navigable, would be like sailing to Williston, ND. I would really like to see a Baltimore class heavy cruiser manage that.
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This sea story was taken from a collection entitled “Tales of Southeast Asia”. Tales, sea stories, for pre-teen boys and girls answering their specific questions about being in jail and the folks resident therein. These yarns do not pretend to be historical documents, nautical charts nor geographical texts. It was too much of a challenge to integrate the history of HMAS Canberra (D33), its loss, the naming of the USS Canberra (CA-70) [built in my home town – Quincy MA]and the geography of Australia into a yarn for figiting kids about a lad from South Dakota.
Honestly, do I need to tell my kids that wolves really cannot talk when I recite to them the tale of Little Red Riding Hood?
This is a story about Doug as seen and remembered by me – a fine sailor, a loyal shipmate and a great American.
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Just for the record:
You may be surprised to learn that Canberra, an inland city, has a seaport at Jervis Bay. That’s about 230 km away from Canberra! The Jervis Bay land area – a stunning piece of coastline – was added to the Australian Capital Territory via legislation in 1915 to ensure the Commonwealth had a seaport.
https://visitcanberra.com.au/articles/276/a-quick-history-of-canberra
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Without a doubt, one of the most awesome stories I have ever heard in my short 67 years…….From one Vietnam Veteran to another……Slow hand salute to you both…
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So you’ve never been lied to by a recruiter? 🙂
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Three of those released early came to NAS Miramar and we aviators were all ordered to the base theater, and Marines stood guard outside. The three told us about the torture, and taught us the TAP CODE so we would be better prepared were we to get shot down and captured.
So even though those 3 were “traitors” for going home early, they had valuable information that they taught us.
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A great story. I came here through Pierre’s reblog. My father wrote memoirs of his time as a WWII Far East POW on the railway. It is always good to remember courage, enterprise and endurance.
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Hilary, thanks for stopping by. I hope you come back and fine some of my other articles interesting. Spread the word!
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I going to make sure all in my family reads it.
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I consider it a high priviledge to have read it, even though it caused me to laugh out loud and ocasionally fill me with rage. Capt. Stockdale’s closing statement, “As long as we have the Dougs of this world, our country will retain its freedoms.” is so on target it cannot be repeated enough.
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Captain Stratton, thank you for publishing your memoirs. Such determination and courage is a rarity these days so I hold you and your POW colleagues in the highest respect and esteem. Prior to the end of the war, I had a POW bracelet with your name on it and wore it continuously until it broke. Later, after my tours as a Naval Aviator, I was fortunate to know and fly with several former POW’s, one of whom was Nels Tanner. His stories of what you all endured always left me awe struck and deeply touched. Please God bless you all.
John Mullis
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:
Nels Tanner – a prince among men – the originator, under duress, of the “superman” document –
. . . . . When Navy Lts. Charles N. Tanner and Ross R. Terry talked to a Japanese television interviewer, they told him that Lt. Cmdr. Ben Casey and Lt. Clark Kent had been court-martialed for refusing to fly missions. Upon learning that “Ben Casey” was the fictional surgeon on a popular American television show and “Clark Kent” was better known as Superman, the North Vietnamese were considerably less amused than the American public.
Click to access AFD-101001-049.pdf
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Captain,
Here is the Obituary for Captain Nels Tanner who passed away this past week:Hero of Vietnam War, Cmdr. Nels Tanner, dies
Cmdr. Charles Nels Tanner, 82, a hero of the Vietnam War and Covington, Tenn., native, who endured torture at the hands of the Vietcong in the dreaded Hanoi Hilton during his six and a half years of captivity, died today in Florida.
Patriot Park in Covington was created to honor his legacy of service and valor. He is survived by his wife Sara Ann. The family is coming to Covington to make funeral arrangements over the weekend. He is expected to be buried in Mt. Carmel Cemetery.
Tanner was tortured while imprisoned, including having his shoulders pulled from their sockets until he couldn’t use his arms. He proved to be an embarrassment for the Vietcong leaders, noting in a written confession for war crimes that he recalled two pilots would not bomb innocent civilians, a Lt. Clark Kent, the alter ego of the character Superman, and Lt. Ben Casey, a television character who was a surgeon and the centerpiece of a medical drama at the time.
Tanner’s confession was released and a Japanese journalist was brought in to interview him and another prisoner of war. While talking to the Japanese journalist, they deliberately stuffed their mouths with food in the manner of famished men to imply to the journalist that they were starving (in fact, living on a diet of soup, they nearly were). The interview also proved terribly embarrassing for the Vietcong leaders.
Once the interview was released and the confession was revealed to be a fake, Tanner endured more torture at the hands of his captors.
His grit and unbreakable spirit in the face of that kind of torture led to Tanner being called one of the “Alcatraz Eleven” or the “Alcatraz Gang,” names used by the U.S. media to describe 11 high-level captives in the Hanoi Hilton as being unbreakable by the enemy and who were noted as being leaders of a resistance movement. The name came from making an association with the toughest prison in Vietnam and the infamous U.S. prison off the coast of San Francisco.
Born in 1932 and raised in Covington, Nels Tanner entered the Aviation Cadet Program in the U.S. Navy in 1953. The next year, he graduated as an Ensign and later that year was designated as a Naval Aviator. For his first assignment, he was stationed in Alameda, Calif., and he remained there until 1959 when he went to Moffett Field, Calif., where he eventually served as an F-8 Crusader instructor pilot. By mid-1960, he was in Miramar, Calif., and was stationed there until 1965 when he was deployed to Southeast Asia.
While flying missions there, he was shot down and taken as a prisoner of war on Oct. 9, 1966.
He spent 2,339 days in captivity, nearly six and a half years, before he was released during Operation Homecoming on March 4, 1973, when he returned to the Naval Air Station in Millington after spending some time recovering from injuries.
His last assignment was as the Chief of Staff of Foreign Training in Pensacola, Fla. He retired from his storied career on Oct. 1, 1985.
Maley Yarbrough Funeral Home will be handling arrangements.
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Thanks John. Article was written by publisher of Covington TN “Leader”. Nels was beloved in his home town. Most accurate biography on line is on Veterans Tributes:
http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=1163
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Captain,
Nels Tanner was laid to rest today in the historic Mt. Carmel Presbyterian Church cemetery in Covington, Tennessee. Rear Admiral Robert Shumaker gave a homily and as you know, he too was one of the “Alcatraz Eleven”. Also in attendance was Captain James Mulligan, an Honorary Pallbearer, and retired Air Force Lt. Col. Cecil Brunson. The ceremony was very moving and well attended. Great tribute was made to the memory and sacrifices of Nels and to all of the Viet Nam POW’s. God bless you all for your sacrifices,
With deep respect,
John Mullis
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10+ years after this incident Ross Terry was CO of USS Niagara Falls when I had the privilege of serving on her, and a better commanding officer you could not possibly have hoped for.
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Captain, you may not be aware that Nels Tanner isn’t doing very well. He had a stroke several years ago and now I hear that he has some form of cancer. He still lives in Covington, TN.
Respectfully,
John Mullis
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Reblogged this on Lest We Forget and commented:
A reader sent me this…
Hi Pierre thought you might enjoy this. I realize it’s not in the WWII realm but is a story about common man doing extraordinary things.
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Probably a dumb question and a detail not relevant to the story – but anyway… Why would a Navy ship have a port of call of Canberra, Australia, which is definitely NOT on the ocean?
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Australia and the USA developed a close relationship suring WWII when the UK was incapable of protecting its allies under the Southern Cross. We have named ships to acknowledge that relationship and solidified it over the years by having ships so named pay courtesy calls in Australian ports to mark that special attachment. We have very few friends left around the world; however, Australia has been steadfast over the years.
The Beak
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Specifically USS Canberra was named in honor of the cruiser HMAS Canberra, which was sunk along with US ships at the Battle of Savo Island in 1942.
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Thanks Beak!
On Sun, Apr 6, 2014 at 8:01 PM, Cherries – A Vietnam War Novel wrote:
>
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I was on the USS Canberra CAG 2. We went to Melbourne, Australia May 1968. Canberra, Australia is the capital but we pulled into Melbourne.
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I served in the Navy from 5/5/64 till 10/1865. Was crushed between the opening Bombay door and wheel strut of a “Whale” A3D, USS Kitty Hawk CVA 63, on night of July 11, 65. Honorably Discharged due to an Inadequate Personality Disorder after a suicide attempt while in a Medical Holding Company in Diego after my 48 days in USNH Balboa Park. Beak I salute you and Doug to this day and wish I had one speck of an ounce of the courage and endurance you 2 and all the rest of you POWs for having to endure such treatment at the Hanoi Hilton. God Bless and may you both have many years of great life left for it is your type that will lead us back from the destruction this country has gone thru over the past 6 years.
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What a great story for others, coming in to this world.
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I was Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club, USS Saratoga CV60 in 72/73. We were late enough in the war that our POWs didn’t spend a great deal of time, compared to others, although one day was two to many. I’ve several POWs and in my book, I’m in awe of you as I am of Medal of Honor Recipients. You guys rock and give us a very high mark to shoot for. Thank you and God Bless
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What a great story, for those coming along, to be told.
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I met Doug during my SERE training. He recited the names just as fast as he could. Maybe my memory has gone, because I seem to remember that Doug took out over 1200 names.
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I once met a man who was a prisoner at the Hanoi Hilton for many years. He was tortured relentlessly yet he and his fellow prisoners found ways to keep their sanity. He told a story of how during interrogation he told the VC officer that his family were farmers and they grew “updoc” on the family farm back in America. The VC interrogator, who had a voice like Daffy Duck, would yell back at him “WHAT’S UPDOC, WHATS UPDOC”?
touche
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Right church wrong pew. There were only 662 SE Asia military POWs; Doug came out with 256 names memorized by service, by rank and alphabetically. The 1200 firgure was a correct number floating around as the best estimate of total POWs & MIAs/ Presumptive KIAs.
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i would like to contact whoever wrote this, Tedparsons60@gmail.com (403) 678 5844
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This story was very well written and heart felt! I always fretted for those of you who were “guest” of the North Vietnamese!! I wish I could express appropriately my utmost gratitude for your gallantry under horrid conditions. I was overjoyed when you were released! Tom Nimsic AME2,. USN RET. VF 96, FLIGHT DECK TROUBLE SHOOTER, USS ENTERPRISE CVAN65: 1967 TO JAN. 14, 1969.
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My husband was in Nam 67-68. 2-5. Machine gunner. Operation Swift, Tet Offensive-Hue City.
Took him 20 some years to finally be proud of being a Marine. (His greeting getting off plane in NY was disgusting & so-called high school buddies called him a ‘baby-killer’. )
He still doesn’t talk a lot about his time there. I asked him yesterday about these boys/men going to Iraq/Afganistan for 3 & 4 tours & a lot of them committing suicide. (He runs an addictions/recovery program at our church-Christ based program). He said he’d love to be able to talk to them, maybe start an outreach at the local VA, but our ‘new’ military denies Christ.
What a waste! He would be able to help so many vets from Nam, Iraq, Afaganistan, etc.
But I do say that story was outstanding!! My husband would not wear his dog tags in Nam. And he says, to this day, he would NOT be taken prisoner. (Doesn’t like pain.) 😉
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What a great story. My dad, Ernest Plantz, was a pow for the Japanese during WWII. He was a sailor on the USS Perch, depth charged and scuttled. He was in the camp for about 3 1/2 years and has told us stories (good & bad) of his time as a prisoner. God bless all of these men.
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Enlightning and touching. those of us never there have no concept of the courage it took just to remain alive,
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A very interesting and inspiring tale, indeed… Semper Fi
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Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I will delete the picture and make a statement of the error. God Bless you sir and Welcome Home!
On Sun, Mar 30, 2014 at 12:35 PM, Cherries – A Vietnam War Novel wrote:
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I thought this was to be about FONDA when I read the title. Semper Fi Jack Zimmerer
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This report of my death at the end of this article is greatly exaggerated.
The picture is of the late Dick Stratton TV/Radio/Sport announcer of Jacksonville/Ponte Vedra FL
http://www.samsportsline.com/features-commentary/commentary-2005/commentary-11-09-2005.html
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What a great story! I once got the story of Doug Hegdahl first hand from Joe Crecca! We fly for the same airline and I had the fortune of hanging out with him Paris for 2 days. He tons of stories of his time at the Hilton and the many wonderful heroes he met there. He also told many of those stories with humor and humility!
Thanks for your service and sacrifice Beak
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