Vietnam Vet Ping.
Posted on 02/20/2016 7:27:24 PM PST by Fred Hayek
Fred V. Cherry, an Air Force fighter pilot, was downed by enemy fire over North Vietnam in 1965, and he spent more than seven years as a prisoner of war.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Vietnam Vet Ping.
Rip brave soldier!
His captors tried some race baiting by placing another pilot from the South who was white. Didn’t work, both Col Cherry and Lt (j.g.) Halyburton encouraged each other to get through their stay at the Hanoi Hilton.
Meanwhile, a Vietnam POW captured in April, 1966 and released in 1973 is running for Congress in the 3rd district of Texas.
Please, fill us in.
Ever wonder why there are no enlisted ground pounder POWs?
Rest in peace
RIP
RIP brave soldier.
I think very few ground pounders were captured.
RIP and thank you, Sir.
“His captors tried some race baiting by placing another pilot from the South who was white. Didn’t work, both Col Cherry and Lt (j.g.) Halyburton encouraged each other to get through their stay at the Hanoi Hilton.”
Dirt little secret of the South. Especially back then. Black and white actually got along and worked closely. A northern city had as much or more discomfort at the personal level.
Rest in Peace Col. Cherry.
http://www.homeofheroes.com/valor/09_POWs/pow_rvn_detail.html
There were enlisted POW’s. Hanoi considered the officer POW’s (mostly aviators) to be of more propaganda value.
Here is the book. I talked with Col. Cherry just two weeks ago at an annual Tet/POW lunch in Arlington, Virginia. His energy level was amazing - I never would have believed he was in his late 80's. He fought in the Korean War as well as the Vietnam War.
He was wearing a distinctive Air Force tie that he had picked up in Branson, Missouri, which he described as one of his favorite places. They love veterans there, he said.
RIP, Colonel.
RIP, American Hero.
Thank you.
Very sad news. Thanks to Salute To Veterans airshow and veterans celebration (Columbia, Mo) I was able to meet Col Cherry and Porter Halyburton (his cell mate) several times. They authored and signed for me a wonderful book about their POW time (Two Souls Indivisible). You won’t believe what these guys went through. The great generation.
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