Former Vietnam POWs take to the air again

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Charlie Miller
  • 445th Airlift Wing
20060508 --  Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio - Members of the Air Force Reserve 445th Airlift Wing had the distinct honor of interacting with about 120 former POWs May 5 and 6. The men were invited by the wing to Wright-Patterson for a re-enactment of the 1973 flights that took the men from brutal communist-run prison camps to oppression free democratic political independence.

All of the former POWs were flown out of North Vietnam on C-141s. The 445th had the honor of flying these heroes in the “Hanoi Taxi” on the plane’s last true airlift mission. The POWs were joined by Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne.

It was February 12, 1973 and the long conflict was finally at an end. The C-141 Starlifter, painted white with its Red Cross tail flash, picked up the first 40 POWs. The men waited quietly and patiently, they had vowed to show no emotion to their North Vietnamese captors.

They boarded the aircraft, took their seats and prepared for takeoff. As soon as the Starlifter’s wheels left the runway, a resounding cheer went up from all on board. They were finally free. Clark Air Base, The Philippines was their first stop before going back home to the U.S.

In all, over 500 POWs were flown out of North Vietnam in C-141s during “Operation Homecoming.”

Secretary Wynne flew with the first group and spoke at the ceremony to all attendees before the second groups’ flight.

“Because of your efforts we remain a free country today,” the secretary said. “Your courage and sacrifices set the pace. This is the story of freedom, a story that will transcend this aircraft’s life. Our airmen today could do no better than to just follow your lead. As Secretary of the Air Force and as a grateful citizen, welcome home, again.”

Most of the POWs had not been on a C-141 since the 70’s. The interior of the plane was set up to look close to the way it did in 1973 when the men were first airlifted home. On board before take off, there was time of story telling between the men and time to view the dozens of pictures throughout the plane. Only the POWs themselves could tell the stories that exsist behind those pictures. Some of the men looked for pictures of themselves; others identified fellow POWs and described what kind of person he was.

But the stories of finally leaving North Vietnam seemed to hold the most emotion.

“It was unbelievable to see an American airplane out there at the airport in North Vietnam that wasn’t getting shot at,” said retired Air Force Col. Leroy Stutz, a prisoner for six years and four months. “I wasn’t too sure it was going to happen. We are going to miss this plane; it’s done a lot of good.”

The most emotional part of the event was clearly when the POWs left the plane and had wives and family members rush across the taxiway, some jumping into the arms of their loved ones repeating historical reunions from 23 years ago. Tears were shed by the POWs, their families and by many in the crowd who gathered to witness a truly astounding moment in history.

“It’s hard to believe that I’d ever be able to do it again,” Col. Stutz said. “My wife came out running.”

Retired Air Force Maj. Tim Ayers was one of the lucky ones. The major was shot down in an F4E on May 3, 1972 and released on March 28, 1973.

“I spent less than a year in captivity and can’t imagine how hard it must have been to live through 6 plus years of it,” Maj. Ayers said. “I love to come to the reunions and hear the stories the other guys have to tell.”

Certainly all members of the 445th Airlift Wing hope that this POW reunion will be the most memorable reunion ever for the men and their families and they will leave our wing and the C-141 with new stories to tell. They have left each of us too many stories for us to count.

Tech. Sgt. Harold “Buck” Rogers, 445th Maintenance Squadron, summed it up well when he said “Seeing the POWs and their families has given me a renewed faith in God and Country, what our jobs mean to this wing and to future of the United States.”

And now the C-141 is the latest aircraft to be retired. But to the 445th AW and to the POWs who were repatriated aboard the plane, the “Hanoi Taxi” will never stop telling stories and will always be a museum show piece, a center piece, with an unending legacy.