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In the foreground, U.S. Air Force LT COL Alan Leslie Brunstrom, (Captured 22 Apr 66) former Prisoners of War, is welcomed home by his wife and child. At the C-141 exit ramp, U.S. Air Force CPT Terry M. Geloneck, (Captured 22 Dec 72) is greeted by MGEN John Gonge, 22nd Air Force Commander and MGEN Daniel "Chappie" James. LT COL Brunstron and Gelonick were released in Hanoi by the North Vietnamese on February 12, 1973 and then flown to Clark Air Base, Philippines for a medical check-up and then to Travis
U.S. Navy CPT Jerimiah Andrew Denton, (Captured 18 Jul 65) the first of the released Prisoners of War, walks down the C-141 ramp and is greeted by MGEN John Gonge, 22nd Air Force Commander and MGEN Daniel "Chappie" James. CPT Denton was released in Hanoi by the North Vietnamese on February 12, 1973 and then flown to Clark Air Base, Philippines for a medical check-up and then to Travis
U.S. Navy CPT Wendell Burke Rivers, (Captured 10 Sep 65) former Prisoners of War, walks away after being greeted by MGEN Daniel "Chappie" James. MGEN Gonge and MGEN James prepare to greet former POW, U.S. Air Force LT COL Alan Leslie Brunstrom, (Captured 22 Apr 66) as he exits the C-141 Starlifter. CPT Rivers and LT COL Brunstron were released in Hanoi by the North Vietnamese on February 12, 1973 and then flown to Clark Air Base, Philippines for a medical check-up and then to Travis
Released Prisoner of War, U.S.Air Force LT COL Lewis Wiley Shattuck, (Captured 11 Jul 66) salutes MGEN John Gonge, 22nd Air Force Commander and MGEN Daniel "Chappie" James upon his arrival at Travis Air Force Base. LT COL Shattuck was in the third group released by the North Vietnamese on Feb 12, 1973 in Hanoi
Released Prisoner of War, U.S. Navy LT CMDR Larry Howard Spencer, (Captured 18 Feb 66)) salutes MGEN John Gonge, 22nd Air Force Commander and MGEN Daniel "Chappie" James upon his arrival at Travis Air Force Base. LT CMDR Spencer was in the third group released by the North Vietnamese on Feb 12, 1973 in Hanoi
Former POW and U.S. Air Force LCOL Lewis Wiley Shattuck (Captured 11 Jul 66) salutes the American Flag upon his arrival on the C-141 Starlifter from Clark Air Base, Philippines. In the background MGEN John Gonge, 22nd Air Force Commander and MGEN Daniel "Chappie" James await the next returnee to deplane. LCOL Shattuck was in the first group of POWs released on 12 Feb 73 by the North Vietnamese government in Hanoi
Former POW and U.S. Air Force LCOL George Robert Hall salutes and is welcomed to the states by MGEN John Gonge, 22nd Air Force Commander and BGEN Ralph Saunders upon his arrival on the C-141 Starlifter. LCOL Hall was captured by the North Vietnamese on 27 Sep 65 and was released in Hanoi on 12 Feb 73
On board a Military Airlift Command's Starlifter, former Prisoners of War, U.S. Navy LT CMDR Edward Anthony Davis, (Captured 26 Aug 65) and LT CMDR Larry Howard Spencer, (Captured 18 Feb 66) after departing Clark Air Base, Philippines. LT CMDR Davis holds the puppy, MACO, that was given to him, by a North Vietnamese guard, prior to his release in the second group on February 12, 1973. LT CMRD Spencer was released with the third group of POWs from Hanoi on February 12, 1973
U.S. Air Force CPT Terry M. Geloneck (Captured 22 Dec 72) former Prisoners of War, is hugged and welcomed home by his wife as the Air Force Honor Guard stands in the background. CPT Gelonick was released in Hanoi by the North Vietnamese on February 12, 1973 and then flown to Clark Air Base, Philippines for a medical check-up and then to Travis
U.S. Air Force LT COL Alan Leslie Brunstrom, (Captured 22 Apr 66) former Prisoners of War, is greeted by MGEN John Gonge, 22nd Air Force Commander and MGEN Daniel "Chappie" James as he exits the C-141 Starlifter. LT COL Brunstron was released in Hanoi by the North Vietnamese on February 12, 1973 and then flown to Clark Air Base, Philippines for a medical check-up and then to Travis
Summary
The original finding aid described this photograph as:
Subject Operation/Series: HOMECOMING
Base: Travis Air Force Base
State: California (CA)
Country: United States Of America (USA)
Scene Camera Operator: SGT Morawski
Release Status: Released to Public
Combined Military Service Digital Photographic Files
On January 27, 1973, the United States agreed to a ceasefire with North Vietnam allowing withdrawal of American military forces from South Vietnam. The agreement also included the release of about 600 American prisoners of war. On Feb. 12, 1973, three C-141 flew to Hanoi, North Vietnam, and one C-9A aircraft was sent to Saigon, South Vietnam to pick up released prisoners of war. The first flight of 40 U.S. prisoners of war left Hanoi in a C-141A, later known as the "Hanoi Taxi". From February 12 to April 4, there were 54 C-141 missions flying out of Hanoi, bringing the former POWs home, the total number of returned was 591. The return of the nearly 600 POWs increased the polarization of the public and media. A majority of the POWs returned in Operation Homecoming were bomber pilots shot down while carrying out the campaign waged against civilian targets located in Vietnam and Laos. Many viewed the freed POWs as heroes, while others questioned if treating these men as heroes served to distort and obscure the truth about the war. Some felt these men deserved to be treated as war criminals or left in the North Vietnamese prison camps. Many worried that Homecoming hid the fact that people were still fighting and dying on the battlefields of Vietnam and caused the public to forget about the over 50,000 American lives the war had already cost. Veterans of the war had similar thoughts concerning Operation Homecoming with many stating that the ceasefire and returning of prisoners brought zero sense of an ending or closure. Operation Homecoming has been largely forgotten by the American public.
- C-141 Tail Number: 66-0177
- 95 Check up Images - NARA & DVIDS Public Domain Archive
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- 34 Chappie Images - NARA & DVIDS Public Domain Archive
- Released Prisoner of War, U.S. Air Force TSGT Arthur Neil Black ...
- U.S. Navy CPT Jerimiah Andrew Denton, (Captured 18 Jul 65) the ...
- After a brief refueling stop, the first group of Prisoners of War ...
- In the foreground, U.S. Air Force LT COL Alan Leslie Brunstrom ...
- U.S. Air Force CPT Terry M. Geloneck (Captured 22 Dec 72) former ...
- 3964 Daniel Image - NARA & DVIDS Public Domain Archive