LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
Retired Col. Frederick Crow was captured by the Vietcong after his F-4C Phantom was shot down by anti-aircraft artillery fire during a bombing raid in Hanoi, Vietnam. He would spend the next six years as a North Vietnamese prisoner of war.
Colonel Crow was not scheduled to fly, but filled the mission void. After he dropped bombs on enemy targets, he felt a bump on the bottom of his aircraft. While gaining altitude, he lost control of the jet and made the decision to eject.
Forced to land in enemy territory, Colonel Crow sought cover in nearby hills. Shortly thereafter, Vietcong released search dogs, captured the colonel and took him to a Hanoi prison for interrogations.
During the interrogation, Colonel Crow only gave names of pilots who had already been killed. As Colonel Crow resisted interrogation tactics, the Vietnamese resorted to torture techniques, dog-tying his hands and feet to a steel pole.
Over the next several hours, Colonel Crow fell in and out of consciousness.
Retired Reservist Maj. Henry Edward Wallace's B-17 "Flying Fortress" was shot down by a German jet fighter 100 miles from freedom (Switzerland) during World War II.
Major Wallace was a prisoner at Stalag Luft III, (present-day Poland) from March 1944 to January 1945. The Germans marched the prisoners during the winter out of Stalag Luft III to Spremberg 50 miles away, as the Russian Army advanced toward the camp.
Eventually, Major Wallace was transported to Stalag VII-A in Moosburg, which U.S. 14th Armored Division liberated by April 29, 1945. During his 14-month imprisonment, Major Wallace lost more than 30 pounds.
These experiences are just a few stories told by heroic men and women who were captured by the enemy and fortunate enough to return home to tell their story.
"I hope who those that see this memorial realize a lot of Americans went to bat for them; we weren't just fighting for ourselves but for our country," said Colonel Crow. "When I look at the POW site, I don't look so much to those who returned, but those POWs who didn't."
To honor those who have been a POW or who are missing in action, the local Air Force Sergeants Association Chapter 358 is opening a POW/MIA memorial here Sept. 18 at 10 a.m.
"For those of us who were prisoners of war, this memorial certainly brings back memories, if we need to have any brought back," said Major Wallace. "Those that see this and read the descriptions written on the tablets should see a picture of what we went through."
This memorial's design is the first of its kind, said Master Sgt. Robert Casagrande, AFSA Chapter 358 president.
"Even though some of these individuals are no longer with us, let's not let their history be forgotten," Sergeant Casagrande said. "A lot of history is lost from people not listening. This memorial says these Airmen, Soldiers, Marines and Sailors have not been forgotten."