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It happened when they were young, on distant battlefields. When they leave us, it will be part of their obituaries: Prisoner of war. If dying for your country is the ultimate sacrifice, these men gave the next full measure. Now, time is stealing them away. Around 100 POWs are all that remain in Hampton Roads. With Veterans Day approaching, a few sat and shared their memories. These are more than mere war tales. They are monuments to the human spirit. Testaments to the worst and the best of mankind. Reminders of gray-haired soldiers, who still weep for the wounds of yesterday. Cherish these men, and their stories. You will not see their kind again.
Read POWs' stories at right.
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Their Stories | WWII
European Theater
 Arthur Dockery, Norfolk - Was marched more than 1,000 miles after his capture in Germany. Al Cratch, Virginia Beach - Shot down over Romania; was operated on without anesthesia. Bob Harwell, Norfolk - Taken prisoner on D-Day; spent nearly a year as a POW.WWII
Pacific Theater
 Stanley Woody, Norfolk - Forced to work on the Burma Railway and the "Bridge Over the River Kwai." Norman Matthews, Suffolk - Survived the Bataan Death March and Japanese "Hell Ships."PUEBLO
 Willie Bussell, Suffolk - The surrender of the Pueblo to North Korea in 1968 still gnaws at him.vietnam
 George Coker, Virginia Beach - Refused to give in during his 6½ years of brutal captivity. |
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POW's
I was at Clark Air Force Base in the Phillipines as a child when the Vietnam POW's returned home. I remember it so vividly and Thank God that they were finally brought home and that I was able to be a part of that homecoming. It was something I will never forget. I wish all of the surviving POW's from all wars, continues good health, best wishes and Thank them for the sacrifices they made for our country. And for those on active duty now, Thank you for your scarifices and putting yourselves in harms way everyday. My father served in the USAF for over 20 years (that is why we were in the Phillipines) and I have 2 brothers that served in the Marine Corp. during Desert Storm.
Today take the time to honor those that gave so much for us
Take the time today to honor all those that have given so so much to us and our country. My father served in Vietnam, My recently late Great unlce served in WWII on the front line in the Battle of the Bulge. My Uncle was a Helo pilot in vietnam and my husband served 20 years inthe service, served Dstrom and DShield. You and I will never truly understand how much of themselves they have freely given for their country and us. These men and women are not honored enough many are forgotten.
Wow
I so enjoyed reading each and everyone of your stories. God bless all of you for what you went thru.
Most Important
For me Memorial Day and Veterans Day are the most important holidays of the year. These two holidays give one time to think about the sacrifices that the brave men and women of this nation have made for us to enjoy the freedoms that we have. I wish all our veterans a nice holiday and thank them for their service.
"a real live war hero and POW, John McCain"?
That's not what Bush supporters said about McCain in 2000. Bush supporters claimed that McCain betrayed his country and his fellow POWs.
So much for republicans respecting military heroes.
Create compiled file
It would be great if the VP editors created a single pdf format of all 4 days of articles with pictures, not unlike what they did with the yellow fever epidemic stories a few years ago. It would be much easier to download and read offline. Thanks for your consideration.
A favorite person...
A friend of mine was Gerald McDowell. He was a T/SGT in WWII and the tail gunner of a B-17. His plane was shot down over Germany in 1944. He recieved the Purple Heart and was in capitivty for 21 months. He was a newlywed at the time. His book, "A tail gunners tail", is a great read. He passed in 2002 and rests in Bryn Mawr, PA. I miss him greatly. I was proud to call him My Friend.
Vets
My father was a WWII Vet. We learned years after he was discharged that he had earned the Bronze Star during a battle in France. The Army provided all the documentation, and during my own USN retirement ceremony, we arranged to have a USA Infantry Officer present Dad with his award. He was totally surprised and exclaimed, "You're 50 years late, but thank you." Dad passed a few years after that ceremony, but that day stayed with him thru the onset of dementia. I wished he had lived to see the WWII Memorial. To Mr. Bussell, you are a hero to this retired Master Chief. Thank you.
Active Date November 10 1775
Happy Birthday to the United States Marines!
Gems
They certainly are a dying breed, but just imagine what our lives would be like if it weren't for them. Without the fervor of these great men and their predecessors, America may not have ever gained independence from Britain and maybe even would have been occupied by Nazi Germany. Say what you want about the military, but it is a necessary asset to our survival as a nation. Without it, I don't want to think what could have been otherwise.