Magnificent men, whether in a cockpit, in a cell, or at a desk.
Provided to show that, regardless of the circumstances, some are never
defeated, only temporarily delayed.
ROOM 7 - HANOI HILTON
In late 2000, CdrAirGroup (CAG) Jim Stockdale, Room 7 Senior
Ranking Officer(SRO) asked his old friend, By Fuller to provide a list
of the roommates of Room 7, Hanoi Hilton as of Christmas 1970. The
roommates of this room were extraordinary, both at the time of
incarceration, and then later in freedom.
Room 7 had the first organized church service to be held in the
prisons of North Vietnam. Permission was asked for by Stockdale, and
twice denied by the Camp Commander. The room was warned not to do it.
Room 7 decided to do it anyway. They even had a choir. Their solemn
service quickly caught the eye of the guards and authorities. Armed
guards rushed into the room to break up the 'ominous' unauthorized
meeting. Ringleaders, Risner, Coker a nd Rutledge were led out of the
room with guards at each arm (they were headed for more Heartbreak
Hotel, solitary confinement and lots of punishment). Bud Day was the one
who then jumped up on his bed and started to sing 'The National Anthem'
and 'God Bless America.' The entire room burst into song. Then Rooms
Six, Five, Four, Three, Two and One joined in succession. These song s
of pride and defiance were loud enough to be heard outside the 15-foot
walls of the Hanoi Hilton. As Robbie marched out the door, his back
straightened with pride. He held his head high.
Robbie later recalled his thoughts as his roommates burst out in
song, 'I felt like I was nine feet tall and could go bear hunting with a
switch.' Thirty one years later, on November 16, 2001 a nine-foot tall
bronze statue of Brigadier General Robinson Risner, USAF would be
dedicated on the Central plaza of the United States Air Force Academy.
To Bud Day (principal speaker), Ross Perot (the sponsor of the project),
and dozens of Robbie's Room-Seven roommates at the ceremony, it seemed
more fitting to call the statue 'life size.' Photos: Dedication of B/Gen
Robbie Risner's Statue - USAFA 16-18 November 2001
CAG, knowing what the VC reaction would be, was heard to remark
something to the effect, 'Well, I guess we just can't stand prosperity.'
Our camp, yet unnamed, from that moment on became known as 'Camp Unity.'
The guards protested, but the songs continued. Shortly thereafter,
Vietnamese troops entered each room in force. They had their hats
secured with chinstraps in place, they had fixed bayonets, and they were
mad! They quickly backed the POWs against the walls with a bayonet in
each POW's stomach. The singing immediately ceased as the troops burst
through the doors. The VC later claimed that they had put down a riot.
It wasn't a real riot, but it was a lot of fun until the soldiers
entered the room. Several roommates of Room 7 were jerked out the next day. The next day, Orson Swindle in Room 6 tap ped the following
message on the wall: 'Damn, you'd have to get in line to get in trouble
in that crowd!!'
Thanks to By Fuller for the gut work of putting together this
fact sheet. Paul Galanti and Mike McGrath assisted. This historical
document is dedicated to a fearless leader, Vice Admiral Jim Stockdale,
CAG.
Here's what the men of Room 7 accomplished:
Roster of 'Room 7' on 26 December, 1970:
Name/Shoot-down rank/days captive
1. Brady, Al - Cdr, USN - 2236
2. Coker, George - Lt (jg), USN - 2381
3. Coskey, Ken - Cdr, USN - 1650
4. Craner, Bob (Deceased) - Maj, USAF - 1911
5. Crayton, Render - Lt Cdr, USN - 2562
6. Crow, Fred - Lt Col, USAF - 2170
7. Crumpler, Carl - Lt Col, USAF - 1713
8. Daniels, Vern - Cdr, USN - 1966
9. Daughtrey, Norlan - Capt, USAF - 2751
10. Day, Bud - Maj, USAF - 2027
11. Denton, Jerry - Cdr, USN - 2766
12. Doremus, Rob - Lt Cdr, USN - 2729
13. Dramesi, John - Capt, USAF - 2163
14. Dunn Howie (Deceased) - Maj, USMC - 2624
15. Fellowes, Jack - Lt Cdr, USN - 2381
16. Finlay, Jack - Lt Col, USAF - 1781
17. Franke, Bill - Cdr, USN - 2729
18. Fuller, By - Cdr, USN - 2060
19. Gillespie, Chuck (Deceased) - Cdr, USN - 1968
20. Guarino, Larry - Maj, USAF - 2801
21. Gutterson, Laird - Maj, USAF - 1846
22. Hughes, Jim - Lt Col, USAF - 2130
23. James, Charlie - Cdr, USN - 1761
24. Jenkins, Harry (Deceased) - Cdr, USN - 2648
25. Johnson, Sam - Maj, USAF - 2494
26. Kasler, Jim - Maj, USAF - 2400
27. Kirk, Tom - Lt Col, USAF - 1964
28. Lamar, Jim - Lt Col, USAF - 2474
29. Larson, Swede - Lt Col, USAF - 2130
30. Lawrence, Bill - Cdr, USN - 2076
31. Ligon, Vern (Deceased) - Lt Col, USAF - 1942
32. McCain, John - Lt Cdr, USN - 1966
33. McKnight, George - Maj, USAF - 2655
34. Moore, Mel - Cdr, USN - 2185
35. Mulligan, Jim - Cdr, USN - 2521
36. Pollard, Ben - Maj, USAF - 2120
37. Risner, Robbie - Lt Col, USAF - 2706
38. Rivers, Wendy - Lt Cdr, USN - 2715
39. Rutledge, Howie (Deceased) - Cdr, USN - 2633
40. Schoeffel, Pete - Lt Cdr, USN - 1988
41. Shumaker, Bob - Lt Cdr, USN - 2923
42. Stockdale, Jim - Cdr, USN - 2713
43. Stockman, Hervey - Lt Col, USAF - 2093
44. Stratton, Dick - Lt Cdr, USN - 2250
45. Tanner, Nels - Lt Cdr, USN - 2338
46. Webb, Ron - Capt, USAF - 2093
47. Gary Anderson (Deceased) - Lt (jg), USN - 2151
Total days in captivity: 108,116
Man-years in captivity: 296.21
Here's a brief history of the 47 men:
5 made Admiral rank (Stockdale O-9, Lawrence O-9, Shumaker O-8,
Denton O-8, Fuller O-8).
1 made General Officer rank (Risner O-7).
40 others stayed in the military and attained the following
ranks:
USMC: 1 Col - Dunn
Navy: 1 Cdr - Coker
AF: 1 Lt Col - Daughtrey
AF: 19 Colonels - Craner, Crow, Crumpler, Day, Dramesi, Finlay,
Guarino, Gutterson, Hughes, Kasler, Johnson, Kirk, Lamar, Larson, Ligon,
McKnight, Pollard, Stockman and Webb
Navy: 18 Captains - Brady, Coskey, Crayton, Daniels, Doremus,
Fellowes, Franke, Gillespie, James, Jenkins, McCain, Moore, Mulligan,
Rivers, Rutledge, Schoeffel, Stratton and Tanner
2 became U.S. Congressmen (Johnson, Texas; McCain, Arizona)
2 became U.S. Senators (Denton, Alabama; McCain, Arizona)
1 was a Vice Presidential candidate (Stockdale)
1 is a Presidential candidate (McCain)
2 received the Medal of Honor (Stockdale, Day) Day resumed his
career as a lawyer.
3 received the Navy Cross (Denton, Coker, Fuller). Three of the
four POWs to receive this award were from this room. Red McDaniel was
the fourth POW to receive the award.
4 made escapes. All were recaptured, all were tortured.
(Dramesi, Coker, McKnight, Day)
2 were jet aces from the Korean War (Risner: 9 kills in F-86;
Kasler: 6 kills in F-86)
1 was the first pilot to fly over Russia in U-2 spy aircraft
(Stockman)
1 was shot down 4-15-1944 in Germany on his 26th mission in a
P-47 and a POW until April 1945 (Ligon)
1 shot down three German planes during WW II flying British
aircraft. Flew 156 missions in Sicily, India, China and Indo-China
(Guarino)
1 flew 62 missions in Korea War. Got credit for one kill, one
damaged and one probable kill against MIG-15s (Johnson)
7 received the Air Force Cross (Kasler 3 awards; Risner 2
awards; Dramesi 2 awards, Day, Kirk, Guarino and McKnight each received
one award)
4 were Navy test pilots (Stockdale, Lawrence, Gillespie, &
Franke)
1 flew with the Thunderbirds (Johnson)
11 were USNA graduates (Brady '51, Denton '47, Fellowes '56,
Fuller '51, Gillespie '51, Lawrence '51, McCain '58, Rivers '52,
Schoeffel '54, Shumaker '56, & Stockdale '47)
2 were Landing Signal Officers (LSOs) - (Stockdale, Tanner)
1 escaped the B-52 community and got into combat flying the
F-105G (Larson)
1 has a daughter who is an astronaut, gone into space three
times (789 hours). She is presently in training as a crewmember of the
International Space Station. (Lawrence)
1 was a Navy Air Wing Commander (CAG): (Stockdale, (COMAIRGRU
16)
1 commanded a Navy Carrier, USS America. Later became Battle
Group Commander CARGRU 4 Commander (Fuller)
10 were Squadron Commanders (Coskey (VA-85), Day (TBD), Denton
(VA-75), Franke, Fuller (VA-76),
Gillespie, Jenkins VA-163), Lawrence (VF-143), Ligon (11th TRS)
and Larson (469th TFS) when shot down), Schoeffel (VA-83)
5 were Squadron Executive Officers (Daniels, Moore, Mulligan,
Rutledge and Brady). They were shot down before they could make
Squadron Commander.
10 Authored books:
Day: Return With Honor
Denton: When Hell Was In Session
Dramesi: Code of Honor
Guarino: A POW's Story: 2801 Days in Hanoi
Johnson: Captive Warriors: A Vietnam POW's Story
McCain: Faith of My Fathers
Mulligan: The Hanoi Commitment
Risner: The Passing of the Night
Rutledge: In the Presence of Mine Enemies
Stockdale: Courage Under Fire; In Love and War; A Vietnam
Experience; Thoughts of a Philosophical Fighter Pilot
4 became Presidents/Commandants/Superintendents of institutions
of Higher learning: (Stockdale: President of the Citidel and President
of the Naval War College; Lawrence: Superintendent of the USNA;
Shumaker: Superintendent of the Naval PostgraduateSchool; and (TBD);
Denton: Commandant of Armed Forces Staff College)
2 built their own airplanes: (Jenkins: Long EZ; Shumaker:
Glassair) Pollard is currently flying sail planes.
1 was the first active duty Naval Aviator to fly Mach II
(Lawrence)
1 was first Naval Aviator to land on an aircraft carrier in 0/0
fog with a newly developed Aircraft Carrier Landing System (Gillespie).
Yes, it was an emergency low fuel state!
2 were Naval aviators who were in the final selection groups
(before shootdown) for the Mercury Astronaut Program (Lawrence,
Shumaker)
Many of the members of Room 7 either served during wars prior to
Vietnam, or who saw combat in theatres other than Vietnam.
WW II:
Vern Ligon: USA Air Corps, 25 missions, P-47 pilot, POW in
Stalag Luft 1,1944-45, escaped once, recaptured.
Larry Guarino: USA Air Corps, 156 missions in Sicily, India,
China and Indo-China. Spitfires.
Hervey Stockman: USA Air Corps. 68 missions, P-51.
Jim Kasler: USA Air Corps, 7 missions as tail gunner, B-29.
Harry Jenkins and Gordon Larson were Navy V5 cadets and Fred
Crow was an Army Air Corps aviation cadet when WW II ended.
Bud Day: Corporal, USMC, 30 months in south and central Pacific,
April 1942 - November 1945.
By Fuller and Carl Crumpler: Enlisted in US Navy summer of 1945.
Saw boot camp by the end of WW II.
Fred Crow and Al Brady: were Navy dependents at Pearl Harbor,
December 7,1941.
Korea:
Robby Risner: USAF, 108 missions, F-86. MIG Ace with 9 kills.
Jim Kasler: USAF, 100 missions, F-86, MIG Ace with 6 kills.
Howie Rutledge: USN, 200 missions, F9F-2 as a Flying
Midshipman.
Harry Jenkins: Served aboard USS Fred T. Berry (DD-141) off
coast of Korea. as a Flying Midshipman.
Tom Kirk: Flew missions in Korea (we need more information from
Tom).
Larry Guarino: USAF, Air Defense Alert missions.
Jim Lamar: USAF, 100 missions in F-80 and P-51.
Wendy Rivers: Served on a destroyer off the coast of Korea.
Laird Gutterson: USAF, flew 60 missions, P-51.
Verlyne Daniels: Flew AD-4 missions, March - August 1953.
Sam Johnson: USAF, flew 62 missions, F-86, 1 kill, 1 probable, 1
damaged against MIG 15s.
Bud Day: USAF, air defense missions, F-84s.
Bill Lawrence: (F2H-3) and By Fuller (F9F-5) arrived off the
coast of Korea in October 1953. They were flying off the USS Oriskany.
Too late the war was over!
Fred Crow: Had various commands stateside during the Korean War.
Carl Crumpler: Flew F-86s at George AFB. War was over too soon
for him to participate.
All of this and some SOB says, 'Getting shot down and captured
does not qualify someone to be president' - but supposedly another with
143 days in congress does qualify? What a country - but how long will
we stand at this rate?'
What POW's can accomplish......
"the game of life of is not so much in holding a good hand as playing a poor hand well"
It's so simple! In our society, people are juged by their company. You are who you associate with.
Compare the two:
One guy has a lifetime surrounded by real American Heros.
One guy has a lifetime surrounded by real American scumbags. Many of whom I feel are guilty of treason.
Who do you trust?
Unbelievable.
GOD BLESS AMERICA.
Compare the two:
One guy has a lifetime surrounded by real American Heros.
One guy has a lifetime surrounded by real American scumbags. Many of whom I feel are guilty of treason.
Who do you trust?
Unbelievable.
GOD BLESS AMERICA.