AVB
Jesus of Cool, I'm bad, I'm nationwide
On Feb. 12, 1973, the first release of American prisoners of war from the Vietnam conflict took place.
The first prisoner to step onto the red carpet was Capt. Jeremiah A. Denton of the Navy, the ranking officer aboard the first plane back from Hanoi, Captain Denton, in captivity for nearly eight years, stepped to a microphone and said: "We are honored to have the opportunity to serve our country under difficult circumstances. We are profoundly grateful to our Commander in Chief and to our nation for this day. God bless America." He was followed by Navy Lieut. Comdr. Everett Alvarez Jr., a prisoner for more than eight years and the first American pilot shot down and captured in the Vietnam war.
Captain Denton retired from the Navy as a Rear Admiral and was later elected as a Senator for the state of Alabama. In doing so, he became the only retired admiral to be elected to the United States Senate.
Lieut. Comdr. Everett Alvarez stayed in the Navy and retired as Commander in 1980. He later earned a Master's Degree in Operations and Research Analysis and a Juris Doctor degree. He then went on to become Deputy Director of both the Peace Corps and Veterans Administration.
The first prisoner to step onto the red carpet was Capt. Jeremiah A. Denton of the Navy, the ranking officer aboard the first plane back from Hanoi, Captain Denton, in captivity for nearly eight years, stepped to a microphone and said: "We are honored to have the opportunity to serve our country under difficult circumstances. We are profoundly grateful to our Commander in Chief and to our nation for this day. God bless America." He was followed by Navy Lieut. Comdr. Everett Alvarez Jr., a prisoner for more than eight years and the first American pilot shot down and captured in the Vietnam war.
Captain Denton retired from the Navy as a Rear Admiral and was later elected as a Senator for the state of Alabama. In doing so, he became the only retired admiral to be elected to the United States Senate.
Lieut. Comdr. Everett Alvarez stayed in the Navy and retired as Commander in 1980. He later earned a Master's Degree in Operations and Research Analysis and a Juris Doctor degree. He then went on to become Deputy Director of both the Peace Corps and Veterans Administration.
