POW/MIA day commemorated at Luke

  • Published
  • By Stephen Delgado
  • Thunderbolt staff writer
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  A warm, breezy late summer afternoon offered the backdrop for more than 200 people to be part of the annual POW/MIA Recognition Day Retreat ceremony Sept. 19 in front of the wing headquarters building.

The event served as a reminder of the high price courageous people have paid, and are still paying, for the freedoms Americans enjoy.

The itinerary was highlighted by speeches from retired Air Force Col. Philip Smith, who spent seven years as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War, and Brig. Gen. Scott Pleus, 56th Fighter Wing commander.

Other guests included retired Chief Master Sgt. Harold Bergbower, World War II POW, and Chief Master Sgt. John Mazza, 56th FW command chief.

Smith recalled the grueling ordeal he experienced for seven years as a POW.

Everything that could go wrong went wrong Sept. 20, 1965, the day he was shot down over the Gulf of Tonkin. He lost radar contact and had major equipment failures.

These malfunctions caused Smith to be shot down by enemy aircraft thus forcing him to eject, only to be captured by Chinese forces.

He said that he was transported to Canton in southern China and classified as an international criminal, which meant he was not subject under Geneva Convention rules to be treated as a POW.

Smith spent most of his seven years of captivity in solitary confinement in Beijing.

During what seemed like an endless confinement, Smith said he used mind games to keep him alive. A profound event happened that would lift his spirit.

"I saw a man mopping the hallway floor and at the same time heard someone singing the Air Force theme song," he said.

Smith learned the person singing was CIA agent John Downey, captured in 1952. Captured at the same time was fellow agent Richard Fecteau. He said knowing that they were there was a huge boost to his morale.

His ordeal as a POW came to an end March 15, 1973. Shortly afterward, Smith was cleared to fly. Ironically, he met the pilot who shot him down in 1987.

He concluded his remarks by praising the current military for the job they are doing to protect the country and said he was fortunate to survive and make it home.

Pleus said Smith's story is unimaginable to most of us. He also praised Berghower.

"We're so proud to wear the uniform you wore," he said. "You displayed the Air Force values of integrity, service and excellence.

Pleus concluded his remarks by imploring the audience not to forget those who are still missing and with the reminder that this generation is there to pick up the baton and move it forward.