RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
An estimated 600 prisoners - including 325 Airmen, most of them combat pilots - were released 35 years ago following their captivity during the Vietnam War.
The plan to repatriate them was known as Operation Homecoming, which culminated in the requalification of 135 former POWs as pilots.
Since those days, the pilots who endured unspeakable mental and physical abuse at the hands of their captors, some for as many as eight years, have found another home at Randolph, where they were requalified by the "Chargin' Cheetahs" of the 560th Flying Training Squadron.
A yearly homecoming at Randolph, hosted by the Cheetahs, is known as the Freedom Flyer Reunion, now in its 35th year. The Freedom Flight was the pilots' first flight in the requalification training program and concluded with the champagne ceremony that should have taken place after their "fini" flight in Vietnam.
This year's event is officially planned for March 28 and 29, though activities will begin March 26 with recognition of these American heroes by the San Antonio Spurs before their game against the Los Angeles Clippers at the AT&T Center.
"It's a great event," said Maj. Douglas Hamlin, 560th FTS project officer for the reunion. "They enjoy coming back here every year. It's home to them. They're part of the Cheetahs."
Nearly 30 Freedom Flyers have committed to attend the reunion, and Major Hamlin said he hopes that 35 will be here for the 35th reunion.
One of the highlights of the reunion is a symposium scheduled March 28 at 9 a.m. in the base theater. A panel of Freedom Flyers will talk about their experiences and the wife of a pilot will provide a spouse's perspective on coping with a loved one's ordeal thousands of miles away while dealing with everyday problems.
"The symposium is relatively new," Major Hamlin said. "It started in 1998. A couple of Freedom Flyers wanted to get their story out to the Airmen on base. Now the theater is just jammed every year."
Lt. Col. Chris Causey, 560th FTS director of training and coordinator of the symposium, said the forum gives the Freedom Flyers an opportunity "to relay their experiences to today's Airmen, the majority of whom are too young to remember the conflict."
"The continuous theme is the pride they have in their country and how much they don't take freedom for granted," he said. "This is the heart of the matter. It's the real thing to learn from these guys."
Major Hamlin said the experiences of the POWs really underscore the significance of the armed forces' mission.
"Especially in this day and age, with our involvement in the Gulf War and Operation Iraqi Freedom, it's important to have the stories and accounts of these men who were captive for a long time," he said. "We can be immediately placed in the same situation, so it really sinks in what our job is really about. It's very important to have them here and to know what they've gone through."
Another feature of the reunion is a presentation by businessman and former presidential candidate H. Ross Perot at a dining-in mess and wives' dinner at 6:45 p.m. that day.
Following the symposium, a wreath-laying ceremony at noon at the Missing Man Monument will honor POWs and servicemembers listed as missing in action. That afternoon, a display of historic and modern aircraft will take place on Randolph's flight line. An aerial review featuring the F-22, F-15C, F-16, B-1, A-10 and all trainer aircraft at Randolph will begin at 6 p.m.
A golf tournament is planned for March 29, and the reunion will conclude the same day with a golf banquet at 5:30 p.m.