JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas –
Members of the 560th Flying Training Squadron will host the 42nd Freedom Flyer Reunion and the 18th Annual POW/MIA Symposium March 20 at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph. This annual event takes place in order to honor all the POWs held captive during the Vietnam War. The last group of POWs were released from their captivity in North Vietnam March 1973.
The tradition began when the 560th Flying Training Squadron was given the task to retrain more than 150 POWs returning to flying status. To honor their return, their initial training included a "freedom flight."
This year's event will begin with a wreath laying ceremony and a 'Missing Man' formation fly-by at 12:15 p.m. at Washington Circle. Guest speaker will be Lt. Col. Orson Swindle, whose F-8E aircraft was shot down over North Vietnam Nov. 11, 1966. He was released after seven years.
The 18th Annual POW/MIA Symposium begins at 1 p.m. at the Fleenor Auditorium. The following speakers will share their experience:
Retired Air Force Col. Kenneth W. Cordier, whose F-4C plane took a direct hit while performing an escort mission north of Hanoi Dec. 2, 1966, was captured and later released March 4, 1973.
Retired Navy Cmdr. Everett Alvarez Jr. was taken prisoner the same day he was shot down while flying a Douglas A-4 Skyhawk Aug. 5, 1964. He was released Feb. 12, 1973 after more than eight years.
Retired Air Force Col. Carlyle Harris was released Feb 12, 1973 after being held for eight years. His aircraft was shot down by an anti-aircraft April 4, 1965 during a bombing run on the Ham Rong Bridge at Than Hoa.
Retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Jon Reynolds became a POW when his aircraft was shot down during a flying mission near Yen Bai, North Vietnam, Nov. 28, 1965. Nearly eight years later, he was released Feb. 12, 1973.
Retired Navy Capt. Mike McGrath was shot down by enemy fire over North Vietnam June 30, 1967 flying an A-4C "Skyhawk." He was held as a POW for almost six years until his release March 4, 1973.
Retired Air Force Lt. Col. John H. Yuill, whose B-52 aircraft was shot down during his third mission over Hanoi Dec. 22, 1972, was held captive by the North Vietnamese until his release March 29, 1973.
Louise Harris, wife of retired Col. Carlyle Harris, stayed at Kadena Air Base, Japan for six weeks after her husband's aircraft was shot down April 4, 1965.
Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Charley Huff, a former member of the 560th FTS.
Expect road closures and detours. Plans are to close Washington Circle from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 20. Portions of C Street will also be closed and no parking is allowed from midnight to 3 p.m. March 20. For details, visit
http://1.usa.gov/1crnxql.