Jeremiah Denton

In military history today, on February 12, 1973, the first plane load of American POWs freed from North Vietnam landed at Clark Field in the Philippines.  The senior officer, then Capt. Jeremiah Denton, USN made the following statement:

"We are honored to have had the opportunity to serve our country in difficult circumstances.  We are profoundly grateful to our Commander-in-Chief and to our nation for this day.  God bless America!"

Capt. Denton was promoted to Rear Admiral and finally retired in 1977.  He went on to represent Alabama as the first Republican US Senator since Reconstruction in 1980.

Denton spent seven and half years as a POW when torture was at its worst.  In 1966, he was forced to participate in a televised interview during which in blinked his eyes to spell in Morse Code TORTURE.

Rear Admiral Denton died last year at the age of 89.  He is buried in Arlington with his wife who proceeded him in death in 2007.  They were married for 61 years.

Denton's decorations includes the Navy Cross, the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, 3 Silver Stars, the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal (V), 2 Purple Heart Medals, Combat Action Ribbon and Prisoner of War Medal.