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Ceremony honors POW-MIA sacrifice

  • Published
  • By Kimberly L. Wright
  • Air University Public Affairs
MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. --  Throughout the nation's history, personal sacrifices have often been required of those involved in national defense. The sacrifices of American prisoners of war and missing in action were recognized with a luncheon, a Missing Man Table ceremony and a wreath-laying in front of the POW/MIA monument as part of Maxwell Air Force Base's observance of National POW/MIA Recognition Day on Sept. 18. The events were hosted by the 42nd Air Base Wing, and attendees included several ex-prisoners of war, spouses, families and survivors.

The luncheon's guest speaker, retired Air Force Col. Henry P. "Hank" Fowler, knows all too well the bitter fate of those taken captive by enemy forces. A surface to air missile destroyed his F-4C Phantom II, forcing him to eject near Hanoi, North Vietnam, where he was quickly captured by the North Vietnamese. Despite multiple back fractures sustained from the ejection, he was led on a long, grueling march, punctuated by beatings and other indignities as he was paraded around as a war criminal before arriving at the Hanoi prison where he spent the next six years.
"I'm one of the lucky ones. I got to come home," he mused.

Colonel Fowler's time in captivity included many deprivations. Many rudimentary hygiene items such as toothbrushes were not provided, and the prisoners had to either improvise or do without. There was no hot water. He had two prisoner's outfits and a pair of sandals made of old tires. There was nothing with which to occupy his mind as he spent the vast majority of time locked in his cell, only being let out to empty a bucket that served as a makeshift toilet and to take a short bath.

The food and water were paltry and filthy, with most meals consisting of watery soups made of cabbage, onions or some other unidentifiable vegetation. "On very rare occasions, you'd get a strand of beef," he said, which usually wound up being rat, cat, dog or water buffalo. The low quality of life quickly had a profound impact on his weight. "I lost 100 pounds in 90 days and kept it off for 6 years," he said.

Colonel Fowler also lacked medical treatment for his injuries. "Many of my friends passed on for lack of care," he noted.

The only time he saw the dentist in his six years in North Vietnam was just before his release, for treatment of two cavities. He was treated to an unforgettable third-world cavity-drilling experience, involving a slow, foot pedal-driven drill without the use of any pain-deadening agents such as Novocain. He passed out every 20 minutes. As painful as it was, the primitive drill represented the standard of care for that country at the time. "Think about how fortunate we are to live where we live," he remarked.

In addition to remembering what members of the military sacrificed for their country in the past, he also encouraged those assembled to remember those held in captivity today. "Pray that someday they will come home to enjoy that freedom for which they are fighting so valiantly."

The Maxwell Honor Guard conducted a Missing Man Table ceremony, which takes place at a round table with five places set representing POWs/MIAs from each branch of the military.

Symbolism is woven into every aspect of the table settings: "The table is round - to show our everlasting concern for our missing men. The tablecloth is white - symbolizing the purity of their motives when answering the call to duty. The single red rose, displayed in a vase, reminds us of the life of each of the missing, and the loved ones and friends of these Americans who keep the faith, awaiting answers. A slice of lemon on the bread plate is to remind us of the bitter fate of those captured and missing in a foreign land. A pinch of salt symbolizes the tears endured by those missing and their families who seek answers."

Glen Struchtmeyer, director of public affairs for the Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System, saluted the veterans, and paid tribute to the families that POWs and MIAs leave behind, who are left to wait and worry about the fate of their loved ones. "Yours is often a service that goes unheralded," he said.

At the wreath-laying in front of the POW/MIA monument, retired Col. Roland W. Parks, president of the Montgomery chapter of the American Ex-Prisoners of War, encouraged those assembled to honor those who paid such a high price in service to the nation. "Let this be a reminder to us to never forget the sacrifices of those who went before us," he said.

Col. Kris D. Beasley, the 42nd Air Base Wing commander, remarked, "What we did is relatively quick but represents an incredible emotion on our part."

According to the Defense Prisoner of War/Mission Personnel Office, more than 88,000 Americans remain missing from World War II, the Korean War, the Cold War, and the Vietnam War. Congress designated the third Friday of September as National POW/MIA Recognition Day in 1979.

The POW/MIA flag was commissioned in 1971 to raise awareness and concern for the missing military members in Southeast Asia. This highly recognizable banner of black and white is now the only flag besides the American flag to fly over the White House. On several national observances, including Memorial and Veterans Day, the POW/MIA flag is flown over several major national buildings, all major military installations, all post offices, all VA medical centers and all national cemeteries.