Operation Homecoming

FEBRUARY 12, 1973

Operation Homecoming

Operation Homecoming began. The operation returned 591 American Prisoners of War (POWs) held by North Vietnam following the Paris Peace Accords that ended U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. From February 12 to April 4, 1973, there were 54 C-141 missions flying out of Hanoi, bringing former POWs home. Of the POWs repatriated to the United States, a total of 325 served in the U.S. Air Force, a majority of whom were bomber pilots shot down over North Vietnam or Viet Cong controlled territory. The remaining 266 consisted of 138 U.S. Navy personnel, 77 soldiers serving in the U.S. Army, 26 U.S. Marine Corps members and 25 civilian employees of American government agencies.

Gary Thornton, Grade and High School friend of Woody Eastwood, was aboard that flight.

Thank you for your Service, Gary!

Silver Star Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam. On 25 February 1967, his captors, completely ignoring international agreements, subjected him to extreme mental and physical cruelties in an attempt to obtain military information and false confessions for propaganda purposes. Through his resistance to those brutalities, he contributed significantly toward the eventual abandonment of harsh treatment by the North Vietnamese, which was attracting international attention. By his determination, courage, resourcefulness, and devotion to duty, he reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces.