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POW/MIA shadow box captures significant event in Sheppard's history

  • Published
  • By Debi Smith
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Sheppard Air Force Base has long been known as a training installation. But training took a back seat to 38 military members and civilians in February 1973 when they were repatriated to the United States following their stay as prisoners of war in Vietnam.

In time for this year's POW/MIA day Sept. 17, the Sheppard AFB Heritage Center received a walnut shadow-box featuring brass plates with the names of those 38 members inscribed to recognize former POWs who came to Sheppard AFB for debriefing and medical evaluation. It holds the name and rank of each man, and the month and year of his date of capture and release. As a special tribute, a piece of the red carpet used for each arrival is part of the memory box.

The base also recognized this special day with a POW/MIA Day parade at the base parade field, followed by a wreath laying ceremony at the Sheppard AFB Heritage Center at 9 a.m.

On Jan. 26, 1973, the assistant secretary of defense for public affairs categorized the return of former prisoners of war from Vietnam as one of the most significant news stories of the past two decades. The Vietnam peace agreement was signed in Paris the next day and was followed by a cease-fire in Vietnam.

American POWs-565 military and 25 civilians-were repatriated through Clark Air Base, Philippines, and Travis Air Force Base, Calif., en route to regional military hospitals. The regional hospital at Sheppard was one of 17 facilities in the nation to ensure the health, welfare and rehabilitation of former prisoners of war under a public affairs program named "Project Homecoming."

The former Vietnam prisoners of war were processed through Sheppard AFB under the guidance of a hospital liaison, family liaison and media liaison. The 35 Air Force officers, two enlisted, and one civilian were processed at the Sheppard AFB hospital between Feb. 15 and April 1 for debriefings, medical examinations and treatment.

With the medical needs and health of the returning Airmen a paramount concern, Project Homecoming allowed individuals a chance to adjust to the time changes from the far East and become reacquainted with their families over a five day period.

They received public affairs briefings upon arrival, assistance during media press conferences and transcriptions of all press conferences.

Of the 38 former POWs, 35 of them and six of their wives held over 100 press conferences on Sheppard AFB.

As providence would have it, Brig. Gen. David Winn, himself a POW since 1968, became Sheppard AFB's vice commander in 1973.