ARCHER, BRUCE RAYMOND
Name: Bruce Raymond Archer
Rank/Branch: 03/United States Marine Corps, co-pilot
Unit: HMM 165
Date of Birth: 06 March 1942
Home City of Record: Rochester NY
Date of Loss: 28 March 1968
Country of Loss: South Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 160600 North 1072300 East
Status (in 1973): Returnee
Category:
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: CH46A, Tail # 151922
Incident No: Refno 1111
Other Personnel in Incident: Paul Montague, returnee
Source: Compiled by P.O.W. NETWORK from one or more of the following: raw
data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with POW/MIA
families, published sources, interviews.
REMARKS: 730316 RELEASED BY DRV
SOURCE: WE CAME HOME copyright 1977Captain and Mrs. Frederic A Wyatt (USNR Ret), Barbara Powers Wyatt, Editor
P.O.W. Publications, 10250 Moorpark St., Toluca Lake, CA 91602
Text is reproduced as found in the original publication (including date and
spelling errors).
UPDATE - 09/95 by the P.O.W. NETWORK, Skidmore, MO
BRUCE R. ARCHER
Captain - United States Marine Corps
Shot Down: March 29, 1968
Released: March 16, 1973
"I left this country in 1967 at a time in which few Americans were proved to
be called patriotic. I understand that today my friends who were with me
these past years are now a symbol of national unity. It is hard for us to
understand, because we are proud of you."--Captain Archer on arrival in the
United States.
Bruce R. Archer was born in Baltimore, Maryland on March 6, 1942, but later
moved to Rochester, New York. He attended RPI (Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute) in Troy, New York. He joined the Marine Corps Reserve in 1964 and
after his initial training, was sent to Pensacola where he met and courted
Carolyn Corinne Cahoon. With the romantic courtship of three months and a
frantic engagement of four months they were married on April Fool's Day
1967.
In November 1967 he left for Vietnam and on March 29, 1968, while
co-piloting a helicopter, he was captured with Major Paul J. Montague. They
were reported dead at the time. In 1969 his weight dropped below 100 pounds
due to treatment, humiliation and degradation. Very sparse food, little
water and severe corporal punishment made imprisonment most miserable. Upon
realizing their release might be imminent, their captors gave them more
food, some sunshine, and set about making them look presentable to the
world. On March 16, 1973 he was released weighing 145 pounds and now is at
170 pounds. An ability to laugh even in the dark days helped pull him
through.
On March 19, Captain Archer and his wife of six years renewed their wedding
vows, less than one hour after his arrival from Clark AFB in the
Philippines. Captain Archer said it marked "the re-birth, re-beginning of
their life together." The ceremony was filled with much emotion. A wedding
cake was baked by the hospital dietitian and with champagne, a reception was
held in the solarium of the hospital.
Captain Joe Hoagland and his wife, who were groomsman and bridesmaid in the
original wedding were also guests. Captain Hoagland had caught the garter
which Captain Archer threw, and in October of that year, Captain Hoagland's
wife-to-be wore the garter, as the something old "in their wedding." Later
when Captain Archer was declared killed, Captain Hoagland was sent to Vietnam
and was assigned to Captain Archer's former squadron and quarters. Later he
too was shot down and severely wounded. At the new ceremony, that original
garter was given to Captain Archer--a model Marine, intelligent, rugged, and
loyal.
A new life has now begun.
November 1996
Bruce Archer retired from the United States Marine Corps as a Major. He and
Carolyn reside in Florida.
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