ALBERT, KEITH ALEXANDER

Name: Keith Albert Alexander
Rank/Branch: United States Army/E4
Unit: 937 ENG GR
Date of Birth: 25 March 1949
Home City of Record: Thibodeaus LA
Date of Loss: 21 May 1970
Country of Loss: South Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 115148 North 1082752 East
Status (in 1973): Returnee
Category:
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: 2 Track
Missions:
Other Personnel in Incident:
Refno: 1622

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. Updated in 1999.

REMARKS: 730212 RELEASED BY PRG

SOURCE: WE CAME HOME copyright 1977
Captain 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).

KEITH ALBERT
Specialist 4 - United States Army
Captured: May 21, 1970
Released: February 12, 1973

Since becoming a prisoner of the Viet Cong, no one - his family, his friends,
or even the Army had heard from him. He wasn't a verified POW until the cease
fire was signed and Hanoi released the official POW list.

While a POW he was locked in a wooden cage with chains shackled to his ankles.
In the confinement he occupied his time working algebra problems, playing
chess with makeshift cardboard pieces, and making rosaries and bracelets from
stones and tin cans.

On his return home from the prison camps he wore some beads and a cross he
made while serving as a POW. He said he looked forward to seeing his brother's
child, who was born after his capture, but he tried not to think of home too
much because "it got me down". He prayed for the war to end, expected the
worst as he made the stone rosary to pass the time which moved so slowly.

The things he loved most were getting out of the elevator at Brooke Army
Hospital, where he first saw his family, flying to New Orleans and the great
reception at home. He also delighted in shopping at the Post Exchange at
Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines where "just being able to spend money
was a treat, a real unusual experience".

"It's just beautiful, really beautiful. Great to be home!"


1999

Keith and his family reside in Louisiana. He has received hundreds of
bracelets and letters since his return home.

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