ALPERS, JOHN H. Jr.

Name: John H. Alpers Jr.
Rank/Branch: O3/United States Air Force
Unit: 335th TFS
Date of Birth: 02 April 1948
Home City of Record: Boulder CO
Date of Loss: 05 October 1972
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 214300 North 1050800 East
Status (in 1973): Returnee
Category:
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: F4D
Missions: 87
Other Personnel in Incident: Keith Lewis, returnee, pilot

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: 730329 RELEASED BY DRV

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).
UPDATE - 09/95 by the P.O.W. NETWORK, Skidmore, MO

JOHN H. ALPERS, JR.
Captain - United States Air Force
Shot Down: October 5, 1972
Released: March 29, 1973

Personal: Age 33, 10 years military service, career Air Force, served as
Radar Navigator, B-52's, SAC, and Weapons System Officer, F-4's, PACAF and
TAC. Two combat tours in SEA.

Education: B. S. University of Colorado in 1963.
MBA Inter-American University at
Ramey AFB in Puerto Rico 1969.

Family: Sharon (wife), Vicki, 13 and Kristi, 10 (daughters), John III.

I was shot down over North Vietnam on 5 October 1972 while flying an F4
bombing mission. I was captured immediately and transported to the Hanoi
Hilton. After 22 days of isolation, I was taken to the "Zoo" where I spent
the major portion of my imprisonment. I was repatriated on 29 March 1973.

All my life I have felt a tremendous sense of pride and excitement when I
recited the Pledge of Allegiance, or heard the National Anthem and saw our
flag. But during the last few years there have been times when the actions
of small but vocal dissident groups have caused me great anxiety. It seemed
that our country was being pulled apart. Patriotism, love of country,
religious conviction-all were suspect and somehow "out of style." It has,
therefore, thrilled me beyond my wildest dreams to experience the tremendous
outpouring of love and genuine happiness that I have seen since my return.
From al! over the country letters have been sent to me and my family by
people we have never met, and there is a common thread throughout:
expressions of pride, patriotism, and the awareness of God's benevolence. It
has been a reaffirmation to me of the fact that I have always known to be
true - that love of country has not been lost and that the United States of
America is the most wonderful country on this earth. I am humbly proud to
have the privilege of serving her.

My immediate plans are for AFROTC faculty duty, and as much time with my
family as I can possibly obtain.

November 1996
John Alpers Jr retired from the United States Air Force as a Lt. Colonel. He
and Sharon reside in Colorado.

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