ANDERSON, JOHN

Name: John Anderson
Rank/Branch: O3/United States Air Force, pilot
Unit: 4th TFS
Date of Birth: 01 October 1946
Home City of Record: Portland OR
Date of Loss: 27 December 1972
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 212000 North 1062000 East
Status (in 1973): Returnee
Category:
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: F4E
Missions: 50+
Other Personnel in Incident: Brian Ward, 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: 730212 RELEASED BY DRV INJURED

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 W. ANDERSON
Captain - United States Air Force
Shot Down: December 27, 1972
Released: March 12, 1973

I was born in Portland, Oregon on October 1, 1946 and grew up in that city.
I attended the University of Oregon and graduated in 1968 with a degree in
Marketing and an ROTC commission in the USAF. I attended pilot training at
Laughlin AFB in Del Rio, Texas. I met my wife, Loranna, during my year in
UPT and we were married 20 March 1970.

My first assignment for the Air Force was flying transports on the East
Coast. After a year and a half I received my fighter assignment--an F-4,
with training at Luke AFB, Arizona. After completing training, I was
assigned to Da N'ang AB, Vietnam. My squadron was transferred to Tahkli AB,
Thailand and then settled at Udorn AB, Thailand.

I was shot down on December 27, 1972 during the Christmas Offensive about 40
miles north east of Hanoi while flying a MIG CAP (a protective strike
aircraft against attacking MlGs.) Both my arms were broken during ejection
and I was captured immediately.

During my confinement my faith was restored due to the organization the
older prisoners had set up and their extreme faith in God, their country,
and their President. Being a prisoner was a very trying experience on a
man's mind and body and although I was fortunate in having to spend only a
short time in confinement, I learned from the older POWs the true meaning of
faith, determination, and, most important of all--Patriotism.

Our release was a great time for us and the American people. I hope this
lesson in faith shown by the POWs will not soon be forgotten. The United
States is beyond a doubt the greatest place to be. I was returned on 12
March 1973 and it was the happiest day of my life due to our reception.
Thank you.

November 1996
John Anderson retired from the United States Air Force as a Major. He still
resides in Oregon.

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