BRAZELTON, MICHAEL LEE

Name: Michael Lee Brazelton
Rank/Branch: O2/United States Air Force
Unit: 357th TFS
Date of Birth: 12 March 1942
Home City of Record: Inglewood CA
Date of Loss: 07 August 1966
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 215500 North 1055100 East
Status (in 1973): Returnee
Category:
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: F105D
Missions: 120
Other Personnel in Incident: none

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: 730304 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

MICHAEL LEE BRAZELTON
Captain- United States Air Force
Shot Down: August 7, 1966
Released: March 4, 1973


Captain Brazelton was born 19 March 1942. His home town is Inglewood,
California. He attended the Morningside High School and Northrop Institute
of Technology. He has a BS Degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical
Engineering. He attended the Air Force Officer Training School from February
1964 to May 1964; the Undergraduate Pilot Training, Reese AFB, Texas from
June 1964 to July 1965; F-105 Combat Crew Training Squadron, Nellis AFB,
Nevada from July 1965 to December 1965. He was part of the 357th Tactical
Fighter Squadron, 355th Tactical Fighter Wing, Takhli AFB, Thailand from
January 1966 to August 1966.

Captain Brazelton was shot down by flak on 7 August 1966 at Thai Nguyen on
his 120th combat mission. He holds the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying
Cross and eight Air medals. He has 330 hours combat flying time.

Captain Brazelton's message:

"After spending six and a half years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam,
it is an understatement to say that 'It's good to be home.' The experience
that I and my compatriots underwent was, without a doubt, a filthy,
frustrating, boring, monotonous, heart-breaking, uncomfortable, and (many
times) painful existence.

"The extraordinary praise that has been directed at us since our return is,
we feel, undeserved. It seemed obvious that we should have conducted
ourselves as we did while prisoners. As military officers and men we did
nothing more than what was our duty.

"The tremendous and enthusiastic reception that was part of home-coming has
made me super-proud that I am an American. After looking at the face of the
enemy for a considerable period of time, there is no doubt in my mind that
the United States is the paragon of freedom regardless of imperfections that
may exist.

"Those of us who were prisoners during this conflict have as much esteem and
respect for our countrymen who supported their POWs as Americans seem to
have for us. That support and devotion greatly helped our morale and
physical well-being. Without it, many of us would not have returned with the
good health, both physical and mental, that we did. And, perhaps, some might
not have returned at all.

"When I try to think of the most profound statement possible with which I
can express my thoughts, all I can say is: 'It's good to be home!' "


Michael Brazelton retired from the United States Air Force as a Col. He and
his family reside in Virginia. On August 5, 1999, Michael lost his dearly
beloved, Antonieta (Tonya) after a long struggle with cancer. Michael and
their three daughters were with her when she died peacefully in her sleep.

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