BLEVINS, JOHN CHARLES
Name: John Charles Blevins
Rank/Branch: O3/United States Air Force
Unit: 357th TFS
Date of Birth: 07 March 1939
Home City of Record: San Antonio TX
Date of Loss: 09 September 1966
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 21300N 1064200E
Status (in 1973): Returnee
Category:
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: F105D, #4275
Missions: 85
Incident No: 0451
Other Personnel in Incident: none

Source: Compiled by P.O.W. NETWORK March 1997 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

JOHN C. BLEVINS
Major - United States Air Force
Shot Down: September 9, 1966
Released: March 4, 1973

"Freedom is a very dear subject to my heart," said Major John Blevins at a
meeting honoring him. He defined freedom as "being free to read, write,
question, 'do your own thing,' seek happiness, and the right to believe or
not to believe. With freedom goes the responsibility to respect other
people's freedom."

When he was shot down six and one half years ago, he had a broken leg but he
was given no aid. Instead, he was given a roommate immediately. He says he
owes a debt greater than he could repay in a lifetime for the care given him
by his roommate. Later a third man was added to their 12 x 12 foot room.
There was little ventilation and no temperature control. It was a "hotbox"
in the summer and around 35 degrees in the winter. The men were not allowed
to work but were penned up 24 hours a day.

The men were able to endure each others' company in these cramped quarters
through "ideas and faith" which brought them together. Faith in God was the
source of great strength to Major Blevins. He said that his captors knew the
great strength which faith gave to the prisoners. "They feared what God can
do." Although he and others requested a Bible, the request was denied, as
were religious services until the last year or so, except Christmas.

Anti-war protestors, in conjunction with the North Vietnamese, contributed
to the agony of the prisoners of war. The prisoners were tortured by the
North Vietnamese whenever anti-war protestors visited the camps, in an
attempt to make the prisoners agree to see them.

Major Blevins describes Country as "It is more than cities, mountains, and
rivers. People make the country and I have met none finer than here in the
United States and my fellow prisoners of war."

He was elated at his welcome home and leaves this message to his countrymen:
"Guard your freedom with your lives. Without freedom, life is but a poor
existence."

November 1996
John Blevins retired from the United States Air Force as a Lt. Colonel. He
and his wife Judy reside in Texas.

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