CHAUNCEY, ARVIN ROY
Name: Arvin Roy Chauncey
Rank/Branch: O4/United States Navy, pilot
Unit: VA 212
Date of Birth: 10 November 1935
Home City of Record: Glendale CA
Date of Loss: 31 May 1967
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 213400 North 1063000 East
Status (in 1973): Returnee
Category:
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: A4E
Missions: 57
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
ARVIN R. CHAUNCEY
Commander - United States Navy
Shot Down: May 31,1967
Released: March 4, 1973
On 31 May 1967 I was leading the second division of A4-E aircraft on a
strike against Kep Airfield north of Hanoi. Just short of the target we
encountered a heavy barrage of AAA fire, and I was hit. That fateful
encounter with a piece of lifeless metal drastically changed my life. I
became another of the growing number of POWs in Hanoi. I, and many others,
refer to that day as "the day that I died." The weeks, months, and years
were hard in their ways, but rewarding in others. I learned about life. I
dreamed of a new life someday. I realized all that I had lost, all that I
had so easily taken for granted. Above all, I now knew that besides the
precious gift of life, the fact that I was born an American ran a close
second to that first God given blessing.
I prayed to be given the chance to return to this wonderful land, its people
and ideals, its freedoms and opportunities. There were times of despair when
I felt I existed in a vacuum of darkness, but always my faith in God,
country and family would overwhelm that emptiness and carry me on to the
next hour, day or year. My fellow Americans were always there in time of
sickness, despair, happiness or joy. We learned comradeship, loyalty and
faith in each other. You can't beat down or stop Americans when they attain
what we did together. We did it! We had to do it! If it can be done under
those trying circumstances, its a piece of cake to attain it here in
America. Just try!
I may have died on 31 May 1967, but I was given a new life on 4 March 1973.
I can not express the feeling I had when I became a free American. I was
indeed reborn to a land of wonderful, sincere, caring people. Our welcome
home by all you wonderful people is beyond description. I never dreamed that
the POWs were thought of outside our immediate families and government
personnel directly involved with the issue. To all of you I sincerely
express my deep gratitude for all you have done on my and my fellow POWs
behalf. God bless you all. You're the greatest!
I intend to continue my career in the US Navy. I want to fly again, go to
school for a master's degree, and then someday, after retirement, teach
school. My outlook on life is a bright and happy future. Life is full of
experiences. Hanoi imprisonment was but one of them. I profited by it,
because I now know what America means to me.
May 1998
Arvin Chauncey retired from the United States Navy as a Captain. He and his
wife Joanne reside in Minnesota. They have been married 25 years. They have
four children between them.
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