KIRK, THOMAS H.

Name: Thomas H. Kirk
Rank/Branch: United States Air Force/O5
Unit:
Date of Birth:
Home City of Record: Portsmounth VA
Date of Loss: 28 Oct 1967
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 205000 North 10547000 East
Status (in 1973): Returnee
Category:
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: F105D
Missions:
Served in Korea
Other Personnel in Incident:

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: 730314 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

THOMAS HENRY KIRK JR.
Colonel - United States Air Force
Shot Down: October 28, 1967
Released: March 14, 1973

Alas, the trial is past, and as one of the happiest citizens of these great
and wonderful United States, I return home. Amidst the gamut of emotions - all
of which radiate with happiness and thanksgiving - I find myself lying awake
at night reflecting on ever so many different things. Strangely enough, the
bad things are soon forgotten and the most overwhelming emotion which
prevails, and indeed permeates, my entire being in these days, is
thanksgiving.

Thanks to the Almighty God for my life and health.

Thanks to our great President Nixon for his faith and support to bring us home
with honor.

Thanks to, and pride in, my wonderful wife, Jolanda, for her love, courage and
strength during the long wait.

Thanks to the millions of Americans who never stopped working to bring us
home. Thanks for being a citizen of these wonderful United States.

I see myself as a man who has lived daily in an environment completely devoid
of freedom, not only as a prisoner but as an observer of an entire society
without freedom. I realize so deeply the meaning and value of our American
heritage. Patriotism has become, for many, a "corny" thing. For me, it is more
important than at any time in my life. To my fellow ex-POWs and to our great
country, I pledge myself to be a responsible citizen, to work for rejuvenation
of a patriotic spirit and to support our cherished institutions. How wonderful
it is to be an American come home!

December
Thomas Kirk Jr. retired from the United States Air Force as a Colonel. He
and his wife Ann reside in Colorado.

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