LAWRENCE, WILLIAM PORTER
Name: William Porter Lawrence
Rank/Branch: O5/US Navy
Unit: Attack Squadron 143, USS CONSTELLATION
Date of Birth:
Home City of Record: Nashville TN
Date of Loss: 28 June 1967
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 203300N 1060400E (XH111725)
Status (in 1973): Released POW
Category:
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: F4B
Missions: 50+
Other Personnel in Incident: James W. Bailey (released POW)
Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 15 May 1990 from one or more of the
following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with
POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews. Updated by the P.O.W.
NETWORK.
REMARKS: 730304 RELSD BY DRV
SYNOPSIS: The USS CONSTELLATION provided air power to the U.S. effort in
Vietnam early in the war, having participated in strikes against Loc Chao
and Hon Gai in North Vietnam during August 1964. One of the first American
POWs of the war, and certainly one of the most well-known, LTJG Everett
Alverez, launched from her decks and was captured during this series of
strikes in 1964. The CONSTELLATION was large and carried a full range of
aircraft. Fighters from her air wing, CVW-14, earned the carrier the
Meritorious Unit Commendation in 1968 during a particularly intense period
of air attacks. VF-96, a premier fighter squadron awarded the Clifton Trophy
two straight years, flew from the CONSTELLATION in October 1971. During this
period, two of her pilots, LT Randall H. Cunningham and LTJG William
"Willie" Driscoll became the first American aces of the Vietnam War, having
shot down five Russian-made MiG enemy aircraft. The CONSTELLATION remained
on station throughout most of the war.
One of the aircraft launched from the decks of the CONSTELLATION was the F4
Phantom. The Phantom, used by Air Force, Marine and Navy air wings, served a
multitude of functions including fighter-bomber and interceptor, photo and
electronic surveillance. The two man aircraft was extremely fast (Mach 2),
and had a long range (900 - 2300 miles, depending on stores and mission
type). The F4 was also extremely maneuverable and handled well at low and
high altitudes. The F4 was selected for a number of state-of-the-art
electronics conversions, which improved radar intercept and computer bombing
capabilities enormously. Most pilots considered it one of the "hottest"
planes around.
CDR William P. "Bill" Lawrence was the commanding officer of Attack Squadron
143 onboard the USS CONSTELLATION. On 28 June 1967, Lawrence and his
backseater, LTJG James W. Bailey, flew a mission over Nam Dinh, North
Vietnam in their F4B Phantom. The aircraft was hit by enemy fire and the
crew was forced to eject. Both Lawrence and Bailey were captured by the
North Vietnamese.
It was not yet known that POWs were being tortured in captivity in Vietnam,
but Lawrence was to endure five consecutive days of misery in the hands of
his captors. By the time Lawrence and Bailey reached Hanoi, other POW
officers were devising their own code of conduct that specifically applied
to the problems they encountered as prisoners of war.
For the next six years, Lawrence and Bailey were held prisoner in the Hanoi
prison system. Finally, on February 18, 1973, Bailey was released, and on
March 4 Lawrence was released. The two were among 591 Americans that were
released in Operation Homecoming in the spring of 1973.
Since the war ended, nearly 10,000 reports relating to Americans missing,
prisoner or unaccounted for in Southeast Asia have been received by the U.S.
Government. Many authorities who have examined this largely classified
information are convinced that hundreds of Americans are still held captive
today. These reports are the source of serious distress to many returned
American prisoners. They had a code that no one could honorably return
unless all of the prisoners returned. Not only that code of honor, but the
honor of our country is at stake as long as even one man remains unjustly
held. It's time we brought our men home.
James W. Bailey was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant during his captivity.
William P. Lawrence remained in the Navy and attained the rank of Vice
Admiral.
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
WILLIAM P. LAWRENCE
Captain - United States Navy
Shot Down: June 28, 1967
Released: March 4, 1973
I was shot down during an early morning bombing mission. Hours thereafter I
had my first interrogation session. I had been captured by a band of stick
swinging peasants who turned me over to the armed citizenry. The militia
decided that we would run the entire distance to the outpost where I would
be transported to Hanoi. we ran two abreast with the peasants and tattered
clothed children running along poking and prodding me with their sticks. I
had always kept myself in good physical condition, but my guard was in his
twenties and I was in my late thirties and did not have the endurance of a
younger man. It's hard for a person to believe, but I was literally running
for my life. We ran for an hour or two, we finally reached the outpost, I
was blindfolded and handcuffed, placed in a truck for an unbelievably
uncomfortable trip to Hanoi. Upon my arrival I was put on the floor in a
room, tied and blindfolded. I was left for about an hour. Then in came the
famous Bug who was in charge of my interrogation. He had probably the worst
personality I had ever encountered in my life and had a great deal of hatred
for Americans and delighted in his role of being in charge of the camp's
torture program. When I refused to answer their questions I was given to
understand that I was a criminal and would be treated as such. It wasn't
long before the torture session started. A professional jailer before the
war, old Strap and Bar, also known as Pig Eye, soon went to work on me. The
flesh was literally stripped from my ankles from writhing in the irons. I
still carry the cigarette burns on my arms which are the result of a torture
session. We were not only tortured for information, but also to visit with
peace delegations. If we refused, we were tortured and if one finally
consented to do so, he would be tortured before hand to be certain he said
the right things. You could never trust a Communist. I've never met one who
would tell you the truth.
Time passed slowly. We learned to plan our day around thinking. I went
through my complete life detail by detail three times. However, when we were
allowed to have roommates we would find out what each man knew and then
exchange information. We were only allowed to speak in a whisper. One of my
specialty areas is the Civil War I shared this information. One roommate
knew a lot about the repair of automobiles he taught us auto maintenance;
another was proficient in Spanish and another in French. The North
Vietnamese would not give us any writing materials but it wasn't long before
we had our own supply. Pencils were made out of toothpaste tubes. We learned
to sharpen the points of bamboo sticks and use stolen Vietnamese medicine or
ink. Ink can be made by mixing charcoal with soap.
The days were easy to determine because we were not permitted to wash on
Sunday. Our "baths" were taken from something like an old horse trough and a
can was given to you to pour cold water over you. This outdoor facility was
the one used in winter and summer.
Now that I am home I wish I could bring Bug back to the United States and
show him how distorted his views of our country really are. I would like
to give him a grand tour of the United States and show him that America is
humane and tries to do what is right.
My main message that I wish to convey is my deep feeling of gratitude to the
American people for their many kindnesses to the returned POWs for their
constant concern and prayers during our captivity and for their magnificent
efforts to bring us home. We shall be eternally indebted to the people of
this wonderful country.
December 1996
William Lawrence retired from the United States Navy as a Vice Admiral. He
and his wife Diane reside in Maryland.
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