MECLEARY, READ BLAINE

Name: Read Blaine Mecleary
Rank/Branch: O2/United States Navy, pilot
Unit: VA 93
Date of Birth: 07 April 1942
Home City of Record: Old Greenwich CT
Date of Loss: 26 May 1967
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 212700N 106310E
Status (in 1973): Returnee
Category:
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: A4E, #152022
Missions: 56
Refno: 0710
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, personal 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 - 02/97 by the P.O.W. NETWORK, Skidmore, MO with material provided by
Read Mecleary.

READ B. MECLEARY
Lieutenant Commander - United States Navy
Shot Down: May 26, 1967
Released: March 4, 1973

I was born April 7, 1942 in New York and moved immediately to Old Greenwich
Connecticut to the same home in which I now live. I attended public schools
except for my last year in high school playing most of the normal sports at
one time or another my main interests being summer water sports. My love of
planes and the sea eventually led me to Naval Aviation. After one year at
Severn Prep School in Maryland I entered the U.S. Naval Academy and graduated
in 1964. Immediately I went to flight training and received my wings on
December 23 1965. From there to NAS Lemoore to fly the A-4 single seat light
attack jet aircraft. In July 1966 I joined my squadron VA-93 and left for SEA
in January 1967. On May 26th on my 56th mission the plane I was piloting
was hit by a surface-to-air missile when on a strike against Kep Airfield
60km east of Hanoi. When I ejected I was badly injured due to the 600+ mile
an hour winds blasts and was unable to walk for about two months. I was
held prisoner in seven different prison camps in and around Hanoi and one
about 10km south of the Chinese border. Like most other American POWs I was
tortured with ropes for military and political information. On March 4 1973
after 69 months and five days I was released. I was awarded the Silver Star,
Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Purple Heart,
Air Medal and Navy Commendation Medal.

My future plans include getting my knees fixed and flying F-14 jet fighter-
type aircraft at Miramar California near San Diego. My main interest is my
new wife and new home!

I can only thank God that I am an American and that I have so many wonderful
countrymen who really care. Operation Homecoming was the most moving
experience of my life. America is a very wonderful county the Greatest on
Earth! And it promises to become even greater! !

I am grateful that I am from a country where our way of life is our
"indoctrination" not some "garbage" pushed on us by a political commissar!
We are indeed blessed to he Americans. God bless America and God Bless you,
the American people!

February 1997
Reflecting on his hoemcoming, Mecleary says he was "glad it was finally
over." He was "proud of fellow POWs and our leadership." Captivity gave him
"a greater appreciation for life and for the USA and all of its freedoms and
wonders."

Read Mecleary left active duty as a Navy Captain in 1976. He continued in the
Naval Reserves, flying with VR-57. He was the Commanding Officer for North
Island from May 1983 to November 1984. He retired as an O-6 Captain in 1987.
He joined a major airline after he left active duty, and he is now
upgrading to Captain, flying 767's.

Read and his wife Margie have one son. Margie has been a flight attendant
for 32+ years. They reside in California.

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