POLLARD, BEN M.

Name: Ben M. Pollard
Rank/Branch: O3/United States Air Force
Unit: 80th TFS
Date of Birth: 27 February 1932
Home City of Record: Shelbeyville KY
Date of Loss: 15 May 1967
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 212900 North 1063000 East
Status (in 1973): Returnee
Category:
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: F105F
Missions: 11
Other Personnel in Incident: Donald Heilinger, returnee, pilot

Source: Compiled by P.O.W. NETWORK April 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

Donald Heiliger was the pilot and Lt. Col. Ben Pollard the "GIB" when they
were shot down on May 15, 1967. They were flying as part of "Ryan's Raiders"
out of Korat.

They were flying a night low level bombing run on railroad marshalling yards
30 miles northeast of Hanoi. Either small arms or light AAA set the plane
afire. They ejected safely. Heiliger received minimum rib and leg injuries
when his parachute caught in a tree. Pollard received many cuts and bruises,
and initially was paralyzed from the waist down from back injuries. They
were both taken prisoner separately, but met on the way to Hanoi.

Once in captivity, Pollard spent two weeks in Heartbreak, fourteen months in
Desert Inn, Little Las Vegas, two years in Sontay, six more months in
Heartbreak, one month in Riviera-Little Las Vegas, and then two years three
months in Camp Unity - Hilton. He was tortured while in Cell #18 of New Guy
Village.

Donald Heiliger was released on February 18, 1973, Pollard on March 4th.

Pollard was awarded the Silver Star with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Legion of Merit
with 1 OLC, Bronze Star with Valor with 1 OLC, Meritorious Service Medal,
Air Medal, Purple Heart with 1 OLC and the P.O.W. Medal.

Ben Pollard was medically retired from the United States Air Force as a
Colonel after more than 26 years of outstanding service. He helped start a
long-distance telephone service, selling out after 4 years. He now teaches
and repairs computers. He and his wife have travelled extensively. He enjoys
skiing, sailplanes, gardening and overseas travel. He and Joan have 2
children and 4 grandchildren. They reside in California.

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