SIMONET, KENNETH ADRIAN

Name: Kenneth Adrain Simonet
Rank/Branch: United States Air Force/04
Unit:
Date of Birth: 03 November 1924
Home City of Record: West Point NY
Date of Loss: 18 January 1968
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 211800 North 1061200 East
Status (in 1973): Returnee
Category:
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: F4D #7581
Missions:
Served in the Pacific in WWII
Other Personnel in Incident:
Refno: 0993

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.

EMARKS: 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).

KENNETH A. SIMONET
Colonel - United States Air Force
Shot Down: January 18, 1968
Released: March 14, 1973

I was born on 3 November 1924. I consider Chicago my home town even though I
was born in New York and attended the first few grades of school while living
there.

For me, Chicago was a great place to grow up. The Lake, parks, excitement of a
big city, and good friends all combined to give me fond memories of Chicago.

In 1942 I finished high school and entered the United States Marine Corps. l
served in the Southwest Pacific in the 1st Marine Raider Battalion and the 4th
Marine Regiment.

When the war ended I elected to take a discharge and try the Gl Bill. I
entered college but was unable to meet my financial needs and thus dropped out
of school and re-enlisted. This time I went into the Army, serving with the
11th Airborne Division in Japan. While there I received an appointment to the
Military Academy.

I passed the exams and became a West Point Cadet in June of 1948. I graduated
in 1952 with a commission in the US Air Force. The Air Force sent me to Texas
and Arizona for pilot training. I have enjoyed a variety of interesting jobs
in the Air Force. For instance, I've been an instructor pilot, TAC pilot,
AFROTC instructor and have had a smattering of test project work.

On 18 January 1968, while serving on my second tour in Southeast Asia, I was
shot down in the vicinity of Hanoi. My captivity lasted until 14 March 1973 at
which time I was released and I was reunited with my wife and five children.

My POW experience reinforced my belief that communism is at heart a deceitful,
oppressive system. Prisoners of War to them are chattel to be used to make
propaganda. Total isolation, torment and torture, were their methods.
Propaganda was their goal.

I plan to stay in the Air Force and also to obtain a Master's Degree in
Business Administration.

NOTE: Should anyone know the where-a-bouts of Ken Simonet please contact the
P.O.W. NETWORK at 660-928-3304 or email pownet@asde.com

---

Use your Browser's BACK function to return to the PREVIOUS page

---