Museum of Aviation hosts panel for Vietnam POWs to share homecoming stories
The Museum of Aviation is hosting an event called Operation Homecoming on April 21 from 1–3:30 p.m. in Warner Robins that will feature former prisoners of war and their homecoming stories.
Four American panelists will speak about their experiences as POWs in North Vietnam and answer questions from the audience. Speakers include Brig. Gen. James Sehorn, Col. Leon Ellis, Capt. William Arcuri and Capt. Will Robinson. Assistant professor of history at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Douglas Kennedy will be moderating.
The panel will be held in the Museum of Aviation’s (1942 Heritage Blvd.) Century of Flight Hangar in Warner Robins and is open to the public with limited seating. To reserve your seat for free, visit the foundation’s website.
This is the first event in the museum’s Heritage Series and will commemorate the 50th anniversary of Operation Homecoming.
When a ceasefire with North Vietnam was agreed to in 1973 and American forces withdrew from South Vietnam, a deal was made to free American soldiers who were being held captive. The deal was called Operation Homecoming. Though it did not bring home all Americans POWs, for many it was a ticket back to freedom.
Who are the speakers?
The four panelists speaking at Operation Homecoming have all spent time in North Vietnamese prison camps — and most of them were stuck for years before making it home.
Sehorn is originally from Middle Georgia and was held as a POW in North Vietnam for 1,917 days. As a lieutenant, he flew combat missions with the 469th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Korat Royal Thai AFB, Thailand. His F-105 was shot down in November of 1967, forcing him to evacuate, and he was taken prisoner in North Vietnam as a result.
Ellis was held as a POW in North Vietnam for over five years after his plane was shot down and captured in November, 1967. After obtaining his pilot wings in 1966 at Moody AFB, GA, Ellis was assigned to Danang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam, in 1967. There he piloted 68 combat missions, 53 of which were over North Vietnam, before being captured.
Arcuri was a B-52 copilot with the 744th Bomb Squadron of the 456th Bomb Wing at Beale AFB, California. After he was forced to eject from his plane in December of 1972, he was taken prisoner in North Vietnam and held for 55 days. On Feb. 12, 1973, during Operation Homecoming, he was released and able to return home.
Airman First Class Robinson had been working as a crew chief on a U.S. Air Force Rescue helicopter when he was shot down over North Vietnam and captured.
He was taken prisoner on Sept. 20, 1965, and was held captive briefly in the “Hanoi Hilton” before facing 2,703 days in multiple North Vietnamese prison camps. One of these camps was Briarpatch, known for its harsh conditions.
