Operation Homecoming: Honoring Vietnam POWs
The U.S.’s involvement in Vietnam ended with Operation Homecoming in 1973, when 591 American Prisoners of War (325 of which were Airmen) were released from North Vietnamese camps and returned to American soil. To ensure their resilience, sacrifice, and heroism 50 years ago does not go forgotten, AFA is proud to recognize these five former-POW Airmen at the 2023 Air, Space & Cyber Conference.
COL. MICHAEL BRAZELTON, USAF (RET.)
Brazelton served with the 357th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing at Takhli Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, in February 1966. He flew 111 combat missions before being forced to eject over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War on August 7, 1966. After spending 2,402 days in captivity, Brazelton was released during Operation Homecoming on March 4, 1973. He went on to serve a further 15 years in the Air Force before retiring in 1987.
COL. BOB CERTAIN, USAF (RET.)
Certain began flying combat missions in Vietnam in 1971. On December 18, 1972, the B-52G he was on was hit by two surface-to-air missiles over Hanoi and the crew was forced to eject. Certain survived the crash and spent the following 101 days as a Prisoner of War. He was released during Operation Homecoming on March 29, 1973. After his return, Certain became an Air Force Chaplain and went into the Air Force Reserve on September 2, 1977. He retired from the Air Force Reserve in 1999.
COL. LEE ELLIS, USAF (RET.)
Ellis served with the 390th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 366th Tactical Fighter Wing at Da Nang AB in the Republic of Vietnam until he was forced to eject over North Vietnam while flying his 68th combat mission on November 7, 1967. After spending 1,955 days in captivity, Ellis was released during Operation Homecoming on March 14, 1973. He retired from the Air Force in 1990 and, since then, has authored three books and speaks professionally, sharing leadership lessons from the Hanoi Hilton.
COL. TOM KIRK, USAF (RET.)
Kirk flew combat missions as the Commander of the 357th Tactical Fighter Squadron out of Takhli Royal Thai AFB, Thailand until October 28, 1967, when he was forced to eject from his F-105 Thunderchief when it was hit by anti-aircraft fire over North Vietnam. He was immediately captured and taken as a Prisoner of War. After spending the next 1,964 days in captivity, he was released during Operation Homecoming on March 14, 1973. He retired in 1978 after 28 years in the Air Force.
LT. COL. TOM HANTON, USAF (RET.)
Hanton was assigned as an F-4E WSO with the 4th Tactical Fighter Squadron at DaNang AB, South Vietnam in 1972 when he was forced to eject over North Vietnam on his 135th combat mission. He was taken as a POW on June 27 and spent 275 days in captivity before his release during Operation Homecoming on March 28, 1973. Hanton went on to participate in Operation Desert Storm, flying combat support missions in the AWACS and EC-130H “Compass Call” providing battle management. He retired in 1993 after 26 years in the Air Force.
