VP-26 hosts POW/MIA ceremony

VP-26 hosts POW/MIA ceremony

(EXCERPT)

By:NC1 (AW/SW) Steven L. Rothert and AM1 (AW) Daniel B. Wagner , Photo
by PHAN Jared W. Thurber, VP-26 10/30/2003

Spotlight

NAS Brunswick, Maine - Patrol Squadron 26 (VP-26) commemorated the
missing crew of "HB 7" in a solemn POW/MIA ceremony Sept. 19.
Following an old maritime tradition, PN1 Corbett struck a ship's bell
once as CMDCM (AW/SW/NAC) Aaron Shipley, VP-26 command master chief,
read the name of each missing crewmember. A small table, set with
symbols of grief and a solitary empty chair, represented missing
crewmembers. Retired Cmdr. Bob Fant honored the squadron as the guest
speaker. Fant received his wings in 1965 as a Naval Flight Officer and
was assigned to VP-26. Following his tour at VP-26, he was assigned to
Fighter Squadron 102 aboard USS America (CV-66). While serving aboard
the America in the Gulf of Tonkin, he was shot down in July of 1968
during his 52nd combat mission. The North Vietnamese immediately
captured him and held him captive for four years and eight months,
before finally releasing him in March 1973. Fant enriched each
Sailor's perspective of the words "support and defend" and "true faith
and allegiance" through his own accounts and experien...

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---------------------------
Otis Willie
Associate Librarian
The American War Library
http://www.americanwarlibrary.com