Luncheon honors POW, MIA veterans

  • Published
  • By Christina Carmen Crea
  • Northwest Guardian
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. --  World War II POW Maj. Bob Meyer was one of 14 POW veterans honored during Joint Base Lewis-McChord's POW/MIA Remembrance Week Luncheon Sept. 18.

"I was working in a slave labor camp when the Russian Army came to our rescue," Meyer said. "About a dozen of us got out, fled on foot or on bicycles and followed them out to the Elbe River."

Meyer was captured and put in a German slave camp Dec. 18, 1944. He escaped with others on May 2, 1945 and was liberated by the Russian Army on May 6, 1945.

Meyer said he's been coming to POW/MIA events for a few years.

"It's great to meet others who also experienced similar things," Meyer said. "Although it took years for us to be recognized, it's vindicating to be honored for what we had gone through. I've made a lot of friends through these events, we experienced the same things. No one can understand what we went through besides us, and it cannot be described into words."

The United States' National POW/MIA Recognition Day is observed across the nation on the third Friday of September each year. Many Americans take the time to remember those who were POW and those who are MIA, as well as their families.

JBLM's POW/MIA Remembrance Week luncheon Sept. 18 included a medallion ceremony, Posting of the Colors by the McChord Field Honor Guard, National Anthem singer, chicken or steak lunch served and a special guest speaker.

"Every year we do an entire week of events for National POW/MIA Recognition Day," said Master Sgt. Brandy Hite, 62nd Comptroller Squadron. "It's always a touching time for people to come together and meet POW."

Retired Lt. Col. Barry B. Bridger, a highly decorated Air Force pilot and survivor of six years in Vietnam's infamous "Hanoi Hilton" POW camp, was the guest speaker at the event.

"The cost of freedom is high, but the blessings of liberty is priceless," Bridger said. "I redirect gratitude to those of you who paid the tribute so we could have freedom. Liberty is not just for America's, it's the God-given right of all mankind."

During his speech, Bridger connected with the veterans and service members in the room on various issues, but all could agree on the top three things that keep them going through tough situation.

"Communication, laughter and prayer," Bridger said. "Although we were prisoners and often in isolation, nobody can touch the value of a good heart and spirit."

In 1965, Bridger completed the US Army parachutist-training course at Ft. Benning, Georgia, and in 1966 he completed his first combat tour, flying missions in Vietnam. He returned to the United States, advanced to aircraft commander in the F-4 Phantom and began a second tour, again flying missions over Vietnam.

During those two tours, he accumulated over 200 combat flying hours and completed more than 70 combat missions over North Vietnam.

On Jan. 23, 1967, he was shot down over Son Tay, North Vietnam by a surface-to-air missile, captured by the North Vietnamese and imprisoned.

Following his repatriation in March 1973, he re-qualified in jet aircraft and was assigned to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina. While there, he served as an instructor pilot in air-to-ground combat and held positions of flight commander and assistant operations officer.

In October 1984, he retired after 22 years of service in the Air Force. His awards and decorations include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal and V device, Purple Heart with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters and Prisoner of War Medal.

"It's been an incredible week recognizing POW and MIA and the opportunity to meet real heroes," said Commander of the 62nd Airlift Wing Col. Leonard Kosinski. "We recognize the sacrifice of those who aren't here and the opportunity of learning about our heritage for those who wore the uniform."