1973: HAMILTON HERO GERALD VENANZI

How well I remember the parade they held in honor of Captain Gerald Vananzi! Most Hamiltonians were on the sidelines cheering the Viet Nam hero who was a prisoner of war. I often wondered what happened to Captain Vananzi; nothing was heard from him after his return to Hamilton in 1973.


The following is from, "WE CAME HOME," copyright 1977, by Captain and Mrs. Frederic A Wyatt (USNR Ret), Barbara Powers Wyatt, Editor - P.O.W. Publications, 10250 Moorpark St., Toluca Lake, CA 91602

UPDATE - 09/95 by the P.O.W. NETWORK, Skidmore, MO.:

GERALD S. VENANZI

Captain - United States Air ForceShot Down: September 17, 1967

Released: March 14, 1973

I was born on the 30th of June 1944 in Trenton, New Jersey where I havelived for my entire life. After high school I attended Parks College of St.Louis University where I received a degree in Aeronautics in 1965. InOctober 1966 I completed my navigator training and started RF-4C training atShaw AFB, South Carolina and Mt. Home AFB, Idaho. In June 1962 I proceededto Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, where I was permanently stationed.On the 17th of September 1967 while navigator on an RF-4C aircraft, I washit by a Surface-to-Air missile and ejected from my aircraft about 25 milessouthwest of Hanoi. After spending 45 minutes on the ground, I was capturedby the enemy, thus starting my internment.I think I can summarize my experience and survival as three faiths and onetruth. Faith in your country. That the United States involvement in Vietnam was thecorrect decision for our government to make. Also faith that the governmentwas doing everything they could for us. Faith in God. My faith in religion grew as I was a prisoner. I saw manythings happen which could possibly be described as minor miracles. At anyrate, I knew God was with us.
Faith in my fellow POWs. No one turned in another POW to the enemy. Youcould always count on another POW for support in any way they could give it.During a period of solitary confinement I was very depressed and I attributemy sanity directly to three POWs who gave me constant encouragement.
Last, the truth. The truth we knew to help us battle the enemies' propagandaprogram. My future plans at this time are somewhat unsettled, although I believe Iwill return to Mather AFB, California as an instructor navigator. Anotherpossibility is to go to law school

Gerald Venanzi retired from the United States

Air Force as a Colonel. He andhis wife Carol reside in Virginia.