I just found this in an old file.  I think its time to review this once again, don’t you?
It needs to be reviewed occasionally, with reverence and deep appreciation.
And with thoughts about those cited here who have since left us….

Bill

PS: Tonight we had a “Holiday Parade” here in Palos Verdes.
Jingle Bells was played by many of the bands that marched and sang… no psalms, and no Christmas songs.
It wasn’t a “Christmas Parade” .. it was a “Holiday Parade”.
That way no one’s feelings were hurt.
But I wonder what ‘Holiday” they were all celebrating?
Good thing that didn’t come up that night in the “Hanoi Hilton”! BH

==============

Mac’s Facts no. 45 (Room 7, Hanoi Hilton)

November 17, 2001

Note:  In late 2000, CAG Stockdale (Room 7 SRO) asked his old friend, By Fuller to provide a list of the roommates of Room 7, Hanoi Hilton as of Christmas 1970. The roommates of this room were extraordinary, both at the time of incarceration, and then later in freedom.

Room 7 had the first organized church service to be held in the prisons of North Vietnam. Permission was asked for by Stockdale, and twice denied by the Camp Commander. The room was warned not to do it. Room 7 decided to do it anyway. They even had a choir. Their solemn service quickly caught the eye of the guards and authorities. Armed guards rushed into the room to break up the “ominous” unauthorized meeting. Ringleaders, Risner, Coker and Rutledge were led out of the room with guards at each arm (they were headed for more Heartbreak Hotel, solitary confinement and lots of punishment). Bud Day was the one who then jumped up on his bed and started to sing “The National Anthem” and “God Bless America.” The entire room burst into song. Then Rooms Six, Five, Four, Three, Two and One joined in succession. These songs of pride and defiance were loud enough to be heard outside the 15-foot walls of the Hanoi Hilton. As Robbie marched out the door, his back straightened with pride. He held his head high.

Robbie later recalled his thoughts as his roommates burst out in song, “I felt like I was nine feet tall and could go bear hunting with a switch.” Thirty one years later, on November 16, 2001 a nine-foot tall bronze statue of Brigadier General Robinson Risner, USAF would be dedicated on the central plaza of the United States Air Force Academy. To Bud Day (principal speaker), Ross Perot (the sponsor of the project), and dozens of Robbie’s Room-Seven roommates at the ceremony, it seemed more fitting to call the statue “life size.” Photos: Dedication of B/Gen Robbie Risner’s Statue – USAFA 16-18 November 2001.

CAG, knowing what the V reaction would be, was heard to remark something to the effect, “Well, I guess we just can’t stand prosperity.” Our camp, yet unnamed, from that moment on became known as “Camp Unity.”The guards protested, but the songs continued. Shortly thereafter, Vietnamese troops entered each room in force. They had their hats secured with chinstraps in place, they had fixed bayonets, and they were mad! They quickly backed the POWs against the walls with a bayonet in each POW’s stomach. The singing immediately ceased as the troops burst through the doors. The V later claimed that they had put down a riot. It wasn’t a real riot, but it was a lot of fun until the soldiers entered the room. Several roommates of Room 7 were jerked out the next day. The next day, Orson Swindle in Room 6 tapped the following message on the wall: “Damn, you’d have to get in line to get in trouble in that crowd!!”

Thanks to By Fuller for the gut work of putting together this Mac’s Facts. Paul Galanti and Mike McGrath assisted.This historical document is dedicated to a fearless leader, Vice Admiral Jim Stockdale. CAG, here’s what the men of Room 7 accomplished

Roster of “Room 7″ on 26 December, 1970 (Hanoi Hilton):

	Name	Shootdown Rank	Days Captive
1.	Brady, Al	Cdr, USN	2236
2.	Coker, George	Lt (jg), USN	2381
3.	Coskey, Ken	Cdr, USN	1650
4.	Craner, Bob (Deceased)	Maj, USAF	1911
5.	Crayton, Render	LCdr, USN	2562
6.	Crow, Fred	LCol, USAF	2170
7.	Crumpler, Carl	LCol, USAF	1713
8.	Daniels, Vern	Cdr, USN	1966
9.	Daughtrey, Norlan	Capt, USAF	2751
10.	Day, Bud	Maj, USAF	2027
11.	Denton, Jerry	Cdr, USN	2766
12.	Doremus, Rob	LCdr, USN	2729
13.	Dramesi, John	Capt, USAF	2163
14.	Dunn, Howie (Deceased)	Maj, USMC	2624
15.	Fellowes, Jack	LCdr, USN	2381
16.	Finlay, Jack	LCol, USAF	1781
17.	Franke, Bill	Cdr, USN	2729
18.	Fuller, By	Cdr, USN	2060
19.	Gillespie, Chuck (Deceased)	Cdr, USN	1968
20.	Guarino, Larry	Maj, USAF	2801
21.	Gutterson, Laird	Maj, USAF	1846
22.	Hughes, Jim	LCol, USAF	2130
23.	James, Charlie	Cdr, USN	1761
24.	Jenkins, Harry (Deceased)	Cdr, USN	2648
25.	Johnson, Sam	Maj, USAF	2494
26.	Kasler, Jim	Maj, USAF	2400
27.	Kirk, Tom	LCol, USAF	1964
28.	Lamar, Jim	LCol, USAF	2474
29.	Larson, Swede	LCol, USAF	2130
30.	Lawrence, Bill	Cdr, USN	2076
31.	Ligon, Vern (Deceased)	LCol, USAF	1942
32.	McCain, John	LCdr, USN	1966
33.	McKnight, George	Maj, USAF	2655
34.	Moore, Mel	Cdr, USN	2185
35.	Mulligan, Jim	Cdr, USN	2521
36.	Pollard, Ben	Maj, USAF	2120
37.	Risner, Robbie	LCol, USAF	2706
38.	Rivers, Wendy	LCdr, USN	2715
39.	Rutledge, Howie (Deceased)	Cdr, USN	2633
40.	Schoeffel, Pete	LCdr, USN	1988
41.	Shumaker, Bob	LCdr, USN	2923
42.	Stockdale, Jim	Cdr, USN	2713
43.	Stockman, Hervey	LCol, USAF	2093
44.	Stratton, Dick	LCdr, USN	2250
45.	Tanner, Nels	LCdr, USN	2338
46.	Webb, Ron	Capt, USAF	2093
47.	Gary Anderson (Deceased)	Lt (jg), USN	2151

Total days in captivity: 108,116

Man-years in captivity: 296.21

———————————————————–
Here’s a brief history of the 47 men:

5 Made Admiral rank (Stockdale O-9, Lawrence O-9, Shumaker O-8, Denton O-8, Fuller O-8).

1 Made General rank (Risner O-7)

40 Others stayed in the military and attained the following ranks: (USMC 1 Col–Dunn; Navy 1 Cdr–Coker; AF 1 LCol–Daughtrey; AF 19 Colonels–Craner, Crow, Crumpler, Day, Dramesi, Finlay, Guarino, Gutterson, Hughes, Kasler, Johnson, Kirk, Lamar, Larson, Ligon, McKnight, Pollard, Stockman, & Webb; Navy 18 Captains–Brady, Coskey, Crayton, Daniels, Doremus, Fellowes, Franke, Gillespie, James, Jenkins, McCain, Moore, Mulligan, Rivers, Rutledge, Schoeffel, Stratton, & Tanner.  No. 47 yet to be determined.)

1 Became U.S. Congressmen (Johnson, Texas; McCain, Arizona).

2 Became U.S. Senators (Denton, Alabama; McCain, Arizona).

1 Was a Vice Presidential candidate (Stockdale).

1 Was a Presidential candidate (McCain).

2 Received the Medal of Honor (Stockdale, Day). Day resumed his career as a lawyer.

3 Received the Navy Cross (Denton, Coker, Fuller). (3 of the 4 POWs to receive this award were from this room.  Red McDaniel was the 4th  POW to receive the award).

4 Made escapes. All were recaptured, all were tortured. (Dramesi, Coker, McKnight, Day).

2 Were jet aces from the Korea War (Risner: 9 kills in F-86; Kasler: 6 kills in F-86).

1 First pilot to fly over Russia in U-2 spy aircraft (Stockman).

1 Was shot down 4-15-1944 in Germany.  POW until April 1945.  26th mission in P-47 (Ligon)

1 Shot down 3 German planes during WW II.  Flying British aircraft (Guarino).  Flew 156 missions in Sicily, India, China and Indo-China.

1 Flew 62 missions in Korea War. Got credit for 1 kill, 1 damaged, 1 probable kill against Mig ñ15s (Johnson).

7 Received the Air Force Cross (Kasler–3 awards; Risner–2 awards; Dramesi: 2 awards, Day, Kirk, Guarino & McKnight each received one award).

4 Were Navy Test Pilots (Stockdale, Lawrence, Gillespie, & Franke).

1 Flew with the Thunderbirds (Johnson).

11 Were USNA graduates (Brady ’51, Denton ’47, Fellowes ’56, Fuller ’51, Gillespie ’51, Lawrence ’51, McCain ’58, Rivers ’52, Schoeffel ’54, Shumaker ’56, & Stockdale ’47).

2 Were Landing Signal Officers (LSOs); (Stockdale, Tanner).

1 Escaped the B-52 community and got into combat flying the F-105G (Larson).

1 Has a daughter who is an astronaut, gone into space three times (789 hours).  She is presently in training as a crewmember of the International Space Station.  (Lawrence).

1 Was a Navy Air Wing Commander (CAG): (Stockdale, (COMAIRGRU 16).

1 Commanded a Navy Carrier, USS America.  Later became Battle Group Commander ñCARGRU 4 Commander (Fuller).

10 Were Squadron Commanders (Coskey (VA-85), Day (TBD), Denton (VA-75), Franke, Fuller (VA-76), Gillespie, Jenkins VA-163), Lawrence (VF-143), Ligon (11th TRS) and Larson (469th TFS) when shot down), Schoeffel (VA-83).

5 Were Squadron Executive Officers (Daniels, Moore, Mulligan, Rutledge, & Brady).  They were shot down before they could make Squadron Commander.

10 Authored books:

• Day: Return With Honor
• Denton: When Hell Was In Session
• Dramesi: Code of Honor
• Guarino: A POW’s Story: 2801 Days in Hanoi
• Johnson: Captive Warriors: A Vietnam POW’s Story
• McCain: Faith of My Fathers
• Mulligan: The Hanoi Commitment
• Risner: The Passing of the Night
• Rutledge: In the Presence of Mine Enemies
• Stockdale: Courage Under Fire; In Love and War; A Vietnam Experience; Thoughts of a Philosophical Fighter Pilot

4 Became Presidents/Commandants/Superintendents of institutions of higher learning: (Stockdale:President of the Citidel and President of the Naval War College; Lawrence: Superintendent of the USNA; Shumaker: Superintendent of the Naval Postgraduate School; and (TBD); Denton: Commandant of Armed Forces Staff College).

2 Built their own airplanes: (Jenkins: Long EZ; Shumaker: Glassair).Pollard is currently flying sail planes.

1 Was the first active duty Naval Aviator to fly Mach II (Lawrence).

1 Was first Naval Aviator to land on an aircraft carrier in 0/0 fog with a newly developed Aircraft Carrier Landing System (Gillespie). Yes, it was an emergency low fuel state!

2 Naval Aviators were in the final selection groups (before shootdown) for the Mercury Astronaut Program (Lawrence, Shumaker).

Many of the members of Room 7 either served during wars prior to Vietnam, or who saw combat in theatres other than Vietnam:

WW II:

Vern Ligon: USA Air Corps, 25 missions, P-47 pilot, POW in Stalag Luft 1, 1944-45, escaped once, recaptured.

Larry Guarino: USA Air Corps, 156 missions in Sicily, India, China and Indo-China. Spitfires.

Hervey Stockman: USA Air Corps. 68 missions, P-51.

Jim Kasler: USA Air Corps, 7 missions as tail gunner, B-29.

Harry Jenkins & Gordon Larson were Navy V5 cadetsÖand Fred Crow was an Army Air Corps aviation  cadet when WW II ended.

Bud Day: Corporal, USMC, 30 months in south and central Pacific, April 1942-Nov 1945.

By Fuller and Carl Crumpler: Enlisted in US Navy summer of 1945. Saw boot camp by the end of WW II.

Fred Crow and Al Brady: were Navy dependents at Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941.

Korea:

Robby Risner: USAF, 108 missions, F-86. Mig Ace with 9 kills.

Jim Kasler: USAF, 100 missions, F-86, Mig Ace with 6 kills.

Howie Rutledge:  USN, 200 missions, F9F-2 as a Flying Midshipman.

Harry Jenkins: Served aboard USS Fred T. Berry (DD-141) off coast of Korea.  Flying Midshipman.

Tom Kirk: Flew missions in Korea (we need more information from Tom).

Larry Guarino: USAF, Air Defense Alert missions.

Jim Lamar: USAF, 100 missions in F-80 and P-51.

Wendy Rivers: Served on a destroyer off the coast of Korea.

Laird Gutterson: USAF, flew 60 missions, P-51.

Verlyne Daniels: Flew AD-4 missions, March-August 1953.

Sam Johnson: USAF, flew 62 missions, F-86, 1 kill, 1 probable, 1 damaged against Mig 15s.

Bud Day: USAF, air defense missions, F-84s.

Bill Lawrence: (F2H-3) and By Fuller (F9F-5) arrived off the coast of Korea in October 1953. They were flying off the USS Oriskany. Too late the war was over!

Fred Crow: Had various commands stateside during the Korean War.

Carl Crumpler: Flew F-86s at George AFB. War was over too soon for him to participate.

(We need more information from the men of this room to continue this paper. In particular, we need Air Force positions such as Wing Cdr, Base Cdr, Ops Officer, or other terms us Navy guys aren’t familiar with. Please submit corrections or additions to: mmcgrath62@earthlink.net).

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