POW sells America to Americans

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Reynaldo Ramon
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  Those in the military have a responsibility to sell America to Americans, said a former prisoner of war and guest speaker at the Kadena Air Base POW/MIA breakfast held here Sept. 21. 

Retired Air Force Col. James L. Lamar, and former pilot with the 421st Tactical Fighter Squadron said, "Many Americans don't believe in their own country and I'm here to persuade them how wonderful it is." 

The colonel volunteers his time traveling to military bases and colleges giving speeches of his war experience in hopes of bringing back American pride. 

On May 6, 1966, the colonel found himself in enemy territory and led to a prison camp with a rope fastened around his neck after being shot down during a combat mission in Vietnam. 

Colonel Lamar made a dive bomb run over a railroad in Yenbai, North Vietnam, and when his F-105 Thunderchief aircraft was hit and burst into flames. 

"They interrogated me that night and all I gave them was my name, rank, serial number, and date of birth," said Colonel Lamar. 

"The enemy wanted more information but I wouldn't give it to them," he said.
More soldiers came into the interrogation area with ropes and wire to get the colonel to talk. 

"They persisted to have what I call a night of fun and games," said Colonel Lamar. 

By morning I was "persuaded" to answer their questions though I planned to lie, he said. 

The officer in charge said his government wanted to know if the survival radios worked. The enemy wanted to take him back to the crash site so he could contact Americans for a rescue. 

"I know you want to use me so you can shoot down my friends, but I'm not going to do that," Colonel Lamar told his captors. 

Without further coercion, Colonel Lamar decided to go with the plan on two conditions. 

"Don't blind fold me taking me there, and after I talk to one of the pilots I am going to tell them to go away," Colonel Lamar said. 

After arriving at the crash site, enemy soldiers sat him by a tree while they dug a trench to jump into if strafed by an airplane. 

"I sat under the tree praying for help," said Colonel Lamar. 

They tested the survival radios by calling rescue forces. A response came through asking for "Oak lead"-- Colonel Lamar's call sign. The colonel replied and told his would-be rescuers to go away. They did. 

"I couldn't see them because it was overcast, but I could hear the engines fading as they left," he said. 

Hours later an older, meaner, more experienced Vietnamese officer threatened to kill Colonel Lamar if he did not talk longer on the radio. The officer had the colonel dragged next to the trench made hours earlier and cocked his pistol and pointed it at him. The Vietnamese officer then told the colonel to get into his grave. 

"You want me in there, you put me in there," said Colonel Lamar. "I'm not setting foot in my own grave." 

That day Colonel Lamar saved Air Force forces from a potential ambush by cancelling any rescue attempts. That night he was taken to a prison in Hanoi, Vietnam and spent the next six years, nine months and six days as a prisoner of war. Or as he called it "a guest of Ho Chi Minh," -- then communist ruler of North Vietnam. 

Colonel Lamar, along with 591 other prisoners, was released in 1973 during Operation Home Coming. He served three more years and retired in 1976. 

Being a POW meant that I was still serving my country, he said. 

"I learned to have faith in God, family, and country," said Colonel Lamar.