Gareth Laverne Anderson

  Returnee  

SUMMARY

Name: Gareth Laverne Anderson Rank/Branch: O2/United States Navy Unit: VF 114 Date of Birth:  Home City of Record: Falmouth MA Date of Loss: 19 May 1967 Country of Loss: North Vietnam Loss Coordinates: 204800 North 1054400 East Status (in 1973): Returnee Category:  Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground:  F4B Other Personnel in Incident: Charles Plumb, returnee

SYNOPSIS

Plumb and Anderson were shot down the day following on the birthday of Ho Chi Minh, May 19, 1967, just south of Hanoi. Joseph Plumb was the pilot, the radar intercept officer was Gary Anderson.  Both were captured immediately. Plumb recalls the incident: The F4B Phatom lay crumpled in a smouldering wreckage near the small village.  The peasants stripped me of all my flight gear, blindfolded me,and put me into a pen with a buffalo bull where I got the opportunity for the first, and hopefully the last time in my life, to play matador.  But having no red cape, I was unable to attract a great deal of attention from the fairly docile bull.  So it was necessary for the Vietnamese to run around to the aft side of this animal and harass him into making sweeps upon my innocent body with his horns.  I received no permanent injury.  And I look back upon it with more humor than terror.

LETTER

SOURCE: WE CAME HOME copyright 1977 Captain and Mrs. Frederic A Wyatt (USNR Ret), Barbara Powers Wyatt, Editor P.O.W. Publications, 10250 Moorpark St., Toluca Lake, CA 91602 Text is reproduced as found in the original publication (including date and spelling errors). UPDATE - 09/95 by the P.O.W. NETWORK, Skidmore, MO GARETH L. "GARY" ANDERSON Lieutenant Commander - United States Navy Shot Down: May 19, 1967 Released: March 4, 1973 I have been asked many times in many states why we as POW's are expressing patriotism, faith in God and country.  Were we not coached in our comments to the public in this regard? No, of course not.  We were, however, imbued with a greater appreciation of our country and its people.  Unfortunately it had to take deprivation and hardship, to grasp, to accept the fact that we took so many things in our country, if not our country itself, for granted.  Our expressed patriotism was reflected in our reliance, our admiration in one another rather than suspicion. A friend reflects far better what I wish to convey: "To those who honor me by public conduct, speaking well of me, cherishing my coveted sacredness and heritage and above all, pride in me, I award the most valuable award, which requires allegiance, fidelity, courtesy, compassion, humanity and more than that, a deep feeling inside of love for my presence--a red and white standard, with a blue square, filled with crystal-clear white stars, representing the country which adopted me as its guardian and protector.  For you see, I am the American Flag. My award--the American Flag Award, is not for the timid." So, it is with honor and pride that we return to our country.  The great nation we have is only because of its people, their values, and their patriotism. Gary Anderson is deceased.