SJ community pauses to remember POW/MIAs

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. – Members of the 4th Fighter Wing Honor Guard fold an American flag during a POW/MIA Recognition Ceremony here Sept. 17, 2010. National POW/MIA Recognition Day is observed each year on the third Friday of September to honor the sacrifices made by POWs and those who are still MIA. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Mackenzie Lang)

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SJ community pauses to remember POW/MIAs

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. – Staff Sgt. Jeffery Simmons stands watch over a Prisoner of War – Missing in Action memorial wreath during the 4th Fighter Wing POW/MIA Recognition Ceremony here Sept. 17, 2010. In the background, retired Lt. Col. Norm Taflinger plays the bagpipes as a missing man formation flies overhead. The first day honoring POW/MIAs was recognized July 18, 1979, with a flyover performed by the 1st Tactical Squadron from Langley AFB, Va. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Mackenzie Lang)

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SJ community pauses to remember POW/MIAs

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. – Staff Sgt. Jeffery Simmons stands watch over a Prisoner of War – Missing in Action memorial wreath during the 4th Fighter Wing POW/MIA Recognition Ceremony here Sept. 17, 2010. In the background, retired Lt. Col. Norm Taflinger, plays the bagpipes. National POW/MIA Recognition Day is observed each year on the third Friday of September to honor the sacrifices made by POWs and those who are still MIA. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Mackenzie Lang)

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SJ community pauses to remember POW/MIAs

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Retired Col. Jack Van Loan shares his experiences as a prisoner of war during the 4th Fighter Wing POW/MIA Recognition Ceremony here Sept. 17, 2010. Colonel Van Loan, who spent six years as a POW during the Vietnam War, served as the guest speaker addressing members of the Seymour Johnson community and former POWs and their family members from the Goldsboro area. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Tammie Moore)

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SJ community pauses to remember POW/MIAs

Published Sept. 21, 2010
By Tech. Sgt. Tammie Moore
4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- The 4th Fighter Wing honored the sacrifices of former prisoners of war, those missing in action and their families during a POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremony here Sept. 17.

Retired Col. Jack Van Loan, who spent six years as a POW during the Vietnam War, served as the event's guest speaker. He spoke to members of the Seymour Johnson community, former POWs and their family members from the Goldsboro area.
The ceremony, opened by Master Sgt. Jamee Clark, paid tribute to those who captured as POW and listed as MIA. These veterans put their lives in danger because of their dedication to and love of their country.

"We honor those whose story has not ended," said Sergeant Clark, 335th Fighter Squadron NCO in charge of squadron aviation resource management. "We will continue to tell the stories of those missing in action and POW who scarified years of their lives serving in captivity. To this date, there are still 64 POW or members MIA from North Carolina, seven of whom were residents of Goldsboro."

Despite the physical and emotional suffering that Colonel Van Loan endured during his imprisonment, he never gave up hope. He retained his trust in his god and in the United States.

"It never occurred to me that I wasn't going home. I knew the American people were never going to forget me," he said. "I never thought for a second I was going to be forgotten. They were not going to leave me out there."