Vietnam Veteran recalls captivity, liberation

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Tonnette Thompson
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
In 1966, a self-described "cocky young fighter pilot" performed a second orbit over Hanoi, fulfilling his orders to perform escort duties during the Vietnam War, when a surface-to-air missile blasted the tail off his F-4. 

Forced to eject from the then-spiraling plane as "a fireball formed beneath [his] feet," he surrendered to the surrounding villagers, and spent several years of his life as a prisoner of war. 

Retired Air Force Col. Kenneth Cordier, the guest speaker at the Veterans' Day luncheon at the Sheppard Club Nov. 9, kept his audience spellbound with his story of capture, imprisonment and torture. More than 130 attendees sat in respectful, awed silence as the grey-haired veteran spoke candidly of moments of horrific suffering, soaring hope and, ultimately, of the day he was released from captivity. 

One of the most harrowing experiences involved his interrogations. He'd spend most of his day hanging from the ceiling by his tied wrists, only released long enough to endure questioning. Though he complained of a broken back, his injury received punishment beyond a lack of medical attention. The interrogators proceeded to tie his ankles as well, stretching his already agonized back. 

"That was not unusual. For every guy who had an injury, they'd torture the injury," Colonel Cordier recanted with resigned matter-of-factness. "Had a broken arm? They'd tie your arm behind your back. Broken leg, they'd sit you in a chair and tie the leg behind the chair." 

Still, the then-Captain Cordier and those Soldiers imprisoned with him found ways to follow the Code of Conduct and even scrape together morale. Although not allowed to speak to each other, since those holding them insisted they should reflect silently on their crimes, the prisoners learned to communicate by tapping on the wall. 

"The first and most important item of information we gave were our names," Colonel Cordier said. "I memorized the name of every person I came in contact with. By 1970, I had over 360 names. We all kept those names memorized, even those who died there, and looked forward to the day that we would leave, so we could account for everybody." 

With the death of North Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh in 1969, the captain believed this hellish chapter of his life might end, when in fact his optimism would meet with another three and a half years of imprisonment. However, in April of that year, Colonel Cordier experienced what he called "the happiest day of [his] life" as the United States ordered an air raid over Hanoi. 

"As soon as we heard the sirens, we all immediately knew what was happening," Colonel Cordier said. "When I saw those jets fly over us, a pair of F-4's in close formation, ladies and gentlemen, that was the only time that I just openly wept." 

In 1972, after six years and three months of imprisonment for the captain, the Vietnam War ended, and he was released. Their captors cleaned them, dressed them in clothes that "would look good on camera ... and hide the bruises," and put them on a bus for Hanoi Airport. Once there, the captain, after saluting the general who received them, boarded a plane for home. 

"If you saw the film footage, you'd notice that every one of us was poker-faced, not the slightest expression or emotion. We did not brief or plan that; everyone was just somber and straight-faced. We stayed that way until the plane's landing gear went into the well, and then it was just pandemonium. You can't imagine the levels of emotion," Colonel Cordier recalled. 

Colonel Cordier remembered those that served and suffered with him, mentioning the names Jerry Denton and Sam Johnson, among others. He also mentioned the Vietnam Veterans Legacy Foundation, who's mission statement is "to set the record straight" concerning rumors of dishonorable actions by U.S. troops during the war. 

He also acknowledged the documentary "Stolen Honor," an exploration of Sen. John Kerry's (D-Mass.) involvement in the Vietnam War. Colonel Cordier contributed to the making of the documentary, and got a loud, albeit slightly scandalized, laugh from his audience at the senator's expense. 

"My eyebrows and eyelashes were singed off, and I had some minor burns, but beyond that, I was fine," Colonel Cordier remarked, remembering his initial wounds from his F-4 ejection in 1966. "Not even a John Kerry scratch on my arm." 

Following the standing ovation Colonel Cordier received, the Sheppard Honor Guard presented the colonel with an American flag, and 82nd Training Wing commander Brig. Gen. Richard Devereaux offered parting remarks. 

"It is too easy to forget the heritage and sacrifices of those who came before us," General Devereaux said. "We should all take the time to remember that freedom is not free. We wear our blues today to remind us of our heritage as airmen." 

The luncheon concluded with the Honor Guard's playing of "Taps."