Had Been Held In North Vietnam For Seven Years

An African-American Air Force Pilot who was shot down in 1965 and held as a POW in North Vietnam for seven years has Gone West at the age of 87.

The Washington Post reports that Col. Fred V. Cherry was shot down by enemy fire and tortured by his captors. When they were unable to break him through those methods, a self-described "southern white boy" was made his cellmate. The North Vietnamese hoped that the racial tension would lead to a propaganda coup for their cause.

But instead, Col. Cherry and the Navy fighter pilot, then-Ensign Porter Halyburton, become lifelong friends. Each said the other had saved his life.

Col. Cherry passed away in a hospital in Washington, D.C. on February 18 of heart disease, according to Deborah Thompson, his companion of 24 years.

Cherry had been a Major with more than 100 combat missions to his credit when his F-105 Thunderchief was shot down on October 22, 1965. He says he ejected at about 400 feet at over 600 miles per hour, suffering multiple injuries during the ejection and landing.

Cherry was released with the first group of POWs to go home in 1973.

His medals included the Air Force Cross.

(Image from file)

FMI: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_V._Cherry