born july retired navy commander honored leadership prisoner war vietnam war distinguished eagle scout noted devotion scouting serving navigator shot held prisoner war camps years release continued serve navy retirement returned active participation scouting personal information born texas family moved new_jersey new_jersey high school state wrestling champion weight class played high school varsity football newark new_jersey attended wrestled participated aviation officer cadet program commissioned ensign united_states_navy release vietnam returned college graduated political science studied education mathematics married children daughters son scouting life grew new_jersey troop catholic_church january stated passion scouting things got years point times remember scout oath names family members older brothers involved scouting involved joined late completed program joined troop troop dozen members time members time troop formed unit making joined unit worked summer camp joined navy october returned released captivity scouts biggest supporter troop members local citizens turned hundreds greet visited local scouting units inactive scouting busy naval career got involved son joined family settled virginia den leader boys earned arrow light highest recognition moved troop later including son troop adults asked position served years member served lodge adviser lodge december december honored distinguished eagle scout award august military career navigator served naval flight officer years united_states_navy entered october entered active service new_jersey november serving retirement september following graduation attended school florida followed advanced jet navigation training georgia following graduation receiving wings completed additional training navigator deployment took aircraft attack radar control facility miles northeast face automatic weapons fire extremely difficult weather conditions directed pilot aircraft managed ordnance system electronic equipment provide protection strike group attack inflicted significant damage protected dug radar station equipment radar stations operation target described actions awarded navy medal awarded actions following day july airplane diverted attack north vietnamese torpedo boats heading destroyers area scene called altitude dive angle allow pilot focus attacks enemy boats turn concentrated fire aircraft enemy ship hit sunk second suffered near miss citation notes lieutenant superb courage face great danger contributed success mission hour long battle ships sunk aircraft awarded navy medal actions coordinated aircraft attack petroleum storage tanks august consisting waves firing combination pound bombs rockets attack series attacks north vietnamese oil storage depots dating june despite heavy anti aircraft fire provided accurate guidance pilot altitude dive angle operating attack navigation radar system electronic despite adverse weather conditions actions contributed attack destroyed facility storage tanks prisoner war 55th bombing mission lieutenant junior grade serving navigator operating uss pilot jack shot august flying near aircraft hit surface air missile blew right wing ejected aircraft went flat spin tracked crew descended lost sight poor visibility crew feet ground feet altitude miles inland flat terrain landed mile apart landed large rice populated area captured armed villagers soon landing hours ejected american aircraft thorough search despite moderate heavy unable spot signal emergency held number different camps area including facility outskirts known zoo forced endure torture called wall prisoners forced stand facing wall cell hands head time sounded morning sounded night weeks knee injury suffered ejected worsened taken hospital infection drained day respite wall torture continued months called probably worst experience vietnam captivity notable resisted considered reference resistance captivity citation cited fierce resistance significant reasons north vietnamese eventually abandoned harsh treatment prisoners served chaplain fellow prisoners captivity providing spiritual guidance counseling efforts awarded legion merit july devised unusual ingenious methods allow fellow prisoners communicate camp assisting collective efforts resist demands improving morale american allied heroic achievement awarded bronze star medal combat year air_force captain conceived escape plan escape cells nearby swim night hide day estimating days reach mouth river boat sea hoped flag ship united_states seventh fleet estimating days escape rescue removed cell escaped prison night october climbed roof prison block jumped roof escape tied avoid separation jumped near bridge night miles downstream dark hid mud river edge recaptured hours escaped spotted fishermen shore early morning handed soldiers held prison returned days later effort escape north vietnamese camp awarded navy highest award heroism actions attempted escape prisoner war citation reads extraordinary heroism extremely daring escape solitary confinement cell prisoner war october period particularly harsh treatment lieutenant commander prisoner executed escape man team despite high risk brutal possible loss life night opening cell door removing door bolt inside room proceeded wall blocks housing bridge walking bridge edge swam downstream night sunrise buried effort remain concealed later discovered recaptured severely beaten hours banished solitary confinement half years october effective held placed special facility courtyard soon nicknamed located mile away added prisoners facility nicknamed senior officers youngest junior isolated known gang separated captives placed solitary confinement leadership resisting captors men kept solitary confinement spent years concrete cell measuring feet feet light kept clock locked night guard remained december spent years captivity number different prisons march released operation homecoming vietnam era released order capture second large release group days captivity years years solitary confinement years spent time camps retired navy july october promoted lieutenant captivity designated naval flight officer having redesignated captivity awarded decorations ceremony san_diego california navy navy mayor presented key city awarded aggressive leadership director retiring navy names fellow future senator john_mccain film faith fathers film based memoir title faith fathers documentary film hearts minds critical role vietnam war featured briefly time filming recently returned half years north vietnamese camps american prisoners war endured torture captors film shows homecoming parade honor hometown new_jersey tells assembled crowd steps city hall need arose ready send war answering student question vietnam looked like responded wasn people pretty people backward primitive mess time magazine criticized lack balance film portrayal noting camera records south vietnamese political prisoners american lieutenant experience humiliation torture fellow commander said george heroes real reason home bad guys wanted country real reason released military decorations awards military awards include navy cross silver star medal legion merit combat distinguished flying cross medal inch gold star combat purple heart inch gold star service medal air medal bronze device navy inch gold stars combat combat action ribbon navy unit medal national defense service medal vietnam service medal inch silver stars inch bronze stars republic palm republic unit citation palm republic vietnam campaign medal device retirement addition continued scouting activities involved supporting years december elected commander local chapter association serving head virginia state association wife active church civic activities counseling young married couples time reflecting wartime experiences veterans day tribute said tested don know capable great deal realize set mind look special guy went realizing bigger incredible room prison publisher date november room september
George Thomas Coker