He was a pilot of a B-52 bomber that was shot down on the third night of raids
over Hanoi and captured on December 20, 1972. He was injured during the shoot down and captured on the ground by the local villagers. Was then turned
over to the military and taken to the "Hilton" complex. HE spent less than
two months as a POW and was released with the first group of POWs because of his injuries.