Who remembers Jeremiah Denton, Jr., the "other" Senator who did time in the "Hanoi Hilton"?

Question

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“La Pieta” - Easter 1969

“The soldiers stare, then drift away,
Young John finds nothing he can say,
The veil is rent; the deed is done;
And Mary holds her only son.
His limbs grow stiff, the night grows cold,
But naught can loose that mother’s hold.
Her gentle, anguished eyes seem blind,
Who knows what thoughts run through her mind?
Perhaps she thinks of last week’s palms,
With cheering thousands off’ring alms
Or dreams of Cana on the day
She nagged him till she got her way.
Her face shows grief but not despair,
Her head though bowed has faith to spare,
For even now she could suppose
His thorns might somehow yield a rose.
Her life with Him was full of signs
That God writes straight with crooked lines.
Dark clouds can hide the rising sun,
And all seem lost, when all be won!”


By Jeremiah Denton, USN, during his 8-year imprisonment in Viet Nam. During a TV program made by his captors, broadcast in the U.S., he spelled out "Torture" in Morse code by blinking.

Answer 1

I remember him well because my father once served with him in the United States Navy and because I am now a Naval officer in my own right. Admiral Denton's words are engraved into my memory for all eternity: "We are honored to have had the opportunity to serve our country under somewhat difficult circumstances. We are profoundly grateful to our Commander-in-Chief and to our nation for this day. God bless America."

In a nation which has become too self-indulgent and too quick to quit when the going gets tough, I am reminded of a poem that Admiral Denton once read at a public gathering. He read this poem with obvious emotion, because these words reflect not only his own beliefs but also his own actions to back up those beliefs. There are ordinary men who take few risks, and then there are heroes who love their country every minute of every day of their lives. In my opinion, Admiral Denton will always be remembered as one of these heroes.

Here is the poem, reprinted with profound gratitude to Admiral Denton and to the thousands of other heroes not just in our Navy, but in all branches of service:

It is the soldier, not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press;

It is the soldier, not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech;

It is the soldier, not the campus organizer,
who has given us the freedom to demonstrate;

It is the soldier,
who salutes the flag,
who serves beneath the flag,
and whose coffin is draped by the flag,
who allows the protester to burn the flag;

God bless America.

Answer 2

I remember him from SERE classes... "I don't know what is happening now in Vietnam, because the only news sources I have are Vietnamese. But whatever the position of my government is, I believe in it, I support it, and I will support it as long as I live."

Something to keep in mind regarding the recent Iran incident.

I also remember the lecture we got at SERE School from Admiral James Stockdale (ret) who was also in the Hanoi Hilton.

Shipmates all... "Exile Jane Fonda !!"

Answer 3

Yes, I remember that he was one the first Republican to be elected as Senator from Alabama since reconstruction.

Answer 4

He actually wrote a book about his experience, which although may be difficult to find, is worth the read.