HANTON, THOMAS J. NAME: Thomas J. Hanton Rank/Branch: United States Air Force/o3 Unit: Date of Birth: 10 Sept 1944 Home City of Record: Santa Monica CA Date of Loss: 27 June 1972 Country of Loss: North Vietnam Loss Coordinates: 210000 North 1043000 East Status (in 1973): Releasee Category: Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: F4E Missions: Refno: 18844 Other Personnel in Incident: Source: Compiled by P.O.W. NETWORK from one or more of the following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews. REMARKS: 730328 Released by DRV SOURCE: WE CAME HOME copyright 1977 Captain and Mrs. Frederic A Wyatt (USNR Ret), Barbara Powers Wyatt, Editor P.O.W. Publications, 10250 Moorpark St., Toluca Lake, CA 91602 Text is reproduced as found in the original publication (including date and spelling errors). UPDATE - 09/95 by the P.O.W. NETWORK, Skidmore, MO THOMAS J. HANTON Captain - United States Air Force Shot Down: June 27, 1972 Released: March 28, 1973 Before describing my background and personal experience, I would like to thank all of America for their prayers, concern and support. Regrettably, I cannot personally thank all those who wore my bracelet and worked so hard for our honorable return. Everyone's trust in my convictions is heartwarming and difficult to put into words. Now, a little about myself: I was born on 10 September 1944 in Santa Monica, California. As a child, I moved frequently since my father was a career Air Force officer. In 1967 I received my BA in Economics from California State College at Long Beach. After graduation, I joined the Air Force and attended Officer Training School. It was in Sacramento, California, in 1968, while attending Navigator Training, that I met my wife, Pat, whom I married on 20 September 1969. After Combat Crew Training in the F-4 Phantom, I was assigned to an operational unit and subsequently stationed at Da Nang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam. After five months of combat, on 27 June 1972, I was downed over North Vietnam while on a search and rescue mission. Many people are quite interested in what it was like in the North Vietnamese prison camps. The stories in magazines and newspapers are quite true; and, in some cases, more cruel treatment was put to bear on individuals. As for my own experience, I was one of the lucky ones who only endured the more subtle means of harassment. I was a POW during a period of "more" lenient treatment, which I will qualify by saying, the North Vietnamese DID NOT follow the Geneva Agreements on treatment of Prisoners of War. Another frequently asked question is what were the North Vietnamese like. They proved to me what kind of people they were by threatening us throughout the last month of our captivity. The ones I came in contact with were basically cynical, insecure people. There were one or two exceptions, however, who were a little more humane. All of them were thoroughly communist indoctrinated with intense desires to dominate Southeast Asia. This tendency is once again becoming obvious - and, as one of the North Vietnamese officers said to us, "You will go home, but the war will not be over for us." (What Peace Treaty?) The countryside is covered by loudspeakers, i.e. 1984, which wake the populace, give "their" news, and of course put them to sleep at night. No... you can't turn it off or choose another station or read different points of view, or even have different points of view - which is what the USA is all about. My experience as a POW has made me realize, in more ways than one, how fortunate I have been. Until one's freedom is completely eliminated, with no idea of how long such a situation will exist, it is difficult for one to realize what FREEDOM, with all its ramifications, means. I now have a greater love and appreciation for my wife, family, freedom and country. My respect, honor, belief, patriotism, and duty to country is stronger than ever. I have seen myself from a different perspective and learned a great deal. My convictions have become more apparent and expanded; giving me a greater appreciation and understanding of life, love, and freedom. I feel most fortunate to be an American and to be serving my country. I also feel fortunate to have sustained only minor injuries and to have been a prisoner for only nine months, during a period of more lenient treatment of American captives. I feel that I was doing my job as a professional military officer and I am ready to serve my country further. My heroes in this experience are those who have not returned, those POW's who spent years in the hands of merciless captors, all their families who have suffered so much, and, of course, those who silently served in Vietnam, receiving little recognition. To those who have lost faith in America, I respect your right to freedom of speech, hoping you realize the opportunity to hold different views is one of the greatest freedoms this country has. My wife was pregnant when I left for Southeast Asia and gave birth to our first child, a son, while I was a POW. We plan to continue my military career. Your interest in my family and me is deeply and sincerely appreciated. --------- Thomas Hanton retired from the United States Air Force as a Lt. Colonel. He lives in Virginia. Prior to his retirement, he participated in Operation Desert Storm and flew combat support missions in the AWACS and EC-130H "Compass Call," providing battle management. Tom has a distinction of being airborne when the final bombs were dropped. Tom made the observation, "After the Vietnam experience of having our hands ties by politicians, it was a nice experience to use all the strategic and tactical planning skills from previous experience during Desert Storm."