LILLY, WARREN E.
RIP 10/12/2007

Name: Warren E. Lilly
Rank/Branch: O3/United States Air Force/pilot
Unit: DET 1, 38th ARS
Date of Birth:
Home City of Record: Dallas, TX
Date of Loss: 06 November 1965
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 202000N 1053000E
Status (in 1973): Returnee
Category:
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: CH3C

Other Personnel in Incident: Jerry Singleton, returnee, co-pilot; Arthur
Cormier, returnee, pararescue; S/Sgt. Naugle (escaped, evaded, rescued,
badly burned)

Source: Compiled by P.O.W. NETWORK March 1997 from one or more of the
following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with
POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews.

REMARKS: 021273 RELEASES BY DRV INJURED

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).

WARREN R. LILLY
Lieutenant Colonel - United States Air Force
Shot Down: November 6, 1965
Released: February 12, 1973

The statement below was given at Nederland, thanking them for dedicating a
Freedom Tree to me during my detention. It sums up how I feel. It's the men
who won't or haven't come back that deserve remembering, the rest of us just
did our jobs.

MESSAGE
On 14 October 1972 a plaque and flame were dedicated specifically to myself
and those who were detained or listed as MIA in the Vietnam conflict. I
would like to thank you for the thoughts that you offered that so heavily
contributed to my presence here with you today. I consider myself very
fortunate and totally inadequate to receive the honors you have bestowed
upon me, for I have returned. It is those brave men who have not returned
that so rightfully deserve yours and the nation's highest tribute. The men
of whom I speak are those who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam, and
those whose fate yet remains unknown. Vietnam was perhaps the most
difficult, least understood, and least supported military endeavor ever
undertaken by our nation. But our KIA's and MIA's did not fail their duty
and because of their devotion to their country, PEACE with HONOR, tenuous
though it may be, was obtained. Their personal sacrifice must never be
forgotten, for they did it for you and for me. At the present time our
government is making every effort to account for all those whose fate
remains in question in Vietnam. The communists continue to procrastinate in
making it possible to accurately conclude this final accounting. It is your
continuing concern for these men which will uttimately result in a terminal
conclusion to Vietnam for it cannot be so until we know as absolutely
certain as possible the fate of all who served our country so valiantly,
whose families continue to wait. Our country is a far richer place for what
these men have sacrificed ... They did not forget you ... DO NOT FORGET
THEM!

Warren Lilly retired from the United States Air Force as a Colonel. He and
his wife Gwen resided in Alabama until his sudden death 10/12/2007.

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