MOLINARE, ALBERT RIC

Name: Albert Ric Molinare
Rank/Branch: United States Navy/O3
Unit: VF-51
Date of Birth:
Home City of Record: San Diego CA
Date of Loss: 27 April 1972
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 195700 North  1052500 East
Status (in 1973): Returnee
Category:
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground:
Missions:
Other Personnel in Incident: James Souder, returnee
Refno:

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. 2002.

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).

ALBERT R. MOLINARE
Lieutenant - United States Navy
Shot Down: April 27, 1972
Released: March 28, 1973

I was captured by the North Vietnamese on April 27, 1972. I was flying a
F-4B Phantom off the Coral Sea, which was operating in the Gulf of Tonkin.
It was my first cruise. Originally, I'm from Glendale, California. After
graduating from San Diego State College in 1968, I entered the Navy and
completed flight training in 1970 and was assigned to VF-51 at NAS Miramar,
California. I departed the States in November 1971.

The last thing I expected was to be shot down and taken prisoner, but on
April 28, 1972, after a bumpy truck ride, there I was at the "Hanoi Hilton."
Thanks to the concern and pressure of the American people, and people
throughout the world, the conditions had improved in Hanoi by the time I
arrived. It was eleven months of boredom, tasteless soup and missing my
family - and  ice cream. About the hardest thing to live with was the
knowledge that each day away from my daughter meant more growing and
changing for her, without me to watch.

I am so very happy to be returning to my wife, Karen, and daughter, Tara,
and I thank everyone for making our homecoming possible. I am most happy for
the men and families being reunited after years of  separation. My ordeal
was small by comparison. I only wish more were coming back.

Albert and his wife Karen reside in California.