TANGEMAN, RICHARD G.

Name: Richard G. Tangeman
Rank/Branch: O3/United States Navy
Unit: RVAH 1
Date of Birth:
Home City of Record: New York NY
Date of Loss: 05 May 1968
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 181800N 1053800 E
Status (in 1973): Returnee
Category:
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: RA5C

Other Personnel in Incident: Norrington, Giles, Returnee

Source: Compiled by P.O.W. NETWORK April 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: 730314 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).

RICHARD G. TANGEMAN
Lieutenant - United States Navy
Shot Down: May 5, 1968
Released: March 14, 1973

After graduating from New York University in February 1964, I joined the United
States Navy. My initial active duty assignment was as a naval aviation officer
candidate stationed at Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida. I was
commissioned as an ensign in the Naval Reserve on August 17,1964.

Upon graduation from NAO school I was assigned to Naval Air Station, Sanford,
Florida in the RA5C program. During my tour as a student I was teamed with my
initial pilot, Lt. Giles R. Norrington. We continued to fly as a crew until
three years later when we were shot down over Ha Tinh Province while flying a
reconnaissance mission over Highway 15.

During my approximate five years of imprisonment I lived with LCDR Norrington
for a total period of 23 months. I had the privilege of disembarking from the
air evacuation plane at Clark AFB with him.

My thoughts at this time were ones of overwhelming gratitude and respect for
the unselfish acts performed on behalf of the POWs and the MlAs by the
President of the United States and the American public. Although it was a time
of great personal happiness, it was also a time to remember and pray for the
many men missing in action and hope for their return.

I was deeply moved by the warmth and sincerity of all the wonderful people who
welcomed us home and witnessed our "rebirth". Seeing grown men's eyes colored
with tears and hearing women speak to me as if I were their returning son
reinforced my belief in the ultimate kindness of the American people and that
America is truly the greatest country of all. The honor was mine to be
permitted to serve my country.

As before and during my imprisonment, my thoughts revolved around my beautiful
wife, wonderful son and loving mother. My wife Linda and I were married
January 16, 1966 in Sanford, Florida. During my first cruise God blessed us
with our son Derek, born November 7, 1966. We were reunited March 17, 1973 in
Jacksonville, Florida.

During my imprisonment my faith in God, country and man was confirmed and
strengthened by the wonderful way in which my fellow prisoners conducted
themselves in the face of extreme physical and mental deprivation and
pressure. The foundation of genuine and altruistic support given us as POWs by
the American people sustained and encouraged us throughout the long years.

My present goals are centered around the hope and desire to serve my country
as a member of the United States Navy.

In conclusion, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the President of
the United States and the American people for their concern, kindness and
understanding shown to my family during my long absence. However, I have one
more request of your kindness. Don't let the MlAs or their families be
forgotten. Now that we are home, please transfer the support you have shown
us, the returned POWs, to the effort of aiding the MIA families in their
search for knowledge concerning their heroic loved ones. These families still
face the pain and problems connected with the absence of their husbands,
fathers and sons. God bless your efforts in the past - and those in the
future.

December 1996
Richard Tangeman retired from the United States Navy as a Captain. He and
his wife Linda reside in Virginia.

-------------------------------------------------
Memories of Vietnam
Club Honors Ex-POW on Anniversary of His Release
By Lan Nguyen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, March 27 1997; Page V01
The Washington Post 

Navy Lt. Giles Norrington was making his 22nd reconnaissance flight into
North Vietnamese territory when communist rebels shot off the right wing of
his RA-5C Vigilante. The plane erupted into a fireball. As Norrington and
his navigator, Richard Tangeman, tried to escape, Norrington thought, "It's
taking a long time to die.".....