TRIEBEL, THEODORE WALLACE

Name: Theodore Wallace Triebel
Rank/Branch: United States Navy/O4
Unit:
Date of Birth:
Home City of Record: Vienna VA
Date of Loss: 27 August 1972
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 201800 North  1054600 East
Status (in 1973): Returnee
Category:
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: F4B
Missions:
Other Personnel in Incident:
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.

REMARKS: 730329 RELEASED BY DRV

No further information available at this time.

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

THEODORE W. TRIEBEL
Lieutenant Commander - United States Navy
Shot Down: August 27, 1972
Released: March 29, 1973

I graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1964 and received my wings January
1966. I completed training in the F4 "Phantom" at NAS Miramar, California and
joined VF-213, the Black Lions, for two combat cruises to Southeast Asia
aboard the Kitty Hawk (CVA-63). Received orders to Air Force exchange in
August 1968 and flew with the 8th Tactical Fighter Squadron, the Black Sheep,
at Holloman AFB, New Mexico for two years. After a short refresher in VF-121,
I joined VF-151, the Vigilantes, in November 1970. I completed a third combat
cruise and was halfway through the fourth when I landed in North Vietnam. It
was 27 August 1972. I was released on 29 March 1973, a day which will burn
bright in my mind forever as I crossed into a medium of freedom.

I have a beautiful family. My third child on 20 December 1972, a boy named Jacob Wallace. In the
middle is Tobin Theodore, born 4 August 1969, and Gretchen JoAnn  is my
oldest, born 16 April 1967.

Many thoughts took form and perspective while I was in solitary confinement
and confronted with the unknown. I will not try to give a dissertation here or
endeavor to sum up diverse thoughts with d few platitudes. I do suggest that
every American periodically partake of some introspection; he may find some
truths or answers to questions which had before evaded him. One thing I came
to comprehend fully was the meaning of Freedom. We Americans experience it
daily, many people do not. Freedom is the life blood of human society. It
deserves our commitment to its eternal preservation.

I am now attending the University of Washington in Seattle and am taking a two
year masters program in International Relations. The mission the Navy
fulfills, the responsibility offered, the personal rewards received and the
friends one makes are reasons why I would like to continue in a Naval career.


Theodore Trieble retired from the United States Navy as a Capt. He and Cara
reside in North Carolina.