ZAUN, JEFFREY NORTON
Name: Jeffrey Norton Zaun Rank/Branch: O3/US Navy Unit: VA35, USS SARATOGA Age: 28 Home City of Record: Cherry Hill NJ Date of Loss: 18 January 1991 Country of Loss: Iraq Loss Coordinates: Status: Prisoner of War Status in 2002: Released 03/04/91 Acft/Vehicle/Ground: A6E
Other Personnel in Incident: Robert Wetzel (released)
Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 09 March 1991 from one or more of the following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources, published sources, interviews. Updated by the POW NETWORK 2002.
REMARKS: OPERATION DESERT STORM
SYNOPSIS: Jeffrey N. Zaun was raised in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. At Cherry High School West, Zaun was an ROTC member and active in gymnastics. Following his graduation in 1980, Zaun was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, from which he graduated in 1984.
Zaun eventually took flight training, but eyesight problems kept him from his desired position - that of pilot. He trained as weapons systems operator, a rear-seat position, in the A6E Intruder fighter/bomber.
The Grumman A6 Intruder is a two-man all weather, low-altitude, carrier-based attack plane, with versions adapted as aerial tanker and electronic warfare platform. The A6A primarily flies close-air-support, all-weather and night attacks on enemy troop concentrations, and night interdiction missions. Its advanced navigation and attack system allows small precision targets, such as bridges, barracks and fuel depots to be located and attacked in all weather conditions, day or night. Their crews are among the most talented and most courageous to serve the United States.
Zaun was assigned to Oceana Naval Air Station at Virginia Beach, Virginia with Attack Squadron 35 (VA35 - "Black Panthers"). Ultimately, his squadron shipped out on the USS SARATOGA and was stationed in the Red Sea when hostilities began in the Middle East in 1991.
On January 18, 1991, Zaun flew as backseater to LT Robert Wetzel's A6E in early attacks on Iraqi military targets. Zaun and Wetzel's target was the H3 Airfield in Southwest Iraq. The aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft artillery over the desert. Zaun, at least, ejected from the aircraft and was captured by Iraqi forces.
On January 20, 1991, a video interview of Zaun was broadcast on Iraqi television. First the audio portion, then the video were shown in the U.S. by Cable News Network (CNN). Zaun and six other Allied POWs (including two other Americans) had been paraded through Bagdhad in a propaganda move and coerced into making "peace" statements. All appeared to be speaking under extreme duress. While the Pentagon has yet to confirm the identity of the Americans in the film, Zaun's family confirmed that the man appearing in the interview was their son. Wetzel was not mentioned in the report. Also on January 20, Iraqi stated that POWs would be used as "human shields" to protect their important military sites from attack by Allied forces.
On January 24, international news again showed a propaganda interview with Zaun, still captive but alive.
Until March 3, 1991, no one knew the fate of Robert Wetzel. On that day, both Wetzel and Zaun were released by the Iraqis in a group of six American POWs. Zaun, whose battered face is said to have united America behind the POWs and the troops serving in Desert Storm, had healed and both men from the "Black Panther" squadron greeted cameras with smiles.
Jeffrey N. Zaun is unmarried, and is a 1984 graduate of the United Stated Naval Academy at Annapolis. He is the son of Calvin Zaun.