MYERS,  ARMAND J.

A.J. passed away March 27, 2002.

Name: Armand J. Myers
Rank/Branch: O3/United States Air Force, pilot
Unit: 433rd TFS
Date of Birth: 30 April 1929
Home City of Record: Medford OR
Date of Loss: 01 June 1966
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 213500 North  1063400 East
Status (in 1973): Returnee
Category:
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: F4C
Missions: 94
Other Personnel in Incident: John Borling. returnee

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. 2023

REMARKS: 730212 RELEASED BY DRV

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March 1997
I was shot down in June 1966, while flying an F-4C north of Hanoi. My left
leg and ankle were broken in several places. The Vietnamese made no effort
to set it. To the contrary, they used it as part of the torture. My foot
eventually set, but it was canted outward, several degrees off-center. I was
on crutches for about a year, but afterward was able to walk on the side of
my foot.

Seven years later, back in the USA at Wilford Hall Medical Center, the
orthopedic surgeon took a wedge out of the inside of the ankle, put the foot
on straight and fused the ankle. He said that there was much damage in the
heel joint, but he couldn't fuse both at the same time. "If you can't live
with the pain, come back and we'll fuse the heel," he said. After months of
misery in a cast I wanted no more operations. The Air Force made a special
mold to immobilize the heel. It helped a little. We tried steroid
injections. They didn't work at all.

As I got older, I became more incapacitated. To mow the lawn, about an
hour's job, I'd load up on aspirin to control inflammation and TUMS to keep
the aspirin from eating a hole in my stomach. Afterwards I'd elevate my feet
for about an hour. The swelling would go down and the discomfort would ease,
but I had to limit walking for the rest of the day.

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Upon his return, A. J. Myers was awarded the Silver Star, Legion of Merit,
Distinguished Flying Cross, his fifth Air Medal, the Bronze Star (4 OLCs),
the Purple Heart (1 OLC), and the POW Medal. Years later he was awarded the
Defense Superior Service Medal for his service as DCS, Plans & Ops, Fifth
ATAF. After Air War College Myers was promoted from "Light" Colonel to "Full
Bull"- - some, he is sure, muttered "full of bull." Col. Myers retired from
the Air Force in 1983.

Reflecting on his captivity. he says, "NEVER VOLUNTEER. " Asked if he was
tortured and to describe it he responded, "Many times and it hurt like
Hell." He says the dumbest thing he did during captivity was to bet Jack Van
Loan a bottle of Chivas Regal on each Homecoming Game between Oregon State
(Jack's Alma Mater) and U. of Oregon (A. J.'s Alma Mater). It cost A. J.
five bottles.

He lives in Texas with his wife Patty. His son was killed, his daughter
lives in Michigan and her son, a USAF Academy graduate, is an attorney
working for DOT, in Wash. DC.

AJ's newest love is genealogy. In between year around yard work with his
wife, he finds time to trace his family history and ponder the little
acorns that grow!

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03/29/2002
San Antonio News

Col. Armand J. Myers, USAF (Retired) was born in Yakima, WA, April 30, 1929,
died at his home on Wednesday, March 27, 2002. .....