SPENCER, WILLIAM A.

Name: William A. Spencer
Rank/Branch: O3/United States Air Force
Unit: VF 92
Date of Birth:
Home City of Record: San Juan TX
Date of Loss: 05 July 1972
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 212600N 1062400E
Status (in 1973): Returnee
Category:
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: F4E
Missions: 67

Other Personnel in Incident: BRIAN SEEK~RETURNEE

Source: Compiled by P.O.W. NETWORK 06 September 1996 from one or more of the
following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with
POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews.

REMARKS: 032973 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).

WILLIAM A. SPENCER
Captain - United States Air Force
Shot Down: July 5, 1972
Released: March 29, 1973
                     
I was  one of the relatively "new guys" in Hanoi for I spent only a little
short of nine months there. I can honestly say that my period of confinement
was  not a complete waste. I feel that I learned some valuable things  about
myself that perhaps could not have been learned under different conditions.
Also, I met some of the most impressive men I've ever had the pleasure to
meet. Most important was my renewed love of country, life, and family.

My wife really did a beautiful job while I was gone. She got busy with
positive action instead of feeling sorry for herself. We both have a stronger
feeling for each other after this experience. I'm very proud of the  POW/MIA
wives, for in many ways their tasks were  more difficult than those  of their
husbands.

I am very proud to have been able to serve such a wonderful country. I think
we can thank the present administration for the honorable way in which we were
allowed to return. Let us all continue to pray for all those who have not been
accounted for.

It is the greatest experience of my life to have returned to my family,
friends, and country. The warm reception that we POWs have received has truly
been a heartwarming experience.

William Spencer retired from the United States Air Force as a Lt. Colonel.
He and his wife Davina reside in Utah.