James Bond Stockdale

US Naval Academy Class of 1947.  Srevice in World War II - Korea - Vietnam

Prisoner of War 9 Sep 1965 - 12 Feb 1973

Medal of Honor

MEDALS-RIBBONS: Distinguished Service w/2 Stars, Silver Star w/3 Stars, Legion of Merit w/Combat "V", Distinguished Flying Cross w/1 Star, Bronze Star w/Combat "V" and 1 Star, Purple Heart w/1 Star, Air Medal, Combat Action, Unit Commendation, Prisoner of War, American Campaign, World War II Victory, Occupation Service, National Defense Service w/1 Star, Armed Forces Expeditionary, Sea Service Deployment w/6 Stars, Vietnam Service, Vietnam Campaign.

Commander of Carrier Air Wing 16 when his A-4 Skyhawk was downed by enemy fire. Earned the Medal of Honor for his leadership and heroic action while a prisoner of war in North Vietnam.

Vice Admiral was one of the most-highly decorated officers in the history of the Navy.  He led aerial attacks on North Vietnamese torpedo boats in the Tonkin Gulf incident which led to the beginning of the war with North Vietnam.  His Douglas A-4E Sky Hawk was shot down over North Vietnam on September 9^th, 1965.  He was captured and was held prisoner in Hoa Lo prison, known as the infamous Hanoi Hilton, for the next 7 ½ years. Stockdale created and enforced a code of conduct for all prisoners.  He was routinely beaten and tortured and was placed in solitary confinement for four years of his imprisonment. As part of a group of 11 prisoners known as the “Alcatraz Gang”, he led the resistance activity.  In 1992 he was a Vice Presidential Candidate. He also authored seven books and other writings. He was President of The Citadel, the military college of South Carolina, and later a fellow at the Hoover Institute at Stanford University.