Floyd James Thompson
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Floyd James "Jim" Thompson was a United States Army colonel. He was the longest-held American prisoner of war, spending nearly nine years in captivity in the forests and mountains of South Vietnam, La
Thompson on Easter Saturday in 1975
Members of the United States armed forces were held as prisoners of war in significant numbers during the Vietnam War from 1964 to 1973. Unlike U.S. service members captured in World War II and the Ko
Floyd James Thompson
…went to Vietnam in December 1963. Prior to his deployment, he had not heard of the country. He was to serve only a six-month tour of duty but was captured on March 26, 1964. He was released on March 16, 1973, ten days short of nine years. On March 26, 1964, Thompson was a passenger on an observation plane…
American POWs in North Vietnam lining up for release on March 27, 1973.
The "Little Vegas" area of Hỏa Lò Prison, built for American POWs in 1967. Shown in a final inspection in 1973 shortly before the Americans' release.
The Hanoi Hilton in a 1970 aerial surveillance photo.
John McCain III giving an interview to the press about his time as a POW on April 24, 1973, soon after his return from Vietnam.