John Sidney McCain III (born August 29, 1936 in Panama Canal Zone) is an American politician, decorated war veteran, and currently the Republican Senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. He was a presidential candidate in the 2000 election, but was defeated by George W. Bush for the Republican nomination. On February 28, 2007, during a guest appearance on "The Late Show with David Letterman", …

Leo K. Thorsness (born February 14, 1932) is a decorated United States Military veteran and retired Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force. Thorsness was awarded the Medal of Honor for valor in the Vietnam War, for an air engagement on April 19, 1967. He was shot down two weeks later and spent six years in captivity as a prisoner of war.

George E. "Bud" Day (born February 24, 1925) is a former U.S. Air Force pilot during the Vietnam War and recipient of the Medal of Honor. He is often cited as being the most decorated U.S. service member since General Douglas MacArthur, having received some seventy decorations, a majority for actions in combat. Day enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1942 and served thirty months in the South Pacific during World War II.

Samuel Robert "Sam" Johnson (born October 11, 1930) is an American politician. He currently is a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from the Third District of Texas (map).

Jeremiah Andrew Denton Jr. (born July 15 1924 in Mobile, Alabama) is a retired U.S. Navy admiral and a former U.S. senator of the Republican party. He spent almost eight years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam and later wrote a book about his experiences.

George Thomas Coker (born July 14, 1943) is a retired US Navy commander, honored with the Navy Cross for his leadership as a prisoner of war (POW) during the Vietnam War, and a Distinguished Eagle Scout noted for his devotion to Scouting. In 1966, the A-6 Intruder on which Coker was serving as bombardier-navigator was shot down over North Vietnam. He was held as a prisoner of war in the "Hanoi Hilton" and other camps for 6.5 years (1966-1973).

Donald Gilbert Cook (9 August 1934 - 8 December 1967) was a colonel in the United States Marine Corps and a Medal of Honor recipient. Cook was born in Brooklyn, New York. He held as a Prisoner of War by the Viet Cong in the Republic of Vietnam from 31 December 1964 until his death. USS "Donald Cook" (DDG-75) was named in his honor.

Dieter Dengler (May 22, 1938 - February 7, 2001) was a United States Navy pilot during the Vietnam War. He was the sole survivor of an escape attempt from a Pathet Lao prison camp in Laos.

Douglas Brian "Pete" Peterson was a US Air Force pilot who spent over six years (September 10, 1966–March 4, 1973) as a prisoner of the Vietcong after his plane was shot down during the Vietnam War. He returned to Hanoi in 1997 as the first U.S. ambassador to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, with the goal of securing an account of those still listed as missing in action from the war. He was an ambassador until 2001.

Lance Peter Sijan (April 13, 1942 - January 22, 1968) was a United States Air Force officer and fighter pilot. He was awarded the Medal of Honor, the United States' highest military award, for his selflessness and courage in the face of lethal danger. Sijan was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1942 from a Serbian father and Irish mother. He graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1965, and after attending pilot training, …

Everett Alvarez Jr. (b. 1937, Salinas, California) was a Navy Lieutenant Commander who endured one of the longest periods as a prisoner of war (POW) in American history. Alvarez was one of the first American POWs in the Vietnam War. He spent 8.5 years in captivity, making him the second longest-held POW in American history. Alvarez joined the United States Navy in 1960 and was selected for pilot training. On August 5 1964, during Operation Pierce Arrow, …

Joseph Eugene Kernan (born April 8, 1946), widely known as Joe Kernan, is an American politician who became the Governor of Indiana on September 13, 2003 upon the death of Frank O'Bannon. Born in 1946 in Chicago, Illinois, prior to becoming the governor, he had served as the Lieutenant Governor of Indiana. Kernan is a member of the Democratic Party.

Joseph William Kittinger II (born July 27, 1928) is a former pilot and career military officer in the United States Air Force. He is most famous for his participation in Project Man High and Project Excelsior and also, as being the first man to make a solo crossing of the Atlantic Ocean in a gas balloon.

Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale (December 23, 1923 - July 5, 2005) was one of the most highly decorated officers in the history of the United States Navy. Shot down over enemy territory in 1965, Stockdale was the highest ranking naval officer held as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. He was released in 1973. He was awarded 26 personal combat decorations, including the Medal of Honor and four Silver Stars.

Floyd James "Jim" Thompson (July 8, 1933 (Bergenfield, New Jersey) - July 16, 2002 (Key West, Florida)) was the longest held POW in United States history, spending nearly nine years in captivity in Vietnam. =Early life= =Military Career= Thompson worked in a grocery store before he was drafted by the United States Army on June 14, 1956. After basic training at Fort Dix, New Jersey, Thompson decided to make the military his career.

James Robinson "Robbie" Risner (b. 1925) was one of the most accomplished fighter pilots in the history of the United States Air Force. He retired as a Brigadier General in 1976. Risner was decorated for service in the Korean War due to dramatic success in aeronautical dog fights, becoming the 20th Jet Ace of the war, credited with eight enemy aircraft destroyed. During service in Vietnam he was shot down twice.

William D. Port was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War. Port joined the Army from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and by January 12 1968 was serving as a private first class in Company C, 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Division. During a firefight on that day, in the Que Son Valley, Heip Duc Province, Republic of Vietnam, …

James Nicholas "Nick" Rowe, United States military officer, was one of only thirty-four American POWs to escape captivity during the Vietnam War. Rowe was assigned as Executive Officer of Detachment A-23, 5th Special Forces Group, a 12-man "A-team" in Vietnam in 1963. Located at Tan Phu in An Xuyen Province, A-23 organized and advised a Civilian Irregular Defense Group camp in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam.

Captain Humbert Roque "Rocky" Versace (July 2, 1937-September 26, 1965) was a United States Army officer of Puerto Rican-Italian descent who was awarded the United States' highest military decoration - the Medal of Honor - for his heroic actions while a prisoner of war (POW) during the Vietnam War. He was the first member of the U.S. Army to be awarded the Medal of Honor for actions performed in Southeast Asia while in captivity.

Vice Admiral William Porter Lawrence was an officer in the United States Navy. Lawrence was a noted test pilot who became the first Naval Aviator to fly twice the speed of sound in a Naval aircraft and was also one of the final candidates for the Mercury space program. During the Vietnam War, Lawrence was shot down while on a combat mission and spent several years as a prisoner of war; during this time he became noted for his resistance to his captors.

Marion A. Marshall (born December 4 1946 in Washington D.C.) was a Captain in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War. Some of the awards that Marion received in his career were: the Prisoner of War Medal, 17 Air Medals, five Distinguished Flying Crosses, four Meritorious Service Medals, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, and the Purple Heart. Marshall grew up in Maryland with his mother and sister.

Seaman Apprentice (E-2) Douglas B. Hegdahl was a United States Navy sailor who was a prisoner of war (POW) during the Vietnam War. After his early release by North Vietnam, upon returning to the United States, he was able to provide the names and personal information about 256 other POWs as well as revealing the conditions in the prison camp.