Former Prisoner of War Tony Marshall

Former Prisoner of War Tony Marshall Explains His Ordeal & Offers Advice For Life

On May 3, 1972, Air Force Captain Tony Marshall's  (see video) F4 Phantom fighter-bomber exploded over North Vietnam and he was captured when he parachuted to the ground. The Navigator and Veteran of 266 missions in Southeast Asia told a spellbound audience at the Western Flight Museum in Torrance that he was transported to Hanoi, where he joined other Prisoners of War.

Marshall doesn't think his plane was shot down but that a centerline fuel tank collapsed, leading to the explosion that led to his ejection. The distinguished member of the 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron told how intelligent his captors were-very well-organized and chockfull of information on him and other POWs. He thinks Soviet Intelligence may have helped gather information from newspapers and research in the US since some Vietnamese files on our troops "had way too much information. They even had personal info on me when I was a kid."

In September, a Radio Hanoi Broadcast announced Marshall had been captured. When this happened, he was relieved because his family would learn that he was still alive. Marshall said this is one of the worst parts of being a POW or someone Missing In Action--the uncertainty of spouses and others knowing if you're alive. His pilot, Stephen H. Cuthbert, was MIA until his remains were returned to the US in 1990. It's uncertain how he died. There were over 2,500 Americans "lost" in Southeast Asia. Many are still unaccounted for. "The Vietnamese say to 'discover' additional information on MIAs, they must have increased 'cooperation' from the US, so their people will perceive 'goodwill,"" Marshall said.

"I had a fairly easy time in my captivity because the POWs before me had endured a lot of the harsh treatment but my experience taught me there's really nothing critical in life anymore. You've got to just move on and take one day at a time," said the Air Force Academy graduate, who was released from prison in the Spring of 1973.

Marshall went on to become a pilot and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. After the service, he was a pilot for United Airlines. He is now retired and speaks about his experiences and encourages youth. We salute LTC Marshall and everyone else who has served (or serves) in our military so we may enjoy the freedom we have today.

Tony Marshall spoke at Western Museum of Flight in Torrance, California. The air museum invites the public to its monthly lectures and great exhibits at Historic Louis Zamperini Field, Torrance Airport. Location: 3315 Airport Drive, Red Baron #3, Torrance, CA 90505. wmof.com