"That little trip cost me just about 2428 days, 18 hours, 35 minutes...as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam" (Audio Interview, 9:53)

Cole Black

War: Vietnam War, 1961-1975 Branch: Navy Unit: VF-211 (Fighter Squadron), USS Hancock (CVA 19); VFP-62 (Light Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron), USS Randolph and USS Intrepid; VF-126 (Instrument Training Squadron) Service Location: Great Lakes, Illinois; Newport, Rhode Island; Pensacola and Jacksonville, Florida; San Diego, California; Pacific; Vietnam; Mexico City, Mexico; Washington, DC Rank: Captain POW: Yes Place of Birth: MN

After enlisting at the age of 17 in 1950, Cole Black spent over 35 years in the Navy--6 years and 9 months of that as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam. Black received his wings in February of 1957 and did two tours of duty over Southeast Asia. Ten days before the end of his second tour, he was shot down and captured. Black endured torture, moves to several camps, and a march through the streets of Hanoi during which he and his fellow prisoners were attacked. Released in 1973, Black spent another 13 years in various posts stateside before retiring on July 1, 1986.