[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 170 (Tuesday, December 3, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1779]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 40TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATION FOR FORMER VIETNAM WAR POW MR. RAYMOND 
                                 VOHDEN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. FRANK R. WOLF

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 3, 2013

  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 40th anniversary 
of the release of U.S. Navy Captain, Raymond A. Vohden (RET) as a 
prisoner of war (POW) during the Vietnam War, who was one of almost 600 
Americans held captive during the Vietnam War.
  In April 3, 1965, Lt. Cdr. Ray Vohden was carrying out a combat 
mission when his A4C bomber was shot down over North Vietnam. He was 
captured by the North Vietnamese and held in various POW camps around 
Hanoi. After enduring almost eight years as a POW, he was released in 
February 1973.
  During his time in prison, he was subjected to torture, isolation and 
rudimentary medical care. Telling of his strength and courage during 
this ordeal, he was on crutches the entire time of his captivity. He 
suffered a compound fracture in his right leg as a result of being shot 
down. Upon his return home, he underwent several surgeries to save and 
repair his leg and avoid amputation.
  Capt. Vohden joined the US Navy in 1953 after receiving his 
Bachelor's degree from Rutgers University the year before. During 
college, he played football and wrestled and finished his collegiate 
career as an all-American wrestler. His thirty-two year military career 
began when he earned his wings in 1954. He went on to fly fighter jets 
for four years and then serve as a flight instructor for three years. 
At the time of his capture, he was a Lieutenant Commander and 
Operations Officer of a jet attack squadron on the USS Hancock. After 
his eight years as a POW, he served three years as the head of the 
Pentagon's POW/MIA taskforce and three years as superintendent of the 
U.S. Naval Observatory before retiring in 1986.
  Since then, Capt. Vohden has lived a quiet life in Virginia's 10th 
District, where he raised his family and has enjoyed retirement. He has 
stayed active with other Washington, D.C. area POWs and has helped 
raise awareness about the struggle endured during their captivity. In 
1999, he testified before the House International Relations Committee 
during its investigation on the ``The Cuba Program: Torturing of 
American POW's by Cuban Agents'' and served as the senior participant 
in a small program which was referred to as the ``Fidel Program.'' In 
addition, after years of writing, he self-published his account as a 
POW in 2009, entitled ``A Story of the Fifth longest Held POW in US 
History--First POW released at Homecoming.''
  Capt. Vohden has lived a life of integrity and courage. He is a model 
of perseverance and sacrifice to whom our country is deeply indebted.
  Mr. Speaker, today we should honor the 40th anniversary of his 
release. Please join me in thanking this American hero for his 
remarkable service.

                          ____________________