Back From The Dead: Navy Pilot Shot Down and Held Captive For 2,675 Days | Porter Halyburton

Porter Halyburton was born in 1941 in Miami, Florida, but was raised in Davidson, North Carolina. He graduated from Davidson College in 1963 and entered the U.S. Navy Pre-Flight program on October 10, 1963, receiving his commission in February 1964.
Halyburton was trained as an F-4B Phantom II Radar Intercept Officer, and then joined VF-84 at NAS Oceana, Virginia, in April 1965. He began flying combat missions in Southeast Asia with VF-84 flying off the aircraft carrier USS Independence (CVA-62) in May 1965, and was forced to eject over North Vietnam while flying his 75th combat mission on October 17, 1965. He was listed as Killed in Action.
In fact Halyburton had survived the ejection and was quickly captured on the ground. He would spend the next 2,675 days in captivity in various Vietnamese prison camps including the infamous "Hanoi Hilton". LCDR Porter Halyburton would finally be released during Operation Homecoming on February 12, 1973.
Interview recorded on November 3, 2023
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[@americanveteranscenter]

HISTORY LOVERS - before you comment, be sure to subscribe to this KZbin channel and ring the notification bell so you never miss a future upload!

[@idonuttylikezenorship4547]

Why is your symbol from saturn occult religions?

[@frogvet68]

@@americanveteranscenter subscribed and all notifications too

[@mx-k]

"...and I walked out of two prisons." Wow, just wow! I'm extremely thankful for your service and sacrifice. God bless you.

[@wojecire]

That line got me choked up.

[@scottcole1423]

That was so powerful! What a good example for everyone to follow.

[@idonuttylikezenorship4547]

God can't help this gentile for what he has done

[@idonuttylikezenorship4547]

​@@scottcole1423an example of what not to do. Not my war, not my problem.

[@scottcole1423]

@@idonuttylikezenorship4547 what? 😂 did you even watch the video?

[@akawireguy1197]

I have watched dozens of these and this man is an exceptional human being.

[@johnhadley7715]

He obviously did his share of talking to the Real Admiral. He married well, too!

[@user-bl6ne3hc6n]

Me too, of all the prisoners stories out there, it looks like the Germans was more let's say decent,

[@user-de6fm9ms4z]

@@user-bl6ne3hc6n Germans had to deal with the Geneva convention and the very large German prisoner population in allied hands. In essence is like comparing Apples and Oranges. These prisoners had one thing that kept them going and that was "Keep the Faith" which was to each other and second to the USA. I had a commander that was a prisoner for years. There were times that a huge stress and anxiety would engulf him. He would stand and put his back against a wall and you could see the awful relieving of the torture and nightmares. We just kept very silent and allow him to recover in his own time the suffering these men went through can only be compared to the way the Japanese treated prisoners in WW 2.

[@user-bl6ne3hc6n]

@user-de6fm9ms4z towards the end of the war was pretty awful for the prisoners that's because there was no food they had to get them out of the stalags and move them because the locals wanted them dead and wanted their food but the first 3 years or so our prisoners was treated pretty well they got to write letters they got to have packages sent from home grow their own food some Barracks had radios they got to grow their own wood for heat and cooking make their own clothes, ect ext, the Japanese didn't come close , they were barbaric monsters, to compare, not fair, ,

[@DWHCBPM]

Ubon F-4 GIB 137 missions N without a scratch 1966. Welcome home brother. Salute with highest possible respect. Thank you for your service.

[@nobonespurs]

did you know rf4 pilot daniel Tauiello?

[@user-de6fm9ms4z]

Did my tour at UBON was there in 1969 - 1970 and was part of the Satan's Angels. I was a Crew Chief and over a few months I lost to many pilots and felt I was jinxed. It is hard to convey how hard it is to think that the last face that aircrew saw was my face so many brave and dedicated guys that were wasted over Laos and some incursions into Cambodia. By the way we use to play games with the aircrews by putting in the cockpit Rice Bugs which had a hell of a time with the negative and positive G(s) and made a hell of allot of noise. You probably flew the F4C(s) which years later ended up in the 401st TFW in Torrejon Spain Small world. May the Lord bless you and your family!!!!

[@Michael_Hunt]

@@user-de6fm9ms4z Thank you for your service sir. You sound like you'd be a very interesting person to talk to about your experiences. God bless.

[@Combat556]

Thank you sir for the air support you provided while I was on the ground as a Marine in the I Corps area in 1967-68.

[@Tet68]

Ditto

[@patriot6285]

This man is an exceptional person, he realized the importance of eliminating hatred from his life. This is a concept that we can ALL talk about, BUT tough to put into real life action.

[@zacandmillie]

What an amazing attitude... to forgive and not harbour hatred. My wife's Grandfather was captured in the Fall of Singapore in 42 and spent the whole war as a prisoner. Sadly his experiences haunted him and he found solace in alcohol. My wife remembers him as a child in the 60s as a drunk but did not know the reasoning behind it.

[@tedlieb4928]

As a veteran, I salute you sir.👍🇺🇸

[@idonuttylikezenorship4547]

Veteran of foreign joo wars.

[@thecomrade9284]

You salute the American or Ukraine flag on his collar. All you see is luck and willful ignorance.

[@tedlieb4928]

YOU wouldn't understand.

[@user-de6fm9ms4z]

@@thecomrade9284 What you do not understand is that he earned the right to wear whatever the hell he wants he paid for that. A lot of these people that suffered greatly link their suffering with the Soviet Union i'e;' Russia that is mistaken but is very hard for them to delink Russia from the Soviet Union.

[@mondo851]

After listening to Commander Halyburton's story of captivity in his own words, I was moved by his arrival at forgiveness on the day of his release, and his consequent liberation.

[@dave3156]

What a touching story! What this man and the other POWs endured for so long is such a sad story. We owe these men a debt that can never be fully repaid. I hope your life after release has been one which has made up for lost time. Thanks for your service and sacrifice sir

[@amyhaneycreel]

Beautiful testimony from an amazing American

[@6565hopepy]

My grandpa was in Chinese Volunteer Antiaircraft Artillery Regiment, serviced in north Vietnam. One of his friend killed by American aircraft bomb attack, Shrapnel hit his head. Thank you for you sharing your story and experience.

[@idonuttylikezenorship4547]

​@@robdagr8teoi vey

[@22QXX112]

​​@@robdagr8tewhy are you so eo mean

[@mattyfatstaxs]

Lots of former US Vietnam vets admired the courage of the Viet Cong and now after going back to visit Vietnam have nothing but nice things to say. Sorry for ur grandfathers loss

[@PhillipFelix-kw3zi]

The war is over. All of us have more pressing matters to attend to. We also know that these wars should have never been fought to begin with. The monsters in charge want to make us fight yet another senseless war as we speak. Time for all of us to say "no" and move on to better endeavors.

[@sstaffords12]

@@robdagr8te sweare

[@RW77777777]

what a blessing not to be in solitary for his time with Col. Cherry being alone is very painful it is my hope that veterans of all conflicts find freedom and forgiveness

[@dougstitt1652]

Thank you Mr. Halyburton !

[@markheydt351]

Thank you sir.....for your service!!❤❤ I owe everything that I have in life to you veterans!!! thank you again!!

[@cduke3417]

Thank You Sir for Your Bravery in Military Service to Our Country! Thank You for sharing your experiences! 🇺🇸🙏

[@MikeFromNashville]

God bless you and your family and he has with you. You are a good man and you make this world a better place. Thank you for your service thank you for telling your story.

[@z.louisecoombsrambouillet8395]

Thank you, sir, for your service! They do not make them like this young man anymore! Now, please, no one think that I don't think our service men & women aren't good and brave too! It's just that it's true that our elders are very different from people today and have a different mindset than people do today.

[@mamiJean24]

Currently stationed in Pensacola, it's amazing knowing that this is the old airstrip all throughout WW2, now turned into a navy IWTC training school. Thank you for your service, proud to serve along side you, ♥️♥️

[@Solhai]

Thank you for sharing this story in such delicate detail. Eliminating hatred is profound and I've found great weights lifted from my personal life through forgiveness as well. You do us another service by sharing from such example. I hope sharing with the people of the AVC has eliminated other burdens for you and the experience was helpful to yourself as much as it has been to me and the many others who have listened. Semper Fortis

[@xvsj-s2x]

Thank you for choosing to serve ❤🇺🇸

[@idonuttylikezenorship4547]

In a war where they drafted the poor, but these feds never send their own children. It's about to happen again on a grand scale never seen before. This time women will be part of this "selective" draft.

[@juno4494]

Though his experience and the courage and determination with which he handled it are beyond the imagination of most of us, his last words are true for all of us: considering hate as prisons from which he emerged. There is no more liberating a feeling than there is of true forgiveness, a letting go of the weight on our shoulders. Thank you for those words, Sir, and, by the way, HooYah.

[@MrsinTN]

I had the pleasure of hearing Commander Halyburton speak in 2007 at Andersonville National Historic Site during their MIA/POW Days. I’m sorry that Andersonville no longer has a week of events; now, it’s one day.

[@nancycornett9949]

Thank you so much for your service, and your courage.

[@murphyr31]

Wow ….. now that’s a good man. Ty for sharing this story with us. Powerful words 🇺🇸

[@lulumoon6942]

My Father was the first infant survivor, but 5th baby. He was declared KIA in the KC and for 2 weeks it nearly killed my Grandma! He was actually a POW and ultimately survived.🙏🕊️

[@brucevidito4923]

Forgiveness is indeed liberating. Unforgiveness is like cancer. Psychologically, it can destroy you.

[@idonuttylikezenorship4547]

Meanwhile he is wearing an u.s/ukraine pin. He never learned and is just parroting gentile propaganda. This time it will be your kids, brothers and even sisters now in this "equal" world.

[@abmcd9381]

'rules of engagement' are designed to allow the 'enemy' to continue being competitive for as long as possible.

[@to8860]

Sickening.....

[@jimmyjones2901]

When someone looks back into history, they will see that the greater force(being USA) showed mercy until forced upon. This is the only leverage the USA has to not look like the bully of war. If they wanted to, they could play the bully. This is also why other countries are willing to follow them into war and support their decisions. No one wants to follow the bully. Why, because the bully is the real loser with no respect for humanity. Furthermore I salute US military members for sacrificing this opportunity of attack in such situations as I understand the negative consequences.

[@to8860]

@@jimmyjones2901 OR, our guys are fighting animals......they don't play by any"rules".

[@johnathandaviddunster38]

​@@to8860hey Bubba did you know that more Americans have been killed BY Americans in AMERICA than ALL the Americans killed in ALL the foreign wars combined that Americans have fought in,mainly thanks to the second amendment ...😢

[@CommanderLongJohn]

​@to8860 Exactly, that's why in WW2 we gave the Japanese literally no quarter . . Modern ROE I'd literally to prolong conflicts, which generates billions of dollars among the military industrial complex/government and in the pockets of rat politicians

[@omarrashash394]

He was an instructor, at my NROTC Unit at Georgia Tech, in the mid-seventies. Needless to say, we paid particular attention when he talked about the Code of Conduct.

[@IAMswayingwillow]

“Inspiration what life was going to be like when I got home”❤😂Welcome home Porter🥁🛫

[@WaynesWorldGarage]

Awesome video. Thanks for sharing your horrible experience. Your character and integrity are models for all.

[@jarettlindstrom3283]

Amazing story. I’m so grateful to listen to

[@savic408]

What an amazing man! I will never forget!

[@robertcampbell6745]

What a legend this man is. Imagine being in that condition and still not taking the easy way out. I have a horrible feeling that if that had been me, I would be like 'Ok, what do you want to know?' Lol I just watched the last part - what a line at the end. Why is this man not president of the USA?

[@Seasidecc95437]

Ty, I was thinking the same thing., he was new, an probably had no real intelligence. Damn

[@ChancetheCanine]

7.3 years in captivity!😢

[@idonuttylikezenorship4547]

For bombing innocent people for never ending proxy wars seems like a fair trade off

[@VictoriousLaura]

"... I walked out of two prisons that day. " Forgiveness is so powerful. I think his statement about it will stick with me.

[@dswiger]

Halyburton is pretty lucid for his age. A great warrior who was miss used by the LBJ/McNamara cabal Welcome home warrior !

[@martyb3783]

It is hard to imagine what our POWs had to endure. All I can say is thank you and you are not forgotten.

[@davidbarnes4586]

I enjoy listening to these men of wisdom-earned from years of living under circumstances most of could not imagine.

[@MoreFormosa]

Amazing sacrifices, thank you for your service sir! Happy that you were reunited with your parents, family,wife and daughter and friends👍🏼🙏💪🇺🇸

[@Onlyusemesuede]

What an amazing story! I can’t imagine being a pow let alone for as long as this man was. Thank you for your service sir!

[@otadashi1570]

Sounds like he knew he was flying low to avoid the SAMs and also knew by doing that he was an easy target for anti-aircraft fire. So, knowing both those things, why would anyone order a pilot into that situation?

[@mikecrawford3805]

That, was the LBJ way. Oh yeah……and via the Swedes…….told Hanoi where the bombers were going, and when they were going. LBJ and his whiz McNamara, were in WAY over their heads. Much like Slick Willy, BO, and the Biden Family.

[@cameronspence4977]

Idiot officers who are incompetent/dont care

[@BrianD-ds4dx]

I suggest everyone read about his cousin, William D Halyburton, the namesake of the USS Halyburton

[@paulburns4721]

I was hoping someone mentioned this here. I was an FC on the Halyburton, FFG-40, 1992-93. Attended her decommissioning. The Halyburton family was there, of course. I wish I could've talked to them, but they were surrounded. 🫡🇺🇲

[@yvonnemurray5537]

What service, dedication, the will to survive AND to be totally honest in your personal evaluations of missions. God bless you sir & I am so sorry you had to endure what you did for our country. Signed female high school graduate 1966. We lost so many of our high school boys.

[@hashslingingslasher1]

This channel is amazing never stop uploading there is nothing quite like this.

[@paulrhodes8111]

What an example Commander Halyburton sets. An incredible story, leaving two prisons left me in awe. Thank you for your service.

[@athanasiusofalexandria4304]

Wow.

[@LBGirl1988]

God bless you, Hero!!!! ❤️💔❤️🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@danranquist502]

Thank you for your service Sir. What you went through was war.. sadly, you were blessed more than anything. We can all write whatever we want on pieces of paper and call them rules but war is war.. this is why I care so much for and appreciate our service members and the journey that they and their families embark on during their service. Thank you!

[@Unbridled13]

So grateful for your detailed information about your experience. We lost a family member in same area. POW/MIA William Otis Fuller 558th shot down August 26, 1967, F-4C Phantom II (tail number 64-0692, call sign "Whiskey 22 , Houston, Texas hometown, base El Paso, Texas. His father’s name was Porter Fuller.

[@BrassMtn]

Holy Sugar!!! Pow for over 7 years!?!?

[@ReneKillion-ft5jh]

Thank you for your service. What a handsome gentleman. For all he went through, he looks amazing. Your courage and bravery is astounding. God Bless❤

[@Old_B52H_Gunner]

I flew with a guy that was shot down twice over Vietnam, in two different aircraft types, the second time he was captured. He stayed in tbe Air Force into the 1980s.

[@InkaPley]

❤❤ The resilience of this generation will never seize to amaze me. The stories of what my own grandparents went through during ww2 most people could not even fathom). Thank you for your service❤❤❤❤

[@markdavis7397]

I thought I was bad at punctuality, but this man was literally late to his own funeral.

[@azcardguy7825]

His last few sentences are some of the most wise words a man could possibly speak. Everyone who listened to this should try to live by those words.

[@Kennanjk]

I love this guys attitude about being declaring Kia by one of his fellow pows and he’s just like yeah stuff happens.

[@localgamerz..]

7.3 years.... Glad you made it out 🫡 Sir, thank you for your service 🙏

[@JP-ry9ob]

Geez,this man was right in the thick of the campaigns you read about that helped define air combat during the Vietnam war.

[@kathyspeed1575]

I'm so sorry for all of the horror and torture that allow you had to endure. I'm very proud of you for forgiving them. God is pleased so much for that. Thank you for your service and I'm sorry for the way that you all were treated when you got home. Those people were horrible. God bless you and your families. ❤❤❤

[@chanaselwyn9265]

TY for your service

[@sandtiger]

CDR Halyburton, I knew one of your warrior brothers, CDR Ralph Gaither of Gulf Breeze Florida. He was my woodcarving mentor and an inspiration. God Bless you sir.

[@rhonda8231]

Such a brave man!!!! These men are the true hero's in society. Thank you for your service!

[@JohnsonVideoLibrary]

Incredible story of courage and conscience. Thank you for sharing. God bless you.

[@stevensmall9398]

This guy is a true hero in my eyes. The crap he had to deal with for 7 years and 4 months. Poor guy.

[@sshaw4429]

God bless you. Thank you for your service. ❤❤❤

[@Emmettaug]

God Bless you and your Family, Thank you for your service. All Politicians and people in power need to watch these videos and meet these Soldiers.

[@awsomo53]

One of the substitute teachers we had in public school was a prisoner of war in Vietnam. He was kept in a bamboo cage and buried in the ground. He would never talk about it.

[@myzacky96]

A beautiful heart breaking story, thank you for making our lives in USA free, God bless you

[@Scott3717]

As a Key West native, thank you for your service Porter!

[@richardthornhill4630]

Excellent POW story, especially when he forgave them and walked out free. Too many carried the hatred and unforgiveness home with them. Thanks to all our Veterans who served. Semper Fi.

[@stephenambrose2103]

Absolute total respect for this man. A true hero. Unfortunately I am reading this at a time when a man who would describe Commander Halyburton as a loser for being captured may well again become the President. Sad.

[@AnitaFreeman-j2j]

Amazing man! Incredible story! So thankful for men and women like this!

[@ndn1958]

Bless you sir, 4 of my cousins went to Vietnam and thank God they all came home. But I want you to know I support you and am grateful for your service. I'm so sorry you experienced all the horrors of war. Much, much love to you and your family ❤

[@HarvBeatsProduction.]

Wow... Thank you

[@beinaj]

Charlotte NC native watching from Jomtien, Thailand!! Bless you, sir.

[@racheld7528]

I took care of a young man in the early 2000’s. I apologize if I get some of the information wrong. He is former military. He was part of this group that would climb through the mountains of Vietnam I believe and bring home the bodies of US soldiers that did not make it. All of the climbing with the gear they have to carry did some damage to his neck and he had to have surgery. But he was planning to still go and help in any way he could. He was so nice! He gave me his info so I could donate or help in whatever ways I could. I don’t know where the information went. I moved soon after and it got lost. I don’t know if there is a way to find that group. But he made a life long impression. 💕

[@unnamedchannel1237]

Could be department of peace operations ?

[@unnamedchannel1237]

Not sure if this link will work www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3527804/dod-wont-stop-looking-until-all-powmias-are-home/

[@Joemammatype3]

That’s why I put my flag out this morning.

[@idonuttylikezenorship4547]

That is why I looked on the back of the U.S dollar this morning

[@IH8stpdppl]

What an incredible person.

[@defsummer]

not only his endurance is amazing, but his capacity to realize that he had to let go his hate or it will consume him. I dont know if I could be that smart, and that strong in such situation

[@brianlykins6663]

I thank you and every Viet Nam Veteran who served. I did not go to Viet Nam, graduated 72, the last year of selective service. If drafted I would've gone, but was not looking to enlist. Mainly I grew up with Viet Nam war, relatives, friends served, several didn't come home. I saw what the politicians were doing and with no regard for any American soldiers life nor concern for their families. I still blame the government for all the anti Viet Nam propaganda and the hatred for any returning American servicemen / women. An uncle was in LRRP's 68 - 69. I learned a lot about what was actually happening , not what the media was pushing. I've seen many of these interviews with POW's. I am always in awe of what they ent through, I know the spoken word can not tell all they experienced. Im not sure experienced is the right word, survived living through would be closer I guess. I pray all veterans find the peace they deserve. Wars are always waged by old men removed from danger and fought by young men that have little choice. No young person of typical fighting age, 18 - 25, should ever have go do and see the thing's they had to do and see. I have heard a few folks recounting their story, as with this man, that had a more peaceful tone in their voice and calmer demeanor. After watching several of these and talking to the vets that I know over the years. It finally came to me, the one's that made whatever peace they could, like this man forgiving his captors, were the ones that had a calmness others didn't. I respect all vets, but do have a special place in my heart for the Viet Nam vets. I suppose more for tge way they were treated coming home, by the government and the American people. God bless each soul that was envolved in any military exposure. May God help you and give you whatever peace you need to find. ❤

[@zzznoonex]

Rip Stan ❤🇺🇲

[@richardtruitt5073]

More people in America need to have the honor like this Man has

[@patsystreasurehunt4251]

What an amazing story and man. We could all learn something from this. Thank you, sir, for your service, your sacrifice, and your inspiration.

[@richardtruitt5073]

Thank you for your service sir

[@michellelittle9184]

What an incredible man. My dad served 12 months as a medic in Vietnam. I grew up a military kid, & have a profound respect for all servicemen & women. I salute you, each & every one.

[@user-om1fj3ys8t]

Thank you for your service 🫡

[@keatotherealone520]

The fact that 2675 days is 7 years is insane the amount of torture this guy went through must’ve been horrific and to be kept alive that long

[@lynlong1292]

Hell yes!!!!!🥰🥰🥰, so happy you made it back....thank you for your service.

[@agentmbca]

❤ Thank you for your service

[@j1st633]

Wow!

[@ernietheattorneycom]

My god. I am so grateful for you sharing this. Unbelievable courage, integrity and virtue......... welcome home sir. 🇺🇸

[@michaelmeier5893]

Such an amazing story and thank you for your service but soooooo many unanswered questions!! Was his wife still waiting for him? Did she re marry or what?

[@PasleyAviationPhotography]

Navy? Why does the thumbnail show a USAF Phantom.

[@sshaw4429]

Incredible recollection! Thank you for recording this! I lost a lot of friends in Vietnam. You were one of the lucky few.

[@useruser400]

Pro tip: Never believe Intel assessments of the enemy’s weapon’s capability. The best person to know that is the guy getting shot at, not the Intel toad! A USAF Wild Weasel EWO recounted flying in a Thud at three hundred feet over the Haiphong harbor and having an actively guided (!!!) SA-2 missile pass between his aircraft and the water. So a 3,000 ft target would be no challenge for an SA-2. I hope such lore is never lost. Nothing is worse than repeating lessons-learned.

[@KQ4TXJ]

one of the most beautiful campuses I've ever been to. Sewanee ...

[@treystephens6166]

You Only Live Twice (1967) OO7

[@Snorky421]

Never thank a vet for their service. Thank them for the sacrifices that they had made so we can have the lives we have today. Thank you for the sacrifices you made. I salute good sir.

[@alteredcanvas]

Thank U for your service sir, your an amazing American soldier We thank U for our lives❤❤