Vietnam Fighter Pilot POW Tony Marshall

Lt Col Tony Marshall (USAF ret.) shares experiences flying F-4 Phantom fighter-bombers over North Vietnam until his aircraft exploded, was captured and endured the ordeal as a POW. Produced by Jarel & Betty Wheaton for Peninsula Seniors www.pvseniors.org

[@kensammons7907]

Worked on a project for him in the 90’s and he is the real deal! I haven’t thought about this guy in years, I remember talking about his flying days in the Air Force but I don’t remember him being a POW. He just didn’t say anything but I knew he was special at the time. I was an HVAC contractor and put air conditioning in his house and let me tell you, he’s the same way one on one. He is a role model and great American! I’m honored to have met him.

[@chrisj197438]

This man should be a role model for the black community not rappers and ball players. Thank you for your service and sacrifice sir!!!!

[@chrismartin1956]

Agreed and so many more like him. Well said!

[@marxxmann8758]

Couldn't have said it better

[@trubblman]

How do you know hes not? Are you black?

[@shawnwomack3446]

I agree with you 100 percent.

[@glennsanders9770]

Not everyone in the Black community look to Rappers and Ball Players as role models.

[@JimMarshall2]

I flew with Tony when I was a young LT. He was the smoothest, calm, and collected guy I ever flew with.

[@jimthesnowboarder12]

i flew with tony as well

[@jimthesnowboarder12]

i was a captain

[@KC_Smooth]

Really? That’s amazing! Thank you for your service

[@alkay3858]

Congregation Tony and welcome home. I was stationed with you at Udorn with the 13 TFS Life Support shop. I was a SSGT at the time. I found this video just by accident. I am glad to hear your story of survival.

[@kristov29]

Once I started watching I couldn't break away. A remarkable narrative from a remarkable man.

[@davidca96]

I normally cant watch long speeches or presentations but I hung on every word of this. Its a remarkable insight on how it REALLY was as a POW in Vietnam. There were several things that surprised me.

[@D_in_DC]

@@davidca96 Same here. This was almost an hour and I initially thought, ehh, I'l just watch a few minutes. Next thing i knew, the end credits were rolling.. lol. Great history in this video. Great man.

[@dwidjoko3244]

Though I am a non american nor understood much about this war, I concur that LtCol Tony Marshall I would say is very smart. His mind is at least a graduate level of intelligence if not more. He can be teaching psy class at any university. Top up with his excellent skill in story telling along with his sense of humour while maintaining his composure, I would have no problem listening a long-hours presentation. He wouldn't let anything screws his mind up. What a guy! Just like some of viewers, I was just "passing by" but got hooked after the first 3 minutes.

[@mguarin912]

kristov29 oh man...you got that right. What a character.

[@neatstuff8200]

He's not only cool but he comes from some pretty good genes. He doesn't look old enough to be flying in Vietnam. Salute

[@modelrailwaynoob]

Greetings from England. What an amazing gentleman. I enjoyed watching this.

[@armchairgeneralissimo]

This guy has a fantastic way of telling his story.

[@1anre]

His swag and composure in narrating must just be fraction of how cool he must’ve been while flying. Glad to see there wee Black Aces in the Vietnam Conflict too.

[@b-trucker7717]

No he just speculating with no proof,glad that pilot survived thou 👍

[@kman-mi7su]

@@b-trucker7717 No, you are reading into what he said. He never states the guy was an ace. But there were black ace pilots during the war.

[@l.a.raustadt518]

Worked with a Vietnam pilot , those guy s are cool as ice! Great vid , Thank you Mr.Marshall.

[@mrwhitespaleking5190]

If there's not a movie about this guy, there should be.

[@bigc-yw6jm]

Tony was my Grandparents across the street neighbor in Apple Valley. I was a young boy and could tell he was a serious individual. I new he was flying but was unaware of his Vietnam story. Thanks Tony for being a good neightbor to Ben and Gale

[@maga5725]

A true American Patriot... thank you for your service and sacrifice. Welcome home and God bless you sir.

[@spiritzweispirit1st638]

✌👍🇺🇸

[@tracya4087]

here here

[@jetfan75]

Excellent presentation, as an Air Force vet this gentleman is an inspiration and true hero in my eyes. Thank you for sharing.

[@marinegrunt6633]

Having served as a Marine at the DMZ, Rockville, Mutters Ridge, Helicopter Valley, I would like to say those F-4s saved our asses on numerous occasions, also, thank you Col for your service , Semper Fi

[@fetengineer9151]

Okay folks now here is a true American hero! Sir thank you for your service!

[@fload46d]

Sir, proud to have you in our Air Force and especially flying in Nam. God bless you, sir.

[@tracya4087]

here here

[@johnleyland338]

Very interesting and very well put. What a man, he stood tall in the face of adversity. I would love to shake his hand. Respect and all the very best to him.

[@SuperAirplanemaster]

Tony was my mentor at the Tomorrow Aeronautical Museum he is great Role model

[@darrylnelson6264]

Col Marshall. Good to have you back sir. A very interesting story. I missed the war. A had a draft card but wound up enlisting and stayed in the USAF for 26 yrs. I was MX on F-4Es, F4-Gs and RF-4Cs. We went to Desert Storm with the Weasels and Recces.

[@kman-mi7su]

I was in the US Army during Desert Storm. I remember thinking, "It's hot as Hades here, I wish I was flying one of those birds", but in reality, they faced hell when they got shot down and captured just like the pilots in Vietnam. I was a young and dumb brotha back with a strong back, stronger than my mind at the time. That being said, I lugged the "pig" aka M60 everywhere.

[@jonmajarucon51]

Amazing man. His poise, optimism and attitude are so inspirational to me. Thanks Colonel!!!

[@jeffkerr4249]

THANK YOU TONY !

[@94Whiskey]

Excellent story sir! Thank you for your service!

[@winkerdude]

A true American. Irreverent and proud to the end. I salute you.

[@williamh3950]

winkerdude, I agree that this guy is a true American Hero. My salute to him as well.

[@tracya4087]

yes from england too

[@thePronto]

"Those who have volunteered, have no right to complain." Absolutely. I volunteered, and I don't expect thanks for doing it: that is what I wanted to do. I can't stand these people who are always blubbing about how tough it was: they need to STFU. Tony Marshall is a real man.

[@gewgulkansuhckitt9086]

All the Vietnam vets I know look about 20 years older than him. This guy is really well preserved.

[@garymfra3962]

Great story. Thank you for your service sir!

[@RobertSantos-rw8dy]

...Thank you for your service.

[@MrPaglissi]

Fascinating. So many great stories like this out there. I'm always thankful to come across them. I'm even more thankful for this great American's service.

[@d.debolt3182]

Loved hearing from Col Marshall! Served at Clark in the 80s with him.

[@WarReport.]

Nice last name mine is DeBolt too

[@raydolinger1980]

I wish all american men white and black would act like this man.... world would be a good place

[@bravo2038]

good story,and well presented,you,re a great man,you used your wits to survive a tough situation,i joined the marines in 79,my parents were shocked,best decision i ever made,welcome home sir!

[@firefightergoggie]

Absolutely fascinating! Loved hearing him speak. This would make for an outstanding movie. Thank you for posting.

[@Rvalivesound]

You are very laid back and easy to listen to. Funny also, it was a treat to experience this, if just through youtube! My Grandfather and Father are veterans of the Marines/WWII and the Air Force/Desert Storm. They are both extremely laid back gentlemen and confident like you... You remind me of my Grandfather a bit and how he always remained calm regardless of pressure or comfort level! I am a drone pilot and a sound engineer and although I have been able to deal with the pressures of the job, I'm not sure how I would have held up in the military during wartime. Anyway, thanks for letting us have a peek in on your very unique experiences!

[@apocyldoomer]

R.IP. to your flight commander, he fought back but lost, a valiant effort on his part, your fwd Pilot!

[@TheGospelQuartetParadise]

Thank you for your service... I couldn't go to Vietnam because of the one family member at a time in a combat zone. So I sat in Germany for 3 years as a combat medic.

[@saleemwaheed9956]

Awesome video! A true role model for all black youth.

[@Kedeas]

Couldn’t agree more.!!!!

[@geezerhull]

All youth.

[@nickmad887]

Thank you Lt Col..

[@EricIrl]

What a story - and rivettingly told.

[@benjaminmoser2723]

God Bless men like that. To bad we don’t have more men like him. That is a great man!

[@tracya4087]

here here

[@greenfuzz13]

That was excellent and Lt. Col. Marshall has his head screwed on right. He's a very effective speaker and to hear him tell it he had them right where he wanted them the whole time. His experience is completely different from any other Vietnam war POW that I have read about. I didn't plan to listen to the whole thing but 1 minute in I was hooked.

[@kman-mi7su]

Amazing story! Might catch flak for saying this, but this guy looks amazing for his age! He looks young enough and in good enough shape, he could still be on active duty.

[@f0rumrr]

What a great story, told so well. This is how you adapt and overcome.

[@VesaGuardian]

A very captivating story. Had to watch the whole thing. And I have to say I did enjoy every minute of it.

[@shananagans5]

If you ever see this I want to say Thank you Col. Marshall. I very much appreciated your presentation, and, or course, thank you for your service. You seem like a great guy & I sure hope you are enjoying your retirement. I don't know exactly when you were at Air Force Academy but my father was teaching math & physics there from 72 - 76. I was a little girl back then but I recall watching all the cadets throw their hats for graduation every year.

[@omahaL98]

Great story of Lt. Col Marshall story, I grew up during the Vietnam era and my dad was a career Air Force Officer was stationed at Grand Forks AFB from 1971 thru 1975 during the beginning of the end of Vietnam War. I remembered the Linebacker II bombing that President Nixon ordered to bring the North Vietnamese back to the negotiating table during the the time Lt. Col Marshall was still held prisoner of war and seeing Return of American Prisoners of War on television. I had worn a popular bracelets that gave recognition of those who were MIA or Prisoner of war during that time, the Missing Airman was Major John E Bailey, his aircraft was shot down of 10 May 1966 the crash site was excavated in July 1995 and in March 1999 John's remains were identified and returned to the USA for burial. I thank Lt. Col Marshall service and all those who served in Vietnam and during the Vietnam war.

[@jbowers895]

Alot of respect for this man... his story and the way he tells it is just incredible.....its a shame most people arnt interested in history for it's not only important but is far more interesting than movies more often than not

[@KC_Smooth]

They need to show this on the history and discovery channel. This man is highly intelligent and classy. So proud to see the men and women who fight for our country.

[@carlvann4167]

very interesting guy.great sense of humor.enjoyed his story

[@RogerSanGabriel]

Great story and welcome home!

[@Jude107c]

Wow! This was an amazing story! I’d like to meet him someday!

[@richardgould8842]

Hey Tony, good to see you happy and healthy, LTC Dick Gould 13TFS Feb 71-Feb 72

[@kingpieman99]

This would make a great movie, but well done.

[@falconmoose1589]

I see what you did there kingpieman.

[@robb2047]

yep, that would make an awesome film. Real heros instead of fake, made up comic heros that litter the action movies today.

[@aaronseet2738]

Too bad they filmed *Rescue Dawn* instead.

[@fizzys26]

Fabulous video. I could listen to him all day.

[@northernlight696]

Tony - you are a hero !!

[@russellbeverly94]

Sir I thank you for not only your Service to this country, but for your humility, compassion, courage, character, dignity, and sense of humor. You are a different very unique breed with DNA that is whispered about. You are not only Awesome but a Warrior! You are not only a beacon of hope to African American people, but to all people. I can't wait to see your story on the Silver Screen. Respectfully, Russell Pernell Beverly United States Air Force Combat Veteran 1984-1991

[@michaeltouchette8156]

always love hearing 'Nam' stories..... dad was a 'Jolly Green' over there. pilots that were there know who they were........ dad had a similar way of telling stories from over there, loved listening to them

[@DELTAHAWKOZ]

Great talk...thank you from Down Under...

[@tomf2026]

How interesting is Mr Marshall !! thanks so much.

[@feet9100]

Wow what a story he played a dangerous game and he came back to tell us thank u for your service

[@fromtheflightdeck252]

Very interesting listening..thank you for this amazing story

[@apocyldoomer]

Wow, what else can be said , but, thank you for your service! I was a Crew Chief on the F4-E at George AFB 1983-86, during the Cold War, 66-6333, built when I was 2 years old, hehe. Good stuff,me is old school alright! Love it!

[@kendallfleming5858]

Geez this guy looks to be in his early to mid 40's at best, he aged Very VERY VERY well....he's not hunched over. Plus, he's very intelligent, well you have to be in order to be a fighter pilot.

[@kman-mi7su]

I said the same basically, he looks great for his age! I'm 50 and I hope I can look that good years down the road. He looks like he could still be on active duty as a wing commander,

[@bpp325]

Thank you for your service sir. 👍👍 "Seymour-Johnson bird"....I was stationed there in '66 with SAC, B-52G's and the 68th Bomb Wing before I shipped over to Pleiku AB.

[@bunionpain16]

I absolutely love his dry sense of humor. Great guy!!

[@MarcusLeepapi]

I am glad my father and step father have come back to our family from the Vietnam War...My father was in the Army and my Step-father was in the Air Force...

[@chipjumper]

LTC Marshall is a great orator. I'd love to see him speak at a live event.

[@mikemello6626]

Thank you for your service. Gave me a lot of information in to the way POW's were treated. As a v/nan vet. I am appalled at the stolen veloured of POW's and V/nan vets.

[@lmartinez3633]

Thanks for you service and sacrifice

[@eddiejhayes3347]

Thank's LT Colonel; Sir your sense of humour remind me of my Grand Father (WWI with the French) an his friends, and my Dad (WWII) and his friends; As a little guy I could sit and listen to their war stories for hours; That's why I knew at age five or so that I wanted to be a military man when I grew up (Twenty-Five years as a SkyTrooper and Sailor Ret.) Loved it. Bless You Sir.

[@elephant637]

Amazing story. Loved it.

[@anthonywilliams4100]

A wondreful story, Thank you for your service, Gen. Charles A. Gabriel was USAF Chief of Staff when I entered the USAF in 1984.

[@acajudi100]

Thank you for your service. ❤️💕🇺🇸

[@ze_german2921]

This was Great! I Wish I could meet this Hero

[@ludeman]

Wow really enjoyed this story!

[@sherriecornforth9408]

Very interesting story. You are an inspiration to young people. I remember you from Frankfurt, Germany.

[@fnln544]

Colonel, Thank you for your service as an aviator; best to back seaters who are often missed over pilots. Blessings for attempting to save South Vietnam. The military has been so proactive, finally (versus the civilian world), about race. Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen (males and females). The best officer I've ever served with is a Black American; an honorable man and a true mentor as I (as former enlisted) am up for LTC (lieutenant colonel). Why did I mention race, because people are people; and too many people downgrade non-Whites who, blood red is blood red...we're all, blessed, Americans. Best wishes. Thanks to all those who served (military and civilian) during the Vietnam Campaign.

[@bigearl8757]

Thank you for what you said. Wish more people understood this.

[@tracya4087]

here here

[@jimchandler6744]

I know Tony. He is a teacher in Apple Valley where I substituted. A very fine gentleman.

[@Ziggysprints]

The people, united, will never be defeated.

[@donaldplagge9675]

The talk had me glued to the computer, excellent story. I was at Udorn '68-'69, worked on some RC-47s that were given to the Thai AF in late '69. They were parked in the "L" shaped revetment next to the super jolly greens, the 13th and 555th would taxi by us on there way out to their missions. Good memories.

[@norfleetbuilding]

Great story!

[@user-uv4xe3cq2y]

Thanks for sharing your very interesting story.

[@raceace]

Love your work Tony, a true Weapon of Mass Distraction. I pity your captors.

[@thetreblerebel]

Awesome story. I like this guy!

[@Master-di4di]

Glad you kept your sense of humour. Glad you made it out.

[@spiritzweispirit1st638]

Lt. Col. Tony Marshall.' Thank You For Your Service ' and God Bless You , Your Family ,The USA.🇺🇸 and The Family of a Peaceful Humanity🌎🌍🌏

[@nigelcampbell5449]

What a great story teller, I could listen to him all day.

Thank you for your service and sacrifice, Sir!

[@jeffjoseph]

Great Vid. In 1966 I was at Ubon RTAFB working as a McDonnell Aircraft Technical Representative. Six months there and I went home. Knew a lot of Pilots and Back seaters who were also Pilots at that time. This man has my utmost respect. The Aircrewman were the real Warriors. There were about 70,000 USAF personnel in Thailand at the height of the war in 1968.

[@charlesnobles5714]

I didnt anticipate watching this but now i have im glad i did.he should really be a motivational speaker to the youth.

[@saritavidesh3585]

you a way with words Sir. Asante sana.................from East Africa Kenya

[@kavemanbites]

he didn't crack. Excellent!

[@cebuboy1976]

That was a story like no other. Thanks for sharing!

[@jaydee5156]

Fascinating stories. Thank you for your service.

[@johnr7279]

Amazing stories and I could listen to this gentleman for hours!

[@dustyrusty6840]

Thank you for your service, and that you are alive to tell the hell you went through. They need to make more real life movies and of documentaries of what all POW's went through. I as a retired veteran salute you.

[@anaya51]

He has a very captivating way of telling his story..... He made an hour seem like 10 mins! He also comes off as a genuinely good person. Very admirable..

[@Indtami]

He is such an amazing person, taking every situation in a positive way.

[@maxsmodels]

Very interesting story.

[@royboyx2]

I love this guy. Great spirit!