Vietnam Pilot Shot Down and Captured, Surviving the Hanoi Hilton

"I was a POW in Vietnam 5 years, 4 months, and 2 weeks - 1,955 days. I get a lot of questions, 'How did you guys do it?' You have to be committed to your mission and your purpose." - United States Air Force Colonel Lee Ellis.
On Nov. 7, 1967, Ellis and his aircraft commander, Capt. Ken Fisher, received serious damage to their F-4C Phantom and both men had to eject and were captured on the ground by the Viet Cong. After two weeks of travel, they landed at the Hoa Loa Prison in Hanoi, Vietnam, infamously known as the Hanoi Hilton.
Ellis was among the youngest of the Vietnam War POWs. This is his story.
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[@theandrewk2786]

I am of Vietnamese descent. Being adopted I don’t really know if this is true but it is extremely plausible. My biological grandparents fled the war in the south, emigrating to Galveston TX. I think if not for American intervention, I would not have the privilege to have the freedoms I have today. God bless America, and I thank every veteran who reads this for the sacrifices they made.

[@jerzzyboystakes4973]

Of course it’s true….

[@s.k.mcduffie6475]

Trust me it's true

[@Sokol10]

@@jerzzyboystakes4973 Old meme

[@christopherblevins1968]

I sound like a broken record, but thank you SO much for making these videos. It's extremely important not to let the hardships and trials that these men suffered be forgotten. If it weren't for BRC, I'd never have even heard of these guys. Again, sincerely, thank you.

[@BlackRifleCoffeeCompany]

Our pleasure! Thank you for enjoying them!

[@shawngansert1973]

@@BlackRifleCoffeeCompany thanks for sharing them!!!!.

[@cled3600]

I wore a POW bracelet when I was at university. I knew it wouldn't directly help any captured Americans, but I wore it so people would ask me about it and I could open a conversation with them. It warmed my heart deeply to hear this ex-POW mention the bracelets.

[@stephanieritter9285]

I was 12 years old when it ended... But I remember all the protests from the hippies in my hometown.....that you got cheers warms my heart... Most didn't.... The one thing that I have to say is that nobody failed for filling out the cards because you gave all the wrong information.... This was not a failure.... It breaks my heart that you still feel this way... I was so glad when my brother served in the Gulf war ....that the country made a promise never to forget our military again and we haven't...... Just like 911 yesterday we will always remember..... God bless you and may he heal your heart and your mind.... Thank you for your service to each and everyone of you..... And I think every man in my family has serveded since the civil war.,. The military will always have my support and my love..... God bless you seriously..,.. I've had the honour to take care of our vets.... I couldn't think of a more worthy cause . .

[@saswildman1]

Total respect. He made hell sound not that bad. I remember being captured on Scape and evasion week for the first time in the cadet's. When I was 13 that was bad enough.

[@andrewj9831]

For a great POW story... Look at Lance Sijan He lived the code of conduct, to the point the VC shared his story, when they handed over his remains. Both Mccain and Stockdale credit him for helping them survive and not give up.

[@LanceRomanceF4E]

I wore Col Carl Crumpler’s POW bracket until he came home in 1973. He was shot down in an F-4 and spent five yrs in the Hanoi Hilton. He returned to his family and lived a productive and happy life. He died about three years ago.

[@dankingjr.2088]

One of my Dad's pilot training buddies, Wally Newcomb, shared time with you there. Glad both of you are home sir.

[@MrThedoors28]

These are true Americans. I’m glad they survived and made it back, the ones who didn’t should be honored and never forgotten. My uncle was a Vietnam veteran, he ended up being a tunnel rat but later in life agent orange tore him to shreds his last few years were miserable but he always said “ I refuse to feel sorry for my self because my friends and brothers never even got to make it back to American soul alive, I’m thankful for every breath I take” I miss him dearly Darrell was a good man who suffered from a troubled mind.

[@rustygardhouse7895]

I remember those bracelets. Thanks for bringing this to light again. Those who forget the past will repeat it.

[@Worstpersonsingular]

The incredible courage of those men is deeply moving.

[@limeyprat]

Thank you for your service Colonel Ellis and thanks to BRCC for making this kind of content.

[@BrennanHammons]

I hadn’t heard of the prisoners in the Hanoi Hilton teaching each other classes in the midst of that hell. That’s very badass.

[@jvleasure]

I was honored to be taught the code by Tom Moe a few years back.

[@dustyking8851]

Thank you for creating this video. Thank you for letting us know about these great men. I remember the day they came home, we watched everything about the war. 😢

[@Hesseonavy]

I have been subscribed for years now but never really watched these type of videos until recently. I love hearing the stories of men and women in our armed forces. Keep up the good work

[@johnb7490]

I had a CO of my squadron that spent 6 yrs in the Hanoi Hilton, he has a book that he wrote about it. He was a great pilot and CO. THANKS for another great video.

[@teamperry757]

Those are some tough mother fuckers. Five years in that hell. I can't imagine the shit they went through that they won't even talk about.

[@JoeFolgers]

That guy deserved to be tortured?@suprarcjpop545

[@raptorranch9594]

Thank you for sharing, " God bless America "

[@wyattoneable]

Outstanding production, well done!

[@dutchman7216]

Great video of Black Rifle thank you.

[@brianhoffman5414]

This is incredible gentleman, thank you for your service!

[@ja1cspikes]

That was amazing thank you for sharing this story.

[@-RONNIE]

Thank you for sharing this video with us 🇺🇸

[@larryjohnson1966]

Great video. Those guys went through hell. I am so glad that they got to come home. We owe them a lot.

[@The_Lone_Crusader]

Anyone else’s screen glitch out at 1:03 ?

[@user-nk2js8wg1q]

The flaming aircraft on the flight deck were not a result of the Gulf of Tonkin incident. That was the USS Forestall flight deck fire!

[@rl64rl]

Wonderful video! Thank you.

[@northernlight696]

Great video - thanks

[@shawngansert1973]

God bless those young men!!!!

[@thetuna8099]

great video

[@dolfanshannon]

Great video about a great American hero

[@MrShooter03]

Thank you for honoring them!

[@lurree1904]

Amazing men. I am so proud that I live in this country and have men like these protecting us and our freedom. Thank you sir.

[@SoCaliSurfer13]

I’ve always found it absolutely incredible that regardless of the war and the terrain that we have fought in throughout the years, there has always been several people who take that extra step forward and lead the way as an example for what the rest of us in the United States military should strive to be. If you listen to anyone who has earned their Medal of Honor, you will always hear them say that they were just doing something that had to be done and that they’re no different than anyone else who they served with and if it was possible they would rather give their Medal of Honor back if that meant that they were able to to have no one killed or injured and everyone was able to make it back home on their deployment.

[@SoCaliSurfer13]

@suprarcjpop545: Yeah that’s what happens when you have an old mumbling retard who has dementia and can’t take 2 steps without falling or even say a simple 8 word coherent sentence without forgetting what he was talking about half way through as a President. But my question for you is what does leaving Afghanistan have to do with anything at all that I said? There is less than 1 half of 1 percent of the US population that even joins the military and out of those people I’m talking about the extra rare people which is a much smaller percent who are given the Medal of Honor. There has been roughly 40 million people who have been in the United States military and out of those people only 3,517 have been awarded the Medal of Honor which comes out to 0.00001 or a hundred thousandth of 1 percent of everyone who has been in the United States military to earn that honor but yeah you can keep going on about other random bullshit that has nothing to do with what I said. Let me help you out, why can’t they make a pillow that stays cold on both sides while using it?

[@andyfriederichsen]

@suprarcjpop545 Blame the current administration/president.

[@TheSgCompany]

Love these videos, you guys have to bring gbrs group on!!!

[@70stunes71]

Welcome home brothers. 🙏🙏🙏

[@tomazstonks]

This kind of hits home. I try to do my job the best I can, every day. I never served. It's an who can be the biggest a-holes these days. Trying to be the heroes for their country, but things have changed a lot since then

[@MyDadsiAM]

God bless you men

[@SoCaliSurfer13]

Shit like this and really all the stories that I’ve read and was told about all men who suffered for years and were able to made it back home but honestly even more than that were the men who never were able to make it back home is one of the main reasons why I PROUDLY joined and served as a United States Marine. Serving in Iraq is obviously completely different than serving in Vietnam but I was able to talk to my uncle who also was an United States Marine and we both were like wow I’m glad that I didn’t have to fight in those conditions/situations but ultimately it wouldn’t have mattered where we went because our main goal was to do whatever it took to bring everyone back home who came with us.

[@clshep]

Those guys should've been able to fly in an F-22 Raptor or the F-35 Lightning II instead of a T-38 Talon. Show them how far we've come since the F-4 Phantom.

[@1MileOut]

I could be wrong, but both the F-35 and F-22 are single seat aircraft.

[@clshep]

@@1MileOut This is true, they both are single seat fighters....but come on, if these pilots could handle being POW's for 5+ years, they can handle a Raptor! Lol

[@kornholyo1828]

Love At the one minute mark. I feel like a teacher. Drag the TV in... now I'm hocked for 20mins

[@mr_narto]

Legendary man, legendary unibrows👌

[@d.j.roberts187]

I had the honor of meeting Col Tom Mcnish. He was with these guys for 6 years. He gave new his challenge coin.

[@jonathonlyles3349]

It totally makes Afghanistan look like a cake walk mad respect to all the Vietnam vets

[@louambers]

Did I experience a glitch in the matrix?

[@Gmoney222]

To this day it sickens me to see Vietnam vets are treated terribly , a country that DRAFTED them to serve , not by their own will and the Veterans Association isn’t ran by the government ??? I see groups of veterans where I live struggle on a month to month basis , with call back times of 2 weeks to a month and have terrible bus schedules that take them an hour or 2 away just to be seen 1 time , thank you all service man who have served and still continue to serve , you all are the definition of being an American❤️🇺🇸 I hope this generation shows the gratitude we OWE

[@brandonfouts4074]

crazy how much different wars are fought now, these were men vs men

[@derya3990]

bravery wow, we cant imagine

[@Celtic-Iron]

Hero

[@rickcimino5483]

at 18:18....is that John McCain on the right?

[@georgecoull1883]

You guys HAVE to have Brent Tucker rival coffee guy and talk about the meme and have a truce? Green berets after all shouldn't be so competitive 😂

[@fredb4968]

God bless you American heroes !!!!!!!

[@gsxrtwitch89]

This man spent more time as a POW in hostile territory than gen z spend in college. Yet, gen z want everything handed to them all while this MAN made a successful life for himself. Truly shows the major difference in generations. Or shall I say woke generation.

[@ll-OnlyXans-ll]

Jesus. I thought my phone broke at the beginning of the video.

[@-hawtzauce-1108]

1:36 hey it's the UAP tictac pilot 😅

[@chadidsinga5119]

😢 brings a tear to my eye to see this and hear what our Americans went through . To see what is going on in world today makes my stomach sick to know what people have sacrificed for all of us to be free 🇺🇸 Trump 2024 save our beautiful country 🙏🏻🇺🇸

[@buituan7969]

Should not, keep your water😂

[@markjfox866]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🎖🎖🎖🎖🎖

[@Realbeardedgamerdad]

❤️👍🏻🥃🇺🇸

[@TAR3N]

What about all the ones left behind? There were still POWs after the war . Some in China. Rumors of some in Russia …..

[@jessekendall8714]

Drinking my Rich Mocha watching another testimony

[@derya3990]

geneva convention, no war was declared so that was the problem legally. HCM read up on what hotel he worked at lol

[@chartphred1]

This is why the West should not torture combatants. Because it gives future enemies the excuse to do the same. We need to set the example first. The war after 2001 broke that morality we had. The Chinese and others won't be so nice, if future conflicts happen.

[@PendulumMapTarotLightWorker]

I Tea Bag All US Military Special Forces

[@JB-td9fz]

Bit of a shock to find out that some of the top dogs at BRCC donate to the Democrats...😮

[@cruisinguy6024]

I genuinely feel bad for you. I don’t know if you’re a paid troll or just naturally anti America but regardless I hope you spend some time reflecting on your views and mentality

[@andyfriederichsen]

@@cruisinguy6024 Democrats are anti-America.

[@howardpage9915]

I think everyday of the US president who said "I like the ones who didn't get caught!". He still has a very loyal following. The world is upside down. I respect these men so much. They are the best of America.