History and heritage....#OTD in 1973 The release of United States POWs began in Hanoi, Vietnam as part of the Paris Peace Accords. The Vietnamese released the longest-held POWs first and 20 POWs received a hero's welcome at Travis AFB, California. This included six Aircraft Rescue and Recovery Services personnel: Captain Thomas J. Curtis, Captain Warren R. Lilly, 1 Lt Jerry A. Singleton, SSgt Arthur Cormier (PJ), A1C William A. Robinson (crew chief), and A2C Arthur N. Black (PJ). Captain Curtis, A1C Robinson, A2C Black, were three members of a four member HH-43B helicopter aircrew that crashed attempting to rescue a downed pilot. Each was awarded the Air Force Cross for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force 40 miles south of Vinh, North Vietnam. #Heritage #MilitaryHistory #AFSPECWAR