Veterans in Blue - Lt. Col. Gene Smith

Photo By Capt. Stephanie Squires | Lt. Col. Gene Smith entered the Air Force in 1956 after graduating and commissioning through the Air Force ROTC program. Smith’s first Air Force assignment was to navigator training. Smith got into pilot training in 1961, three weeks before the age cut-off. On Oct. 25, 1967, Smith was sent on a mission to destroy the Doumer Bridge, a railroad bridge over the Red River in Hanoi, Vietnam, that was a critical link for supplies. Smith’s plane was shot down by 1950’s era Russian surface-to-air missiles over North Vietnam and he had to eject. Upon landing, hewas shot in the leg, and then spent almost six years as a prisoner of war where he was interrogated and tortured. As a prisoner of war, Smith learned the Tap code as a way to send messages to other POW’s. It was the only way they could communicate as they were mostly kept in solitary confinement. Due to the might of air power, Smith was released March 14, 1973, along with other POWs. Three days later, Smith was reunited with his wife, Rae, and his three sons.  

UNITED STATES

11.03.2016

Courtesy Story

3d Audiovisual Squadron

Smith’s first Air Force assignment was to navigator training. Smith got into pilot training in 1961, three weeks before the age cut-off. On Oct. 25, 1967, Smith was sent on a mission to destroy the Doumer Bridge, a railroad bridge over the Red River in Hanoi, Vietnam, that was a critical link for supplies. Smith’s plane was shot down by 1950’s era Russian surface-to-air missiles over North Vietnam and he had to eject. Upon landing, hewas shot in the leg, and then spent almost six years as a prisoner of war where he was interrogated and tortured. As a prisoner of war, Smith learned the Tap code as a way to send messages to other POW’s. It was the only way they could communicate as they were mostly kept in solitary confinement. Due to the might of air power, Smith was released March 14, 1973, along with other POWs. Three days later, Smith was reunited with his wife, Rae, and his three sons.

• Date Taken: 11.03.2016
• Date Posted: 11.04.2016 10:43
• Story ID: 213759
• Location: US