An Akron, Pennsylvania, man who had been a prisoner of battle in Vietnam returned dwelling in 1969.Sister station WGAL’s movie preservation undertaking with Millersville College rediscovered the footage of that homecoming. Whereas digitizing movie that when aired, WGAL’s Adam Omar realized the story of Donald Glen Smith. Smith was declared lacking in motion, then killed in motion earlier than he’d lastly been discovered as a prisoner of battle. He was held in a Vietnam jungle for eight months.When he returned to Akron, all the city greeted him and even named a day after him.Fifty-two years later, WGAL caught up with Smith. “I’ve PTSD, so I consider that every single day,” he mentioned.We confirmed him a few of the newly digitized movie from his homecoming, which included an interview together with his dad and mom after they discovered their son was coming dwelling.It was his spouse’s first time seeing the video and Smith’s first time seeing his dad and mom in a very long time. His dad and mom have since died, however his mom gave him a e-book filled with newspaper articles the Christmas earlier than she died.”I believe, you understand, it’s important to bear in mind, even the unhealthy issues, it’s important to bear in mind them. It is a part of our life,” Smith’s spouse, Jennifer, mentioned.”Once you obtained individuals locking you up and sticking weapons in your face and smacking you round, it is simply stuff you always remember,” Smith mentioned.Smith was a army police officer serving in Vietnam in Could 1968 when he was attacked in his bunker and awakened in a cave. Two different males he’d been with had been killed, and his life was threatened many instances. “He misplaced toenails. All that, that folks do not actually know – all of the little particulars, the struggling,” his spouse mentioned.In January 1969, after turning 21 years outdated in confinement, Smith and two different People who had been additionally prisoners of battle had been freed.”We simply obtained in that helicopter and when it took off it was like, ‘Whew!’ It was like, I could not consider that basically, could not consider it,” Smith mentioned.He might have performed with out the homecoming celebration.”I used to be dreading that the entire method up the Turnpike,” he mentioned.However he does need individuals to see the preserved video. “Individuals aren’t studying about these items now. They only type of swept a whole lot of these items below, and also you speak to a few of these younger youngsters, you inform them the place you had been, they do not even know what it was,” he mentioned.
An Akron, Pennsylvania, man who had been a prisoner of battle in Vietnam returned dwelling in 1969.
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Sister station WGAL’s movie preservation undertaking with Millersville College rediscovered the footage of that homecoming. Whereas digitizing movie that when aired, WGAL’s Adam Omar realized the story of Donald Glen Smith.
Smith was declared lacking in motion, then killed in motion earlier than he’d lastly been discovered as a prisoner of battle. He was held in a Vietnam jungle for eight months.
When he returned to Akron, all the city greeted him and even named a day after him.
Fifty-two years later, WGAL caught up with Smith.
“I’ve PTSD, so I consider that every single day,” he mentioned.
We confirmed him a few of the newly digitized movie from his homecoming, which included an interview together with his dad and mom after they discovered their son was coming dwelling.
It was his spouse’s first time seeing the video and Smith’s first time seeing his dad and mom in a very long time.
His dad and mom have since died, however his mom gave him a e-book filled with newspaper articles the Christmas earlier than she died.
“I believe, you understand, it’s important to bear in mind, even the unhealthy issues, it’s important to bear in mind them. It is a part of our life,” Smith’s spouse, Jennifer, mentioned.
“Once you obtained individuals locking you up and sticking weapons in your face and smacking you round, it is simply stuff you always remember,” Smith mentioned.
Smith was a army police officer serving in Vietnam in Could 1968 when he was attacked in his bunker and awakened in a cave. Two different males he’d been with had been killed, and his life was threatened many instances.
“He misplaced toenails. All that, that folks do not actually know – all of the little particulars, the struggling,” his spouse mentioned.
In January 1969, after turning 21 years outdated in confinement, Smith and two different People who had been additionally prisoners of battle had been freed.
“We simply obtained in that helicopter and when it took off it was like, ‘Whew!’ It was like, I could not consider that basically, could not consider it,” Smith mentioned.
He might have performed with out the homecoming celebration.
“I used to be dreading that the entire method up the Turnpike,” he mentioned.
However he does need individuals to see the preserved video.
“Individuals aren’t studying about these items now. They only type of swept a whole lot of these items below, and also you speak to a few of these younger youngsters, you inform them the place you had been, they do not even know what it was,” he mentioned.
