Richard A. Stratton
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant Commander Richard Allen "Dick" Stratton (born October 14, 1931) was a United States Navy
pilot
who was shot down over North Vietnam
in January 1967 and detained as a prisoner of war
. During his captivity, Stratton read a five-page statement criticizing American involvement in Southeast Asia
, which led to charges from the U.S. government that Stratton and other prisoners had been brainwashed
.
. He attended Georgetown University
, where he earned an undergraduate degree in history and then was awarded a Master of Arts
degree from Stanford University
in International Relations.
in April 1957. He served as a pilot aboard the USS Ticonderoga
as part of VFA-192
.
to the ground.
Having obtained a visa while in Cuba
, American
photojournalist
Lee Lockwood
arranged a trip to North Vietnam in 1967, making him the first Western
journalist to visit the country in nearly a decade. While there, the North Vietnamese presented a confession read by Stratton, attacking U.S. military action in the region. Lockwood described Stratton as "looking like a puppet" whose "eyes were empty". The photos that Lockwood took on the trip became the material for "North Vietnam Under Siege", an article that appeared in the April 7, 1967, edition of Life
magazine, which included a widely-distributed picture of Stratton in prison garb
bowing deeply as ordered by a North Vietnamese officer. Robert J. McCloskey
of the U.S. Department of State
cited Lockwood's material about Stratton as evidence that North Vietnam was brainwashing prisoners for propaganda
purposes.
, having spent 2,251 days in captivity. He was awarded the Silver Star
, the Legion of Merit
with V, the Bronze Star Medal
with V, the Air Medal
, the Navy Commendation Medal with V, the Combat Action Ribbon
, the Purple Heart
and the Prisoner of War Medal
. Stratton continued to serve in the Navy and retired in 1986, having attained the rank of Captain.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
who was shot down over North Vietnam
North Vietnam
The Democratic Republic of Vietnam , was a communist state that ruled the northern half of Vietnam from 1954 until 1976 following the Geneva Conference and laid claim to all of Vietnam from 1945 to 1954 during the First Indochina War, during which they controlled pockets of territory throughout...
in January 1967 and detained as a prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
. During his captivity, Stratton read a five-page statement criticizing American involvement in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
, which led to charges from the U.S. government that Stratton and other prisoners had been brainwashed
Mind control
Mind control refers to a process in which a group or individual "systematically uses unethically manipulative methods to persuade others to conform to the wishes of the manipulator, often to the detriment of the person being manipulated"...
.
Early life
Stratton was born on October 14, 1931, in Quincy, MassachusettsQuincy, Massachusetts
Quincy is a city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Its nicknames are "City of Presidents", "City of Legends", and "Birthplace of the American Dream". As a major part of Metropolitan Boston, Quincy is a member of Boston's Inner Core Committee for the Metropolitan Area Planning Council...
. He attended Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
, where he earned an undergraduate degree in history and then was awarded a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in International Relations.
Navy pilot
He enlisted in the United States Navy on June 15, 1955, and after receiving training became a Naval AviatorUnited States Naval Aviator
A United States Naval Aviator is a qualified pilot in the United States Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard.-Naming Conventions:Most Naval Aviators are Unrestricted Line Officers; however, a small number of Limited Duty Officers and Chief Warrant Officers are also trained as Naval Aviators.Until 1981...
in April 1957. He served as a pilot aboard the USS Ticonderoga
USS Ticonderoga (CV-14)
USS Ticonderoga was one of 24 s built during World War II for the United States Navy. The ship was the fourth US Navy ship to bear the name, and was named for historic Fort Ticonderoga, which played a role in the American Revolutionary War...
as part of VFA-192
VFA-192
Strike Fighter Squadron 192 , also known as the "World Famous Golden Dragons", are a United States Navy F/A-18C Hornet fighter squadron stationed at NAS Lemoore...
.
Capture
Stratton piloted a Douglas A-4 Skyhawk on January 5, 1967, as part of an armed reconnaissance mission over Thanh Hoa Province to bomb the My Trach ferry. When the ferry could not be found, Stratton spotted a set of barges one mile further upriver and rolled in to attack the craft with rockets. Stratton was forced to eject from his plane when debris was ingested into the engine. He was captured shortly after parachutingParachute
A parachute is a device used to slow the motion of an object through an atmosphere by creating drag, or in the case of ram-air parachutes, aerodynamic lift. Parachutes are usually made out of light, strong cloth, originally silk, now most commonly nylon...
to the ground.
Having obtained a visa while in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
photojournalist
Photojournalism
Photojournalism is a particular form of journalism that creates images in order to tell a news story. It is now usually understood to refer only to still images, but in some cases the term also refers to video used in broadcast journalism...
Lee Lockwood
Lee Lockwood
Lee Jonathan Lockwood was an American photojournalist best known for his coverage of Communist leaders behind the Iron Curtain during the Cold War era...
arranged a trip to North Vietnam in 1967, making him the first Western
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
journalist to visit the country in nearly a decade. While there, the North Vietnamese presented a confession read by Stratton, attacking U.S. military action in the region. Lockwood described Stratton as "looking like a puppet" whose "eyes were empty". The photos that Lockwood took on the trip became the material for "North Vietnam Under Siege", an article that appeared in the April 7, 1967, edition of Life
Life (magazine)
Life generally refers to three American magazines:*A humor and general interest magazine published from 1883 to 1936. Time founder Henry Luce bought the magazine in 1936 solely so that he could acquire the rights to its name....
magazine, which included a widely-distributed picture of Stratton in prison garb
Prison uniform
A prison uniform is any uniform worn by individuals incarcerated in a prison, jail or similar facility of detention.-Nazi Germany:During the Nazi period of Germany, interned people in the concentration camp system were often made to wear prisoner's uniforms.-Convict era:In the United Kingdom,...
bowing deeply as ordered by a North Vietnamese officer. Robert J. McCloskey
Robert J. McCloskey
Robert James McCloskey was born November 25, 1922 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – son of Thomas McCloskey and Anna Wallace; died November 28, 1996 in Chevy Chase, Maryland...
of the U.S. Department of State
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
cited Lockwood's material about Stratton as evidence that North Vietnam was brainwashing prisoners for propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
purposes.
Release from captivity
Stratton was one of 591 POWs released on March 4, 1973, as part of Operation HomecomingOperation Homecoming
Operation Homecoming was a series of diplomatic negotiations that in January 1973 made possible the return of 591 American prisoners of war held by North Vietnam. On Feb. 12, 1973, three C-141 transports flew to Hanoi, North Vietnam, and one C-9A aircraft was sent to Saigon, South Vietnam to pick...
, having spent 2,251 days in captivity. He was awarded the Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
, the Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
with V, the Bronze Star Medal
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
with V, the Air Medal
Air Medal
The Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States. The award was created in 1942, and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.-Criteria:...
, the Navy Commendation Medal with V, the Combat Action Ribbon
Combat Action Ribbon
The Combat Action Ribbon is a personal military decoration of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, and United States Coast Guard which is awarded to those who, in any grade including and below that of a Captain in the Navy and Coast Guard , have actively participated in ground or...
, the Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
and the Prisoner of War Medal
Prisoner of War Medal
The Prisoner of War Medal is a military award of the United States armed forces which was authorized by Congress and signed into law by President Ronald Reagan on 8 November 1985...
. Stratton continued to serve in the Navy and retired in 1986, having attained the rank of Captain.