Eagle BELVOIR
Washington’s Distillery and Gristmill Pages A6-7
May 31, 2018
www.belvoireagleonline.com
Photos by Paul Lara
Sgt. Keenan Griffin, from Army MDW’s Combatives School, at Belvoir’s Memorial Observance, May 24.
Fort Belvoir firefighters retire the colors on Belvoir’s Long Parade Field to honor the fallen during Belvoir’s Memorial Observance.
POW speaks at Memorial Observance By Adrienne Anderson Staff writer
Retired Navy Capt. Eugene B. “Red” McDaniel addresses the crowd at Belvoir’s Memorial Observance. McDaniel’s plane was shot down over North Vietnam and he spent almost six years as a prisoner of war.
Retired Navy Capt. Eugene “Red” McDaniel was 35 years old and on his 81st combat mission when his A-6 Intruder aircraft was shot down over Vietnam on May 19, 1967. He was flying with Lt. James Patterson who had ejected first. After McDaniel ejected, their plane blew up. “It’s a moment in life that could have gone any way,” he said, adding that, in that moment, he had lost everything except the birth of life. He never found out what became of the other Sailor. Patterson is presumed to have died. McDaniel was the guest speaker at Fort Belvoir’s Memorial Day Observance, May 24, at Long Parade Field in front of the Cold War Memorial. The ejection into a North Vietnamese forest left him partially paralyzed. McDaniel was captured and taken to Hanoi, a city surrounded by 200 million people. There,
he was tortured for information and had also been tortured for trying to escape with others after becoming frustrated about their situation. He was a prisoner-of-war for six years, and listed as missing in action for the first three years of his detainment. Within the prison walls were 220 prisoners who were all linked through his cell and that’s how they were able to communicate their escape plan. However, after a failed attempt, the prisoners were tortured for information about who put the plan together. “Believe me. The enemy can get what they want whenever they want if they really want to get it,” he said. During his several days of torture, he dropped from 170 pounds to 110. The ordeal taught him many things, such as courage is not the absence of fear.
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Save the dates! All these events are open to everyone. Armed Forces Kids Run Registration closes Friday Saturday, 9 a.m., Pullen Field Distances vary for kids ages 4-13 www.americaskidsrun.org, 703-805-9138
Travel and Commuter Show
Army Birthday celebration
10 a.m.-1 p.m., Wednesday Community Center Commuting options, vacation vendors giveaways. Free
10 a.m., June 14 Garrison HQ, Flagler Road Lt. Gen. Leslie C. Smith Army Inspector General guest speaker
Comedy trio June 15, 8 p.m., Community Center Carlos Mencia, Trish Surh, Jordan Rock Tickets, $15 early from LTS; $20 at the door 703-805-3714