James Souder was interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam after he was shot down on April 27, 1972, and was held until his release on March 28, 1973.
Sponsored by:
James
Burton
Souder
POW (RVN)
September 10, 1940
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Awards Received
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Silver Star
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Bronze Star Medal
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Prisoner of War Medal
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Navy Distinguished Service Medal
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Silver Star
Service:
United States NavyRank:
LieutenantBatallion:
Fighter Squadron 143 (VF-143)Division:
U.S.S. Constellation (CVA-64)Action Date:
October 26, 1967
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant James Burton Souder (NSN: 0-6829600), United States Naval Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving in FIGHTER SQUADRON ONE-HUNDRED FORTY-THREE (VF-143), embarked on U.S.S. CONSTELLATION (CVA-64), flying a mission in support of combat operations in Southeast Asia against North Vietnamese forces on 26 October 1967. Lieutenant Souder was the Radar Intercept Officer in the lead aircraft of a flight of two F-4B Phantoms on a MIG CAP mission tasked to support a major coordinated strike against the Van Dien army barracks and vehicle storage and repair facility. Following a series of calls from his air-controller regarding enemy aircraft and authorization to engage with missiles, Lieutenant Souder disputed the conflicting information and elected to visually identify the intended target, disregarding the clearance-to-fire authorization. His keen insight and intuition resulted in narrowly avoiding the tragic downing of two friendly aircraft and the fatality of four crew members. Again Lieutenant Souder was warned of a suspected enemy aircraft in the area. Remaining fiercely focused amidst the chaos in the confused aftermath of the near disaster, he re-imposed air-discipline in the flight. Quickly acquiring and evaluating the new target he realized that a maximum performance snap-up intercept profile would be required to overcome the 18,000 foot altitude advantage and flight-path lead-angle of the bogie. Lieutenant Souder assumed tactical control of the intercept and directed his pilot to select afterburners, for a maximum performance climb, and fly the aircraft at the extreme limits of its performance capabilities. Throughout the high “G”, turning and climbing maneuver, Lieutenant Souder provided his pilot with continuous steering corrections and provided his wingman with a steady stream of azimuth, range, elevation and overtake in formation as a back up. By his exceptional leadership, courageous actions, and total devotion to duty, Lieutenant Souder reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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Bronze Star Medal
Service:
United States NavyRank:
LieutenantDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
April 27, 1972 – March 28, 1973
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Lieutenant James Burton Souder (NSN: 0-6829600), United States Navy, for meritorious service as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from 27 April 1972 to 28 March 1973. Through his ceaseless efforts, in an atmosphere of enemy harassment, threat of torture and brutal treatment, he established and maintained intracamp communications. At great risk and in spite of further cruelty, he continued to devise many unusual and ingenious methods of communications, resulting in American and Allied prisoners resisting the enemy’s demands and at the same time improving the prisoners’ morale. By his heroic endeavors, exceptional skill, and devotion to duty, he reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces. [The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized.]
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States NavyRank:
LieutenantBatallion:
Fighting Squadron 51 (VF-51)Division:
U.S.S. Coral Sea (CV-43)Action Date:
Vietnam War
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant James Burton Souder (NSN: 0-6829600), United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Pilot of an F-4 Fighter Jet of Fighting Squadron FIFTY-ONE (VF-51), embarked in the U.S.S. CORAL SEA (CV-43), in action over Southeast Asia in 1972. His gallant and untiring devotion to duty was at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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Prisoner of War Medal
Service:
United States NavyRank:
LieutenantDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
April 27, 1972 – March 28, 1973
Lieutenant James Burton Souder (NSN: 0-6829600), United States Naval Reserve, was held as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from April 27, 1972 until his release on March 28, 1973.
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States NavyRank:
LieutenantBatallion:
Fighting Squadron 51 (VF-51)Division:
U.S.S. Coral Sea (CV-43)Action Date:
Vietnam War
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant James Burton Souder (NSN: 0-6829600), United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Pilot of an F-4 Fighter Jet of Fighting Squadron FIFTY-ONE (VF-51), embarked in the U.S.S. CORAL SEA (CV-43), in action over Southeast Asia in 1972. His gallant and untiring devotion to duty was at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Lieutenant CommanderDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
April 1972 – March 1973
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Lieutenant Commander James Burton Souder (NSN: 0-6829600), United States Naval Reserve, for exceptionally meritorious service to the government of the United States in a duty of great responsibility while serving as Group Medical Officer while a Prisoner of War in Hoa Lo Prison in North Vietnam from April 1972 through March 1973. Through his diligent and singular efforts, Lieutenant Commander Souder persistently demanded and obtained from his captors, improved medical treatment for his fellow American prisoners and wounded Airmen. While under constant threat of the enemy he commandeered and dispersed crucial medical supplies and allocated additional food to the sickest among them, several who might not have survived without his daring and heroic interventions. Under constant harassment and brutal treatment from his captors, many difficult situations arose requiring perseverance, endurance, and ingenuity from him in sustaining the health and morale of his comrades. Lieutenant Commander Souder redoubled his already vaunted efforts when 11 wounded, heavily guarded, and separately incarcerated Air Force B-52 aircrew arrived, three with life and limb-threatening injuries. By orchestrating a diversion that distracted the enemy guards, he established clandestine communications, surreptitiously entered the wounded men’s isolated quarters and examined heir wounds, then devised life and limb-saving treatment protocols – all in spite of no formal training to prepare him for the medical exigencies or the primitive circumstances. Lieutenant Commander Souder’s extraordinary personal courage, resourcefulness, and absolute fierce persistence, under brutally oppressive treatment and unsanitary conditions, in orchestrating and personally providing numerous life-saving treatments for many of his seriously wounded comrades is to be commended. By his remarkable courage, self-sacrificing actions, and exemplary devotion to duty, Lieutenant Commander Souder reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.