Charles Southwick was interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam after he was shot down on May 14, 1967, and was held until his release on March 4, 1973.
Sponsored by:
Charles
Everett
Southwick
POW (RVN)
1931-10-06
–
2017-12-09
Born:
Fairbanks
,
Alaska
Home:
Seattle
,
Washington
Awards Received
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Distinguished Flying Cross
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Bronze Star Medal
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Bronze Star Medal
-
Bronze Star Medal
-
Legion of Merit
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Silver Star
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Prisoner of War Medal
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Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Commander [then Lieutenant Commander]Batallion:
Fighter Squadron 114 (VF-114)Division:
U.S.S. Kitty Hawk (CVA-63)Action Date:
May 14, 1967
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, 20 July 1942, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat “V” to Commander [then Lieutenant Commander] Charles Everett Southwick (NSN: 0-4954681), United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on 14 May 1967, as a pilot of jet aircraft, serving with Fighter Squadron ONE HUNDRED FOURTEEN (VF-114), embarked in U.S.S. KITTY HAWK (CVA-63), during a strike against the strategic Thanh Hoa Bridge in North Vietnam. As the leader of a three-plane, flak-suppression element during an air wing, coordinated strike against the heavily defended bridge, Commander Southwick demonstrated exceptional professionalism and courage in leading his element in a highly successful attack against the target area. With precise timing, he preceded the strike elements and personally engaged an active, firing anti-aircraft artillery site. By his daring and heroic actions, the enemy defenses were effectively suppressed, permitting the strike group to complete its attack and retire without receiving battle damage. Commander Southwick’s performance and superb dedication in the face of intense enemy opposition were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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Bronze Star Medal
Service:
United States NavyRank:
CommanderDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
May 1967
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Commander Charles Everett Southwick (NSN: 0-4954681), United States Navy, for heroic achievement while serving as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam in May 1967. Under constant pressure from North Vietnamese interrogators and guards, he experienced harassment, intimidation and ruthless treatment in their attempt to gain military information and cooperative participation for propaganda purposes. He heroically resisted their routing cruelties and never wavered in his devotion and loyalty to the United States. These actions served to inspire and improve the morale of his fellow prisoners in the camp. Displaying extraordinary courage, resourcefulness, and devotion to duty, he reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces. (Commander Southwick is authorized to wear the Combat “V”.)
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Bronze Star Medal
Service:
United States NavyRank:
CommanderDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
May 1968 – June 1969
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Commander Charles Everett Southwick (NSN: 0-4954681), United States Navy, for meritorious service as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from May 1968 to June 1969. Through his ceaseless efforts, in an atmosphere of enemy harassment, threat of torture and brutal treatment, he established and maintained intra-camp communications. At great risk and in spite of further cruelty, he continued to devise many unusual and ingenious methods in 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 United States Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces. (Commander Southwick is authorized to wear the Combat “V”.)
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Bronze Star Medal
Service:
United States NavyRank:
CommanderDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
January 1970 – January 1973
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Commander Charles Everett Southwick (NSN: 0-4954681), United States Navy, for meritorious service while interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from January 1970 to January 1973. During this period, although under constant surveillance from his captors, he performed duties involving highly classified material in an exemplary and professional manner. Through his zealousness and ingenuity, he generated new ideas and improvised techniques greatly enhancing covert operations. Although in a hostile environment, he never wavered in his devotion and loyalty to the United States and his fellow prisoners. By his inspiring courage, exceptional skill, and resourcefulness, he reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces. (Commander Southwick is authorized to wear the Combat “V”.)
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Legion of Merit
Service:
United States NavyRank:
CommanderDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
May 1967 – March 1973
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit with Combat “V” to Commander Charles Everett Southwick (NSN: 0-4954681), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States while interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from May 1967 to March 1973. Under the most adverse of conditions, he resisted all attempts by the North Vietnamese to use him in causes detrimental to the United States, never wavering in his devotion and loyalty to the United States and his fellow prisoners. Despite the adversities of confinement, he performed such duties and responsibilities as assigned by superiors and required of the Code of Conduct in an exemplary and highly professional manner. Displaying extraordinary courage, resourcefulness, and dedication throughout this period of imprisonment, he reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces. (Commander Southwick is authorized to wear the Combat “V”.)
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Silver Star
Service:
United States NavyRank:
Commander [then Lieutenant Commander]Batallion:
Fighter Squadron 114 (VF-114)Division:
U.S.S. Kitty Hawk (CVA-63)Action Date:
April 24, 1967
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Commander [then Lieutenant Commander] Charles Everett Southwick (NSN: 0-4954681), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action on 24 April 1967, as a pilot of jet aircraft serving with Fighter Squadron ONE HUNDRED FOURTEEN (VF-114), embarked in U.S.S. KITTY HAWK (CVA-63), during aerial combat operations in Southeast Asia. Assigned as a member of the F-4 Target Combat Air Patrol element in an air strike against the Kep Airfield in North Vietnam, Commander Southwick sighted several enemy MiG-17 fighter aircraft threatening the retiring strike group. Demonstrating exceptional courage, he engaged the numerically superior formation in extremely low-altitude aerial combat, thereby diverting them from the strike group. In spite of the distinct advantage held by the enemy aircraft, Commander Southwick successfully evaded hard-pressed enemy attacks and air-to-air missiles, and then initiated an attack of his own which accounted for a confirmed kill and drove off the remaining MiGs. By daring action, exceptional skill, and resolute determination, Commander Southwick upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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Prisoner of War Medal
Service:
United States NavyRank:
CaptainDivision:
Prisoner of War (North Vietnam)Action Date:
May 14, 1967 – March 4, 1973
Captain Charles Everett Southwick (NSN: 0-4954681), United States Navy, was held as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam from May 14, 1967 until his release on March 4, 1973.