Photo by Airman 1st Class Theodore Gowdy
By THE ALASKA STORY
Sept. 10, 2026 – Airmen at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson received a firsthand lesson in resilience, sacrifice and military heritage Monday from retired US Air Force Capt. Bill Robinson, who spent more than seven years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam.
Robinson visited JBER on Sept. 8 to meet with service members and recount the experiences that made him one of the two longest-held enlisted American prisoners of war in U.S. history.
“He’s a living piece of American history,” said Chief Master Sgt. Adam Petersen, commandant of the Elmendorf Professional Military Education Center, as reported by Airman 1st Class Theodore Gowdy. “It’s hard to pass up the opportunity to bring that experience to Alaska to share with our Airmen.”
Robinson enlisted in the Air Force in November 1961 and trained as a helicopter maintenance technician and crew chief. After serving stateside and in Korea, he deployed from Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota, to Thailand in 1965 with the 38th Air Rescue Squadron.
On Sept. 20, 1965, Robinson was aboard an HH-43B Huskie rescue helicopter sent to recover the pilot of a downed F-105 Thunderchief near the Laos-North Vietnam border. The rescue helicopter was struck by enemy fire and crashed. Robinson and most of the crew survived but were captured.
Robinson spent 2,703 days — more than seven and a half years — in captivity. He was held at the notorious Hanoi Hilton and other North Vietnamese prison camps, enduring interrogation, torture and periods of solitary confinement.
He was released Feb. 12, 1973, as part of Operation Homecoming, which brought home hundreds of American prisoners following the signing of the Paris Peace Accords.
After returning to the United States, Robinson received a commission and continued serving as an aircraft maintenance and logistics officer. He retired as a captain in 1984 after more than 22 years in uniform.
His decorations include the Air Force Cross, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Prisoner of War Medal and two Purple Hearts.
In retirement, Robinson has traveled extensively to speak about military service, national sacrifice and the lessons he carried home from captivity. His purpose, he told the JBER audience, is not personal recognition.
“We’re not trying to beat our chest,” Robinson said. “We’re just trying to help people to understand that freedom isn’t free. We have the greatest country in the world because of the men and women in uniform who are willing to give all for the betterment of everyone else.”
For Petersen, bringing Robinson to Alaska allowed today’s Airmen to hear directly from a member of an earlier generation whose endurance continues to offer lessons for military service.
“It’s so important that we never forget the sacrifice of those who came before us and wore this uniform,” Petersen said. “Hearing these stories, and hearing them firsthand, is a powerful reminder for our Airmen of what they are capable of and what their service means.”
This article is based on the original report published by Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. The accompanying photograph was taken by U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Theodore Gowdy.
