The POW-MIA bracelets of the Vietnam War era made an incredible impression on all those who wore them. Millions of bracelets with the name of a missing or imprisoned soldier were worn on the wrists of family, friends, supporters and critics of the war. It may have been the only item - the only common bond - that crossed the tumultuous political divide.
In 2004, a talk show host at a Chicago radio station was taking callers on this discussion subject: What do you own that you just can't ever throw away? One caller responded by saying she still had the POW-MIA bracelet she wore during the Vietnam War. That phone call prompted dozens of others to call in about their bracelets, telling their stories of wearing them and keeping them safely tucked away in jewelry boxes, night stand drawers and attic boxes.
"I just can't ever let this go," said one caller."This was MY soldier."
The emotions behind the stories of the bracelets told that day on the radio talk show were genuine and true, and they prompted me to begin the research that has led me to the rich and powerful story of U.S. Air Force Major Stanley Horne. In January of 1968 Major Horne's plane was shot down over North Vietnam. Soon afterward his name was one of the many engraved on a POW-MIA bracelet. His story, and the story of those who wore his bracelet, not only tell the narrative of the bracelets' impact, but also the story of how America struggled with the war and tried to heal from the scars it left behind.
BRACELETS OF GRACE - An audio documentary - is Major Horne's story, the bracelets' story and the story of how a soldier's family and a nation grieve and attempt to mend from tragedy.
This November 11th, Veterans Day, is the 40th anniversary of the POW-MIA bracelets of the Vietnam War. Listen for the documentary on radio stations nationwide.
On this blog, PLEASE TELL YOUR PERSONAL STORIES OF THE POW-MIA BRACELETS. Share them with all of us who remember the bracelets and still cherish having worn them.
Peace,
David W. Berner
Forty years ago, from when I first put my bracelet on, it was so much a part of me. Years later, after unsuccessfully trying to gather information on Major Stanley Horne, my bracelet remained on my wrist. My thoughts and prayers were always with Stanley and his family. Today, many questions have been answered. I am so grateful that my bracelet remained a part of me and is a Bracelet of Grace.
ReplyDeleteJudy Scaia Malone
Syracuse, New York
Judy,
ReplyDeleteYour thoughts are so important to this project, and so important to the memories of everyone touched by the war and by each and every one of the bracelets.
David B
The bracelets are NOT a thing of the past!! They are a "memory of the past, present, and most probably the future. The Vietnam war and issue are STILL a current chapter in America. Just go to "The Families of POW/MIA's of SEA" web page and you will see that families DO still seek answers from our government and yes, our government does still go to Vietnam, Laos, China, and Thailand to dig up crash sites in an effort to bring closure to the families of our missing servicemen! Open you eyes Mr. Berner and do your research more better before reporting or writing about it.
ReplyDeleteMy name is Chris Malone, the son of Judy (Scaia) Malone whom you interviewed for your project about the P.O.W. bracelets. She suggested that I should contact you. I have to say that I am absolutely impressed and cannot wait to hear about your story on National Public Radio (I believe that is what my mom told me).
ReplyDeleteAs a child, I remember first time I came across the bracelet she has. I remember sitting with her one day as she was cleaning. Of course, she came across that braclet and showed it to me. I had asked whose name it was, how she knew him, and other unanswerable questions inspired by the curiousity of a child.
It's comforting to know that questions have been answered. As brief of a moment as this was when I was younger, I'm relieved it came back. When my mom first explained to me the situation, how you were to interview her and etc., I thought it was the coolest thing. As brief as that first recognition was and how quick repeted mentionings of the bracelet were, it was a part of my life as well.
I am thrilled that people are addressing the bracelet issue as a "today" project. The Bracelets of Grace documentary is linked to the bracelets beginnings, it being the 40th anniversary this year, (Nov. 11th), but alerting all of us to the bracelet's legacy, and the impact they are having on families and friends of POW/MIAs of today's conflicts, is absolutely crucial. Thanks to all of you who are addressing that issue.
ReplyDeleteDavid
David,
ReplyDeleteIn the beginning, I wore a POW/MIA bracelet for CAPT Martin Neuens, USAF, from Iron Mountain, Michigan. CAPT Neuens was released during Operation Homecoming in 1973.
I immediately acquired a bracelet for another Michigan man, MAJ William Meyer. I chose MAJ Meyer because I worked with and knew his father, Mike Meyer. MAJ Meyer went missing on April 26, 1967 while flying a mission over North Vietnam.
MAJ Meyer's remains were unilaterally repatriated by the Vietnamese government on August 14, 1985 and identified in the fall of 1985. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
I had the return date engraved on my bracelet, and still wear it in honor of MAJ Meyer and his father, Mike Meyer, whom I respected and admired for his dedication to finding out what happened to his son. To me, this bracelet I continue to wear speaks to the hope of resolution, and the possibility of closure.
POW/MIA bracelets are still available for those who remain unaccounted for, and are still worn by countless Americans who support POW/MIA families in their quest for answers to the fate of their loved ones.
Never give up.
I also have a MIA braclet for Capt Martin Neuens Is there any more info out there on this gentleman?
DeleteI live in Waterford Michigan
Sandra Montroy trulli98@aol.com
He lives with his wife Cindy in Tucson, Arizona. address is in the White Pages.
DeleteThank you, Marty. Wonderful story. The connection these bracelets have made with people - military families, friends, and even those who spoke openly against the War in Vietnam - is phenomenal. The touched so many people at a time when the country was so terribly divided.
ReplyDeleteI wonder about others stories - all of them. The more we hear about the more we can understand.
Best
David
The Bracelets of Grace documentary will be the subject of an article in the Wisconsin State Journal newspaper in the coming days. Keep an eye out for it.
ReplyDeleteIt's already been mentioned in a story in the Post-Standard newspaper in Syracuse, New York.
Sometime in the next week, it will be offered to public radio stations around the country. More on that, as I get word.
David B
I didn’t have a bracelet of my own like many who requested them from VIVA in the early 1970s but I do now. I have a bracelet with Stanley Horne’s name on it. It means a lot to me. It came to me from a man and his wife who requested the bracelet in the early 70s and wore the bracelet for many years and have since sent it to our family. Stanley Horne would have been my father-in-law. I married his oldest son, Jeff. The first day I met Jeff he told me his father’s story and his family’s story of going through so many years of not knowing. Not knowing what happened to him, not knowing where he was, and not knowing if he would ever return. I was saddened by it but also fascinated at the turn their lives took after knowing he was shot down. It was many years later, in 1990, that we received word that his remains had been returned and we were then able to hold a service in his honor. Hundreds of soldiers and others showed up that day and I remember wondering if any of them had been bracelet wearers. My mother-in-law wore her bracelet for many years and wore it at the service. For so many years, it was a part of her. At times other family members would wear their bracelets too. One day just a few years ago, I visited the Vietnam Memorial Wall online at thewall-usa.com. I put in Stanley’s name and did a search and checked out the personal comments that had been posted for him. Someone had included information about his return and I was surprised to see another posting that someone had worn his bracelet for years and was now glad to see that he would rest in peace. As a family member I posted a note that we had received his remains and held a service in 1990. That post included my email address. Since then, I’ve heard from several others who wore his bracelet and contacted me. One of those offered to send the bracelet to our family so now I too have a bracelet to remember him. We still have all the letters that were sent to my mother-in-law in the early 70s from people who were wearing his bracelet, wishing them well and praying for his safe return. It was such a comfort to her to know so many people cared about him, no matter how they felt about the war. It’s very moving even now to think about that. It’s clear these bracelets were so much more than just a piece of jewelry. That people still have them, almost 40 years later is evidence of that! This story is just one of many families whose lives were changed by these events. The way the bracelets made a difference is also just one of many stories of the millions of bracelets that were distributed. I’m proud of my father-in-law’s service to his country and blessed to have tapes that he sent from Vietnam so his thoughts can live on for my children, his grandchildren. It’s also very comforting to know that these bracelets created a bond between those whose name was on it and the wearer and the family. We’re thankful to all those who wrote those letters many years ago and prayed and cared! We’re also very thankful to Professor Berner and his work on this story. He has handled this story with grace and care. Thanks, Dave!
ReplyDeleteDeanna Horne
Thank you, Deanna, and the entire Horne family. You have entrusted me with your most precious memories.
ReplyDeleteDavid B
I was proud to wear my POW/MIA bracelet with Stanley Horne's name on it. Stan was my brother-in-law, my sister Gerry's husband. To me, it was a symbol of hope that Stan would come back home. It caught many peoples eye and they would ask about it. I would tell them who he was to me and about his family waiting for him to come back.
ReplyDeleteMy memories of Stan are all good. He was really one of a kind. Very rugged, a million dollar smile and a marvelous laugh. Everything about him was larger than life. I remember him coming to our house in his orange jumpsuit. He was a great story teller and his stories were simply amazing.
I remember the last time I saw Stan. It was the night before he had to leave and the family gathered at my parents house for dinner. It was a wonderful evening and when it came time to say goodbye, he smile and said "I'll be back". I'll
never forget it.
I can't close without saying a few words about
Stan's brave wife, Gerry. When Stan left, they had four children, ages 18 months to 10 years old. On Sunday, January 14, l968, my sister Gerry and her children were getting ready to go ice skating when she received the news Stan had been shot down. It was devastating, but she never, never gave up hope that he would return home. She knew she would have to learn how to take care of the house, pay the bills and most important care for the children alone. She still has her bracelet and Stan's spirit lives on in her heart.
What a wonderful tribute to our POW/MIA service
men and women to honor them by having the Bracelets of Grace radio documentary commemorating the 40th anniversary of the bracelet that meant so much to us. A timely reminder that they are never forgotten...always in our hearts, but sadly missed.
Nancy Henning
My brother Capt. Herbert C. Crosby, US Army, MIA 1970, was a name on a bracelet for over 37 years. Through God’s grace our prayers were answered and Herby was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery May 25, 2007. After the press release of his identification, I was contacted by many people who had a bracelet with his name on it. We’ve received almost 20 so far, and as recent as August 2010.
ReplyDeleteEach person has a story that goes along with the bracelet. One lady was cleaning her jewelry drawer out and found the bracelet. She wondered what happened to Capt. Crosby. The next day on the front page of her local (Idaho) newspaper was a photo of the horse and caisson carrying his flag covered coffin at his funeral and his story…this was on the very day she found the bracelet . She later personally returned the bracelet to my mother in Florida.
One of my brother’s comrades was making a plaque to present to our family from the veteran’s association of pilots he flew with in Vietnam (Rattler-Firebird.org). He needed a bracelet for the plaque so did an internet search finding the office of National League of POW/MIAs in Ohio. He called asking if there was a way to find a bracelet with a specific name (needle in a hay stack). The State Coordinator asked who it was. He told her Capt. Crosby. She said, “he’s on my arm!” She had worn his bracelet continuously since 1973. How ironic? Divine Appointment I’d say. This lady had also met my mother years ago at a POW/MIA meeting in Boston. She never took it off, even when going through airport security, except for once to have an MRI done. My brother she said had met some fantastic people over the years, and traveled over a good part of the globe. This is probably the most touching story because she wore that bracelet all the time.
A Vietnam veteran from Jacksonville, Florida, had a bracelet on his office desk all these years. When he found out the news he returned it, and also attended the funeral at Arlington National Cemetery.
There are so many stories to tell but the fact is that people cared. They cared then and were brave enough to wear the bracelet, and they still care.
When someone comes across their bracelet they’ll do an Internet search and that’s how they’re finding me as I have a website dedicated to my brother at firebird91.org. Also, there are now many veteran websites with the updated news that he is no longer MIA.
I have given most bracelets to family members who have asked to have one. My mother is wearing one of the more recent ones that came in this year.
Thank you everyone who wore, or is still wearing a POW/MIA bracelet. Never forget our fallen heroes. Marylou
Thank you for your wonderful story!
ReplyDeleteIf you have a vested interest in the POW/MIA issue, if you still have a bracelet from the Vietnam era, or wear one of the modern-day bracelets, contact your local public radio station - anywhere you live and work - and tell them about the audio documentary - BRACELETS OF GRACE. Tell them it's available at the Public Radio Exchange (PRX) and that you'd love to hear it in your town.
We want to get this aired everywhere we can.
I thank you for your help and commitment.
Best to all of you!
David Berner
BRACELETS OF GRACE will be broadcast on 11/11 on the Prairie Public Network at 3:30pm and 7:30pm central time. This is a public radio network of some 8-12 radio stations.
ReplyDeleteYou can catch the broadcast live on the network's streaming site -
http://www.prairiepublic.org/radio/listen-now/
I still wear one for my dad.Cmsgt Thomas Moore, USAF 10-31-1965. have worn one since they first came out. even during surgery i have worn it. this bracelet is my link my tailsman my life. to wear my dads name upon my wrist keeps him close to me.
ReplyDeletethank you for doing this story.
Diane Moore
proud daughter
Dear Anonymous from October 8 2010 - I found this site whilst researching my father's family I knew absolutely nothing about (my mum didn't keep in contact with anyone). My dad died when I was 6 years old and was Stanley Henry Horne's brother. I am so grateful for finding Doug Moe's article and photo of Stanley online and for finding this blog. I just can't imagine the horrors these families (includng mine) had to face and I feel for them, even now. I was born in England 3 years before Stanley was shot down so sadly never knew him. Believe me, if we had known about the bracelets in the UK I would have been proud to wear one. In the meantime, these articles and comments help me to feel closer and to know a little about the man who was my uncle. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI worked as a RN at the 130th Station Hosp. Heidelberg in the 70's. There was an Army nurse that worked in my area who had quite a story. It seems she was stationed in Viet Nam during the "conflict" and wore one of the MIA bracelets. She was in a field hospital in VN and one day they brought in some half dead hostages that had just been found. It turned out her "patient" was the same guy whose bracelet she wore. He was evaced to the US, then a short time later they both got sent to Heidelberg. I attended their wedding at Heidelberg Castle. She still wore the bracelet and said she would until the day she died.
ReplyDeleteI bought my POW bracelet in 1966 soon after Captain Martin Neuens was reported missing. I wore the bracelet everyday during the war and even after. I sent nightly prayers for his safe return. After the release of the prisoners, I never saw his name on the list and up until 2 years ago I did not know if he was alive. Then, after a Veteran's Day program in my school (I teach second grade) I was given a website to check from a Vet. Lo and behold my surprise to see he was alive and well. I was from Indiana and he grew up in Upper Michigan...I now live about 25 miles from where he grew up. This bracelet comes to school every Veteran's Day for my students to see how we did love our soldiers during the war. I still pray nightly for Captain Martin Neuens to have a wonderful life as he gave so much for me and my freedoms.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in college,I wore a POW/MIA bracelet with the name Captain Dennis Eilers on it. I never took it off, but unfortunately I lost it water skiing,which really upset me. His mother had sent me a letter and a picture of Dennis. As the years went by, I always looked in the paper to see if he returned home, but he was never on the list. When my daughter was studying VietNam, I gave her the letter and picture to take to school. I then decided to try to contact the family and luckily his brother, Dean, still lived on the family farm. I soon received a packet of articles and family photos that I treasure. Dean and I have been in contact now for years and he has kept me updated. Just last month, Dean called me to tell me that they had finally found remains and a tooth and have confirmed that Dennis and the rest of his crew that had been shot down had died. We just got home from his funeral on July 9, 2012 in Arlington National Cemetery. I never dreamed 40 years ago when I got that bracelet that I would meet his family and attend his funeral. It was an amazing experience and a great honor to be there.
ReplyDeleteI remember my mother wearing one for a number of years. When I was 7, I watched the first round of POWs returning and she was crying and saying, "He made it..he IS alive". About 30 years later, I read the book "Captive Warriors" by Colonel Sam Johnson...7 years as a POW at the Hanoi Hilton. It made a huge impression on me. I happened to ask my mom if she still had her bracelet so I could see if the name matched any he mentioned in the book. I was speechless when I saw that the bracelet was for Lt. Colonel Samuel Johnson...chills down my spine. I wrote to him (a Senator from Texas) and he wrote back and said how stunned and moved he was. He signed off, "GBA and GBU"...the shorthand for tapping God Bless America and God Bless You...they tapped it to each other every night. My students are in awe when they see the note and bracelet. I have read the book many times over.
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