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- Personal (1)
- Uncategorized (4)
- 19. September 2008: Admiral Jeremiah Denton to be Honored at Mt.Soledad Veterans Memorial
- 13. August 2008: Norfolk Virginian-Pilot article
- 1. August 2008: Denton featured in National Archives traveling exhibit
- 1. August 2008: Jeremiah Denton Display Room at USS Alabama Battleship
- 30. August 2007: Welcome to Admiral Denton's Blog
Admiral Jeremiah Denton to be Honored at Mt.Soledad Veterans Memorial
19. September 2008 by Sally.
Admiral Denton will be honored by dedication of a plaque to him at the Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial on National POW/MIA Day, Friday, Sept. 19, 2008, at 1 p.m.
Below is a press release issued nationally by Thomas More Law Center.
Adm. Jeremiah Denton, Vietnam War Hero & US Senator, to be Honored at Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial
September 16, 2008
ANN ARBOR, MI – The Thomas More Law Center and the American Legion, Department of California, will be honoring Vietnam War hero, retired Admiral and former U.S. Senator, Jeremiah Denton, with a plaque dedication ceremony atop Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial in La Jolla, CA, this Friday, September 19, 2008, at 1 pm PST.
Admiral Jeremiah Denton was a Vietnam POW for nearly eight years. Suffering severe mistreatment, he became the first U.S. military captive to be subjected to four years of solitary confinement. He first came to the public’s attention in 1966. After being tortured and threatened with more torture and even death if he did not “correctly” answer the questions posed, he was televised in front of Communist dignitaries with the purpose of having him admit to American atrocities. Instead, Admiral Denton replied, “Whatever the position of my government is, I believe it, I support it, and I will support it as long as I live.” Years later, Admiral Denton authored, When Hell Was In Session, a reflection on his time as a POW.
September 19th is the National POW/MIA Recognition Day.
Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Thomas More Law Center commented, “This is a great honor for both the Law Center and the American Legion. Admiral Denton represents everything good about America — a heroic patriot, a devoted husband, father, and a faithful Christian. The Law Center is proud to have him as the Chairman of our Citizens Advisory Board. Honoring him at Mt. Soledad is very appropriate, since he played an instrumental role in the Law Center’s efforts to save the Cross, where it is, as it is.”
Ralph Huskey, American Legion District 22 Commander, will be the master of ceremonies. Rear Admiral Len Hering, USN, Commander, Navy Region Southwest, will be a speaker and presenter of the dedication plaque to Admiral Denton’s son, Michael Denton. Rees Lloyd, past Commander of California Legion District 21 will introduce Brian Rooney and Charles LiMandri from the Thomas More Law Center. Click here to view a picture of the plaque that Michael Denton will receive in his father’s honor.
Click here to view full size version of Admiral Denton’s plaque.
Admiral Denton’s character and courage was epitomized in a North Vietnamese televised interview, Admiral Denton feigning sensitivity to harsh camera lighting, looked into the camera lens and blinked his eyes in Morse Code spelling out the message ‘T-O-R-T-U-R-E.’ Thus, he provided Naval Intelligence the first confirmation that American POWs in Vietnam were being tortured. Further, as spokesperson for the first group of returning POWs in 1973, as he stepped from the plane he was asked to make a statement on behalf of the group. He turned to the microphones and said, “We are honored to have the opportunity to serve our country under difficult circumstances. We are profoundly grateful to our Commander-in-Chief and our nation for this day. God bless America.”
Richard Thompson further commented, “One of my favorite memories of Admiral Denton is when he was honored by President Ronald Reagan.” In his 1982 State of the Union Address, President Reagan stated, “We don’t have to turn to our history books for heroes, they’re all around us.” The President then looked into the audience and singled out Jeremiah Denton, “One who sits among you here tonight epitomized that heroism at the end of the longest imprisonment ever inflicted on men of our armed forces.”
Admiral Denton has been a member of the Thomas More Law Center Citizens Advisory Board since 2005. He is responsible for developing the Law Center’s national strategy.
The Thomas More Law Center defends and promotes the religious freedom of Christians, time-honored family values, and the sanctity of human life through education, litigation, and related activities. It does not charge for its services. The Law Center is supported by contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations, and is recognized by the IRS as a section 501(c)(3) organization. You may reach the Thomas More Law Center at (734) 827-2001 or visit our website at www.thomasmore.org.
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Norfolk Virginian-Pilot article
13. August 2008 by Sally.
The Joint Forces Staff College in Norfolk, VA dedicates its Distance Learning Center Auditorium in Admiral Denton’s honor August 13, 2008. Article by Matthew Jones of The Virginian Pilot reflects values of Admiral Denton and his commitment to education. You may click this link http://hamptonroads.com/node/476189 to go to The Virginian-Pilot website and watch the video of Admiral Denton.
Stephen M. Katz/The Virginian-Pilot
Ex-Vietnam War POW a man committed to cooperation
By Matthew Jones
The Virginian-Pilot
© August 13, 2008
WILLIAMSBURG
As Jeremiah Denton jr. made his way to Portsmouth Naval Medical Center in February 1973, he knew he’d reached a turning point.
He’d just left North Vietnam after spending more than 7 1/2 years as a prisoner of war. He’d come home to a hero’s welcome, receiving global acclaim for his leadership in the prisons and immediately after his release.
Yet his elation at reuniting with his family was offset by the societal change he saw all around him.
As he sat in the hospital, bringing himself up to the present day, he realized that the military, with its lack of popularity due to a controversial war, wasn’t the vehicle he needed to “be able to speak out in whatever capacity I chose.”
To accomplish what he wanted, he would have to leave the profession to which he’d given nearly three decades of his life. But before he went, he knew he could do one more thing for his fellow service members.
Having been given his pick of assignments, Denton chose to be commandant of the Armed Forces Staff College, which trains mid level officers from all branches of service.
“It fitted in perfectly,” he said this week in an interview at his home. “It was my outlet for expressing what I’d learned deepest in prison to those who are doing this in peacetime, by educating them at this level to work together.”
The school, now the Joint Forces Staff College, will return the favor today when it dedicates its distance learning center auditorium in Denton’s honor.
Promoted to rear admiral, Denton took command of the college in January 1974.
“I was very, very aware how necessary it was to increase the understanding among our armed services,” he said. He’d learned this the hard way.
On July 18, 1965, Denton was leading a bombing run over Thanh Hoa, in North Vietnam, when his A-6 Intruder was hit by anti-aircraft fire. He and his navigator had to bail out. Both were captured.
Denton, then 41, was a Navy commander. His rank made him a leader among the prisoners, who were mostly Navy and Air Force pilots. He had to receive news and intelligence from the other POWs, maintain order and morale, coordinate resistance and act as a liaison between the prisoners and guards.
His efforts brought repeated torture and years of solitary confinement. They also brought him an intimate knowledge of how service members with different missions and traditions can pull together during a crisis.
At the staff college, Denton was allowed time to step away from the demands of an operational command and explore those concepts.
But this period wasn’t all positive. His time in captivity had taken a physical and mental toll.
When Denton stepped off the plane in the Philippines soon after his release, he thought America had won the war. As he watched the conflict drag on from his seat in Norfolk, his mood darkened.
In April 1975, Saigon fell and the North Vietnamese moved in. The next month, Denton announced his retirement, saying he thought he would be able to do more good in the religious and educational worlds than in the military, and that the time had come for him to find a forum to address what he saw as the country’s declining moral standards.
Military leaders asked him to stay and after some thought, he agreed, saying he felt he could pursue his goals while still in uniform.
He spent two more years at the college and then stepped down in June 1977.
He returned to his home state of Alabama, where he worked for a college and began his first charitable foundation. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1980 and served on the judiciary, armed services and veterans affairs committees, as well as others. He served one term in the Senate before becoming an adviser to President Reagan. He also began several programs that distribute international aid using excess space on military and commercial flights.
Yet after three decades, Denton, now 84, still hearkens back to his days in uniform and remains bullish on the necessity of working together.
“It’s one thing to say you’re willing to operate in conjunction with the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines or whatever service,” he said. “You can’t serve with other people, you can’t serve the common interest of another organization, until you know them.”
Matthew Jones, (757) 446-2949, matthew.jones@pilotonline.com
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Denton featured in National Archives traveling exhibit
1. August 2008 by admin.
Amazingly, the most respected historical source in the United States, National Archives, has chosen Admiral Jeremiah Denton to be among the top 25 most influential persons in U.S. history.
An episode taken from Admiral Jeremiah Denton’s POW experience is featured in a current traveling exhibit of the National Archives. The exhibit is called “Eyewitness, American Originals from the National Archives, Gripping Eyewitness Accounts of Moments in U.S. History,” The exhibit consists of artifacts, documents, video and audio recordings depicting 25 dramatic historic events.
Admiral Denton’s part features a video segment of his prison interview showing him blinking “torture” while orally affirming support for his government in spite of heavy torture administered before and especially after the interview. (They did some editing to fully include both of those essential parts into the 1 1/2 minute video piece).
It’s very impressive also to see Admiral Denton sharing space with Presidents and world leaders and some very courageous ordinary people whose lives were touched by history.
You can (and MUST) see the exhibit online at
www.archives.gov/exhibits/eyewitness.
Or you can Google “Eyewitness”, National Archives.” Either way, enter the flash exhibit and go to contents. Then find Admiral Denton in the lower left of the contents page.
Detailed instructions in viewing the enhanced flash exhibit:
Note: Broadband connection recommended
1. Go to http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/eyewitness/
2. Click enter enhanced flash exhibit
3. Click Contents drop down arrow
4. Click the photo of Admiral Denton under Scenes From Hell
5. Click the video icon on top left to view the video
6. Click view a 1 1/2 minute exerpt from the interview
To view the regular html exhibit please click the link below
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/eyewitness/html.php?section=8
Note: You will not be able to view the video, only the still frames
Traveling Exhibit Schedule
CANCELLED: Yorba Linda, California (May – September 2008) [tentative]
Richard M. Nixon Library and Museum
Omaha, Nebraska (October 2008 – January 2009) [tentative]
Durham Western Heritage Museum
Previously shown at the following:
Washington, DC (June 23, 2006 – January 1, 2007)
Lawrence F. O’Brien Gallery at the
National Archives and Records Administration
Atlanta, Georgia (February – April 2007)
Jimmy Carter Library and Museum
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (May – September 2007)
National Constitution Center
Grand Rapids, Michigan (October 2007 – January 2008)
The Ford Museum of the
Gerald R. Ford Library and Museum
Austin, Texas (February – April 2008)
Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum
There is also a book called EYEWITNESS available online in soft cover(80 PAGES)at http://estore.archives.gov where you can purchase it.
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Jeremiah Denton Display Room at USS Alabama Battleship
1. August 2008 by admin.
The members of the Battleship Memorial Park commision, staff and volunteers of the USS Alabama started working on the display early this year. It is now open to public and part of the tour. Please visit their website at http://www.ussalabama.com/about.php for information.
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Welcome to Admiral Denton’s Blog
30. August 2007 by admin.
Here you will read Admiral Denton’s blog at least once a week. We welcome all your comments anytime you visit here. He had another blog at http://jeremiahdenton.blogspot.com/ but no longer posted there.
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