This is the first of many conversations with Commander Paul E. Galanti U.S. Navy Ret.

In this episode we discuss how he ended up going to the Naval Academy, selecting Naval aviation as his service selection, and his eventual assignment to VA-216 for deployment onboard USS Hancock.

During this episode we also discuss his 97th combat mission when he was shot down and the 12 days it took the Vietnamese to transport him to the Hoa Lo Prison in Hanoi.

Veteran Tribute link which includes a short bio on Paul:

http://veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=11

The story of Jerome Rand's 271 day 2017/18 solo, non-stop, unassisted circumnavigation.

Youtube Intro Video:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSzlhcmiF7vav6CNly7rUpw?view_as=subscriber

Book Link:

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Sailing+into+oblivion&ref=nb_sb_noss_2

Website:

https://5thcape.com/

It was March 1973. The Yankee Air Pirate had just been released from the Hoa Lo Prison in Hanoi after more than 6 years. He was now at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines and was on his way home to California!

After returning from North Vietnam in March 1973 The Yankee Air Pirate spent many more years on active duty in the Navy. His last tour of duty before he retired in 1986 was running The Naval Academy Prep School in Newport RI. This was a very special duty assignment and was one of my favorites. I am fortunate to have served under his command and graduated as part of THE GREAT NAPS CLASS OF 1983. We had the opportunity to serve and work with some of the very best leaders our country has. My classmate and dear friend Craig Perri stopped by to spend some time with The Yankee Air Pirate on the 47th anniversary of FREEDOM DAY! We got the chance to talk about some of the terrific people from NAPS83 that had a positive impact on the rest of our lives. Thanks for making the trip Craig.

This episode is all about the days and weeks leading up to the day of release after more than 6 years in the Hoa Lo Prison for our Yankee Air Pirate. March 4, 1973... FREEDOM DAY!

Check out the pictures and video of these events on our Facebook page (The Yankee Air Pirate)

In this episode we discuss the very primitive level of healthcare that was given to our POWs during their captivity during the Vietnam War. Even very simple issues for us here in the United States sometimes became a major problem there. At times these simple problems even became life threatening.

This episode discusses some of the daily routines of living as a POW in Camp Unity within the Hoa Lo Prison in late 1970 into 1971.

Give to Fisher House using the link below:

http://engage.fisherhouse.org/goto/YankeeAirPirate

Watch the Prisoner At War book give away raffle info video:

https://youtu.be/pjWx6ISrc_Q

To record this episode we flew to my fathers hometown of Quincy MA. for the dedication ceremony of Captain Richard A. Stratton Way! We were honored that Mayor Tom Koch took time to sit down with us to talk about the history of Quincy and do this podcast with us. Quincy is a special place and has a rich history of service to our nation. The Stratton family greatly appreciates all the kind thoughts, words, and actions this incredible and patriotic city shows to my father and all veterans.

Check out the YouTube video that contains pictures and video from the Stratton Way dedication weekend using the link below:

https://youtu.be/fIgyFf50pZM

Semper Fi

This episode of the Yankee Air Pirate podcast includes background of how the The 4th Allied POW Wing came to be formed in the Fall of 1970 at the Hoa Lo Prison in Hanoi Vietnam. The conversations include the death of Ho Chi-Minh, the Son Tay Raid, and the never to be forgotten work of Ross Perot who was an American Patriot! We hope you enjoy this episode.

Be sure to watch the YouTube video after you listen to the podcast. The video includes part of the podcast recording we did for this episode plus many important pictures of the places, people, and things discussed in this episode.

        https://youtu.be/N-LKsKrbe0c            

In this episode we discuss the propaganda war that the North Vietnamese communists were waging against the United States in the late 1960's. Our American POW's were used as pawns by the Vietnamese but most Yankee Air Pirates hung tough!