Title

Homecoming

Start Date

2/12/1973

End Date

3/29/1973

TAO

North Vietnam to South Vietnam to the United States

Objective

to obtain the release of U.S. POWs and the simultaneous final reduction in active U.S. forces.

Description

There were four stages to the return of POWs. The first began on 12 February and the last ended a day late on March 29. The POWs were initially received at Sai Gon, Ha Noi, and Hong Kong depending on whether they were released by the VC, DRV, or China respectively. Then they were flown to Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines. There they were debriefed and medically examined. Those released could go to a U.S. medical hospital for recovery. 591 U.S. POWs returned. Some had survived the longest captivity of prisoners in U.S. history and had become the focus of respect and affection. They returned to the United States to a very rare hero's welcome. The release of the POWs gave American a sucessful ending to the war.