As if Bob Jeffrey hadn’t already packed enough emotion into one trip, the crew at American Airlines added a little more sentiment and made sure the Vietnam veteran was properly honored.
Jeffrey, a retired lieutenant colonel in the Air Force, and his wife, had just flown back from Vietnam, where Jeffrey returned for the first time since being held as a prisoner of war for seven years and three months from the mid-1960s to early 1970s. The Jeffreys boarded a flight at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Sunday, ready to fly back to Phoenix and their home in Arizona.
But American Airlines Capt. John Newman had other plans.
Both Newman and the flight’s first officer are Air Force veterans. They teamed with the flight crew to honor Jeffrey for his service and sacrifice to his nation before departing L.A. Jeffrey had also served as an American Airlines pilot after leaving the Air Force, retiring in 1999. Taking to the plane’s public address system, and standing at the entryway, Newman welcomed the special guests to the trip.
“We actually have a special welcome aboard for a couple of folks joining us today,” Newman said. “They’re on their last leg of a pretty important trip. I hope it was a memorable one.”
Shot Down Over Vietnam
During his brief address to passengers, Newman talked about how Jeffrey became a POW. In 1965, flying his first mission, Jeffrey’s plane was shot down near the Chinese border. He was captured and spent seven years and three excruciating months as a prisoner of war. During a speech for Imprints of Honor in 2022, Jeffrey said the creation and sale of POW and missing in action (MIA) bracelets in the U.S. encouraged North Vietnamese soldiers to improve treatment of POWs.
“We appreciate you. We stand on your shoulders. Thank you for your service and sacrifice,” Newman said as passengers applauded.
While in Vietnam, Jeffrey visited the infamous “Hanoi Hilton” prison camp where he spent most of his dark days as a POW.
“I hope your trip was everything you wanted it to be, everything you needed it to be,” Newman said.
Before departure, crews on the ground at LAX honored Jeffrey with a water cannon salute. When Jeffrey and his wife returned to Phoenix, they were greeted with another tribute from employees at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Both airports worked together to plan a special trip home for Jeffrey and his wife.
Officials from American Airlines said Sunday’s tribute was a “full-circle moment” as three Air Force veterans and one former and two current airline pilots could come together and honor their service.
According to National Today, Jeffrey’s trip back to Vietnam was captured on film and will be developed into a documentary later this year.
