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Re: Jeremiah Denton Selected for Hall of Honor

From: POW-MIA InterNetwork

Date: October 31, 2003

"Denton selected for Hall of Honor

Induction ceremony Friday for former Vietnam POW and U.S. senator

Staff Report

Retired Navy Rear Adm. Jeremiah Denton of Mobile, a prisoner of war for seven years and seven months in Vietnam, will be inducted into the Alabama Military Hall of Honor during a ceremony Friday.
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The 10:30 a.m. induction will take place on the grounds of Marion Mili tary Institute in the town of Marion in west-central Alabama. There will be an unveiling of a commemorative plaque in front of the Marion Military Institute Museum followed by a full dress review by the Corps of Cadets on the Givhan Parade Field.

Denton, who was a leader of other POWs in Hanoi, later became a U.S. senator from Alabama.

He was shot down April 28, 1965, while leading an air strike over North Vietnam. During a TV interview in May 1966, he was able to transmit, via eye Morse Code, the word "torture," sending a message to the world that the POWs were being mistreated.

Following the release of the POWs in 1973, Denton was chosen to speak first on their behalf. He said in part: "We are honored to have had the opportunity to serve our country under difficult circumstances."

Denton received numerous awards for heroism, including the Navy Cross.

Also to be inducted into the Hall of Honor are five now-deceased Montgomery-area natives -- the only five brothers to ever graduate from the Naval Academy -- according to Hall of Honor literature.

The five are Vice Adm. Henry Crommelin, Rear Adm. John G. Crommelin III, Capt. Quentin C. Crommelin, Cmdr. Charles L. Crommelin and Lt. Cmdr. Richard G. Crommelin. All served in World War II.

Charles and Richard Crommelin were killed in action. The other three brothers continued their distinguished military careers until they retired.

The five brothers saw action in more than 10 campaigns in the Pacific Theater, where they attained "outstanding combat records and received multiple decorations," according to Hall of Honor literature.

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