Re: The Ex-POW and the Bracelet

Date: May 29, 2004

"Vietnam POW bracelet finds its man

Vincent T. Davis Express-News Staff Writer

On Thursday morning Grace Perez met for the first time a man whose name had been burned into her memory for years.

As a member representative for USAA, Perez routinely answered her share of phone calls. On Jan. 31, 1983, she answered the phone and the man said he would like to verify that his insurance policy was in force.

When she keyed in his name, "Paul E. Galanti," she froze.

She immediately put the man on hold and went in search for a co-worker.

Trembling, she said, "I think this is the name on my POW bracelet."

The POW/MIA bracelet movement began in 1970 to honor prisoners of war and GIs missing in action in the Vietnam War.

Perez was hesitant to talk to the man, afraid she would trigger unpleasant memories. Encouraged by her co-worker, she released the hold button.

"Sir, you're not going to believe this," she said, explaining that she had worn a bracelet with his name for several years.

He became very quiet.

He thanked her for remembering him.

Since the phone call, 21 years ago, they have kept in contact through letters. However, the only time she had seen his face was on the cover of an Oct, 20, 1970, Life magazine cover.

Thursday, Perez introduced Galanti as the guest speaker for the USAA Memorial Day Ceremony. The company invited the former POW to speak and to receive the bracelet Perez, now 49, had worn in his memory.

According to an Air Force Web site, the POW/MIA bracelet was to be worn until the veteran's status was affirmed or the member came home. Americans wore more than 5 million bracelets during the early 1970s.

In 1971, Perez's sister Gloria gave her the bracelet as a birthday present, and she wore it until February 1973, shortly after the Paris Peace Accords were signed.

When the names of returning military members were printed in the paper, she scanned the list, thanking God when she found his name.

Galanti's A-4 Skyhawk was shot down over North Vietnam on June 17, 1966. He endured several years in a network of POW camps, called the "Hanoi Hilton" by the prisoners.

Galanti said the POWs had heard about Americans wearing the bracelets in their honor.

"We found it uplifting," he said.

The story of Perez's bracelet grew in popularity over the years — resulting in Galanti's invitation to the ceremony. After Perez told her story, she introduced him to the audience of military officials and USAA employees in the auditorium.

She said she wondered why she kept the bracelet after so many years.

"Now I finally know why," she said, tears filling in her eyes.

As Galanti stepped onto the stage, she presented him with the bracelet and he embraced her, saying it was going to be hard to talk with a frog in his throat.

"She didn't know me from Adam," Galanti said, sitting with Perez after the ceremony. "She didn't have to care, but she did."

They both said they plan to stay in contact.

"Hopefully it's not the last time," Perez said of their meeting. "Now it's a reality."

Before Galanti walked onstage, Perez read the number of decorations, which included two Purple Hearts, awarded during his military service.

Now he can add Perez's thin, silver bracelet to his list of honors."