The Tennessee Veterans Business Association is pleased to announce its main speaker Retired U.S. Air Force Capt. William A. “Bill” Robinson – the longest held enlisted prisoner of war in American history – for its Second Annual Golf Tournament June 25th at Green Meadow Country Club in Alcoa, TN.
While serving as a crew chief aboard a U.S. Air Force Rescue helicopter during the Vietnam War, Airman First Class Bill Robinson’s Kaman HH43B “Huskie” helicopter was shot down by enemy ground fire. After crash landing, the four-man crew and pilot were captured in Ha Tinh Province, North Vietnam, on September 20, 1965.
After a brief stint at the “Hanoi Hilton,” Robinson endured 2,703 days in multiple North Vietnamese prison camps, including the notorious Briarpatch and various compounds at Cu Loc, known by the inmates as the Zoo. No enlisted man in American military history has been held as a prisoner of war longer than Robinson. For seven and a half years, he faced daily privations and endured the full range of North Vietnam’s torture program before his return February 12, 1973.
Following his return home to East Tennessee, Robinson has dedicated his life to serving his fellow veterans. He now is involved with the Vietnam Veterans of America – Capt. Bill Robinson Chapter 1078 of Knoxville, Tennessee, which is made up of men and women who served on active duty (for other than training purposes) in the U.S. military in the Republic of Vietnam between 28 February 1961 and 7 May 1975 or in duty station between 5 August 1964 and 7 May 1975 and were honorably discharged.
The Second Annual TVBA Golf Tournament will be held June 25th at Green Meadow Country Club in Alcoa. Robinson will address the crowd during a noon buffet lunch. Shot gun start begins at 1 p.m. To sign up for play or to become a sponsor for Tennessee Veterans, please visit GoTVBA.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmGJn2vq8VI