Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Audio Recording Marion Anthony Marshall Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Air Force
- Unit of Service: 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 432nd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing
- Location of Service: Colorado Springs, Colorado; George Air Force Base, California; Mather Air Force Base, California; MacDill Air Force Base, Florida; Thailand; Williams Air Force Base, Arizona; RAF Bentwaters, England; Frankfurt, Germany; Philippines
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/10760
Even after he was awarded a coveted appointment to the Air Force Academy in 1964, Tony Marshall saw it only as a stepping stone to getting a scholarship to a civilian college. That all changed once he got hooked on flying. Although weak eyesight relegated him to the navigator's position, he never lost his enthusiasm for planes. During the Vietnam War, he flew over 260 missions out of a base in Thailand. His pilot's bravado got them shot down over North Vietnam, and Marshall became a "guest" of the Hanoi Hilton POW facility in July 1972. The following spring, he and his fellow captives were released. After retirement, he became a commercial airline pilot, but he missed the camaraderie and demands of the military life.
Interview / Recording
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PlayFirst impressions of the Air Force Academy. 00:05:59.7 - 00:09:20.7
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PlayDealing with race relations at the Academy. 00:10:00.9 - 00:12:25.0
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PlayScaling back his ambition to be a fighter pilot; his attraction to the F-4. 00:14:42.5 - 00:19:48.2
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PlayGetting "invited" over to Vietnam; camaraderie of his squadron there. 00:22:36.7 - 00:24:55.0
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PlayTips on surviving while flying missions. 00:25:09.2 - 00:26:49.7
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PlayNature of his missions: bombing, interdiction, and escorting 4-6 times a week; why it was preferable, if you were to get shot down, to have it happen over North Vietnam. 00:33:06.3 - 00:39:52.5
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PlayVery close encounter with enemy aircraft; finding out about withheld information that almost cost him his life. 00:43:07.0 - 00:50:14.9
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PlayGetting shot down because his pilot took too many chances; trying to escape almost right away but getting shackled in leg irons. 01:02:10.0 - 01:14:54.0
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PlayHis days in Hanoi Hilton; testing his captors to see what he could get away with. 01:20:03.0 - 01:28:53.0
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PlaySensing that the end of the war was near; different attitudes among recent captives like him and the long-time ones; getting released; dealing with American journalists who visited the Hilton. 01:38:17 - 01:43:26.0
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PlayCivilian life vs. the military; reflections on the war. 01:47:45.0 - 01:52:31.0
More Resources
About this Item
Title
- Marion Anthony Marshall Collection
Names
- Veterans History Project
- Library of Congress
- Marshall, Marion Anthony
- Taylor, David A.
Home State
- California
Headings
- - Marshall, Marion Anthony
- - Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Air Force.
- - Prisoner of War -- United States
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Race
- Black or African American
Status
- veteran
Service History
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Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Air Force
- Unit of Service: 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 432nd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing
- Location of Service: Colorado Springs, Colorado; George Air Force Base, California; Mather Air Force Base, California; MacDill Air Force Base, Florida; Thailand; Williams Air Force Base, Arizona; RAF Bentwaters, England; Frankfurt, Germany; Philippines
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Dates of Service: 1968-1990
- Prisoner of War: Yes
- Entrance into Service: Enlisted
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Video: Digital Betacam [1 item] -- Digitized Copy (collected 2004-01-12)
- Audio: 10" Audio Reel [2 items] -- Oral history interview (collected 2004-01-12; 2004-06-28)
- Video: Betacam SP [2 items] -- Oral history interview (collected 2004-01-12; 2004-06-28)
- Audio: DAT [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2004-01-12; 2004-06-28)
- Manuscript: Printed matter [1 item] -- (collected unknown)
- Manuscript: Biographical information [1 item] -- (collected unknown)
- Photograph: Photocopy of Photographic Print [11 items] -- Photograph (collected 1971-1972)
- Video: VHS [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2004-01-12)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/10760
Cite as
- Marion Anthony Marshall Collection (AFC/2001/001/10760), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
- video
Additional Metadata Formats
IIIF Presentation Manifest
Part of
Wars & Conflicts
Service Branch
Location of Service
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Frankfurt, Germany
- George Air Force Base, California
- Macdill Air Force Base, Florida
- Mather Air Force Base, California
- Philippines
- RAF Bentwaters, England
- Thailand
- Williams Air Force Base, Arizona