Personal Narrative Manuscript/Mixed Material Audio Recording Gordon Ross Nakagawa Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Navy
- Unit of Service: VA-165 (Attack Squadron); VA-196 (Attack Squadron); USS Ranger (CV 61); USS Enterprise (CVN 65); USS Constellation (CV 64); USS Yorktown (CV 10)
- Location of Service: Vietnam
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/27088
In 1958, when Gordon Nakagawa became a Naval aviator out of college, the American military's main concern was Cold War strategy. Ten years later, Nakagawa was flying bombing missions over Vietnam in a new A-6 Intruder, capable of flying at night and in all kinds of weather. On a subsequent tour of duty in Vietnam, Nakagawa's plane was brought down and he became a "guest" of the North Vietnamese at the infamous Hanoi Hilton. Nakagawa called on his training and the shared experiences of previous POWs to survive his stay.
Gordon Ross Nakagawa Collection
Interview / Recording
Transcript
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PlayBeginnings of his career in the Navy; assignment to first A-6 squadron. 00:00:47.9 - 00:03:59.2
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PlayHis two combat cruises with the A-6 Intruder squadron to Vietnam; conducting bombing missions at night; hit in the wing by an enemy shell. 00:03:59.6 - 00:07:22.5
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PlayIn 1972, he was assigned to another A-6 squadron deployed to Vietnam; flying in Linebacker 2 operation; shot down in December. 00:08:12.5 - 00:23:42.6
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PlayParachuting onto land, about a mile from the coast; deciding to evade capture; having to leave an injured comrade behind; lack of treatment for that man and his early release at the war's end. 00:25:49.5 - 00:32:12.7
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PlayCaptured in the rice paddies; lessons learned in retrospect about evasion. 00:38:41.5 - 00:43:20.1
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PlayBeing transported, blindfolded and bound, from Haiphong to the Hanoi Hilton. 00:51:08.2 - 01:00:19.0
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PlayEncouraged to be in an established camp like the Hilton; recalling lessons from his training; no water for his first three days; captors attacking his "bad attitude." 01:04:12.0 - 01:09:45.0
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PlayNorth Vietnamese backing off from posture of defiance in the wake of U.S. bombing campaign; the use of "proper" bombing strategy. 01:21:04.0 - 01:22:18.0
About this Item
Title
- Gordon Ross Nakagawa Collection
Names
- Library of Congress
- Nakagawa, Gordon Ross
- Veterans History Project
- Peach, Kimberly
Home State
- California
Headings
- - Nakagawa, Gordon Ross
- - Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Navy.
- - Prisoner of War -- United States
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Race
- Asian
Status
- veteran
Service History
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Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Navy
- Unit of Service: VA-165 (Attack Squadron); VA-196 (Attack Squadron); USS Ranger (CV 61); USS Enterprise (CVN 65); USS Constellation (CV 64); USS Yorktown (CV 10)
- Location of Service: Vietnam
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Dates of Service: 1958-1989
- Prisoner of War: Yes
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Manuscript: Transcript [1 item] -- Transcription of audio recording (collected 2005-05-28)
- Audio: Audio Cassette [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2005-05-28)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/27088
Cite as
- Gordon Ross Nakagawa Collection (AFC/2001/001/27088), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- audio
- online text
Additional Metadata Formats
Part of
Wars & Conflicts
Service Branch
Location of Service
Service Unit
- USS Constellation (CV 64)
- USS Enterprise (Cvn 65)
- USS Ranger (CV 61)
- USS Yorktown (CV 10)
- Va-165 (Attack Squadron)
- Va-196 (Attack Squadron)