Personal Narrative Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Software, E-Resource Audio Recording John Edward Stavast Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: Vietnam War, 1961-1975; Cold War; World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army Air Forces/Corps; Air Force
- Unit of Service: Air Training Command; 18th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron; 12th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron; Company A, 117th Infantry Regiment; 407th Bomb Squadron, 92nd Bomb Group, 40th Bomb Wing; Headquarters, Tactical Air Command; 11th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron
- Location of Service: England; France; Germany; European Theater; Langley Air Force Base, Virginia; Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho; Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama; Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand; South Vietnam; Hanoi, North Vietnam; Japan; France; Alabama; Reese Air Force Base, Texas; Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina; Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas
- Highest Rank: Colonel; Sergeant
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/101797
Colonel John Edward Stavast was serving as a pilot with the 11th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron in Vietnam when he was shot down in 1967. He served the next six years as a prisoner of war interned at the infamous Hỏa Lò Prison, otherwise known as the “Hanoi Hilton.” His vast collection includes original manuscript materials (written on salvaged paper) that he created while in captivity; photographs of the “welcome home” celebration held Claremont, California after his liberation in 1973; two reports he wrote on his family’s and his own experiences during his time as a POW; and voluminous personal correspondence, including a handful of letters that Stavast sent to his wife while he was incarcerated.
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About this Item
Title
- John Edward Stavast Collection
Names
- Stavast, John Edward
- Mann, Kathryn
Home State
- Texas
Headings
- - Stavast, John Edward
- - World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army Air Forces/Corps.
- - Cold War -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Air Force.
- - 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
Status
- veteran
Service History
-
World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army Air Forces/Corps
- Unit of Service: Company A, 117th Infantry Regiment; 407th Bomb Squadron, 92nd Bomb Group, 40th Bomb Wing
- Location of Service: England; France; Germany; European Theater
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Dates of Service: 1944-1946
- Entrance into Service: Enlisted
- Military Status: veteran
- Service History Note: The veteran served as a truck driver and trained as a B-29 gunner. After arriving in Europe, he was assigned to the 117th Infantry Regiment. He was later reassigned to the 92nd Bomb Group.
-
Cold War
- Branch of Service: Air Force
- Unit of Service: Air Training Command; 18th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron; 12th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron
- Location of Service: Japan; France; Alabama; Reese Air Force Base, Texas; Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina; Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Dates of Service: 1950-1980
- Entrance into Service: Commissioned
- Military Status: veteran
- Service History Note: The veteran served as a pilot and trained Japanese Self Defense Force pilots.
-
Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Air Force
- Unit of Service: Headquarters, Tactical Air Command; 11th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron
- Location of Service: Langley Air Force Base, Virginia; Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho; Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama; Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand; South Vietnam; Hanoi, North Vietnam
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Dates of Service: 1980
- Prisoner of War: Yes
- Entrance into Service: Commissioned
- Military Status: veteran
- Service History Note: The veteran was shot down over North Vietnam on September 17, 1967, and was hed as a Prisoner of War at six different prison camps until his release on March 14, 1973. The veteran served as the Senior Ranking Officer (SRO) at four of these prison camps, and was the commander of four different POW Squadrons.
Materials
- Manuscript: Civilian papers (certificates, forms, wills, etc) [2 items] -- Typewritten document (collected 1983-1997)
- Manuscript: Clippings [9 items] -- Typewritten document (collected 1972-2004)
- Manuscript: Correspondence [192 items] -- Mixed (handwritten and typewritten documents) (collected 1967-2015)
- Manuscript: Creative works [3 items] -- Handwritten document (collected 1970-1973)
- Manuscript: Diaries and journals [5 items] -- Handwritten document (collected 1969-1973)
- Manuscript: Maps [22 items] -- Mixed (handwritten and typewritten documents) (collected 1967)
- Manuscript: Military papers (orders, personnel/201 files, etc) [54 items] -- Typewritten document (collected 1965-2016)
- Manuscript: Printed matter [9 items] -- Typewritten document (collected 1973-2004)
- Manuscript: Transcript [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 1984-03-12)
- Photograph: Original photographic print [100 items] -- Photograph (collected 1967-1996)
- Photograph: Negatives [1 item] -- Photograph (collected 1973)
- Photograph: Photocopy of Photographic Print [2 items] -- Photograph (collected unknown)
- Computer File: CD [1 item] -- Electronic file of manuscript (collected 2016; 2016-03-21)
- Computer File: CD [1 item] -- Reference copy (collected 2016; 2018-05-07)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/101797
Cite as
- John Edward Stavast Collection (AFC/2001/001/101797), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- audio
- image
- online text
Additional Metadata Formats
IIIF Presentation Manifest
Part of
Wars & Conflicts
Service Branch
Location of Service
- Alabama
- Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas
- England
- European Theater
- France
- Germany
- Hanoi, North Vietnam
- Japan
- Langley Air Force Base, Virginia
- Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
- Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho
- Reese Air Force Base, Texas
- Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina
- South Vietnam
- Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand
Service Unit
- 117th Infantry Regiment
- 11th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron
- 12th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron
- 18th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron
- 407th Bomb Squadron
- 40th Bomb Wing
- 92nd Bomb Group
- Air Training Command
- Company a
- Headquarters
- Tactical Air Command