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Jim Wicker

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When he had to bail out, Jim Wicker was literally sucked from the cockpit when he released the canopy because of his high rate of speed. He was just a hundred miles inland a few days after D-Day and the Germans caught him almost immediately. As he sat in solitary confinement waiting for interrogation, he was comforted by his faith. (5:42)

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The interrogator was cordial and not at all threatening. Jim Wicker had been shot down over France and was amazed at the information the Germans already possessed. It only lasted an hour and he was off to a prison camp, but he was curious about the man and it turned out that he had a very interesting story that continued after the war. (4:50)

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When you got to your prison camp, you weren't immediately accepted by those POW's already there because the Germans planted spies in the camp. Jim Wicker was fortunate to find a friend from his hometown, so he was welcomed in. He was in Stalag Luft III, where the famous "Great Escape" had occurred. (6:01)

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They had a secret radio in the prison camp, so they could contrast the BBC with the German newscasts. Jim Wicker recalls how the news of the approach of the Russians caused their captors to take all the POW's out on the road to march further into Germany. The conditions were terrible at the end of that march when the men were packed into a camp meant for far fewer prisoners. (5:19)

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Their German guards were scared of the SS and terrified of being sent to the Russian front, recalls Jim Wicker, a downed American pilot. The war had reached their homeland and Patton soon reached the prison camp where he was interred. He was liberated. (5:01)

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After the war, former POW Jim Wicker opted to remain in the Air Force and took his bride to a new overseas post in Japan. After that, he served in a variety of ground jobs and finished his career back in the pilot's seat, flying for the Strategic Air Command. (4:49)

Jimmie Spencer

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After the battle of the Ia Drang Valley, the word went out. Infantrymen were needed and Jimmie Spencer answered the call. Pulled from the 101st Airborne, he arrived in Vietnam and was overwhelmed by the exotic culture and underwhelmed by the poorly organized replacement depot where he waited for assignment. (6:06)

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Jimmie Spencer was assigned to the 1st Cavalry Air Mobile when he arrived for his first tour in Vietnam. He was designated as a forward observer, which means he always had a radio. With that and his Ranger tab and his NCO rank, he went on practically every patrol the unit did. (5:03)

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The cargo parachute worked well as a tent until the monsoons started. That's when Jimmie Spencer and his buddies had to move into a real tent. Life at the base camp meant daily pills for malaria, rusty beer cans, and at first, no showers. (4:14)

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Despite minimal contact with civilians during his first tour of Vietnam, Jimmie Spencer developed a great curiosity about their culture. On his second tour, he was an advisor to the Regional and Popular Forces, local civilian militias, which was perfect for him. He was dismayed, however, at the callous attitude toward them held by most Americans. He was also grateful that the racial divisions in society back home did not penetrate to the unit level in the field. (6:08)