A Heartwarming Connection: Woman Reunited with Vietnam Prisoner of War 50 Years Later
Janet Stemmle, a resident of Cincinnati, recently experienced a heartwarming reunion that transcends time and distance. While watching a news report on the reunion of Vietnam War prisoners of war, she heard the name Thomas Hanton and immediately realized it belonged to the serviceman whose name she wore on a bracelet she had purchased 50 years ago.
Stemmle’s journey begins in 1972, during the Vietnam War. At the time, there was a mix of protests and support for those serving in combat. Janet, as a college student, attended one demonstration but quickly realized that the young men fighting on the front lines were the same age as her. To honor the prisoners of war and those missing in action, a student organization called Voices in Vital America began selling bracelets engraved with their names.
Janet’s friend purchased one of these nickel-plated bracelets for her, bearing the name of Captain Thomas Hanton. The brave pilot had ejected from his plane over North Vietnam on June 27, 1972, and was subsequently captured and held as a prisoner of war.
She started wearing the bracelet, occasionally taking breaks but often wearing it on special holidays like Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Veterans Day. Many bracelet owners would send the item to the service member it represented upon their return, as a way of saying they had not been forgotten.
Captain Thomas Hanton spent nine long months as a prisoner of war until President Richard Nixon welcomed him and the remaining POWs home at the end of the war. While watching a news report on World News Tonight, Janet Stemmle saw the celebration of the prisoners’ homecoming and reunion. It was then that she realized that her Thomas Hanton was alive and she was determined to find him.
Janet wrote a letter to WCPO, a local news station, asking for assistance in locating Captain Hanton. The station reached out to him in South Carolina, and the former prisoner of war expressed his deep gratitude and appreciation for Stemmle’s patriotism and dedication. He was touched that she had worn the bracelet faithfully for all those years and had taken the initiative to contact him.
Both Janet and Thomas are relieved and grateful to have connected after five decades. Janet still has another bracelet, this one with the name of Air Force Lt. Colonel William Duggan, who is considered missing in action. This heartwarming reunion reminds us of the sacrifices made by servicemen and women during times of conflict and the power of a simple gesture to show support and solidarity.
If you want to learn more about the history of these bracelets or search for the names of missing service members, you can visit the POW/MIA Families website or the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency website.
This heartwarming story serves as a reminder that even after 50 years, connections can be made and hope can be restored. It is a testament to the power of human compassion and the importance of honoring those who serve our country.
