James Alfred Mulligan, Jr.

  Returnee    

SUMMARY

Name: James Alfred Mulligan, Jr. Rank/Branch: O5/US Navy Unit: VA 36 Date of Birth: 27 March 1926 Home City of Record: Lawrence MA Date of Loss: 20 March 1966 Country of Loss: North Vietnam Loss Coordinates: 182800 North 105000 East Status (in 1973): Returnee Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: A4C Missions: 80+ Other Personnel in Incident: none

LETTER

SOURCE: WE CAME HOME copyright 1977 Captain and Mrs. Frederic A Wyatt (USNR Ret), Barbara Powers Wyatt, Editor P.O.W. Publications, 10250 Moorpark St., Toluca Lake, CA 91602 Text is reproduced as found in the original publication (including date and spelling errors). UPDATE - 02/97 by the P.O.W. NETWORK, Skidmore, MO with information provided by Capt.  Mulligan. JAMES A.  MULLIGAN JR. Captain - United States Navy Shot Down: March 20, 1966 Released: February 12, 1973 Born in Lawrence, Massachusetts 27 March 1926.  Joined the Navy 9 February 1944 as part of the V-5 program.  Received my wings in August 1947.  Married Louise M. Kolce in October 1948 and we have six sons and live in Virginia Beach, Virginia.   I was Executive Officer of VA-36 on board USS Enterprise and scheduled to become Commanding Officer on 1 April 1966 but I was shot down near Vinh in North Vietnam on 20 March 1966.  I had flown more than 80 missions over North Vietnam when my A4 was shot down.  I was injured on ejection, receiving a broken shoulder and cracked ribs. My prison itinerary was as follows: Hanoi Hilton (Heartbreak Hotel and New Guy Village) from 27 March to 23 April 1966; the Zoo from 23 April 1966 to 26 January 1967; Las Vegas from 26 January 1967 to 25 October 1967; Alcatraz from 25 October 1967 to 9 December 1969; Las Vegas from 9 December 1969 to 25 December 1970; Camp Unity (or "Not OK Corral") 25 December 1970 to 12 February 1973.  I was in solitary confine- ment for 42 3/4 months.  I spent more than 30 months in leg irons. I was the senior oficer on the 3rd plane out of Hanoi in the first release on February 12, 1973.  I was lucky enough to be the 1st POW cleared for release from Clark Air Force Base to the States on February 14, 1973.  I was awarded 2 Silver Stars, 8 Air Medals, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and 2 Purple Hearts, as well as the POW medal. After captivity I earned my MBA degree in Public Administration.  In 1975 after 31 1/2 years of service, I retired from the United States Navy as a Captain.  I have since retired from the position as CEO of a large wholesaler/distributor of marble, slate and granite. James and his wife Louise have 6 sons, (Jim, Kevin, Terry, Mark, Sean and Niel) and 17 grandchildren.  James had a personal note on his update -- "I share 6 POW grand- children with Sam Johnson via his daughter Gini and my son Jim." He and his wife reside in Virginia.