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First Name
Charles
Middle Name
P.
Last Name
Zuhoski
Birthdate
Hometown
Troy, New York
Rank
Commander
Service Branch
Navy
Date Captured
Date Repatriated
Pre Capture Image
PreCapture Description
Charlie Zuhoski entered Officer Candidate School on October 14, 1964, and was commissioned an Ensign in the U.S. Navy at Newport, Rhode Island, on March 5, 1965. Ensign Zuhoski next completed flight training and was designated a Naval Aviator at NAS Kingsville, Texas, on August 23, 1966, followed by F-8 Crusader Replacement Air Group training with VF-124 at NAS Miramar, California, from August 1966 to March 1967. He then served as an F-8 pilot with VF-111 at NAS Miramar from March to June 1967, and then deployed with VF-111 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Oriskany (CV-34) from June 1967 until he was forced to eject over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War on July 31, 1967.
Post Release Image
Post Release Description
Lieutenant Zuhoski was released during Operation Homecoming on March 14, 1973. He was briefly hospitalized at the Naval Hospital in St. Albins, New York, and then attended refresher pilot training at NAS Kingsville from August to December 1973. His next assignment was as an instructor pilot with VF-126 at NAS Miramar from December 1973 to August 1976, followed by Naval Postgraduate School at Monterey, California, where he received his master's degree in Operations Research/Systems Analysis in September 1978. Commander Zuhoski served as an operations research and systems analysis staff member with the Operations Study Group in the Center for Naval Analysis from September 1978 to February 1980, and then as Senior Systems Analyst in the Tactical Air Division, Office of the Director for Program Analysis and Evaluation with the Office of the Secretary of Defense in the Pentagon from February 1980 through October 1982. His final assignment was as a staff action officer, analyst, briefer, and simultaneously as a Branch Chief in the Joint Force Allocation and Analysis Division, Joint Analysis Directorate with the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Pentagon from November 1982 until his retirement from the Navy on November 1, 1985. After his retirement from the Navy, Charlie worked for United Technologies Corporation for five years, and then with the Booz Allen Hamilton consulting firm, where he retired as a Senior Vice President. He currently continues to provide assistance to Booz Allen as a Senior Executive Advisor.
Honors, Citations, and Commendations
- Defense Superior Service Medal
- Legion of Merit
- Bronze Star (2)
- Prisoner of War Medal
Passed away before release
Post Release