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First Name
Wendell
Middle Name
B.
Last Name
Rivers
Birthdate
Hometown
Seward, Nebraska
Rank
Captain
Service Branch
Navy
Date Captured
Date Repatriated
Pre Capture Image
PreCapture Description
Wendy Rivers enlisted in the U.S. Navy on July 9, 1946, and entered the U.S. Naval Academy on June 17, 1948. Rivers was commissioned an Ensign on June 6, 1952, and then served for a year aboard the destroyer USS Agerholm (DD-826) in support of the Korean War before entering flight school in 1953. He was designated a Naval Aviator in March 1954, and then served in Naval Aviation on the West Coast at San Diego, Moffett Field, Monterey, Point Mugu, and Lemoore, California. Commander Rivers deployed to Southeast Asia with Attack Squadron 155, flying A-4 Skyhawks from the USS Coral Sea (CVA-43), in December 1964, and he was forced to eject over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War while flying his 96th combat mission on September 10, 1965.
Post Release Image
Post Release Description
Captain Rivers was released during Operation Homecoming on February 12, 1973. After recovering from his injuries, he was assigned to Naval Air Systems Command in Washington, D.C. until his retirement from the Navy on December 31, 1976. Wendy worked as a truck driver for 20 years after retiring from the Navy, and died on May 9, 2009. He was buried at the Seward Cemetery in Seward, Nebraska.
Honors, Citations, and Commendations
- Silver Star
- Legion of Merit (2)
- Distinguished Flying Cross
- Bronze Star
- Prisoner of War Medal
Passed away before release
Post Release