POW Speaks on War Experience

Larry Friese still shell shocks friend Stan Dowson

Larry Friese, a former Marine Corps Aviator, spoke to Upper School students about his experience in Vietnam on March 31, 2009. Mr. Friese was a flight navigator and gunner stationed in Chu Lai before the night his plane went down. For four days, he hid during the days and walked at night before a North Vietnamese farmer turned him in. He spent the next five years (1968 to 1973) as a prisoner in the "Hanoi Hilton."

Mr. Friese brought his old POW uniform and a hat he fashioned from a scarf. He also demonstrated the sign language and tap codes used by the prisoners, and described his diet of cabbage and pumpkin soup.

Mr. Friese was invited to speak by math teacher Stan Dowson. He served as a Marine Corps Aviator in Danang from 1968-1969. A former pilot, he showed students aerial photographs of the bomb-cratered Vietnamese landscape.

"It's important to remember there was a conflict and to understand why it was so different. There was a draft at the time," said Mr. Dowson. "I believe some sort of service - military or otherwise - is a good thing. There are so many ways that young people can be of service to our country."