THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, September 21, 1996 TAG: 9609210314
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY CHARLENE CASON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 44 lines
He'd sometimes like to ``sneak away, be quiet and just forget,'' he says, but on Friday, retired Navy Cmdr. George Coker was reminded anew of his 6 1/2 years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam.
The Virginia Beach veteran told briefly of his experiences in Hanoi at a National POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremony, held at the Atlantic Fleet Headquarters compound.
About 100 people came to the ceremony, one of several held throughout Hampton Roads, to remember those captured or lost in America's battles and to witness the renaming of the chapel in their honor.
``This little chapel may look like an old, run-down place,'' Coker said, ``but it's a monument to our greatest gift - the gift of our souls.''
The Headquarters Support Activity Chapel, located in an area that housed a 1,500-bed military hospital during World War II, was renamed POW/MIA Chapel. The church is located next to a small park that was renamed POW/MIA Park in 1989.
``It's appropriate, in this place that was once a hospital, that first the park and now the chapel have been renamed,'' said Lt. Bruce Mentzer, chaplain. ``The tradition of healing goes on.''
Coker didn't detail his imprisonment, but told his audience that it was important to recall what happened and pass along stories of POW courage.
He was one of 11 POWs - including Jeremiah Denton, Jim Stockdale and Jim Mulligan - nicknamed the Alcatraz Gang. He was single, a 22-year-old lieutenant junior grade, when his A-6 Intruder was shot down.
Coker said he and his fellow prisoners didn't change once they were incarcerated. ``We just became more of what we were when we went in.''
Asked after his speech whether he'd been back to Vietnam, he said, ``I have no desire to go back where they said we lost the war.
``We didn't. I don't want to go back there and have those people treat me as a loser, when I know I beat them, hands-down.''
Among other POW/MIA memorials held Friday was a joint-service ceremony at the Fort Eustis Army post in Newport News. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Retired Navy Cmdr. George Coker was a POW in North Vietnam for 6 1/2
years after his A-6 Intruder was shot down when he was 22. by CNB