Commander Everett Alvarez, Jr., was the first American aviator taken captive in Vietnam after being shot down near Hanoi. He became the second longest-held U.S. prisoner of war in U.S. history.
Alvarez, the grandson of Mexican immigrants, joined the U.S. Navy in 1960 as an aviator after graduating from Santa Clara University with a degree in electrical engineering. He was a 26-year old Navy pilot based on the USS Constellation aircraft carrier in the South China Sea on Aug. 5, 1964, as tensions were heightening in the area.
Commander Everett Alvarez, Jr. during an interview in 2012.
He was part of a bombing mission over North Vietnam sent in retaliation after a reported North Vietnamese attack a day earlier on two U.S. destroyers. Alvarez’s Douglas A-4 Skyhawk was shot down in the immediate aftermath of what is known as the Gulf of Tonkin incident that marked the start of a significant escalation of U.S. military action in Vietnam
He endured eight years and seven months of brutal captivity by the North Vietnamese at the Hỏa Lò Prison, known by fellow POWs as the “Hanoi Hilton” where he was repeatedly beaten and tortured. He was released from captivity on Feb. 12, 1973.
Alvarez has said that he survived imprisonment thanks to primarily his faith in God, and the mutual support of the other prisoners who communicated with each other by tapping on the prison walls.
“We had a philosophy that you didn’t ever let your fellows down,” he said in the interview. “If they couldn’t take care of themselves, you took care of them because you knew darned well they would do the same. And we had a goal. We were determined to come home with our personal integrity, our reputation and with our honor.”
He has co-authored two books: “Chained Eagle,” with Anthony S. Pitch, about his captivity; and “Code of Conduct / An Inspirational Story of Self-Healing by the Famed Ex-POW and War Hero,” with Samuel Schreiner, about his return and life afterward.
His military decorations include the Silver Star, two Legions of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, two Bronzes Stars, and two Purple Hearts.
After returning from Vietnam, Alvarez received a master’s degree in operations research and systems analyst at the Naval Post Graduate School where he is in the Alumni Hall of Fame. He also has juris doctorate degree from George Washington School of Law and is a member of the Washington DC Bar.
He served as deputy director of the Peace Corps, deputy administrator of the Veterans Administration (now known as Department of Veterans Affairs) and vice president for government services with the Hospital Corporation of America.
After retiring from government service, he founded and is CEO of the consulting firm Alvarez LLC.
Alvarez and his wife, Tammy, serve on various projects involving wounded warriors, including the Green Road Project at Walter Reed that provides a natural healing environment for wounded service members and their families. He also served for 21 years on the Board of Regents of the Uniformed Services University.
Everett and Tammy have made Rockville, Maryland, their home since 1976. They have two sons who grew up in Rockville. Marc, is an attorney and president of Alvarez LLC. Bryan is a medical doctor and served as a battalion surgeon in Iraq and is a commander in the Navy Reserves.
Alvarez is 87. A public high school in Salinas is named for him to recognize his courage and his goal to always look forward.
•••
Gold Medal for Hero Everett Alvarez Jr at 87
On Friday, U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) thanked President Joe Biden for signing the Everett Alvarez, Jr. Congressional Gold Medal Act into law:
“With this legislation, our country formally recognizes Commander Alvarez’s unparalleled courage, resilience, and dedication to our democracy during his time as one of our nation’s longest-serving prisoners of war, “ said Panetta, who is a military veteran himself.
“Commander Alvarez’s unwavering spirit not only inspired his fellow POWs to ‘Return with Honor,’ but also continues to serve as a beacon of hope and determination for all Americans. This Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor bestowed by Congress, ensures that his legacy and the sacrifices of all POWs and their families are forever remembered.”
Panetta also thanked Sen. Alex Padilla for championing the bill in the Senate, and the co-leads Sen. Cynthia Lummis and Rep. Pat Fallon, as well as to my colleagues in Congress for their bipartisan support. I look forward to the medal’s commissioning and the upcoming ceremony in our nation’s Capitol, where we will collectively honor the life and legacy of an extraordinary Central Coast hero, Commander Everett Alvarez, Jr.”
•••
TOP PHOTO: Former POW and U.S. Navy LCDR Everett Alvarez Jr., captured Aug 5, 1964 and returned in Feb. of 1973, talks at the microphones to the public and press to commemorate the return of another group of POWs.