Captain Lance P. Sijan, U.S. Air Force
On Nov. 9, 1967, the F-4 flown by 1st Lt. Lance P. Sijan was hit by North Vietnamese ground fire and exploded. Although badly wounded he was able to parachute from his stricken plane. Even with no food and very little water he managed to avoid capture for 45 days. Even with a broken leg, a skull fracture, and a mangled right hand he was able to escape shortly after his initial capture. Upon recapture he was taken to Vinh and thrown into a bamboo cell. He was 'interrogated' repeatedly, and in spite of his captors technique of twisting his damaged right hand he refused to disclose any information but his name. When not being 'interrogated' he attempted additional escapes with the only results being beatings. After many months of ill treatment, his health, but not his spirit, broke. 1st Lt. Sijan was removed from his cell during the night of 21 January 1968 and died the following day at Hoa Lo according to his Vietnamese captors.
The USAF Academy named Sijan Hall, a cadet dormitory, in honor of Captain Sijan on 31 May 1976. Additionally, the USAF honors Air Force personnel who exhibit the highest example of professional and personal leadership standards with the Lance P. Sijan Award.
