1 Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum CSPM Exhibit Text, Leah Davis Witherow, Curator of History
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1 Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum CSPM Exhibit Text, Leah Davis Witherow, Curator of History A National Icon Former Colorado Springs resident and accomplished “Ad Man” Newt Heisley designed the iconic POW/MIA flag in 1971. Today it is the second-most-flown flag in the United States, the first being the Stars and Stripes. Heisley was working in advertising when the National League of Families approached Annin Flagmakers of Verona, New Jersey to create a symbol for POW/MIA advocacy. Without an in-house art department, the company turned to Newt Heisley. He sketched an image in pencil of a man’s silhouette under a guard tower and behind barbed wire. The model for the soldier was Newt’s own son Jeffrey, who was home on leave from the Marine Corps. After adding the words “YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN,” his initial design was never revised. “It was typical to present it in black- and-white and his idea was to go back and do some color,” son Jim Heisley stated. “They came and looked at it and said, ‘That’s it.” After working in New Jersey and New York City for 25 years, Newt and his wife Bunny headed west. On their way to California, they pulled into a Platte Avenue motel in Colorado Springs after dark. Early the next morning they spied the beauty of Pikes Peak and their journey ended. Colorado Springs was now home. Newt retired from Heisley Design and Advertising in 1987 and passed away in 2009. A veteran of WWII, Newt Heisley was proud of his creation but never dreamed it would become such an enduring symbol. As he told the Gazette in 1997, “The flag was intended for a small group. No one realized it was going to get national attention.” Today, the POW/MIA flag continues to resonate with the public and is a potent reminder that not every soldier returns home from war. Fly High – Fly True – Fly Proud A few days after Helene Knapp was notified that her husband was MIA in North Vietnam, a package arrived. Inside was a plaque engraved with one of Colonel Knapp’s favorite poems “High Flight.” The plaque and poem were dedicated to his young son Robert on his third birthday accompanied by the words, Fly High – Fly True – Fly Proud, Love Dad. The timing was heartbreaking. Another eleven years would pass with Robert turning fourteen and his sister Cindy thirteen, before the family received an official Determination of Death for their husband and father in 1978. In a 1969 Denver Post feature story, Helene reflected, “It’s been such a lonely wait. And each morning I think maybe today I’ll know for sure. I was so worried at first that I couldn’t handle the situation properly for them. But I learned to stop my tears, so tears would not fill their eyes. Now you don’t see many tears around this house. It’s been harder recently because I’ve had to talk about the situation in connection with the League’s work. But if it will help any of the men who are prisoners in Vietnam, it’s worth it.” 2 Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum Helene and other POW/MIA wives worked tirelessly. A sample of their activities, “The Civitan Club voted to donate $25...invitations to speak at two Rotary Club luncheons this month have also been accepted. On September 11, Libby Singer addressed a ladies group at a church in Manitou Springs…September 20 is an Air Force Day of Concern. Speaking at military chapels will be Helene Knapp, Mary Dodge, and Joan Pollard. St. Paul’s Methodist will host JoAnne Widdis…Ann Wolfkeil is representing us at Fort Carson…In October, seven ladies will travel to D.C. to attend the first meeting of the Nat. League of Families. On Oct 5-10 the retired SGT.’s Assoc. Convention will be addressed by our group.” Through fundraising, letter-writing and public speaking engagements, they joined their voices with Americans across the country to demand that North Vietnam abide by the Geneva Convention and 1) make known the identity of prisoners 2) release the sick and injured 3) allow impartial inspection of POW facilities 4) allow free exchange of mail. It was reported that officials with the Hanoi delegation at the Paris Peace talks declared, “The American people, “do not really care about 1500 men.” MIA wife Carol Helwig implored, “…we must show them that the public does care, that the whole world cares.” In May of 1971, Helene Knapp and Mary Dodge travelled to the Geneva Conference on International Human Rights. As part of a delegation of wives, mothers and families, Knapp and Dodge lobbied delegates from thirty countries regarding, “…the plight of missing American servicemen and attempted to get countries in attendance to back requests for better treatment and accounting for prisoners by the North Vietnamese.” Asked by a reporter if the trip was successful Helene responded, “Yes, POW and MIA representatives told their story effectively. We made an impact on the conference; treatment of POWs and MIAs was not on the agenda, but it was brought up and discussed.” The local branch of the National League of Families and Colorado Springs for POWs proved to be powerful advocacy organizations and their work in the Pikes Peak Region on behalf of POWs and MIAs did not go unnoticed. Helene Knapp helped raise $30,000 through the sale of Christmas Seals and coordinated the regional letter-writing-campaign that far exceeded the stated goal of 100,000 letters addressed to North Vietnamese officials. Helene’s excellent organizational skills, fundraising talents and leadership were quickly recognized by the National League of Families. She was honored with the election to National Coordinator in 1972. In November of that year, Helene and her children relocated to Annandale, Virginia, just outside of Washington D.C. Helene rented her home in Skyway and the family moved into a sparsely furnished townhouse to prepare for their sixth Christmas without Colonel Knapp. When South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu and First Lady Nguyen Thi Mai Anh made a state visit to Washington D.C., they asked to meet with a typical family of an American POW or MIA. Helene Knapp and her children were selected and welcomed the dignitaries in their home. Mrs. Nguyen elaborately braided Cindy’s hair and presented Helene with this beautiful lacquer jewelry box. 3 Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum Helene’s position as National Coordinator for the National League of Families was a volunteer position and came to an end after nearly 600 American POWs were brought home in early 1973 during Operation Homecoming. As hundreds of families rejoiced over being reunited with their loved ones who had spent years in inhumane conditions in North Vietnamese prisons, Helene prepared to testify before Congress in May 1973 on behalf of her own husband Colonel Herm Knapp and the approximately 1,300 MIAs who never came home from Vietnam. And the work still continues. Today the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency’s mission is to “Provide the fullest possible accounting for our missing personnel to their families and the nation.” Porter Halyburton After flying 75 combat missions, U.S. Navy pilot LTj.g. Porter Halyburton was shot down over North Vietnam on October 17, 1965. With no parachute sighted and no radio contact, he was declared Killed in Action. His family held a memorial service and placed a tombstone over an empty grave. Unbelievably, eighteen months later they were notified that Porter was alive, and a POW in the infamous Hanoi Hilton. After 7 ½ years of captivity, Porter Halyburton returned home in the spring of 1973.Following his homecoming, supporters from across the country returned nearly 14 lbs. of bracelets bearing his name. Porter and his wife Marty assembled them informally into a cascading chandelier that hung over their breakfast table. As Marty Halyburton stated, “We were surprised and overwhelmed with the incredible outpouring of hundreds, if not thousands, of people we did not even know. It was inspiring and touching beyond description for the men and their families.” Marty went on to describe, “Ordinary American citizens rallied around the plight of American prisoners of war, those missing in action and their families at home, regardless of their views on the Vietnam War. Once the Peace Treaty was signed, returning POWs were met at airports by thousands of well- wishers and flooded with phone calls, letters and the return of POW bracelets bearing their name. All of this came as a huge surprise to the POWs who were not sure how they would be received at home.” Porter Halyburton personally answered over 1200 letters he received from well-wishers who had worn his bracelet and kept him in their hearts and minds during his 7 1/2 years of captivity. Reflecting on his homecoming, he stated, "I returned with joy and gratitude in my heart for all the wonderful people who had prayed for us, worn the bracelets and had worked for our release and better treatment." Porter and Marty Halyburton, 'Chandelier' made of POW / MIA bracelets ca. 1972, copper, nickel plate, tin alloy, wire Courtesy Porter and Marty Halyburton 4 Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum Cadets Lend a Helping Hand The wives and families of POWs and MIAs received a level of support in Colorado Springs that did not exist in other communities. One of the most extraordinary examples of assistance came from United States Air Force Academy cadets. In May of 1970, Keith Pranke, Bill Looney and Mark Ewig created CAF- POWs (Cadets to Aid Families of Prisoners of War.) The volunteer organization sought to help the families of POWs and MIAs in Southeast Asia and to be involved in the public awareness campaign to bring the prisoners home.