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The Reluctant Sorority: Stories of American Wives of Prisoners of War and Missing in Action, 1965–1973

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The Reluctant Sorority: Stories of American Wives of Prisoners of War and Missing in Action, 1965–1973 University of San Diego Digital USD Dissertations Theses and Dissertations 2006-05-01 The Reluctant Sorority: Stories of American Wives of Prisoners of War and Missing in Action, 1965–1973. Lessons in Exercising Leadership in the Absence of Power Steven L. Smith EdD University of San Diego Follow this and additional works at: https://digital.sandiego.edu/dissertations Part of the Leadership Studies Commons Digital USD Citation Smith, Steven L. EdD, "The Reluctant Sorority: Stories of American Wives of Prisoners of War and Missing in Action, 1965–1973. Lessons in Exercising Leadership in the Absence of Power" (2006). Dissertations. 760. https://digital.sandiego.edu/dissertations/760 This Dissertation: Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses and Dissertations at Digital USD. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital USD. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE RELUCTANT SORORITY: STORIES OF AMERICAN WIVES OF PRISONERS OF WAR AND MISSING IN ACTION, 1965-1973/ LESSONS IN EXERCISING LEADERSHIP IN THE ABSENCE OF POWER by STEVEN L. SMITH A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education University of San Diego May 2006 Dissertation Committee Robert Donmoyer, Ph.D. Theresa Monroe, Ed.D. Kenneth P. Gonzalez, Ph.D. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. © Copyright by Steven L. Smith 2006 All Rights Reserved Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Abstract Increasingly, political action committees and special interest groups dominate the national policy-making process. Critics charge that campaign contributions buy access to and influence with policy makers, and that the differential ability to make such contributions results in disproportional representation. The question then becomes: how do ordinary citizens who are unable to use substantial financial contributions to “purchase” access to power mobilize people to influence public policy. To state the question another way: how can people provide leadership when they possess neither positional power nor the means commonly used to influence those with positional power? This historical study examines these questions via oral history data gathered from a group of military wives who had a significant impact in both the national and international policy arenas after their husbands became prisoners of war (POWs) or were declared missing in action (MIA) in North Vietnam between 1965 and 1973. Data from documents and letters retained by the wives also were employed to extend and triangulate interview data. In addition, the study entailed interviewing former governmental officials, including high-ranking officials of the Nixon administration, and analyzing presidential papers held by the National Archives and accessed through the Freedom of Information Act. The major purpose of this second round of data collection and analysis was to explore linkages between the wives’ actions, on the one hand, and governmental policy shifts, on the other. The data demonstrate that the wives had a significant impact on reversing the State Department’s policy of “Quiet Diplomacy” and on keeping the POW and MIA Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. issue front-and-center during the Nixon Administration’s peace negotiations with the North Vietnamese. The study also reveals a number of strategies that the wives used to influence public officials and that others who wish to provide leadership in the absence of formal power might employ heuristically. These strategies can be characterized as seven “lessons learned”: (a) do your homework; (b) resist the organizational urge to be big; (c) tell a compelling story; (d) nothing is more important than a personal visit; (e) stay focused and remain non-partisan; (f) form partnerships, but keep partners at arms-length; and, (g) don’t get “slick”/avoid public relations professionals. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Dedication To my wife, Tempest, for your patience and support To my children, Aubrie, Summer, Jordan, for your inspiration To the POW and MIA wives, for your remarkable courage and resolve Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Acknowledgements My interest in American POW and MIA matters began in the late 1960s when I remember seeing a bamboo prison cage in a grocery store parking lot. The display was advertising the type of inhumane treatment American POWs in South and North Vietnam were receiving. Like so many from that era, I too remember the POW and MIA bracelets, bumper stickers, and the general concern over POW and MIA matters. In early 1973,1 watched the television coverage of the return of the POWs to American soil, which was a national celebration. In May 1973, Colonel Robbie Risner, USAF, spoke at my high school graduation class breakfast. After 1973,1 read several books written by American prisoners held captive by the North Vietnamese in Hanoi. In 1996, while on active duty in the United States Navy, I conducted the burial at sea service for Captain Harry Jenkins, POW, 1966-1973, from the flight deck of USS DENVER (LPD 9). Though it is not naval policy, the Navy made an exception to its rule to permit Captain Jenkins' two sons and his bother to join the crew and assist in the burial. During one of our conversations I had with the sons, they spoke about their mother's experience and her difficult days as a POW wife. They spoke with admiration, respect, and a sense of awe of what their mother had endured. Even though I had read Vice Admiral James B. and Sybil Stockdale's book, In Love and War, over ten years earlier, I reread it with my eyes focused on Sybil's story. Soon I realized, as the literature review shows, that though there are hundreds of books and thousands of articles written by and about the men, there was a dearth of material by or about the wives, as well as the mothers and fathers who were highly active in the national and international political arena. viii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. I am well aware that those directly living the experience might challenge or debate portions of the story or my findings, I take full responsibility for the interpretation of the data, its organization, the findings, and resultant conclusions. However, the reader must bear in mind my overall desire was, with a shadow of illumination, to focus on a period of history where a group of women were key and significant players in the policy­ making process. I want to acknowledge the work of Bob Donmoyer, who endured long hours of work and discussion. Most importantly, he believed in the project, and understood its historical importance and current relevance to a number of academic studies. Also, I want to thank Terri Monroe for her remarkable teaching and coaching style that has made me a better person and helped me to see events from different perspectives. For Ken Gonzalez, who helped me to see the implications of this study and its relation to other disciplines. To Bev Callaway, for your patience and perseverance in editing. To Beth Yemma, thank you for all the emails to keep me on track and all the administrative support. To Mike Hogg, a servant of servants and trusted friend, who convinced me to apply to the USD program; Frank "Soupy" Sailes, a man who knew the inferno of battle from the cockpit, a great office-mate who encouraged me to persevere to the end; and to Dr. Edie Eger, a survivor herself, who threw her support behind my endeavors. To my Navy Cohort: We each began the program with hopes, dreams, and aspirations. In the midst of professionally demanding jobs, which often times took us to foreign shores for extended periods, we nonetheless continued with the program and our own journeys. I cannot thank you enough for your support, encouragement, discussions, insight, and friendship. ix Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. I owe a debt of sincere gratitude to Mr. Melvin Laird, Mr. Robert Dole, Mr. Richard Capen, Mr. Alexander Butterfield, and Mr. A1 Haig, Jr., for their willingness to participate in this project by granting an interview or providing personal correspondence to a series of questions. These men have served the American people in elected or appointed positions in our government and are deserving of respect and admiration for their commitment to the greater good. Special and Significant Appreciation — In Honor — Karen Butler Husband captured on April 20, 1965, returned on February 12, 1973 Jenny "Connell" Robertson Husband captured on July 15, 1966, died in captivity, negotiated remains returned Sandy Dennison Husband captured on July 19,1966, died in captivity, negotiated remains returned Marie Estocin Husband shot down on April 26, 1967, officially listed as MIA, POW, then KIA Phyllis Galanti Husband captured on June 17, 1966, returned on February 12, 1973 Marty Halyburton Husband captured on October 17, 1965, returned on February 12, 1973 Sherry Martin Husband captured on July 9, 1967, returned on March 4, 1973 x Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Chloe Moore Husband captured on March 11, 1967, returned on March 4, 1973 Bonnie Singleton Husband captured on November 6, 1965, returned on February 12, 1973 Shirley Stark Husband captured on May 19, 1967, returned on March 4, 1973 Sybil Stockdale Husband captured on September 9, 1965, returned on February 12, 1973 Alice Stratton Husband captured on January 5, 1967, returned on March 4, 1973 Mary Winn Husband captured on August 9, 1968, returned on March 14, 1973 XI Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner.
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