With the signing of the Paris Peace Accords in January 1973, the U.S. military’s involvement in the Vietnam War officially ended. As part of that agreement, 591 American prisoners of war were released from captivity during Operation Homecoming.
Included in the repatriation were 11 aviators who were assigned to squadrons based on the USS Midway (CV-41). The length of their captivities ranged from several months to several years.
As a tribute to all American POWs, and specifically the former prisoners of war assigned to Midway squadrons, the USS Midway Museum has opened a gripping new exhibit called “Captive Warriors: The Story of the Midway 11.” This powerful new exhibition tells the stories of courage and honor during the Vietnam War through the eyes of those Midway aviators who endured harsh conditions, isolation, starvation and brutal treatment at the hands of their North Vietnamese captors.
“I think the exhibit is wonderful, especially considering the space the museum’s exhibits team had to work with,” said retired Navy Capt. Jack Ensch, a former USS Midway naval flight officer who was a prisoner of war in North Vietnam for seven months. “I also liked that it is specifically about the USS Midway POWs.”
The decision to center the exhibit around the Midway’s POWs was a deliberate one.
“We made the choice to move from the broader story of POWs in Vietnam to a story that was deeply personal to this ship,” said Bill Coleman, Midway’s exhibits manager. “The Midway 11 gave us a way to anchor the experience in real people connected directly to Midway. It shifts the exhibit from history you read to history you feel. Visitors are not just learning about captivity, they are seeing it.”
Midway’s exhibits team spent months engaged in comprehensive research to ensure its accuracy.
“Our thorough research combined digging into official records, pilot reports and archival material with firsthand accounts wherever possible,” said Bill. “Rudy Shappee, our content developer, with the help of Rebekah Caesar spent time cross-checking timelines, capture circumstances and lengths of captivity. Just as important, we focused on lived experience. That drove decisions about space, lighting and sound. The goal was not just to present facts but to build an environment grounded in truth.”
“My role in the project was as the developer of the story line we wanted to pursue,” said Rudy, who has been with the museum’s organization since 2001. “I had to balance the graphic descriptions of the torture experienced by the prisoners with the heroics of both the prisoners and their wives in the small amount of space to tell their stories.”
To help realize the day-to-day experiences of what life was like in the prison camps, the exhibits team turned to several former POWs.
“Former POWs and those connected to them were critical to us getting it right,” said Bill. “They helped validate details, correct assumptions and bring clarity to moments that are easy to misrepresent. In some cases, they shaped how we told the story by pushing us away from anything that felt staged or exaggerated. Their input kept the exhibit honest and grounded.”
The most challenging part of creating this exhibit was trying to strike an appropriate balance on how the exhibit would be presented to Midway’s visitors.
“In this exhibit, you are dealing with real suffering, and it is easy to either soften it too much or push it too far,” said Bill. “We had to find a line where the experience is honest without being overwhelming. Translating something like isolation, uncertainty and endurance into a physical space is not straightforward. Every decision, from how confined the space feels to how much information is presented, had to be carefully considered.”
The exhibit is already receiving positive response, especially from Vietnam War-era veterans.
“The POW exhibit is very well done,” said Paul Granger, a former U.S. Air Force B-52 pilot who became a POW in December 1972. “The memorabilia on display and cell structures brought back many memories. The dark lighting was perfect for effect, and the single prison door with the small, barred widow was just like the one I was in during solitary confinement.”
“This is a must see for Vietnam veterans,” said Roger Hayes, who joined the U.S. Navy in 1968 and is currently a volunteer in Midway’s safety department.
The POW story is a very difficult one to tell, however, through exhaustive research and detail and thoughtful planning, Midway’s exhibits team has put together a tremendously impactful experience for the museum’s guests.
“My favorite comment made by our visitors is ‘I had no idea,’” said Rudy, who has amassed more than 23,000 volunteer hours. “And that is the purpose of our museum; to inform by telling a good story that our guests can understand. Vietnam was a long time ago, so being able to tell the story aboard the Midway will keep the story alive for many of our future guests.
“I truly believe that this exhibit is grounded in truth and built by people invested in the story,” said Bill. “Our visitors are not just reading panels, they are stepping into a story. That was the goal from the beginning and I think we achieved it.”
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