Page 10 - Tactical Air Force News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

By Robert D. Seals, USASOC 
Operation IVORY COAST was a joint special operations mission executed on November 21, 1970, to liberate American prisoners of war (POW) held at Son Tay, near Hanoi, North Vietnam. The rescue effort, launched from allied air bases in Thailand, was a “mission of mercy,” according to President Richard M. Nixon. If the plan succeeded, Nixon planned to possibly have the freed POWs at the White House for Thanksgiving dinner. A successful raid might also bring hope to the other POWs in North Vietnam and their families back in the U.S. Operation IVORY COAST did not succeed; however, the raid demonstrated that well-trained and rehearsed joint special operations forces could conduct missions deep inside denied areas. American POWs continued to languish in inhumane conditions until the last prisoner was released in April of 1973. ....

Southern Pines , United States , Industrial College Of The Armed Forces , District Of Columbia , France General , Han I , Republic Of , Fort Belvoir , Camp Smith , New York , Coted Ivoire , Clark Air Base , South Korea , Tyndall Air Force Base , North Carolina , Fort Bragg , White House , North Vietnam , Vietnam General , Eglin Air Force Base , Kennedy Hall , New York University , South Vietnam , Republic Of Korea , Ivory Coast , Leroyj Manor ,