Robert H. Shumaker

Add links
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Robert H. Shumaker
Rear Admiral
Commands heldNaval Postgraduate School
Battles/warsVietnam War
AwardsNavy Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star (2)
Legion of Merit with "V" (4)
Distinguished Flying Cross
Bronze Star Medal with "V"
Purple Heart (2)

Robert Harper Shumaker (born May 11, 1933) is a retired

naval aviator in the United States Navy. He spent eight years and one day as a prisoner of war (POW) in North Vietnam
. He notably coined the term "Hanoi Hilton” for the notorious Hỏa Lò Prison.

Early life

Shumaker was born on May 11, 1933, at New Castle, Pennsylvania. His father Alvah was a lawyer and his mother Eleanor was a writer. He attended Northwestern University for a year and then the United States Naval Academy, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1956.[1]

Military career

After graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy, Shumaker then completed flight training, earning his designation as a

VF-32, a fighter squadron in Jacksonville, Florida. He was a finalist in the Apollo astronaut selection, but a temporary physical ailment prevented his selection in 1963.[2]

Shumaker graduated from the

VF-154 in San Diego.[3]

Vietnam War and capture

Midshipman Shumaker
Commander Robert Shumaker meeting with Lieutenant Commander Phillip N. Butler following their release as POWs

Lieutenant Commander Shumaker was an

North Vietnamese. He was the second navy aviator to be captured. The impact broke Shumaker's back and he was first frogmarched through the countryside, at which time his photograph was taken by acclaimed Vietnamese War photographer Van Bao. He was then placed in a jeep and transported over the rutted roads to Hanoi. Upon arrival in Hanoi, a white-smocked North Vietnamese gave him a cursory examination before dozens of photographers yet did not give him any medical attention. His back healed itself, but it was six months before he could bend.[4][5]

For the next eight years, Shumaker was held in various prisoner of war camps, including the infamous Hỏa Lò Prison in Hanoi dubbed the "Hanoi Hilton". Shumaker, as a prisoner, was known for devising all sorts of communications systems, including the notable tap code system and never getting caught. Like other POWs, he was badgered to write a request for amnesty from Ho Chi Minh, which he refused to do. As punishment, the Vietnamese forced Shumaker to stay in a cell with no heat and no blankets during the winter. After about a week, Shumaker had not relented, and he was forced to kneel for another week. Finally, he was kneeling on broom handles with boards on his shoulders. After a month the Vietnamese finally broke him and went on to the next POW.

Shumaker was released in Operation Homecoming on February 12, 1973. He had been promoted to the rank of commander during his captivity. His fellow POWs consider him as a resister, leader, and patriot.[6]

Later career

Shumaker was hospitalised to recover from his injuries at

NAS Patuxent River, from June 1977 to June 1983, followed by service as superintendent of the Naval Postgraduate School
from June 1983 to June 1986.

Shumaker's final assignment was as director of the Tactical Air, Surface & Electronic Warfare Development Division in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations at the Pentagon from June 1986 until his retirement from the navy on February 1, 1988, at the rank of rear admiral.[7]

Later life

After retiring from the navy, Shumaker became an assistant dean at George Washington University and later became the associate dean of the Center for Aerospace Sciences at the University of North Dakota.

In April 2011 Shumaker was presented with the Distinguished Graduate Award from the United States Naval Academy.[8]

Awards and decorations

Shumaker's decorations include:

Gold star
V
Gold star
Gold star
Gold star
V
Gold star
Bronze star
Silver star
Silver star
Silver star
Bronze star
Naval Aviator Badge
Navy Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star
w/ one 5⁄16" Gold Star
Combat "V"
and three 5⁄16" Gold stars 		Distinguished Flying Cross Bronze Star Medal
w/ Combat "V"
Purple Heart
w/ two 5⁄16" Gold Stars 		Combat Action Ribbon Navy Unit Commendation
Prisoner of War Medal National Defense Service Medal
w/ one 3⁄16" Bronze star
star
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross
 Vietnam Campaign Medal Navy Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon
w/ 'E' device

Personal life

Shumaker married Lorraine Shaw in 1963.

Robert Dold.[10]

References

  1. ^ "Former Vietnam POW RADM Robert H. Shumaker to Deliver Leighton Lecture | Naval Historical Foundation".
  2. ISBN 978-1-4614-3854-0
    .
  3. ^ "Former Vietnam POW RADM Robert H. Shumaker to Deliver Leighton Lecture | Naval Historical Foundation".
  4. ^ "Project". Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved May 9, 2015.
  5. ISBN 978-0-7922-6465-1
    . Photo by Van Bao.
  6. ^ "Former Vietnam POW RADM Robert H. Shumaker to Deliver Leighton Lecture | Naval Historical Foundation".
  7. ^ "Veteran Tributes".
  8. ^ "Veteran Tributes".
  9. ^ "Former Vietnam POW RADM Robert H. Shumaker to Deliver Leighton Lecture | Naval Historical Foundation".
  10. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Rep. Dold Honoring Lt. Commander Robert Harper Shumaker. YouTube.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Robert_H._Shumaker&oldid=1213543749"