Jeremiah Andrew Denton Jr. (July 15, 1924 – March 28, 2014) was an American politician and military officer who served as a U.S. Senator representing Alabama from 1981 to 1987. He was the first Republican since the 1960s to win a Senate seat in Alabama. Denton was previously United States Navy Rear Admiral and Naval Aviator taken captive during the Vietnam War.

Denton was widely known for enduring almost eight years of grueling conditions as an American prisoner of war (POW) in North Vietnam after the A-6 Intruder he was piloting was shot down in 1965. He was the first of all American POWs held captive and released by Hanoi to step off an American plane during Operation Homecoming in February 1973. As one of the earliest and highest-ranking officers to be taken prisoner in North Vietnam, Denton was forced by his captors to participate in a 1966 televised propaganda interview which was broadcast in the United States. While answering questions and feigning trouble with the blinding television lights, Denton blinked his eyes in Morse code, spelling the word "T-O-R-T-U-R-E"—and confirming for the first time to U.S. Naval Intelligence that American POWs were being tortured.

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Interesting factoid: Rear Admiral Denton was flying an A-6 when he was shot down. He also served on blimps. High speed, low drag and low speed, high drag made for quite the aviation career.

RIP sir.

RIP Sir and thank you.

Thank you for sharing Sig2340.

WJR

He defined exceptional. RIP and thank you.

Holy cow! He was THE example of courage, stamina, leadership, and the American Fighting Spirit. RIP!

I remember him. Back when a few politicians were patriots.

Gosh can you imagine being in your 40’s and being tortured! Obviously not something you want at any age but things do seem to heal slower when you are after 40!

A man of intense courage.

HK Ag

With multiple Silver & Bronze Stars & the Navy cross to his credit, the future Arleigh Burke
Destroyer,USS Jeremiah Denton (DDG 129)is named after him.