Rank/Branch: O2/US Navy
Unit: VF 111
Date of Birth: New York, NY
Home City of Record: Jamesport NY
Date of Loss: 31 July 1967
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 205700N 1060400E (XJ108167)
Status (in 1973): Released POW
Category:
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: F8C
Missions: 14
Lt. Charles P. Zuhoski was the pilot of an F8C sent on a combat mission over
North Vietnam on July 31, 1967. His flight route took him to Hai Hung
Province, North Vietnam, where his aircraft was shot down about 20 miles
southeast of Hanoi. Zuhoski was captured by the North Vietnamese.
For the next 6 years, Zuhoski was held in various prisoner of war camps,
including the infamous "Hanoi Hilton" complex in Hanoi. They were released
in the general prisoner release in 1973.
CHARLES P. ZUHOSKI
Lieutenant - United States Navy
Shot Down: July 31, 1967
Released: March 14, 1973
I was born in New York City, New York. My parents are Dr. and Mrs. Peter B.
Zuhoski. I grew up in Jamesport, New York and attended the Riverhead High
School as well as Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York where I
received a BS degree in Mathematics. I entered the service 14 October 1964
and was commissioned on 5 March 1965 at OCS, Newport, Rhode Island.
I received orders to Flight Training at Pensacola, Meridian, Pensacola
again, and finally Kingsville, Texas. I received my wings of gold on 23
August 1966. I was then sent from Flight Training to F-8 Rag. VF-124 in San
Diego, California. While there I met Patricia Laura Highly and we were
married 3 June 1967. I reported aboard VF-111 in March of 1967 and deployed
aboard USS Oriskany in mid-June 1967. After two weeks on line I was shot
down by a SAM near Hanoi on 31 July 1967.
The initial processing of me was speedy. l had been shot down and captured
about 8:15 and I guess I was in "New Guy Village" and in the ropes by 10:30
on the 31st. During my internment I have been in the following prisons: the
Annex, the Zoo, Halo, back to the Zoo with Ed Estes, back to Halo, then to
the Mountains at Dogpatch. I was a POW five years and seven months. I
consider myself lucky for I was not singled out during hard times as many of
the POWs were.
I would like to state that I couldn't be more proud than to have been
associated with the 4th Allied POW Wing. Under the circumstances I consider
the whole group upheld the finest tradition of the U. S. Armed Forces. These
traditions were a great inspiration to me during those difficult years.
Remember the Vietnamese do not select who they capture. It was all a matter
of chance. One can therefore conclude that the 4th Allied POW Wing reflects
the quality of men in the Armed Services. This quality is characterized by
faith in God and Country and a pride in their United States Citizenship.
Tentatively, my future plans are to remain in the Service, return to
Fighters, and continue my education.
December 1996
Charles Zuhoski retired from the United States Navy as a Commander. He and
his wife Marcia reside in Virginia.
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Some extracts
used in this Biography were provided thanks
to the generosity of Charles and Mary Schantag who
also gave permission to include the following POWNET biography
link
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