Everett Alvarez Jr.

Everett Alvarez Jr. (born December 23, 1937) is a retired United States Navy officer who endured one of the longest periods as a prisoner of war (POW) in U.S. military history.Alvarez was the first U.S. pilot to be shot down and detained during the Vietnam War and spent over eight years in captivity, making him the second longest-held U.S. POW, after U.S. Army Colonel Floyd James Thompson.Alvarez endured eight years and seven months of brutal captivity by the North Vietnamese at the Hỏa Lò Prison (sarcastically known as the "Hanoi Hilton" by fellow POWs), in which he was repeatedly beaten and tortured.[7] This award is given to sea service veterans who have excelled with distinction in their respective civilian careers while exemplifying the U.S. Navy's stated core values of honor, courage and commitment.After six years with the VA he was appointed by President Reagan in 1988 to the Board of Regents of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) in Bethesda, Maryland.In January 2025, Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro announced that the seventh Constellation-class frigate would be named USS Everett Alvarez in his honor.
Lieutenant Commander Everett Alvarez Jr., "Welcome Home" sketch by combat artist Dante H. Bertoni.
Alvarez in 2012
Salinas, CaliforniaUnited States NavyVietnam WarSilver StarLegion of MeritDistinguished Flying CrossBronze Star MedalPurple HeartPeace CorpsVeterans Administrationprisoner of warU.S. military historyeight years in captivityU.S. ArmyFloyd James ThompsonimmigrantsMexicoSanta Clara UniversityOperation Pierce ArrowDouglas A-4 SkyhawkGulf of Tonkin incidentNorth VietnameseHỏa Lò PrisonOperation HomecomingNAS KingsvilleNaval Postgraduate SchoolNaval Air Systems CommandWashington, D.C.co-authoredEverett Alvarez High SchoolSanta Clara, CaliforniaMontgomery County, MarylandNaval Air Station LemooreCaliforniaMobile, AlabamaAssociation of Naval Services OfficersLone Sailor AwardCongressional Gold MedalUnited States CongresscommanderMaster's DegreeJuris DoctorU.S. PresidentRonald ReaganU.S. SenateUniformed Services University of the Health SciencesBethesda, MarylandGrantham University'sDelia AlvarezLibrary of CongressVeterans History ProjectIT consultingU.S. governmentU.S. Secretary of DefenseChuck HagelSecretary of the NavyCarlos Del ToroConstellation-class frigateLegions of MeritBronze Star MedalsPurple HeartsNaval Aviator insigniaCombat "V"5⁄16" Gold StarCombat Action RibbonNavy Unit CommendationPrisoner of War MedalNational Defense Service MedalArmed Forces Expeditionary MedalVietnam Service Medal3⁄16" silver starsRepublic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit CitationRepublic of Vietnam Campaign MedalHispanics in the United States NavyErnest C. BraceC-SPAN