KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Veterans and community members gathered on National POW/MIA Recognition Day to hear from the longest-held enlisted prisoner of war in United States history. Captain Bill Robinson was held captive in a Vietnamese prison for nearly eight years. He was imprisoned in the infamous "Hanoi Hilton."
He said his faith, family and love for his country kept him alive. While being held, he also said words of wisdom from his mother stuck in his mind.
"She’d say, 'Billy, you’ll never be burdened more than you can stand.' And I can remember times saying, 'Ma, we’re getting close,'" he said. “We are a nation that plans never to leave anyone behind, and we are still under the effort of a full accounting of those who are missing — to give families that simple word we call 'closure.'"
Friday didn't just mark a day of remembrance. It happened to be the same day Robinson's aircraft was shot down in Vietnam.
“Today just happened to be the day I was shot down 59 years ago," he said. "And there were moments I didn't think I would see my 23rd birthday — and I just celebrated number 81."
Robinson said the purpose of military service is simple, to guarantee people can participate in governance.
"The most important thing about a veteran — he has never wanted to rule the world," Robinson said. "All he or she ever wanted was to have the opportunity to vote for the government of their choosing.”
And he asked a simple favor from people across the country — for people to vote.
"If you want to honor our veterans and simply say thank you to them, go out and vote," he said.