November 28th: WACC Speaker Series Luncheon with Lt. Col. Barry Bridger, Prisoner of “Hanoi Hilton” and United States Air Force Veteran

Examining the United States’ Current Worldview: Parallels to the Vietnam Era

Join us on November 28th for a WACC Speaker Series Luncheon with Lt. Col. (Ret.) Barry B. Bridger, a highly decorated American Hero, a six years Vietnam prisoner of war, and resident of the famed Hanoi Hilton.

Lt. Col. Bridger will share his story, and offer his insight as he explores the political and social climate of the Vietnam era and correlates this historical perspective to the current state of affairs in the U.S. and its influence on foreign policy.

• Register online
• Credit card payments (non-PayPal transactions): Please call 704-687-7762 for payment processing over the phone
• Check payments: Please make your check payable to “World Affairs Council of Charlotte” and mail it to the following address:

World Affairs Council of Charlotte
UNC Charlotte – CHHS 227
9201 University City Blvd.
Charlotte, NC 28223

All reservation cancellations must be completed at least 3 business days prior to an event for a full refund. Pease let us know in advance if you have dietary restrictions so that we can make the appropriate accommodations.

Biographies

Lt. Col. (Ret.) Barry B. Bridger is a highly decorated United State Air Force veteran and survivor of six years in Vietnam’s infamous “Hanoi Hilton” prison camp. A native of Bladenboro, North Carolina, Barry earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from the University of North Carolina in 1963 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant through the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) program.

Following pilot training in 1964, he was assigned to the 43rd Tactical Fighter Squadron at MacDill AFB, Florida, where he performed duties flying the F-4 Phantom. In 1965, Barry completed the US Army parachutist-training course at Ft. Benning, Georgia, and in 1966 he completed his first combat tour, flying missions in Vietnam. He returned to the United States, advanced to aircraft commander in the F-4 Phantom and began a second tour, again flying missions over Vietnam. During these two tours, he accumulated over 200 combat flying hours and completed more than 70 combat missions over North Vietnam. On January 23, 1967, Barry was shot down over Son Tay, North Vietnam, by a surfaceto-air missile. He was subsequently captured by the North Vietnamese and imprisoned.

Following his repatriation in March 1973, Barry requalified in jet aircraft and was assigned to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina. While there, he served as an instructor pilot in air-to-ground combat and held positions of flight commander and assistant operations officer. Barry earned a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Central Michigan University in May 1977, and in January 1978, he graduated from the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia. Assigned as an Air Force representative to the US Army Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, he served as a faculty member and instructor for three years. He was subsequently assigned as chief of the Air Force war-gaming division at Ft. Leavenworth.

In October 1984, Barry retired after 22 years of service in the Air Force. His awards and decorations include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal with V device, Purple Heart with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters, and Prisoner of War Medal. Barry joined First Command as a Financial Advisor in 1984, where he earned the “Top Gun” Advisor designation four times, one of the company’s highest honors.

He served as a First Command Financial Advisor until 2005, earning numerous awards for service to his clients. He now serves as First Command’s “Ambassador at Large.” His inspiring message is one of courage, discipline, and achievement in the face of any challenge.