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History Of The Vietnam War POW/MIA Bracelets

Linda Storli Connection
Following our recent Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Patriots Luncheon, I had an impromptu chat with my friend Linda Storli, who informed me of her direct knowledge about the origin of the Vietnam War’s iconic bracelets. I believe she was moved to mention this subject, as we had just honored and paid tribute to several Vietnam War veterans.

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Carol Bates Brown
The following information was derived from an article written by a close friend of Linda’s from her high school days, Carol Bates Brown, for the website www.pow-miafamilies.org; thus Linda and I thought this subject was significant enough to publicize again. Considering our culture’s pendulum during the last 50 years regarding public support to our military, veterans and those missing in action, we felt today’s youth might benefit from this information.

Carol Bates Brown in 1970.

Support Us
Carol Bates Brown and her fellow college student friend, Kay Hunter, were concerned about the condition of our prisoners of war being held in repulsive places such as the Hanoi Hilton, hence the idea of “Support Us” evolved.

There were numerous television reports of abuse and torture exacted on our men by North Vietnamese Communist soldiers. In late 1969, Carol and Kay met television personality Bob Dornan, who was later elected to Congress, and he introduced them to three wives of missing pilots.

After meeting those wives, Carol and Kay, moved by their angst and worry about their husbands, began seeking a way for American citizens to be mindful and to not forget the repulsive struggle faced on a daily basis by our brave men held captive for years.

Soon Carol and Kay became members of “Voices in Vital America” (VIVA), which had initially produced POW/MIA bracelets. VIVA was previously known as “Victory in Vietnam,” but was changed to avoid politicization. During that time, Bob Dornan obtained from Vietnamese hill tribesmen a bracelet that reminded him of the war’s immense suffering that impacted so many people.

POW/MIA Bracelets
VIVA members and POW/MIA family members sought positive methods to involve college students to support U.S. soldiers without becoming entangled in the war’s controversies. The idea of sending letters and petitions to Hanoi demanding humane treatment for our POW’s was strongly considered.

Carol and Kay naively contemplated touring South Vietnam, but they soon realized the country was not suited to a sorority girl tour, and their parents were thoroughly opposed to that idea.

Meanwhile, Kay Hunter dropped out of the group and student Steve Frank and an adult advisor, Gloria Coppin, pressed on with the bracelet concept. Designing, producing and selling nominally priced bracelets based on Dornan’s prototype became most popular. Their next objective was to seek donations, and they even contacted Ross Perot and Howard Hughes through their aides, but were unsuccessful in receiving contributions.

Finally, in the summer of 1970, Gloria’s husband donated enough brass and copper to create 1,200 bracelets. They settled on a simple design displaying name, rank and date of capture and/or missing in action. Next they hired an engraver in Santa Monica; thus their noble project was nearing a launch date.

Linda Storli & Carol Brown in 2015, best friends for 57 years.

Huge Success
Each bracelet would cost 75 cents to produce, so they decided on charging $2.50 per bracelet for students and adults. Copper bracelets were produced and sold for $3 for folks who suffered with tennis elbow.

Bob Dornan, a champion of missing military personnel, constantly publicized this bracelet project via his television talk show. On Veterans Day 1970, Carol Brown and her VIVA colleagues kicked off their bracelet program at a news conference at the Sheraton Hotel in Universal City, Calif.

The public response rapidly grew to the point that they were receiving 12,000 requests on a daily basis; proceeds adequately funded brochures, bumper stickers, buttons and advertising.

In total, VIVA distributed nearly 5 million bracelets and an untold number of bumper stickers, buttons, matchbooks, newspaper ads, etc. By 1976, one year after the fall of Saigon, the American public had grown weary of all things Vietnam and sadly lost interest in the POW/MIA situation, leading VIVA to shut down.

Huge Kudos
As a Vietnam War combat soldier myself, and having one of my platoon buddies, Ronald Schworer, go missing in action, I greatly commend Bob Dornan, Carol Bates Brown, Kay Hunter, Steve Frank, Gloria Coppin and all VIVA members for creating such a powerful program of remembrance.

Linda Storli, a strong bracelet program supporter, wore Captain Stephen Hanson’s bracelet during her wedding in 1970 and continued wearing it until Hanson’s remains were returned to America in 1999.

Hanson’s bracelet was also worn by the famous Hollywood star John Wayne, who kept in touch throughout his life with Captain Hanson’s wife and son. This bracelet experience resulted in Carol Bates Brown dropping her pursuit of working in public relations.

A Captain Stephen Hanson bracelet.

Due to her bracelet volunteerism, she gained employment in the Pentagon’s POW/MIA Intelligence Office, part of the Secretary of Defense operations. During a phone call Carol said, “I ultimately visited Vietnam many times and I’m very proud and eternally grateful for my association with family members of our missing personnel and my involvement with the POW/MIA Bracelet Program.”

Captain Stephen Paul Hanson – MIA
Steve Hanson was born January 4, 1940, in Oxnard, Calif. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve on August 21, 1963, and soon attended Officer Candidate School (OCS) at Quantico, Virginia, on September 30, 1963.

Stephen P. Hanson’s headstone.

He was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant in the U.S.M.C. on December 20, 1963, and then completed flight training, receiving his designation as a naval aviator in June 1965.

Lieutenant Stephen P. Hanson served with Marine Aircraft Wing 36 in South Vietnam from August 1965 until his CH46A helicopter was shot down by enemy fire on June 3, 1967.

Pilot Stephen P. Hanson was listed as Missing in Action and promoted to major before being declared Killed in Action (KIA) on October 4, 1974.

Hanson’s remains were returned to the United States on February 16, 1999, and buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.

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History Of The Vietnam War POW/MIA Bracelets

13 comments

  1. I SPENT 1YEAR 4 MONTHS ON RIVER IN MACON DELTA VIETNAM WOULD LOVE A BRACELET OR IF I CAN BUY ONE I WILL TAKE 3

  2. Thank you for the making of the POW/MIA bracelets. My dad is MIA and I still wear his bracelet and always will.

  3. i started by buying a bracelet when our son joined the army that was when he was 20 so that would have been 1980. i wanted to feel closer to him when he was gone and also help others. i went to a motorcycle swap meet and there was a gentlman selling bracelets so i got one .i wore it for many years finally i contacted the pow assocation and found out more info on my young man he had finally been found and his name was put on a newer part of the Wall so i put this gentl person finally to rest when all his history in a special placeto always honor those who helped keep our country safe God Bless all who served our country.

  4. I have worn Lt Col Charles Sheltons bracelet since i was 16 years old. I am now 62. My farher grew up with him in Kentucky and both of them joined the military. I am always reminded of what these men and women and their families have given up to give us the freedoms that we have. We need to always remember that all gave some and some gave all their life for us. Do not ever forget!!

  5. Laura Echevarria Powers

    My father was POW/MIA his remains are still never recovered. 10/3/66 I wear his bracelet still today and will until they bring him home to rest in peace beside my mother.

  6. My oldest brother was a Vietnam Veteran I want to know how and where can I get one of these bracelets

  7. My father memorized the eye chart because he was blind in one eye. He memorized the eye chart to get into WWII, he did not retire until he was in his late 70’s. He went to all the wars and came home.
    I am interested in the bracelet like John Wayne wore. That was something he and I could share was the love of John Wayne.

  8. I am searching for info on a man named Stephen Dale Tracey. He says he was a Vietnam War POW. Also claims to been held for 2 years in the “Hanoi Hilton”. I cannot find any info on him on any public publications. He is originally from Ft. Wayne, IN, but has lived in Elkview, WV since 1993. He is approximately 78 years of age, retired as an Air Force Brigadier General. Any suggestions as to where else to look would be appreciated. My grandchild was going to do a report on him for history class, but it seems we have hit a brick wall.

  9. I’ve been wearing 2 braclets pop

  10. I have 7 different bracelets! I wear 2 for now from Michigan! The others I alternate with the others! I’ve been wearing them for 41 yrs! And the ones that did come home, I put on my Xmas tree every year to be remembered!

  11. Can you still get a bracelet?

  12. There is only one man responsible for the production of all of those bracelets and it is very sad that he is not even mentioned in this article.

    • Janet,
      My dad made POW bracelets, but not sure he is who you are speaking of? I have been researching the subject as I have some bracelets in my possession I would like to get to families. Maybe there were multiple people who made them? My dads business was in El Monte then La Puente. My sister has an interesting story of how my dad was contacted to make these. The ones in my possession are silver with names etched in black. I also have a copper one. I’d love to hear anything you may know.

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About Bill Reynolds - KHTS Director of Veteran Affairs

I’ve lived in Santa Clarita since 1980 with my wife, with whom I have two wonderful children and five beautiful grandchildren.I’m the first son of a World War II veteran and an Australian WWII War Bride. Instead of being born in one of the world’s most beautiful cities, Sydney, Australia, I was born in Mineral Wells, Texas. After moving around various small west Texas towns and having lived near Sydney, Australia, my family finally settled in the San Fernando Valley in 1955. I graduated from Cleveland High School, attended Pierce College and worked at General Motors in Van Nuys. In the spring of 1966, I was drafted into the U.S. Army and sent to Vietnam. I recently starred in National Geographic’s Emmy nominated documentary, “Brothers in War” now seen on Netflix. Read about "Hometown Heroes - Our Veterans" series, click here...