Local Hero

Alton Benno “Al” Meyer was born January 2, 1938, in Fredericksburg, Texas. In 1956, he enrolled at Texas A&M University as a cadet studying business. Upon his graduation in 1960, he was commissioned into the United States Air Force. He began his training as a navigator at James Conley Air Base in Waco, Texas. In 1967, he was assigned to the Takhi Royal Thair Air Force base in Thailand. April 26th of that year, Meyer flew his 36th and last mission, but his time in Vietnam was far from over. On that day his F-105 Thunderchief was shot down during a bombing Northern Vietnam and the Ho Chi Minh Trail. He endured over five years of torture, interrogation, starvation as a POW in the infamous Hao Lo Prison until his release on March 4 1973 during Operation Homecoming. Meyer, along with over 600 POWs, were finally able to return home to their families. Upon his recovery from the injuries he sustained during his plane crash and interment, Meyer returned to Texas A&M and earned his Master’s in Business Management.

Meyer stayed in the Air Force, flying reconnaissance missions in F4 Phantoms. He served on the staff of the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas until his retirement in December 1980. He went on to found Alton Meyer Consulting.
For his service in Vietnam, Meyer was awarded two Silver Stars, two Purple Hearts, a Prisoner of War medal, the Legion of Merit, three Bronze Stars with Combat “V.” Meyer passed away on December 24, 2017 at the age of 79.

The Museum of the American G.I. is honored to tell Captain Meyers story and the story of those who were POWs during the Vietnam War.