Jeremiah Denton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jeremiah Denton
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Denton in 1983
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| United States Senator from Alabama |
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| In office January 2, 1981 – January 3, 1987 |
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| Preceded by | Donald Stewart |
| Succeeded by | Richard Shelby |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Jeremiah Andrew Denton Jr.
July 15, 1924 Mobile, Alabama, U.S. |
| Died | March 28, 2014 (aged 89) Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S. |
| Resting place | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouses |
Jane Maury
(m. 1946; died 2007)Mary Bordone
(m. 2010) |
| Children | 7, including James |
| Education | United States Naval Academy (BS) George Washington University (MA) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Branch/service |  United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1946–1977 |
| Rank |  Rear admiral |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
| Awards |
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Jeremiah Andrew Denton Jr. (July 15, 1924 – March 28, 2014) was an American hero. He was a brave military officer and later a U.S. Senator for Alabama. He served in the Senate from 1981 to 1987. He was the first Republican to be chosen by voters for a Senate seat in Alabama.
Before becoming a senator, Denton was a United States Navy Rear Admiral. He was also a Naval Aviator, meaning he flew planes for the Navy. During the Vietnam War, he was captured and became a POW.
Denton is famous for being a POW in North Vietnam for almost eight years. His plane, an A-6 Intruder, was shot down in 1965. He was the very first American POW to step off a plane when they were released in 1973. This event was called Operation Homecoming.
In 1966, Denton was forced to appear in a TV interview by his captors. During this interview, he secretly blinked his eyes in Morse code. He spelled out the word "T-O-R-T-U-R-E". This was the first time U.S. officials learned that American POWs were being treated very harshly.
After his release, Denton wrote a book in 1976 called When Hell Was in Session. It was about his time as a prisoner. This book was later made into a movie in 1979. A documentary about him, called Jeremiah, was also made in 2015.
In 1980, Denton was elected to the U.S. Senate. There, he focused on helping families and keeping the country safe. In 2019, the U.S. Navy announced that a new guided missile destroyer ship would be named after him. This ship is called USS Jeremiah Denton (DDG-129).
Contents
Early Life and Education
Jeremiah Denton was born on July 15, 1924, in Mobile, Alabama. He was the oldest of three brothers. He went to McGill–Toolen Catholic High School and Spring Hill College in Mobile.
In June 1943, he joined the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis. He graduated three years later in 1946. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree. Future President Jimmy Carter was in the same graduating class.
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Denton served in the Navy for 34 years. He worked on many different ships and flew various aircraft, including blimps. He was a test pilot and a flight instructor. He also commanded an attack squadron that flew A-6 Intruder jets.
He helped create a new naval strategy in 1957. It was called the "Haystack Concept." This idea was about hiding aircraft carriers from enemy radar. They would mix in with regular ships to avoid looking like a military fleet.
Denton also went to the Armed Forces Staff College and the Naval War College. He earned a Master of Arts degree in International Affairs from George Washington University in 1964.
Vietnam War Experience
Jeremiah Denton was a United States Naval Aviator during the Vietnam War. In February 1965, he became the leader of Attack Squadron Seventy-Five. This squadron served on the aircraft carrier USS Independence (CV-62).
On July 18, 1965, Commander Denton was flying his A-6A Intruder jet. He was leading a bombing mission over North Vietnam. His plane was hit and went down near Thanh Hoa. He and his bombardier/navigator, LTJG Bill Tschudy, had to eject from the plane. Both men were quickly captured.
Denton and Tschudy were held as prisoners of war for almost eight years. For four of those years, Denton was kept alone in a small cell. In July 1966, Denton and over 50 other American prisoners were forced to march through the streets of Hanoi. They were beaten by North Vietnamese people during this march.
Denton is most remembered for a TV press conference in 1966. His captors made him participate. He used this chance to send a secret message. He blinked his eyes in Morse code, spelling "T-O-R-T-U-R-E". This was how the U.S. first learned that American POWs were being treated very badly. He also bravely stated his full support for his government.
Denton was held in several prisons, including the "Hanoi Hilton." He was later moved to a prison nicknamed "Alcatraz." Here, he was part of a group called the "Alcatraz Gang." These prisoners were kept separate because they strongly resisted their captors. They were held in small, windowless cells.
On February 12, 1973, Denton and Tschudy were finally released. They were part of Operation Homecoming, which brought many American POWs home. When Denton stepped off the plane, still in uniform, he said: "We are honored to have had the opportunity to serve our country under difficult circumstances. We are profoundly grateful to our Commander-in-Chief and to our nation for this day. God bless America."
After his release, Denton worked at the Armed Forces Staff College. He retired from the Navy on November 1, 1977, as a Rear Admiral.
After retiring from the Navy, Denton worked as a consultant for the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN). He also started the National Forum Foundation in 1981. Through this foundation, he helped send donated goods to countries that needed aid.
Political Career
In 1980, Jeremiah Denton ran for a U.S. Senate seat in Alabama. He was a Republican. He won the election, which was a surprise victory. He became the first Republican to be chosen by voters for a Senate seat in Alabama since 1913. He was also the first Catholic to be elected to a statewide office in Alabama.
As a Senator, Denton often spoke about issues important to families. He also focused on national security. He believed the U.S. needed to be strong to protect itself. He chaired a Senate committee that looked into threats to national security.
In 1986, Denton tried to be re-elected to the Senate but lost.
Personal Life
Jeremiah Denton's first wife was Kathryn Jane Maury. They were married for 61 years and had seven children. She passed away in 2007. In 2010, he married Mary Belle Bordone.
One of his children was James S. Denton, who became a publisher and director of the World Affairs Institute.
Jeremiah Denton passed away on March 28, 2014, at the age of 89. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery with his first wife, Jane.
Military Awards
Jeremiah Denton received many awards for his brave service. Some of his top awards include:
- Navy Cross
- Defense Distinguished Service Medal
- Navy Distinguished Service Medal
- Silver Star (three times)
- Distinguished Flying Cross
- Bronze Star Medal (five times)
- Purple Heart (twice)
Book
- Denton, Jeremiah (with Ed Brandt) (1976). When Hell Was in Session. Reader's Digest Press. ISBN: 0-88349-112-5.
See also
In Spanish: Jeremiah Denton para niños
- Doug Hegdahl
