This Day In 1970's History: Friday February 9, 1973
- Communists will begin releasing American prisoners on Sunday, releasing about one-fourth of the total number of POWs on that day; 115 POWs will be released by Hanoi and 27 more by the Viet Cong in South Vietnam. Pentagon spokesman Jerry Friedheim said that some sick and wounded POWs will be included in the first group, but exactly who will be released is unknown. The POWs will be flown to Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines for medical checks before being brought to the United States. The diet for the POWs at Clark AFB will be bland, and will include no alcohol. Former POW Lt. Mark Gartley says that readjustment problems are overemphasized and that the reunion with their families should be a happy and carefree time for POWs. [CBS]
- Henry Kissinger arrived in Laos and predicted a cease-fire there and in Cambodia in the near future. A cease-fire in Laos is scheduled to go into effect February 14. The withdrawal of all foreign troops will follow, including Thai irregulars paid by the CIA. Sixty-five thousand North Vietnamese troops are now in Laos; Prince Souvanna Phouma wants them all out. However, the Laotian military is against a cease-fire and has threatened a coup if it goes into effect.
A U.S. reconnaissance plane was shot down over Laos earlier in the week. American planes bombed Communists in Cambodia today. [CBS]
- UPI reported that members of the Joint Military Commission were attacked by a group of South Vietnamese civilians in the Central Highlands. Two Americans, one North Vietnamese and one South Vietnamese were injured by rocks. [CBS]
- Fighting continued in South Vietnam, and was particularly heavy in Quang Tri province. Both sides say they are sick of war and want the truce supervisors to come and help stop the fighting. [CBS]
- The two pilots who refused to take part in the massive bombing of North Vietnam in December are being discharged rather than court-martialed. Capt. Michael Heck and Lt. Dwight Evans were the two servicemen involved. [CBS]
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