Today Marks the 50th Anniversary of Lee Ellis’ Shoot Down and Capture – See Inside

Today, November 7th, marks the 50th Anniversary of Lee Ellis’ shoot down and capture on his 53rd mission over Vietnam.

Please celebrate with us Lee’s safe return from this day that literally changed his life forever. Without the support of so many friends, colleagues, and loved ones, the outcome of his POW experience could’ve been very different.

In this brief clip, he describes those moments:

And in this excerpt from his book, Leading with Honor: Leadership Lessons from the Hanoi Hilton, Lee talks about the thoughts and beliefs that kept him focused during this time:

“At the time of my capture, I was just a typical single 24-year-old exuberant pilot who had largely ignored such weighty issues. Partly because of my solid spiritual upbringing, however, I believed deeply that my life was guided toward a divine purpose. I also was passionate about my work. Since the age of five, I had felt destined to fly and to be some type of warrior. My choice of a military career as a fighter pilot was also well aligned with several of my innate personality strengths: bold, take charge, adventurous, and challenge-driven.

After my capture, I definitely had doubts and fears about what the next hours and days might bring, but there were no second thoughts. I had known the risks, I had made my choices, and I was committed to my cause. In short, I was authentically living “on purpose.” That clarity helped me to stand firm to my values of duty, honor, and country in the days, months, and years ahead.”

 

 

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