CWO4 John W. Frederick Jr.

John W. Frederick Jr. was born to John William Sr. and Estella Frederick.  He attended Manito Community High School and immediately following graduation enlisted in the Marine Corps on May 7, 1942. Private Frederick went through recruit training at the Recruit Depot, Marine Corps Base, San Diego, CA and graduated In July 1942. Upon completion of recruit training, he attended his MOS school at Navy Pier, Chicago, IL to become an aviation mechanic. Private Frederick moved quickly through the ranks and earned promotions to Private First Class in February 1943, Corporal in August 1944, and to Staff Sergeant in May 1945 during his tour with VMF(N)-533, MAG-33, MCAS, El Toro, CA. During his service in WWII, SSgt Frederick flew over 40 combat missions in the South Pacific Theater as a gunner and radar operator in Marine fighter aircraft.

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After being promoted to SSgt he attended the Radar Operator Course in North Island, CA gaining the MOSs of electronic technician and aerial gunner.  He was then transferred to VMF(N)-542, MAG-15, MCAS, El Toro, CA in October 1948 where he remained until February 1951. In November 1949 he was promoted to the rank of Technical Sergeant and earned the new specialties of naval aviation observer and airborne intercept operator.

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Beginning in September 1950 he participated in action against enemy forces in the Korean Peninsula, flying over 90 combat missions, and was promoted to Master Sergeant in May 1951. Following his promotion he was transferred to VMF(N)-533, MAG-24, Cherry Point, NC in January 1952 where he was the Noncommissioned Officer in Charge for airborne intercept operators and electronic technicians.

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In May 1953 he Joined VMF(N)-531, MAG-24, Cherry Point, NC where he remained until May 1955 as the NCOIC for the APG-26 shop. In May 1955 he transferred to VMF(N)-513, MAG-11, 1st MAW, Okinawa Japan. At the end of his tour in Okinawa in September 1956, he transferred back to VMF(AW)-531, MAG-24, Cherry Point, NC. In August 1958 he was transferred to MARS-27, MWSG-27, 2d MAW, Cherry Point, NC. In October 1958 he was reassigned within 2d MAW to VMCJ-2, MWHG. In June 1959 he was assigned to MAD, NAS, Patuxent River, MD as the F4B AMCS AERO 1A Maintenance Officer.

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During this assignment he was selected for the Warrant Officer program and was appointed to WO1 in July 1961. In July 1964 he was promoted to CWO2. In December 1964 he was transferred to VMA-533, MAG-24, 2d MAW, Cherry Point, NC. In May 1965 he was reassigned within 2d MAW to VMFA-323, MAG-24 and deployed to the Republic of Vietnam on December 1st of that year.

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On December 7, 1965, CWO2 Frederick was the Radar Intercept Officer in an F4B aircraft piloted by Lieutenant Colonel John H. Dunn on a night escort mission over North Vietnam. Upon departing the designated target area, during his third combat mission in Vietnam, CWO2 Frederick's aircraft was hit by a surface-to-air missile. The subsequent explosion caused a ball of flame to envelope the rear cockpit occupied by CWO2 Frederick. Prior to ejecting from his jet, CWO2 Frederick received burns over his entire body-the inside of his mouth and nostrils were severely burned and his eyes were nearly seared closed. Despite his severe Injuries he was able to move and he decided to look for assistance. During the morning of December 8, 1965, CWO2 Frederick unexpectedly wandered into a North Vietnamese Army gun emplacement. Per his Legion of Merit citation, "he assumed that the enemy would kill rather than capture him, so he decided to take a few of them with him" and he mounted a one-man attack. CWO2 Frederick was overpowered, captured, and mercilessly beaten until he was transported to a prison facility In Hanoi.

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CWO2 Frederick received limited medical treatment for his condition. Dry bandages were applied by the North Vietnamese and when it became necessary to change them they were simply ripped off. As described in his Legion of Merit citation, "the scar tissue built up between his fingers and his hands took on the appearance of being webbed."  The North Vietnamese cut this scar tissue with a pair of shears without benefit of anesthesia.

 

Captain Wendell B. Rivers, USN taught CWO2 Frederick the tap code (an intracamp communication system). Since CWO2 Frederick was unable to use his hands or elbows, he used his head as an instrument to tap out messages to other POWs in the camp. Although CWO2 Frederick was ordered to "ease up" by senior U.S. POWs, he continued to contribute to and participate in the resistance effort.

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From July to September 1966, CWO2 Frederick, Lieutenant Colonel Dunn and Commander Dennis A. Moore, USN were roommates in a POW camp. During this period extreme mistreatment and beatings were utilized to obtain "confessions' and propaganda statements against the U.S. war policy. Almost all of the POWs were forced to write a "confession" and "a bad policy statement" with the possible exception of CWO2 Frederick. Although CWO2 Frederick was offered medical treatment in exchange for his cooperation, he refused to cooperate and maintained his posture of resistance.

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On July 6, 1967, CWO2 Frederick was moved to a punishment camp for so called "troublemakers" and those POWs identified with a "bad attitude." CWO2 Frederick was placed in solitary confinement in a filthy cell for 90 days.  The temperature was in excess of 100 degrees Fahrenheit and CWO2 Frederick was placed in leg irons with his hands securely cuffed behind his back. Following an unsuccessful escape attempt by two U.S. POWs, CWO2 Frederick and the other POWs were moved to a more secure prison facility.

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In November 1968, CWO2 Frederick arrived at the Son Tay POW Camp. The POWs at Son Tay were well organized, energetic, displayed a tremendous amount of imagination and Ingenuity, and continuously attempted to improve their resistance posture. It was at this camp that CWO2 Frederick distinguished himself in an exemplary manner as a principal in the POW's clandestine communications network. CWO2 Frederick was selected by fellow prisoners, who judged him to be a highly motivated, dedicated, mature and competent officer, to participate in a crucial, complex clandestine resistance program.  CWO2 Frederick’s voluntary involvement in this extremely dangerous and demanding undertaking was driven by a personal commitment to excellence in the face of grave repercussions should his covert actions be discovered by the enemy. Throughout this period he successfully passed information of high intelligence value, and his individual contributions increased the morale of all other POWs. CWO2 Frederick personally handled critical operational assignments relating to escape plans, and he assimilated and disseminated vast amounts of data within the clandestine network. CWO2 Frederick further distinguished himself in this activity by generating new ideas and assisting in the development of new techniques which greatly enhanced POW resistance operations.

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In May 1972, CWO2 Frederick was moved to a POW camp near the Chinese border. During June 1972, CWO2 Frederick became seriously ill with Japanese B-type virus. On July 3, 1972, CWO2 Frederick was placed in a jeep for an emergency trip to an unidentified hospital in Hanoi and was never seen again. On January 27, 1973, the U.S. government was provided with a series of POW lists and CWO2 Frederick was identified as having died in North Vietnam on July 19, 1972.

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Throughout his six and a half years of captivity CWO2 Frederick demonstrated extraordinary heroism and steadfast resistance In the face of continuous personal danger. His exemplary conduct and personal courage were an inspiration to other U.S. POWs. Promoted posthumously, CWO4 Frederick's personal  decorations include: Navy Cross, Silver Star Medal, Legion of Merit with combat "V" and a gold star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal with combat "V", Purple Heart with a gold star, Air Medal with one silver star and one gold star,  Navy Commendation Medal with combat "V", Navy Presidential Unit Citation with three bronze stars, Army Presidential Unit Citation, POW Medal, Good  Conduct  Medal with a silver star, China Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two bronze stars, World War II Victory Medal,  Navy Occupation Service Medal, National Defense Medal with one bronze star, Korean Service Medal with four bronze stars, Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze stars, Korean Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Meritorious  Unit  Citation,  United Nations Service Medal, and a Vietnam Campaign Medal with device.

 

CWO4 Frederick was survived by his wife, Lorraine Wilma, and his four children Michael, Gerald, Barbara and Paula.