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Vietnam War POW meets widow of pilot who shot his plane down

In this Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019, photo, Memphis native, Lt. Col. James Williams, who was a prisoner of war in Vietnam poses for a portrait in front of his sister's home in Cordova, Tenn. Williams and other veterans returned to Hanoi, Vietnam, to gain closure from their time at war. Williams connected with a Valor Administration representative who notified him of the trip to Vietnam, a golden opportunity to complete part of his living list. (Ariel Cobbert/The Commercial Appeal via AP)
In this Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019, photo, Memphis native, Lt. Col. James Williams, who was a prisoner of war in Vietnam poses for a portrait in front of his sister's home in Cordova, Tenn. Williams and other veterans returned to Hanoi, Vietnam, to gain closure from their time at war. Williams connected with a Valor Administration representative who notified him of the trip to Vietnam, a golden opportunity to complete part of his living list. (Ariel Cobbert/The Commercial Appeal via AP)

By Associated Press 3 min read

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) – Lt. Col. James Williams has something better than a bucket list.

“I don’t like the word ‘bucket list’ because it makes it feel like you’re getting ready to die,” said the North Memphis native and Vietnam War veteran. “I call it my ‘living list.’ “

Williams completed a significant piece of that list in November, when he and other veterans returned to Hanoi, Vietnam, to gain closure from their time at war. North Vietnamese forces captured Williams after his jet was shot down in May 1972 and held him prisoner until March 1973.

“The whole purpose, in a nutshell, was it being a healing mission to put us back in that environment,” said Williams, 75, of the trip organized by the Valor Administration, Vietnam-USA Friendship members and North Vietnamese combat veterans.

What Williams didn’t know ahead of time was he would meet the widow of the North Vietnamese pilot who shot his jet down. Through Nguyen Thi Lam, he learned more about her late husband, Do Van Lanh.