SIJAN, LANCE P. Medal of
Honor
Rank
and organization: Captain, U.S. Air Force, 4th Allied POW Wing, Pilot of an
F-4C aircraft. Place and date: North Vietnam, 9 November 1967. Entered service
at: Milwaukee, Wis. Born: 13 April 1942,
Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Citation: While on a flight over North Vietnam, Capt.
Sijan ejected from his disabled aircraft and successfully evaded capture for
more than 6 weeks. During this time, he was seriously injured and suffered from
shock and extreme weight loss due to lack of food. After being captured by
North Vietnamese soldiers, Capt. Sijan was taken to a holding point for
subsequent transfer to a prisoner of war camp. In his emaciated and crippled
condition, he overpowered his guards and crawled into the jungle, only to be recaptured
after several hours. He was then transferred to another prison camp where he
was kept in solitary confinement and interrogated at length. During
interrogation, he was severely tortured; however, he did not divulge any
information to his captors. Capt. Sijan lapsed into delirium and was placed in
the care of another prisoner. During his intermittent periods of consciousness
until his death, he never complained of his physical condition and, on several
occasions, spoke of future escape attempts. Capt. Sijan's extraordinary heroism
and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty at the cost of his life are
in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Air Force and reflect great
credit upon himself and the U.S. Armed Forces.
The
name Sijan is found in great numbers in Croatia.