Congressman Mark Walker, NC – This week, I was honored to spend time with Col. Norm McDaniel and Carol McDaniel of Burlington.

Col. McDaniel was born in Fayetteville and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U. S. Air Force upon receiving his B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering in June, 1959 from North Carolina A&T State University.

On July, 20, 1966, he and four of his five crew members became POWs when their plane was shot down in Vietnam. As one of over 700 American POWs held by North Vietnam, McDaniel was released on February 12, 1973, as part of Operation Homecoming. During those 6+ years, Carol waited patiently with her family and their two children, Christopher and Crystal. 

McDaniel’s military honors, include the Silver Star for Valor, three Legions of Merit, Bronze Star with Valor Device, three Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Purple Heart and the Vietnam Service Medal with fourteen bronze stars.

What impressed me most about Col. McDaniel and Carol was their humility and optimism, as well as their faith in God and our great nation.

They were truly inspiring. Norm is a national treasure and we should all be proud he calls our community home.

Col. McDaniel and conversations I have had with former POWs who live in North Carolina are why I introduced H.Res. 219 to establish a Select Committee on POW and MIA Affairs. The committee members would be tasked with investigating all unresolved matters related to any United States personnel unaccounted for from conflicts ranging from World War II to the War on Terror. Currently, there are more than 75,000 unaccounted for Americans from these conflicts.

These families have sacrificed a great deal for us. This act can go lengths in honoring our POWs and MIAs and to provide their families needed closure.

SF Source Walker Weekly Report Jul 2018