I would like to relate one tiny story about John which meant a lot to
me at the time because of the circumstances. The Vietnamese hand
picked a group of POWs which they extracted from numerous different
cells in the Hanoi Hilton complex and exported them to a different
prison. John and I were part of that group of prisoners and we were
loaded into trucks and jeeps while blindfolded and handcuffed or tied
up. The new prison we nick-named Skid Row... it may have other names
as well. Initially, we were all moved into solitary cells. The camp
was generally considered a punishment camp for those of us that were
there and conditions were very dismal. The prisoners in that camp
were considered by the Vietnamese to be "bad guys".

John lived, for a period of time, on the other side of a wall from
me. We were not allowed to communicate in any way. However, that rule
never stopped us and we consistently tapped on the walls to each
other. At the time, I was in very poor health and only weighed 85 or
90 pounds. We did not know what my health problem was... something
internal... stomach or intestinal...but it caused me to be unable to
eat even though I was starving.

Each morning John would give the "shave and a haircut" tap on the
wall, which was our call-up signal. When I answered with my "two-
bits", John would always spend time with me "on the wall" to see how
I was doing, whether I thought I was better or worse, and
consistently offered to do anything he could to help my situation. He
was caring, compassionate and ever humorous! Grave as our situation
was, the thing I remember most about those days is how John attempted
to keep me in good spirits telling jokes and funny stories and he
always gave me the feeling that I had someone right next door that
would do anything he could in my behalf. It was very personal. You
could tell he was genuinely concerned for me and my welfare and was
constantly checking on me to make sure I was still alive and OK.

When I follow the Presidential Campaign, I realize the public truly
fails to see those very compassionate and caring characteristics in
this fine man. His life was miserable, his injuries severe and yet
here he was daily caring for me in the only way he could. Tapping
caring feelings and keeping my spirits up helping me to cope and
trying to keep me alive.

What a fine man! Would I trust him to be my President, look after my
country and family?
Need you ask???

Rod Knutson
Captain US Navy Retired
POW 10/17/65 to 2/12/73