Jeremiah Denton

Jeremiah Denton
Denton in 1983
United States Senator fromAlabama
In office January 2, 1981 – January 3, 1987
Preceded by	Donald Stewart
Succeeded by	Richard Shelby
Personal details
Born	Jeremiah Andrew Denton Jr. (1924-07-15)July 15, 1924 Mobile, Alabama,U.S.
Died	March 28, 2014(2014-03-28)(aged 89) Virginia Beach, Virginia,U.S.
Resting place	Arlington National Cemetery
Political party	Republican
Spouses	Jane Maury ​ ​ (m.1946; died 2007)​ Mary Bordone ​ (m.2010)​
Children	7, includingJames
Education	United States Naval Academy(BS) George Washington University(MA)
Military service
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch/service	United States Navy
Years of service	1946–1977
Rank	Rear admiral
Battles/wars	Vietnam War
Awards	Navy Cross Defense Distinguished Service Medal Navy Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star(3) Distinguished Flying Cross Bronze Star Medal(5) Purple Heart(2)

Jeremiah Andrew Denton Jr.(July 15, 1924 – March 28, 2014) was an American politician and military officer who served as aU.S. SenatorrepresentingAlabamafrom 1981 to 1987. He was the firstRepublicanto be popularly elected to a Senate seat in Alabama. Denton was previously aUnited States Navyrear admiralandnaval aviatortaken captiveduring theVietnam War.

Denton was widely known for enduring almost eight years of grueling conditions as an Americanprisoner of war (POW)inNorth Vietnamafter theA-6 Intruderhe was piloting suffered severe damage resulting from a defective bomb, which detonated as he released the weapon(s) in 1965. He was the first of the American POWs released byHanoito step off an American plane duringOperation Homecomingon February 12, 1973. As one of the earliest and highest-ranking officers to be taken prisoner in North Vietnam, Denton was forced by his captors to participate in a 1966 televised propaganda interview which was broadcast in the United States. While answering questions and feigning trouble with the blinding television lights, Denton blinked his eyes inMorse code,spelling the word "T-O-R-T-U-R-E" —and confirming for the first time to U.S.Naval Intelligencethat American POWs were beingtortured.

In 1976, Denton wroteWhen Hell Was in Sessionabout his experience in captivity, which was made into the 1979 film withHal Holbrook.Denton was also the subject of the 2015 documentaryJeremiahproduced byAlabama Public Television.

In 1980, Denton waselected to the U.S. Senate,where he focused mainly on family issues and national security, helping pass theAdolescent Family Life Act(the so-called "Chastity Bill" ) in 1981 and heading the Judiciary Subcommittee on Security and Terrorism.

In 2019, theUnited States Secretary of the Navyannounced that an upcomingArleigh Burke-classguided missile destroyerwill be named in Denton's honor. Construction onUSSJeremiah Denton(DDG-129)began in August 2022. Additionally, an airport onDauphin Islandwas named theJeremiah Denton Airportin honor of Denton and his service in the military.

Early life and education

Denton as amidshipmanin the United States Naval Academy

Denton was born July 15, 1924, inMobile, Alabama,the oldest of three brothers, and the son of Jeremiah Sr. and Irene (Steele) Denton.He attendedMcGill–Toolen Catholic High School(Class of 1942) andSpring Hill CollegeinMobile,Alabama. His grandmother, Irene Claudia Jackson, was the grand-daughter of Roxana Virginia Hollinger, the daughter of Alexander Hollinger. Alexander Hollinger was the brother-in-law of CongressmanGeorge Washington Owen,the first member of Congress elected from Mobile in a district containing Mobile. Alexander Hollinger was the brother of Owen's wife Sarah Louise Hollinger.

In June 1943, he entered theUnited States Naval AcademyinAnnapolis,Maryland,and graduated three years later in the accelerated Class of 1947 on June 5, 1946, with aBachelor of Sciencedegree, the same class as future presidentJimmy Carter.

Career

Denton while in the U.S. Navy

His 34-year naval career included service on a variety of ships and on aircraft, includingairships.His principal field of endeavor was naval operations. He also served as a test pilot, flight instructor, and commanding officer of an attack squadron flying theA-6 Intruder.

In 1957, he was credited with revolutionizing naval strategy and tactics for nuclear war as architect of the "Haystack Concept." This strategy called for concealing aircraft carriers from radar by intermingling with commercial shipping and avoiding formations suggestive of a naval fleet. The strategy was simulated in maneuvers and demonstrated effectiveness, allowing two aircraft carrier fleets thirty-five simulated atomic launches before aggressor aircraft and submarines could repel them.He went on to serve on the staff of the Commander,U.S. Sixth Fleetat the rank of Commander (O-5) as Fleet Air Defense Officer.

Denton graduated from theArmed Forces Staff Collegeand theNaval War College,where his thesis on international affairs received top honors by earning the prestigious President's Award. In 1964, he received the degree ofMaster of Artsininternational affairsfromGeorge Washington University's School of Public and International Affairs inWashington, D.C.

Vietnam War

Main article:U.S. prisoners of war during the Vietnam War

Denton with his A-6 Intruder onboard USS Independence (CV-62)

Denton served as aUnited States Naval Aviatorduring theVietnam War.In February 1965, he became theProspective Commanding OfficerofAttack Squadron Seventy-Fiveserving aboard aircraft carrierUSSIndependence(CV-62).

On July 18, 1965,CommanderDenton was piloting hisA-6A Intruder jet(BUNO151577) while leading a 28-aircraft bombing mission over North Vietnam off theIndependencewhich was stationed in theSouth China Sea.He andLTJGBill Tschudy, hisbombardier/navigator,were forced to eject from their plane, damaged by one of their ownMark 82 bombsexploding shortly after its release after which it went down out of control near the city ofThanh Hoain North Vietnam. Both men were quickly captured and taken prisoner.

Denton and Tschudy were held as prisoners of war for almost eight years, four of which were spent insolitary confinement.Denton was notable for his leadership during theHanoi Marchin July 1966, when he and over 50 American prisoners were paraded through the streets of Hanoi and beaten by North Vietnamese civilians.Denton is best known from this period of his life for the 1966 televised press conference in which he was forced to participate as an American POW by his North Vietnamese captors. He used the opportunity to send a distress message confirming for the first time to the U.S.Office of Naval Intelligenceand Americans that American POWs were being tortured in North Vietnam. He repeatedly blinked his eyes inMorse codeduring the interview, spelling out the word "T-O-R-T-U-R-E". He was also questioned about his support for the U.S. war effort inVietnam,to which he replied: "I don't know what is happening, but whatever the position of my government is, I support it fully. Whatever the position of my government, I believe in it, yes, sir. I am a member of that government, and it is my job to support it, and I will as long as I live."While a prisoner, he was promoted to the rank ofcaptain.Denton was later awarded theNavy Crossfor heroism and thePurple Heartfor wounds incurred while a prisoner of war.

Navy Captain Jeremiah Denton atClark Air Base,Philippines,shortly after his release as a POW in Hanoi, in February 1973.

Denton was first sent to theHỏa Lò Prison,nicknamed the "Hanoi Hilton", and was later transferred to the Cu Loc Detention Center, nicknamed the "Zoo". In 1967 he was transferred to a prison nicknamed "Alcatraz". Here, he became part of a group of American POWs known as the "Alcatraz Gang".The group consisted ofGeorge Coker,Harry Jenkins,Sam Johnson,George McKnight, James Mulligan, Howard Rutledge, Robert Shumaker,James Stockdale(who had graduated with Denton from the Naval Academy), Ronald Storz, and Nels Tanner. They were put in "Alcatraz" andsolitary confinementto separate them from other POWs because their strong resistance led other POWs in resisting their captors. "Alcatraz" was a special facility in a courtyard behind the North Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense, located about one mile away from Hoa Lo Prison. Each of the American POWs spent day and night in windowless 3-by-9-foot (0.91 m × 2.74 m) cells mostly inlegcuffs.

On February 12, 1973, both Denton and Tschudy were released in Hanoi by the North Vietnamese along with numerous other American POWs duringOperation Homecoming.Stepping off the jet back home in uniform, Denton said: "We are honored to have had the opportunity to serve our country under difficult circumstances. We are profoundly grateful to ourCommander-in-Chiefand to our nation for this day. God bless America. "The speech has a prominent place in the 1987 documentary,Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam.

Denton was briefly hospitalized at theNaval Hospital Portsmouth, Virginia,and then was assigned to theCommander, Naval Air Forces,U.S. Atlantic Fleet,from February to December 1973. In January 1974, Denton became the commandant of theArmed Forces Staff Collegein Norfolk (now known as theJoint Forces Staff College),to June 1977.His final assignment was as special assistant to the Chief of Naval Education and Training atNaval Air Station Pensacola,Florida,from June 1977 until his retirement from the Navy on November 1, 1977 with the rank ofRear Admiral.

After retirement

Denton accepted a position with theChristian Broadcasting Network(CBN) as a consultant to CBN founder and friend,Pat Robertson,from 1978 to 1980. During his time with CBN, both Denton and Robertson repeatedly expressed support for theContraforces inNicaragua.In 1981, he founded and chaired the National Forum Foundation. Through his National Forum Foundation, Denton arranged shipments of donated goods to countries in need of aid.

Denton founded the Coalition for Decency, which tried to clean up television by urging boycotts of sponsors that promoted sexual promiscuity.

Political career

Denton withPresidentRonald Reaganin 1986

In 1980, Denton ran as aRepublicanfor a U.S. Senate seat from his home state of Alabama, and was supported byJerry Falwell'sMoral Majority.In the primary election, he easily defeated former U.S. CongressmanArmistead Selden,a Democrat who had switched parties and garnered the support of the Republican establishment in the state. He then achieved a surprise victory with 50.2 percent of the vote in November overDemocraticcandidateJim Folsom Jr.,who himself had defeated the incumbent,Donald W. Stewart,in the Democratic primary election. In doing so, Denton became the first retired Navy admiral elected to the United States Senate. He was the second retired Navy admiral to serve in the U.S. Senate, as AdmiralThomas C. HartofConnecticutwas appointed to fill a vacant Senate seat and served from November 15, 1945, to November 5, 1946.

He was the first Republican to be popularly elected in Alabama since the direct election of U.S. senators began in 1913, the first Republican senator sinceReconstructionto represent Alabama in the U.S. Senate, and the first Catholic to be elected to statewide office in Alabama.

As a senator, Denton was most outspoken on issues related to the regulation of sexual promiscuity and the preservation of thenuclear family,a goal that he sought to pursue through a $30 million bill to push chastity among teenagers.In 1981 he was able to pass theAdolescent Family Life Act(nicknamed the "Chastity Bill" ) as a part of the 1981 omnibus.

Denton was also outspoken on national security issues, particularly with regard to the Soviet Union. By the mid-1980s, he toldTimeat the outset of the decade, "We will have less national security than we had proportionately when George Washington's troops were walking around barefoot at Valley Forge."Along with Republican senatorsOrrin Hatchand John East, Denton set up and later chaired the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Security and Terrorism, which focused on communist and Soviet threats.Citing testimonies from journalistClaire Sterling,former CIA directorWilliam Colby,neoconservative writerMichael Ledeenand journalist and spy thriller writerArnaud de Borchgrave,the committee alleged that left-wing activist groups, publications, and think tanks had been infiltrated by Soviet agents of theKGB.Media at the time referred to committee's role and its accusations bearing similarity to the Red Scare tactics used by Senator Joseph McCarthy in the 1940s and 1950s.

In 1986, Dentonnarrowly lost his bid for reelectionto the U.S. Senate, receiving 49.7 percent of the vote against U.S. CongressmanRichard Shelby,a conservative Democrat who later became a Republican.

Personal life

In 2007, Denton's first wife and the mother of his seven children, the former Kathryn Jane Maury, died after 61 years of marriage. He married Mary Belle Bordone in 2010.

His children includedJames S. Denton,publisher and editor ofWorld Affairsand the director of theWorld Affairs Institute.In January 2024, Denton's grandson, Jeremiah (Jake) A. Denton IV, announced his candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives,Virginia, 2nd District.

Denton died of complications from a heart ailment at a hospice inVirginia Beachon March 28, 2014, at age 89.He is buried atArlington National Cemeterywith his wife Jane.

Military awards

Denton's awards and decorations include:

Naval Aviator Badge
Navy Cross	Defense Distinguished Service Medal	Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star w/ two5⁄16"Gold Stars	Distinguished Flying Cross	Bronze Star w/ Combat "V" four5⁄16"Gold Stars
Purple Heart w/ one5⁄16"Gold Star	Air Medal w/Strike/Flight Numeral2	Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal w/ Combat "V"
Combat Action Ribbon	Navy Unit Commendation	Prisoner of War Medal
Navy Expeditionary Medal	American Campaign Medal	World War II Victory Medal
Navy Occupation Service Medal w/ 'Japan' clasp	National Defense Service Medal w/ one3⁄16"Bronze Star	Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Vietnam Service Medal w/ three3⁄16"silver stars and one3⁄16"bronze star	Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation w/ Palm and Frame	Vietnam Campaign Medal

Navy Cross citation

Denton Jr., Jeremiah Andrew

Rear Admiral (then Commander), U.S Navy

Prisoner of War in North Vietnam

Date of Action: February 1966 – May 1966

Citation:

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Rear Admiral [then Commander] Jeremiah Andrew Denton Jr. (NSN: 0-485087), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism while serving as aPrisoner of War in North Vietnamfrom February 1966 to May 1966. Under constant pressure from North Vietnamese interrogators and guards, Rear Admiral Denton experienced harassment, intimidation and ruthless treatment in their attempt to gain military information and cooperative participation for propaganda purposes. During this prolonged period of physical and mental agony, he heroically resisted cruelties and continued to promulgate resistance policy and detailed instructions. Forced to attend a press conference with a Japanese correspondent, he blinked out a distress message in Morse Code at the television camera and was understood by United States Naval Intelligence. When this courageous act was reported to the North Vietnamese, he was again subjected to severe brutalities. Displaying extraordinary skill, fearless dedication to duty, and resourcefulness, he reflected great credit upon himself, and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces.

Book

• Denton, Jeremiah (with Ed Brandt) (1976).When Hell Was in Session.Reader's Digest Press.ISBN0-88349-112-5.

See also

• Doug Hegdahl

External links

• Biography of Senator Denton in the Biographical Directory of the US Congress
• AppearancesonC-SPAN
• Admiral Jeremiah Denton Foundation
• Jeremiah Denton Jr.at theEncyclopedia of Alabama
• Article on RADM Denton not being allowed to speak before California Assembly on July 4, 2004