Former Vietnam POW counts his blessings at Warner Robins ceremony

WARNER ROBINS -- Quin Herlik thought he had a relatively safe job when he went to Vietnam, but he ended up in a harrowing fight for survival.

A retired Army colonel, Herlik flew reconnaissance planes during the war. He ended up getting shot down and captured.

Herlik was the keynote speaker Thursday at the annual ceremony at the Museum of Aviation honoring POW/MIA Recognition Day, which is Saturday.

Herlik said he was one of the lucky ones because he was held for just a month. He and his crew were released after intervention by President Richard Nixon.

He went on to serve 30 years in the Army and now lives in Augusta, where he is commander of the local chapter of American Ex-Prisoners of War.

“None of us POWs really feel distinguished,” he said. “We really didn’t do anything other servicemen wouldn’t do in the same circumstances.”

In Vietnam he flew the RU-1 Otter with a mission of intercepting enemy radio transmissions. His crew would then relay that information to troops on the ground to try to launch attacks.

But on Feb. 12, 1969, his plane was hit with anti-aircraft fire, forcing him to land in a rice paddy at the Cambodia border. Enemy troops immediately began to converge on the American troops, who had to fight them off with pistols and a rifle long enough to destroy classified material. They eventually surrendered.

Herlik said he was first kept in a hole in the ground that didn’t allow much room for movement. Later, the POWS went on a long march and were attacked by South Vietnamese troops along the way.

At one point, when he refused to give up any information, one of his captors held a loaded pistol to his head. Herlik said he then began giving them a fabricated story.

He ended up in a prison in Cambodia before he was released.

“The fact that I went through that experience, I count my blessings every day,” he said.

He also recounted how difficult it was for his family, and the telegrams they got about him being shot down and missing in action.

“I knew my situation, but they didn’t,” he said. “They had it a lot tougher than I did, believe me.”

As has been the tradition in years past, airmen from Robins Air Force Base conducted a 24-hour relay run around the museum, carrying the POW/MIA flag.

One of those on the run was Tech Sgt. Mark Marberg of the 5th Combat Communications Group. He said he participated to recognize the sacrifice of others.

“The least we can do is run for 20 minutes,” he said.

About 300 people attended the ceremony. Col. Jeff King, commander of the 78th Air Base Wing, said it was a record crowd.

To contact writer Wayne Crenshaw, call 256-9725.

This story was originally published September 17, 2015 at 5:58 PM with the headline "Former Vietnam POW counts his blessings at Warner Robins ceremony ."