Vietnam War pilot USN Commander Al Carpenter of Cobbs Creek will be the subject of a Harry Smith segment on NBC’s Today Show on Friday, Feb. 7. The show airs from 7-11 a.m., with the segment featuring Carpenter airing shortly after 8. The interview was previously scheduled to air on Jan. 23, but was delayed.
Carpenter said his interview with Smith came about when one of the show’s producers, Caroline Gottlieb, was visiting the Price of Freedom exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution and saw a prison uniform Carpenter wore while incarcerated for seven years in Vietnam.
Carpenter was firing rockets at targets near Haiphong Harbor in November 1966 when he was hit by a missile. He managed to continue fighting and leading the attack before having to eject from his burning aircraft. He landed in Haiphong Harbor.
With both arms broken and dislocated and a broken leg, Carpenter was captured by Vietnamese villagers and eventually turned over to the Vietnamese military. From there, he was sent to the infamous Hanoi Hilton prison.
Released during Operation Homecoming in 1973, Carpenter spent four months in the hospital before going back on flying status and becoming an instructor at NAS Oceana. His numerous medals include three Silver Stars, two Bronze Stars, “two or three” Purple Hearts, and the Legion of Merit with a combat V.
Gottlieb contacted Carpenter and asked him if Smith could do a story about him. Carpenter was reluctant because he hadn’t done publicity in a long time and he no longer travels well, but when Gottlieb offered to come to his home in Mathews, he couldn’t say no.
The camera crew arrived on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and set up their equipment for taping the following day, said Carpenter. They spent the night in Gloucester and returned early Wednesday morning, setting up the camera on the deck outside and shooting into his living room. Smith, whom Carpenter described as “a very nice fellow,” arrived at 9:30 a.m., and they all stayed until 12:30 p.m.
NOTE: Edited to reflect the delay in the air date as well as the new date.