Mr. Alpers was shot down and captured in North Vietnam on October 5, 1972. He was held as a POW until March 29, 1973, when he was returned to U.S. military control.
The Charlotte Observer
Charlotte, North Carolina
01 Feb 1973, Thu • Page 3
Associated Press
GOLDSBORO — When Air Force Captains John H. Alpers Jr. and Brian M. Ratzlaff are released from North Vietnam's prisoner of war camps they will learn they became fathers four days after a cease-fire went into effect. Sharon Alpers, whose husband was missing in action after being shot down Oct 5 until his name appeared on a POW list Saturday, gave birth to John H. Alpers III in a Wayne County Memorial Hospital early Tuesday. Three hours later, Diana Ratzlaff had a daughter Christina at the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base hospital near Goldsboro. Her husband was shot down while flying an F4 Phantom from a base in Thailand Sept 11 and also was listed as missing. Ratlaff had been in the war zone since July on his second tour of duty. Mrs. Alpers, whose parents and in-laws live in Boulder Colorado said her husband knew of her pregnancy before he left for Vietnam. She has two daughters, ages 9 and 12 years old by a previous marriage. "This baby was one of the most important things to him in the world; I never lost hope. "I had no choice; I had to hope even though I had no details" she said. "The only time I had any doubts at all about him was from the time the cease-fire was signed until we received the official word" she added. She was told late Saturday that her husband was a POW. "How can you describe it?" she said of her reaction which was "lots and lots and lots of tears and thankfulness." Alpers, 33, attended the University of Colorado.
The Charlotte Observer
Charlotte, North Carolina
01 Feb 1973, Thu • Page 3
Associated Press
GOLDSBORO — When Air Force Captains John H. Alpers Jr. and Brian M. Ratzlaff are released from North Vietnam's prisoner of war camps they will learn they became fathers four days after a cease-fire went into effect. Sharon Alpers, whose husband was missing in action after being shot down Oct 5 until his name appeared on a POW list Saturday, gave birth to John H. Alpers III in a Wayne County Memorial Hospital early Tuesday. Three hours later, Diana Ratzlaff had a daughter Christina at the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base hospital near Goldsboro. Her husband was shot down while flying an F4 Phantom from a base in Thailand Sept 11 and also was listed as missing. Ratlaff had been in the war zone since July on his second tour of duty. Mrs. Alpers, whose parents and in-laws live in Boulder Colorado said her husband knew of her pregnancy before he left for Vietnam. She has two daughters, ages 9 and 12 years old by a previous marriage. "This baby was one of the most important things to him in the world; I never lost hope. "I had no choice; I had to hope even though I had no details" she said. "The only time I had any doubts at all about him was from the time the cease-fire was signed until we received the official word" she added. She was told late Saturday that her husband was a POW. "How can you describe it?" she said of her reaction which was "lots and lots and lots of tears and thankfulness." Alpers, 33, attended the University of Colorado.
Mr. Alpers was shot down and captured in North Vietnam on October 5, 1972. He was held as a POW until March 29, 1973, when he was returned to U.S. military control.
The Charlotte Observer
Charlotte, North Carolina
01 Feb 1973, Thu • Page 3
Associated Press
GOLDSBORO — When Air Force Captains John H. Alpers Jr. and Brian M. Ratzlaff are released from North Vietnam's prisoner of war camps they will learn they became fathers four days after a cease-fire went into effect. Sharon Alpers, whose husband was missing in action after being shot down Oct 5 until his name appeared on a POW list Saturday, gave birth to John H. Alpers III in a Wayne County Memorial Hospital early Tuesday. Three hours later, Diana Ratzlaff had a daughter Christina at the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base hospital near Goldsboro. Her husband was shot down while flying an F4 Phantom from a base in Thailand Sept 11 and also was listed as missing. Ratlaff had been in the war zone since July on his second tour of duty. Mrs. Alpers, whose parents and in-laws live in Boulder Colorado said her husband knew of her pregnancy before he left for Vietnam. She has two daughters, ages 9 and 12 years old by a previous marriage. "This baby was one of the most important things to him in the world; I never lost hope. "I had no choice; I had to hope even though I had no details" she said. "The only time I had any doubts at all about him was from the time the cease-fire was signed until we received the official word" she added. She was told late Saturday that her husband was a POW. "How can you describe it?" she said of her reaction which was "lots and lots and lots of tears and thankfulness." Alpers, 33, attended the University of Colorado.
The Charlotte Observer
Charlotte, North Carolina
01 Feb 1973, Thu • Page 3
Associated Press
GOLDSBORO — When Air Force Captains John H. Alpers Jr. and Brian M. Ratzlaff are released from North Vietnam's prisoner of war camps they will learn they became fathers four days after a cease-fire went into effect. Sharon Alpers, whose husband was missing in action after being shot down Oct 5 until his name appeared on a POW list Saturday, gave birth to John H. Alpers III in a Wayne County Memorial Hospital early Tuesday. Three hours later, Diana Ratzlaff had a daughter Christina at the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base hospital near Goldsboro. Her husband was shot down while flying an F4 Phantom from a base in Thailand Sept 11 and also was listed as missing. Ratlaff had been in the war zone since July on his second tour of duty. Mrs. Alpers, whose parents and in-laws live in Boulder Colorado said her husband knew of her pregnancy before he left for Vietnam. She has two daughters, ages 9 and 12 years old by a previous marriage. "This baby was one of the most important things to him in the world; I never lost hope. "I had no choice; I had to hope even though I had no details" she said. "The only time I had any doubts at all about him was from the time the cease-fire was signed until we received the official word" she added. She was told late Saturday that her husband was a POW. "How can you describe it?" she said of her reaction which was "lots and lots and lots of tears and thankfulness." Alpers, 33, attended the University of Colorado.
Inscription
Seaman Apprentice U.S. Coast Guard
Lieutenant Colonel
U.S. Air Force
Vietnam
Distinguished Flying Cross & oak leaf cluster
Bronze Star Medal with V
Purple Heart & oak leaf cluster
Air Medal & 4 oak leaf clusters
Gravesite Details
Interred January 8, 2016
Family Members
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