358: Out of Airspeed... And Ideas. With Airforce Fighter Pilot and Hanoi POW, Col. Lee Ellis.

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Jocko DEFCOR Network

Management, History, Business

4.8 • 31.3K Ratings

🗓️ 2 November 2022

⏱️ 221 minutes

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Summary

Leon F. "Lee" Ellis (born October 9, 1943) is a retired United States Air Force colonel, award-winning author, speaker, and consultant.^[1] Ellis gained notoriety when, as a fighter pilot in the Vietnam War, he was shot down, captured, and spent 5+1⁄2 years as a prisoner of war in Hanoi and surrounding areas with former presidential candidate and Senator John McCain (R-AZ) and others.^[2] His capture occurred on November 7, 1967, and he was released on March 14, 1973.^[3] He was one of the youngest, junior members in the camps.^[2] Ellis is an international speaker and consultant on the subjects of leadership and human performance.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	This is Jockel podcast number 358 with Dave Burke and me, Jockel Wellink. Good evening Dave. Good evening.
0:08.4	It is with deep personal concern that I officially inform you that your son first lieutenant Leon F. Ellis,
0:16.8	Jr. is reported missing in North Vietnam on on 7 November 1967. He was a pilot on an F4C aircraft
0:30.3	on an operational mission. His aircraft was last seen to roll in on target shortly thereafter a
0:38.4	large fireball was seen where his aircraft previously was located. The fireball descended to
0:45.6	the ground and impacted. The crew was not seen to bail out, but however, voice contact was
0:54.5	established with your son on ground. Rescue operations are in progress. Lieutenant Ellis
1:03.6	may have been captured. For his welfare, it is recommended that in reply to questions from other
1:11.4	than your immediate family, you give only his name, grade, serial number, and date of birth.
1:20.4	This is the information he must provide if captured. Please be assured when new information is
1:27.4	received, it will be furnished to you immediately. A representative from Dobbins Air Force base
1:35.2	will contact you within 48 hours to assist in any way possible. If you have any questions,
1:42.7	you may call my personal representative. Please accept my sincere sympathy during this period of
1:52.7	anxiety. Brigadier General George E. McCord, Military Personnel Center, headquarters,
2:02.0	United States Air Force. That was the telegram received by Leon and Molene Ellis, parents of
2:14.4	first lieutenant Leon Ellis, Jr. Probably one of the most terrifying things that
2:22.4	the lieutenant could ever hear about their child. But the good news is Leon Ellis Jr. or
2:32.8	Lee Ellis did survive being shot down. The bad news is he was captured. He was captured by
2:39.6	the North Vietnamese and ended up spending five and a half years as a prisoner of war.
2:46.9	But the good news is he did survive that. He went on to become a colonel in the Air Force.
2:58.0	And after that a speaker, a leadership consultant, and an author. He's written three books,
3:04.4	Leading with Honor, another book called Engage with Honor and a forthcoming book called
	...

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