Everett Alvarez, Jr.

Everett Alvarez, Jr.
Commander Everett Alvarez, Jr.
Born	(1937-12-23) December 23, 1937 (age 79) Salinas, California, United States
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1960–1980
Rank	Commander
Battles/wars	Vietnam War
Awards	Silver Star Legion of Merit (2) Distinguished Flying Cross Bronze Star Medal (2) Purple Heart (2)
Other work	Deputy Director, Peace Corps Deputy Director, Veterans Administration Founder Alvarez & Associates

Everett Alvarez Jr. (born December 23, 1937) is a former U.S. Navy Commander who endured one of the longest periods as a prisoner of war (POW) in American military history. Alvarez was the second U.S. pilot to be downed and detained during the Vietnam War and spent over eight years in captivity; making him the second longest-held American POW, after U.S. Army Colonel Floyd James Thompson.

Alvarez was born in 1937 in Salinas, California. He is the grandson of immigrants from Mexico. He went to Santa Clara University on an academic scholarship. He joined the United States Navy in 1960 and was selected for pilot training. On August 5, 1964, during Operation Pierce Arrow, LTJG. Alvarez's Douglas A-4 Skyhawk was shot down in the immediate aftermath of what is known as the Gulf of Tonkin incident. Alvarez endured eight years and seven months of brutal captivity by the North Vietnamese at the Hỏa Lò Prison (sarcastically known as the "Hanoi Hilton" by fellow POWs), in which he was repeatedly beaten and tortured. Alvarez was especially esteemed by his fellow prisoners because he was for almost a year the only aviator prisoner of war.

He was released on February 12, 1973 as part of the first group of American POWs repatriated under Operation Homecoming, after spending 3,113 days in captivity. After hospitalization, Alvarez briefly attended refresher flight training with VT-21 at NAS Kingsville and then attended the U.S. Naval Post Graduate School, where he received a Master's Degree in Operations Research and Systems Analysis in October 1976. His final assignment was in Program Management at the Naval Air Systems Command in Washington, D.C., from October 1976 until his retirement from the Navy on June 30, 1980