HÀ NỘI — Charles Jackson, a US veteran and prisoner during the war in Việt Nam, expressed a desire to find his war-time rescuers during a meeting with the Vietnam-US Society (VUS).

At the meeting on Wednesday, the former US veteran recalled his own story from many years ago.

Jackson’s plane was shot down in Mường Gió Village in Sơn La Province’s Phù Yên District on June 24, 1972. He was then arrested by the local militia and transferred to Hỏa Lò Prison in Hà Nội.

Following the Paris agreement on ending the war in Việt Nam signed on January 27, 1973, Jackson was returned to the United States.

During the meeting, Jackson said that he wants to meet and thank the people in Mường Gió Village and wardens of Hỏa Lò Prison for their kind treatment towards him during the detention.

Nguyễn Tâm Chiến, chairman of VUS, said he hopes Jackson’s return to Việt Nam will help him understand the country better.

Việt Nam-US bilateral relations have reached new heights and developed in politics, economy, trade, culture and education. People-to-people exchanges between the two countries need to be further promoted, including war relief activities, Chiến added.

He also hoped co-operation between the VUS and US veterans will be accelerated in the future, helping to strengthen Việt Nam-US relations. — VNS