 The Paris Peace Accords were signed on January 27 , 1973 , ending direct U.S. involvement in the war , but the Operation Homecoming arrangements for the 591 American POWs took longer . McCain was finally released from captivity on March 14 , 1973 , being taken by bus to Gia Lam Airport , transferred to U.S. custody , and flown by C @-@ 141 to Clark Air Base in the Philippines . 
