; and (B) the second-longest-held prisoner of war in the history of the United States, surviving more than 8 1/2 years in captivity. (2) CDR Alvarez was born in Salinas, California, in 1937 and was the grandchild of Mexican immigrants. (3) CDR Alvarez attended Salinas Union High School and Hartnell College and received a bachelor of science degree from Santa Clara University. (4) In 1960, CDR Alvarez joined the Navy and was commissioned as Ensign. (5) After receiving his commission, CDR Alvarez attended flight training at the Naval Air Training Command in Pensacola, Florida. (6) In June 1961, CDR Alvarez was transferred to the Naval Auxiliary Air Station in Kingsville, Texas, where he trained until December 1961. (7) CDR Alvarez was promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade in April 1962. (8) In June 1962, CDR Alvarez joined Attack Squadron 144, nicknamed the Roadrunners , which was deployed to the Gulf of Tonkin before the United States entered the Vietnam War in August 1964. (9) On August 5, 1964, while flying Operation Pierce Arrow from the USS Constellation near the Vietnam-China border, CDR Alvarez’s A–4 Skyhawk was shot down, and he was captured by a Vietnamese fishing vessel. (10) Upon capture, CDR Alvarez was taken to the Hòa Lò Prison in Hanoi, known to many former prisoners as the Hanoi Hilton . (11) CDR Alvarez spent his first 13 months, 8 days, and 5 hours in isolation. (12) While at Hòa Lò, CDR Alvarez was repeatedly beaten and tortured, was fed inedible meals, and suffered malnourishment. (13) In September 1965, CDR Alvarez was moved to the Briarpatch , a prison camp west of Hanoi that had no electricity or running water. (14) Despite torture and interrogation, CDR Alvarez remained loyal to the United States and assisted other American prisoners of war. (15) CDR Alvarez, through his own actions, encouraged and inspired fellow prisoners of war to return with honor , which meant keeping their integrity in the face of torture and not cooperating with or divulging information to the enemy, so that they could