After seven years and four months being held captive in the notorious 'Hanoi Hilton' prisoner of war camp in Vietnam, Master Sargent William "Bill" Robinson was finally released. After many plane rides and layovers, Robinson arrived at Andrews Air Force Base just outside our nation's capitol where he was reunited with his family, who only two days earlier had eagerly awaited television broadcast coverage as visual proof that their 'Billy' was indeed alive and on his way home. Earlier in the day, during a layover at Scott Air Force Base near Belleville, IL, Robinson decided to join in on the excitement and celebrations. He deplaned and 'shook hands and hugged and kissed and had a great time.' A reporter covering the event for CBS commented on air that it seemed like Robinson had lots of friends and relatives. Later, the media would find out that Robinson 'didn't know a soul there'; this prompted the reporter to nickname him 'the kissing Carolinian'. Whether meant light-hearted or not, it was a well-suited nickname for a Valentine's Day homecoming.
<ul><li>Keywords: bill robinson; robinson; robinson family; vietnam; prison; hanoi hilton; scott air force base; black and white; history; historical</li></ul>
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