POW/MIA event observed at Nellis — PHOTOS
A wreath frames Korean War veteran Gene Ramos during the National POW/MIA Recognition Day at Freedom Park at Nellis Air Force Base on Friday, Sept. 18,2015. He was a POW from April 1950-Aug. 1953. JEFF SCHEID/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Follow @jlscheid
Members of the Air Force Junior ROTC salute during National POW/MIA Recognition Day at Freedom Park at Nellis Air Force Base on Friday, Sept. 18,2015. JEFF SCHEID/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Follow @jlscheid
Brig. Gen. Christopher M. Short, 57th Wing commander, speaks during the National POW/MIA Recognition Day at Freedom Park at Nellis Air Force Base on Friday, Sept. 18,2015. JEFF SCHEID/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Follow @jlscheid
Air Force Junior ROTC cadet Vanessa Cruz places a flower on a wreath during National POW/MIA Recognition Day at Freedom Park at Nellis Air Force Base on Friday, Sept. 18,2015. JEFF SCHEID/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Follow @jlscheid
Members of the Nellis Honor Guard stand while the missing man formation is performed during the National POW/MIA Recognition Day at Freedom Park at Nellis Air Force Base on Friday, Sept. 18,2015. JEFF SCHEID/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Follow @jlscheid
Vietnam War veteran Gary Mitchell stands near a F4C Phantom airplane during the National POW/MIA Recognition Day at Freedom Park at Nellis Air Force Base on Friday, Sept. 18,2015. JEFF SCHEID/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Follow @jlscheid
Airmen gather during the National POW/MIA Recognition Day at Freedom Park at Nellis Air Force Base on Friday, Sept. 18,2015. He was a POW from April 1950-Aug. 1953. JEFF SCHEID/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Follow @jlscheid
Members of the Nellis Honor Guard present the colors during the National POW/MIA Recognition Day at Freedom Park at Nellis Air Force Base on Friday, Sept. 18,2015. JEFF SCHEID/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Follow @jlscheid
Airmen gather during the National POW/MIA Recognition Day at Freedom Park at Nellis Air Force Base on Friday, Sept. 18,2015. JEFF SCHEID/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Follow @jlscheid
World War II veteran Vincent Shank,99, is applauded during the National POW/MIA Recognition Day at Freedom Park at Nellis Air Force Base on Friday, Sept. 18,2015. He was a POW from July 5, 1945 until the end of the war in Europe. JEFF SCHEID/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Follow @jlscheid
World War II veteran Dean Whitaker sits during National POW/MIA Recognition Day at Freedom Park at Nellis Air Force Base on Friday, Sept. 18,2015. He was a POW in Stalag VII-Camp in Germany.JEFF SCHEID/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Follow @jlscheid
Vietnam War veteran Gary Mitchell stands during the National POW/MIA Recognition Day at Freedom Park at Nellis Air Force Base on Friday, Sept. 18,2015. JEFF SCHEID/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Follow @jlscheid
World War II veteran Vincent Shank,99, stands during the National POW/MIA Recognition Day at Freedom Park at Nellis Air Force Base on Friday, Sept. 18,2015. He was a POW from July 5, 1945 until the end of the war in Europe. JEFF SCHEID/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Follow @jlscheid
Vietnam War veteran Gary Mitchell chats with other veterans during the National POW/MIA Recognition Day at Freedom Park at Nellis Air Force Base on Friday, Sept. 18,2015. JEFF SCHEID/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Follow @jlscheid
World War II veteran Dean Whitaker sits during National POW/MIA Recognition Day at Freedom Park at Nellis Air Force Base on Friday, Sept. 18,2015. He was a POW in Stalag VII-Camp in Germany.JEFF SCHEID/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Follow @jlscheid
Airmen gather during the National POW/MIA Recognition Day at Freedom Park at Nellis Air Force Base on Friday, Sept. 18,2015. JEFF SCHEID/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Follow @jlscheid
Veteran James Smales takes a photo during National POW/MIA Recognition Day at Freedom Park at Nellis Air Force Base on Friday, Sept. 18,2015. JEFF SCHEID/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Follow @jlscheid
Brig. Gen. Christopher M. Short, 57th Wing commander, paused to reflect during the National POW/MIA Recognition Day at Freedom Park at Nellis Air Force Base on Friday, Sept. 18,2015. JEFF SCHEID/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Follow @jlscheid
The number of Americans missing in action is mind-boggling. For World War II, the number is 73,515; Korean War, 7,841; Vietnam War, 1,626; Cold War, 126; Iraq and other conflicts, six. On Friday, veterans, dignitaries, ROTC and airmen gathered at Freedom Park at Nellis Air Force Base for the annual POW/MIA Recognition Ceremony.
Korean War veteran Gene Ramos remembers the day in April 1950 that he was captured because the next day he was supposed to go on R&R. The day he was released in August 1953 was the "best feeling in my life," he said.
