Leon F. "Lee" Ellis

Last updated
Leon Francis Ellis, Jr.
Lee Ellis - Formal Photo 2 Med.jpg
Born (1943-10-09) October 9, 1943 (age 80)
Commerce, Georgia, U.S.
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch Seal of the US Air Force.svg United States Air Force
Years of service1965–1990
Rank US-O6 insignia.svg Colonel
Unit 366th Tactical Fighter Wing
Commands held 560th Flying Training Squadron
USAF ROTC Detachment University of Georgia
Battles/wars Vietnam War
Awards Silver Star BAR.svg Silver Star (2)
Legion of Merit ribbon.svg Legion of Merit (2)
Bronze Star ribbon.svg Bronze Star (2)
Purple Heart ribbon.svg Purple Heart
Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg Meritorious Service Medal (4)
Air Medal ribbon.svg Air Medal (9)
RelationsMary Ellis (Wife)
Patrick, Kristy, Lance and Meredith (Children)
Other workFounder and President of Leadership Freedom LLC and FreedomStar Media

Leon F. "Lee" Ellis (born October 9, 1943) is a retired United States Air Force colonel, award-winning author, speaker, and consultant. [1] Ellis gained notoriety when, as a fighter pilot in the Vietnam War, he was shot down, captured, and spent 5+1⁄2 years as a prisoner of war in Hanoi and surrounding areas with former presidential candidate and Senator John McCain (R-AZ) and others. [2] His capture occurred on November 7, 1967, and he was released on March 14, 1973. [3] He was one of the youngest, junior members in the camps. [2] Ellis is an international speaker and consultant on the subjects of leadership and human performance, organizational integrity, operational effectiveness, and personal accountability. He frequently consults with various organizations—from small businesses to Fortune 500 organizations on these subjects. [4] Ellis' latest book, Leadership Behavior DNA: Discovering Natural Talents and Managing Differences was published in 2020 with co-author Hugh Massie. Engage with Honor: Building a Culture of Courageous Accountability published in 2016 and his last award-winning book, Leading with Honor: Leadership Lessons from the Hanoi Hilton published in 2012, share his POW experience and the leadership principles that helped him and his compatriots resist, survive, and return with honor. [5] His previous book, Leading Talents, Leading Teams, was published by Northfield Publishing and shares in-depth team concepts on how to lead and manage based on individual, innate gifts and talents. Additionally, Lee has co-authored three additional books and workbooks on career planning. [6]

Contents

Early life

Ellis was born in Commerce, Georgia, to Leon and Molene Ellis. His father was a food service manager at the University of Georgia, and his mother was a middle school science teacher. He has one brother, Robert Ellis. Ellis had early memories of being interested in airplanes and flying. He recalls a moment at 5-years old when he climbed on a World War II airplane in a local park and told his parents this is what he wanted to do when he grew up. [7] His parents encouraged his early interest in flying. He went to Ila Elementary and Commerce High School; and though he maintained good grades, he admittedly was not a disciplined student. He lettered in multiple sports including football, basketball, and baseball and was a good athlete.

After high school, Ellis attended the University of Georgia in Athens and enrolled in Air Force ROTC. He graduated with a B.A. degree in History while pursuing his passion for a military aviation career. Upon graduation from the University of Georgia in 1965, he was selected as a Distinguished Graduate of AFROTC and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force.

Military service

Ellis entered pilot training program at Moody Air Force Base, Valdosta, Georgia. Fifty-three weeks later he received his Wings and an assignment to combat training in the F-4C Phantom fighter bomber with follow-on orders to Vietnam. [8] In addition to his academic achievements mentioned above, Ellis also graduated from the Armed Forces Staff College and the Air War College, and earned a Master of Science Degree in Counseling and Human Development from Troy University in Montgomery, Alabama. [8]

POW experience

After arriving in Vietnam, Ellis was assigned to execute bombing raids in North Vietnam, one of the heaviest guarded regions of the country. On his 53rd mission, he and aircraft commander, Captain Ken Fisher, received serious damage to their F-4C Phantom aircraft. Both men had to eject from the fighter jet and were immediately captured on the ground when they landed with their parachutes. [9] After two weeks of traveling through various regions in a Vietnamese military vehicle, they arrived at the Hoa Loa Prison in Hanoi, Vietnam (also known as the Hanoi Hilton). Hoa Loa was an old French Bastille prison fortified strongly to keep prisoners from escaping. For the next 9 months, Lee and three other comrades shared 6'x7.5' cell.

Over the next 5 ½ years, Ellis' described his POW experience as "moments of boredom interrupted by stark moments of terror." In addition to physically torturing prisoners for information, the prison would broadcast anti-American propaganda several times a day throughout the entire camp as a means of breaking their spirit and confidence. Ellis and his comrades began using several forms of subversive communication to stay in touch with each other without being caught. Ellis became one of the key communicators in the camps using a tap code system used by American World War II POWs in Germany. (This was also highlighted in Arthur Koestler's book about the Soviet Gulags, Darkness at Noon ). The code uses a 5x5 matrix composed of the 26 letters of the alphabet, with K and C being the same tap code. For example, the word "Hi" would consist of two taps, then three taps for "H"; and two taps, then four taps for "I". The POWs tapped letters and words through the thick walls to form messages that each cell would pass along to the next.

Some of Ellis' fellow senior ranking officers in the camps were Colonel Robbie Risner USAF, CAPT Jeremiah Denton USN, and CAPT Jim Stockdale USN. In the prison camps, frequently the senior-ranking officers received the first and most harsh treatment in an effort to obtain propaganda and information. Much of the torture abuse was aimed at discouraging the senior officers from carrying out leadership duties.

Prisoners of war were released from the camps in order of capture through Operation Homecoming. On March 14, 1973, Lee and several comrades, including Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), were flown from Vietnam to Clark Air Base, Philippines. [3] From there, Ellis and others eventually landed at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, where he was reunited with his family. Ellis was single at the time of his capture.

Later career

After repatriation he returned to flying duties with increasing positions of leadership. Rising to the rank of colonel before retirement, Ellis's assignments included duty as a pilot, flight instructor, staff officer, chief of flight standardization and evaluation, flying squadron commander, and supervisor in higher education. He supervised, educated, and trained officers for the last 17 years of his U.S. Air Force career. Ellis served as the Vice Commandant of the Squadron Officer School, the Air Force's leadership school for captains. He completed his Air Force career as professor of aerospace studies and commander of Air Force ROTC at the University of Georgia, retiring with almost twenty-five years of service.

Awards and decorations

Ellis is a command pilot whose decorations include the Silver Star with one Oak Leaf Cluster; the Legion of Merit with one Oak Leaf Cluster; the Bronze Star with Valor Device; the Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters; the Purple Heart; the Air Medal with eight Oak Leaf Clusters; and the Prisoner of War Medal. In addition, he was awarded four Air Force Commendation Medals and four Meritorious Service Medals for performance excellence. [10] He retired after 24 years of service with the rank of colonel. He was selected in 1975 as the Air Force nominee for the U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce's "Ten Outstanding Men of the Year" Award.

COMMAND PILOT WINGS.png Command Pilot Badge
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Silver Star BAR.svg
Silver Star with bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Legion of Merit ribbon.svg
Legion of Merit with bronze oak leaf cluster
Valor device.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze Star ribbon.svg
Bronze Star Medal with bronze oak leaf clusters with 'V' device
Purple Heart BAR.svg Purple Heart
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg
Meritorious Service Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters
Silver oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Air Medal ribbon.svg
Air Medal with silver and three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation ribbon.svg Air Force Commendation Medal
AF Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon.png Air Force Presidential Unit Citation
Valor device.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Outstanding Unit ribbon.svg
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters and 'V' Device
Outstanding Unit ribbon.svg Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (second ribbon required for accouterment spacing)
Prisoner of War ribbon.svg Prisoner of War Medal
National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg National Defense Service Medal
Silver-service-star-3d.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Vietnam Service Medal ribbon.svg
Vietnam Service Medal with silver and three bronze campaign stars
Silver oakleaf-3d.svg
Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon.svg
Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon with silver oak leaf cluster
Silver oakleaf-3d.svg
Air Force Longevity Service ribbon.svg
Air Force Longevity Service Award with silver oak leaf cluster
USAF Marksmanship ribbon.svg Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon.svg Air Force Training Ribbon
Vietnam gallantry cross unit award-3d.svg Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg Vietnam Campaign Medal

Post-military career

Based on Ellis' previous education and experience with behavioral assessment and human development, he accepted the role as Director of Career/Life Pathways from 1990 – 1998. He led the development team that researched, developed, and validated Career Direct®, a vocational assessment package and two personality assessments with software applications. [11] From 1998 to 2008, he was responsible for product development of three more behavioral and leadership assessments as well as the launch and Internet deployment of these resources through a previously co-owned company, RightPath Resources. [12] He has also developed and released his latest assessment tool, the N8Traits™ Profile. In total, these assessments have been used by more than 200,000 individuals and are the instrument of choice in many organizations, including Fortune 500 companies and nationally recognized not-for-profits. [13] As an author during this period, Ellis has also written three books – Leading with Honor: Leadership Lessons from the Hanoi Hilton, published by his own publishing company, FreedomStar Media™; it has won several awards including a winner in the 2012 International Book Awards in the Business and Management category; [14] 2012 Indie Excellence Awards winner in the Leadership category; [15] 2012 ForeWord Reviews Book of the Year Finalist in the Business and Economics category; [16] and inclusion in the 2013 U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Reading List. [17] Leading Talents, Leading Teams, published by Northfield Publishing, was written in 2003. [18] He has also co-authored three books and workbooks on career planning with Crown Financial Ministries' co-founder, Larry Burkett. [19] In 2008, Ellis founded a new company, Leadership Freedom® LLC, dba Leading with Honor®, that develops and presents leadership curricula and training focusing on management performance, leadership accountability and principle-based management strategies. In 2011, he founded FreedomStar Media™, a publishing company that provides leadership resources and training.

Ellis is also a keynote speaker and media guest throughout the world on these topics.

Personal life

Ellis and his wife Mary have four grown children and six grandchildren. They reside in the metro area of Atlanta, Georgia.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hỏa Lò Prison</span> Vietnamese Prison Camp

Hỏa Lò Prison was a prison in Hanoi originally used by the French colonists in Indochina for political prisoners, and later by North Vietnam for U.S. prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. During this later period, it was known to American POWs as the "Hanoi Hilton". Following Operation Homecoming, the prison was used to incarcerate Vietnamese dissidents and other political prisoners, including the poet Nguyễn Chí Thiện. The prison was demolished during the 1990s, although its gatehouse remains a museum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Stockdale</span> US Navy admiral and aviator (1923–2005)

James Bond "Jim" Stockdale was a United States Navy vice admiral and aviator who was awarded the Medal of Honor in the Vietnam War, during which he was a prisoner of war for over seven years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Robinson Risner</span> US Air Force general

Brigadier General James Robinson "Robbie" Risner was a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force, and a senior leader among U.S. prisoners of war during the Vietnam War.

The tap code, sometimes called the knock code, is a way to encode text messages on a letter-by-letter basis in a very simple way. The message is transmitted using a series of tap sounds, hence its name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Thomas Coker</span> United States Navy commander (born 1943)

George Thomas Coker is a retired United States Navy commander who was awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism as a prisoner of war (POW) during the Vietnam War. An Eagle Scout, he is noted for his devotion to Scouting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bud Day</span> United States Air Force Medal of Honor recipient (1925–2013)

George Everette "Bud" Day was a United States Air Force officer, aviator, and veteran of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War. He was also a prisoner of war, and recipient of the Medal of Honor and Air Force Cross. As of 2016, he is the only person to be awarded both the Medal of Honor and Air Force Cross. He was posthumously advanced to the rank of brigadier general effective March 27, 2018, as directed by the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arthur D. Simons</span> United States Army Special Forces colonel

Arthur D. "Bull" Simons was a United States Army Special Forces colonel best known for leading the Sơn Tây raid, an attempted rescue of U.S. prisoners of war during the Vietnam War from a North Vietnamese prison at Sơn Tây. He also led the successful 1979 rescue of two employees of Electronic Data Systems from prison in Iran.

<i>Burst of Joy</i> Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph

Burst of Joy is a Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph by Associated Press photographer Slava "Sal" Veder, taken on March 17, 1973, at Travis Air Force Base in Solano County, California, United States involving Lt Col Robert L. Stirm and his family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation Homecoming</span> 1973 return of American POWs from North Vietnam at the end of the Vietnam War

Operation Homecoming was the return of 591 American prisoners of war (POWs) held by North Vietnam following the Paris Peace Accords that ended U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eugene McDaniel</span>

Eugene Barker McDaniel is a retired United States Navy captain, Naval Aviator and a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War. He was released from captivity on 4 March 1973 after six years of confinement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ernest C. Brace</span>

Ernest Cary Brace was the longest-held civilian prisoner of war (POW) during the Vietnam War. A decorated Marine Corps fighter pilot and mustang, Brace was court-martialed in 1961 for attempting to fake his own death. He flew as a civilian contract pilot before being captured in Laos in 1965 while flying supplies for USAID. He spent almost eight years as a POW and upon his release received a Presidential pardon in light of his good conduct.

The early life and military career of John Sidney McCain III spans the first forty-five years of his life (1936–1981). McCain's father and grandfather were admirals in the United States Navy. McCain was born on August 29, 1936, in the Panama Canal Zone, and attended many schools growing up as his family moved among naval facilities. McCain graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1958. He married the former Carol Shepp in 1965; he adopted two children from her previous marriage and they had another child together.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John A. Dramesi</span> US Air Force officer, Vietnam War-era POW

John Arthur Dramesi was a United States Air Force (USAF) colonel who was held as a prisoner of war from 2 April 1967 to 4 March 1973 in both Hoa Lo Prison, known as "The Hanoi Hilton", and Cu Loc Prison, "The Zoo", during the Vietnam War.

The Vietnam War POW/MIA issue concerns the fate of United States servicemen who were reported as missing in action (MIA) during the Vietnam War and associated theaters of operation in Southeast Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norman C. Gaddis</span> United States general (1923–2024)

Norman Carl Gaddis was a United States Air Force officer, fighter pilot and prisoner of war. At the time he was shot down over North Vietnam, Gaddis was the most senior United States Air Force officer (Colonel).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Heaphy Fellowes</span> Vietnam-era POW hero (1932–2010)

John Heaphy "Jack" Fellowes was a U.S. Navy captain, pilot who became a prisoner of war (POW) during the Vietnam War. He was known as "Happy Jack" because of his infectious sense of humor, which he maintained even while a POW. He was awarded the Silver Star for his "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity" while a POW, credited with "contributed significantly toward the eventual abandonment of harsh treatment by the North Vietnamese".

Members of the United States armed forces were held as prisoners of war (POWs) in significant numbers during the Vietnam War from 1964 to 1973. Unlike U.S. service members captured in World War II and the Korean War, who were mostly enlisted troops, the overwhelming majority of Vietnam-era POWs were officers, most of them Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps airmen; a relatively small number of Army enlisted personnel were also captured, as well as one enlisted Navy seaman, Petty Officer Doug Hegdahl, who fell overboard from a naval vessel. Most U.S. prisoners were captured and held in North Vietnam by the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN); a much smaller number were captured in the south and held by the Việt Cộng (VC). A handful of U.S. civilians were also held captive during the war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hayden Lockhart</span>

Hayden James Lockhart is a retired United States Air Force officer who is best known for being the first U.S. Air Force pilot to be shot down in North Vietnam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phillip N. Butler</span> US POW in N. Vietnam for eight years, president Veterans for Peace

Phillip Neal "Phil" Butler is a retired United States Navy officer and pilot. He was the eighth-longest-held U.S. prisoner of war (POW) held in North Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Butler, who was forced to eject after a mid-air explosion on April 20, 1965, was a prisoner of war in North Vietnam until his release as part of Operation Homecoming in 1973. Butler was one of the five POWs credited with establishing the tap code. The code enabled the prisoners to communicate with each other.

References

  1. ↑ Lee Ellis Biography, October 2, 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-2
  2. 1 2 Hanton, Tom. "Nam-POW List" . Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  3. 1 2 "Lee Ellis Military Biography". POW Network. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  4. ↑ Ellis, Lee. "Leadership Freedom LLC Website" . Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  5. ↑ "Good Reads Book Profile". Good Reads. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  6. ↑ "Northfield Publishing Biography Page". Northfield Publishing. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  7. ↑ Le Jeune, Judy. "County Line Magazine" (PDF). County Line Magazine. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  8. 1 2 Ellis, Lee. "Lee-ellis" . Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  9. ↑ "Veteran Tributes Website Biography Page". Veterans Tributes Website. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  10. ↑ "Military Times Hall of Valor". Military Times. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  11. ↑ "Career Direct Development Website". Career Direct/Crown Financial Ministries. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  12. ↑ Hugh, Massie. "DNA Behavior Biography for Lee Ellis". DNA Behavior. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  13. ↑ "Career Direct Summary Page – Assessments Sold". Career Direct/Crown Financial Ministries. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  14. ↑ "International Book Awards – 2012 Award Recipients". International Book Awards. Archived from the original on 29 June 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  15. ↑ "The National Indie Excellence Book Awards – 2012 Recipients". The National Indie Excellence Awards. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  16. ↑ "ForeWord Reviews Book of the Year Awards – 2012 Recipients". ForeWord Reviews. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  17. ↑ "U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Reading List – 2013 Recipients". U.S. Air Force. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  18. ↑ "Good Reads Profile Page – Leading Talents, Leading Teams". Good Reads. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  19. ↑ "Northfield Publishers – Author Biography Page". Northfield Publishers. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.