Operation Homecoming brought 591 American prisoners of war (POW) back from Vietnam between February 12, 1973, and April 4, 1973.
The POW’s first U.S. military base they arrived at was Clark AFB, Philippines.
The POW’s first stepped back into the United States at Hickam AFB, Hawaii.
June 18, 1981: VFW Post 970 dedicated a monument commemorating the end of Operation Homecoming at the Hickam gas station, near to where the POW’s first stepped back into the United States.
April 4, 1997: VFW Post 970 along with the PACAF Top Three and the Chiefs Group of Hawaii rededicated a new monument commemorating the end of Operation Homecoming.
September 20, 2013: An Operation Homecoming monument was placed across the street from the Hickam gas station.
The 50th Anniversary Ceremony of the end of Operation Homecoming was held April 4, 2023 at the monument across the Hickam gas station. Ceremony at 1900 (5:00 PM)