serviceyears laterwork branch death_date death_place birth_place birth_date nickname rank spouse image article_title name
1947 -- 1961 pilot lead , sikorsky aircraft , birdair manager , evergreen international aviation operations flag_of_the_united_states_marine_corps . svg united states marine corps 5 december 2014 klamath falls , oregon detroit , michigan 15 august 1931 ernie captain patricia emmons -lrb- divorced -rrb- nancy jorina rusth file : ernestcbrace.jpg ernest c. brace
 ernest c. brace
ernest c. brace

ernest cary brace -lrb- august 15 , 1931 -- december 5 , 2014 -rrb- was the longest-held civilian prisoner of war -lrb- pow -rrb- 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 .
