Thomasville, GA
Orson Swindle is a decorated Vietnam War POW who survived six years in captivity. A retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel, he served as FTC Commissioner and Assistant Secretary of Commerce under President Reagan.
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Orson G. Swindle III is a decorated Marine Corps veteran and former prisoner of war who survived six years and four months in North Vietnamese captivity. As a Marine Corps Naval Aviator, he flew over 200 combat sorties in the F-8E Crusader during the Vietnam War before being shot down on November 11, 1966, on his 205th and final scheduled combat mission.
During his captivity, Swindle endured torture and interrogation in various camps including the notorious Hanoi Hilton, where he shared a cell with future Senator John McCain. He was released on March 4, 1973, and retired from the Marine Corps in 1979 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. His 20 military decorations for valor include two Silver Stars, two Bronze Stars, and two Purple Hearts.
After military service, Swindle built a distinguished career in government. He served as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Development under President Reagan from 1981 to 1989, managing the Department of Commerce's national economic development efforts. He later served as a Commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission from 1997 to 2005, and as Senior Policy Advisor at Hunton & Williams LLP from 2005 to 2009, focusing on privacy and information security issues.
Swindle was also active in politics, serving as executive director of Ross Perot's United We Stand America and running as a Republican congressional candidate in Hawaii's 1st District in 1994 and 1996.
Born in Thomasville, Georgia, Swindle graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in Industrial Management and later earned an MBA from Florida State University. He has appeared on the Kim Monson Show to share his POW experience and discuss threats to American liberty, drawing parallels between communist propaganda and contemporary ideological challenges.
May 3, 2021
Rep. Van Bieber discusses HB 21-1191 to ban vaccine discrimination. Vietnam POW Orson Swindle on threats to American liberty. May 3, 2021.
“We are being assaulted as a people, as a country, from every possible direction, and it's taking its toll.”
“We had nothing other than what was inside of our hearts and heads going for us in prison. You can physically be beaten down into submission time and time again.”
November 10, 2020
Economy, Business & Taxes
POW Orson Swindle recounts six years in Hanoi, Alfredo Ortiz warns of Biden threats to small business. November 10, 2020.
“I would hope that our people understand the sacrifices have been made for all of us. I fear we have roughly half the people in this country that don't know our history.”
May 27, 2019
Culture, Community & Civil Society
Vietnam POW Orson Swindle shares his harrowing story of 2,304 days in captivity at the Hanoi Hilton and reflects on preserving freedom. Broadcast May 27, 2019.
“And I spent the night being spit on, urinated on, beaten with sticks, hit by rocks and stones and so forth. And I was in a state of shock, as you might expect from the experience.”
“I know from history that the surest way you repeat history is to forget it. And by erasing history, we are wiping out very significant aspects of the history of this country.”
“This is the greatest country on the face of the earth, and we are a magnificent, generous, self-sacrificing group of people.”
May 22, 2019
Civic Engagement & Grassroots
Vietnam POW Orson Swindle discusses preserving American principles as Denver advances aggressive housing policies. May 22, 2019.
“We are seeing an enormous employment of propaganda, the likes of which I've never seen before. We're seeing that happen right here in our own country right now.”
“Those people who don't pay much attention to politics will wind up being ruled by tyrants at the worst and incompetent at the best.”
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