They had to be returned by the date we pulled out in March 1973.
For the US to re-deploy from South Vietnam...which the US did (after the POWs were returned, that was the US condition).
There was no treaty, the US simply wanted their POWs returned and then redeployed back to the US (after they were returned).
They became POWs.
For the US, we'd cease fire, receive our POW's back, and depart the country.
Return our POWs and we'll leave.
perot
Airwolf?
Nearly all of the US POWs were airmen shot down while on bombing missions over North Vietnam. Therefore, that's were they were imprisoned when they were captured...in various prisons located through-out NORTH Vietnam.
Get our POWs back and leave.
North Vietnam's prison for US POW's? Or South Vietnam prisons for communist POWs?
Uncommon valour
Less than one thousand POWs. They were released in 1973.