James Williams has many things he wants to do in his life and one of them is meeting the pilot who shot down his plane during the Vietnam War.

Lieutenant Colonel James Williams has just accomplished one of his meaningful goals in life in November when he returned to Hanoi with veterans who fought in Vietnam. The trip was organized by the non-profit organization Valor Administration, members of the Vietnam-US Friendship Association and Vietnamese veterans to help the veterans who are facing psychological trauma after the war to heal their mental wounds. .

"There are many Vietnamese veterans who still carry war wounds that have not been healed," said Adriane Baan, a representative of Valor Administration.

Mr. Williams, 75, admits visiting Vietnam and meeting former enemies on the other side of the battlefield is a therapy. What impressed Williams the most, however, was the unannounced meeting with Nguyen Thi Lam, the wife of pilot Do Van Lanh, who shot down his plane nearly 50 years ago.

At first, Williams felt it was not easy to meet Lam. When they started talking through the translator, the tension eased. Ms. Lam showed him pictures of Mr. Lanh and said she was sorry that her husband shot down Williams' plane.

Williams is a Tennessee State University alumnus when he came to Vietnam to join the war and participated in a bombing campaign conducted by the US Air and Navy forces in North Vietnam, called the Linebacker I. However, his mission quickly failed when the F-4D Phantom fighter was hit by a rocket fired by Mr. Lanh, forcing the American pilot to parachute and was captured by the Vietnamese army on May 20, 1972.

"It was an aerial clash," Williams said. "That day, my duty time was 40 days. In fact, I'm on my 228th battle mission."

Williams was then detained at Hoa Lo prison for 313 days and finally released on March 28, 1973. Returning to the United States, he taught air training for 20 years at a school in Georgia. Currently, he is a member of the War Prisoners Advisory Committee of the US Department of Veterans Affairs.

Earlier this year, Williams connected with the Valor Administration and was informed of his visit to Vietnam, a golden opportunity for him to fulfill a part of the list of life goals.

"My plan was to meet the pilot who shot down my plane but he passed away in 1980, so they allowed me to see his wife," Williams said. "I offered her condolences. This trip really helped me to close the past."

In addition to meeting Lam and many Vietnamese veterans, Williams also visited Hoa Lo prison, which is now a museum, and found herself in a photo of two rows of US Air Force being released.

He also had the opportunity to experience the changing skin of Hanoi after decades. In his eyes, a Hanoi that had been destroyed by bombs has now become a modern city.

"The meeting was something I wanted to do but didn't think I had the chance to do it," Williams said.