POWERS GLOWS AT NEIGHBORS' WARM GREETING

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75-00001R000400080116-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: November 17, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 8, 1999
• Sequence Number: 116
• Publication Date: March 12, 1962
• Content Type: NSPR

W&ed For Release 2000/08/03 :a9k-Rb 00
25X1A
Powers lows
At lNeighbors'
Warm Greeting
BIG STONE GAP, Va. (AP) - U-2 pilot Francis
Gary Powers was the center of a warm reception to-
day in his first face-to-face meeting with his southwest
rginia neighbors since his release from a Russian
prison.
"It's almost impossible to tell
how I feel," the 32-year-old pilot
commented on his reception.
"They all seemed happy to see
me and, believe me, I'm very
He met with old friends in a
small cafe in Norton prior to a
more formal homecoming cere-
mony later in the day at an armo-
ry here.
OLD ACCENT
Powers, his hair tinged with
gray, told a newsman, "It sure is
nice to bear a Virginia accent
again." -
Flashing a pleasant smile for
a11, Power said he was "just now
getting the brunt of the public
,ye ... I had been away from it
for several days."
The mountain folk greeted.the
man in the simply cut Ivy League
suit with, "Congratulations, Fran-
cis" or "We're glad you're back."
His plans to buy a new suit
went awry because of the crowd
that gathered to see him, most for
the first time.
Powers said he would spend a
few days in the area with his par.
ents and five sisters.
SHORT SLEEP
powers arrived early yester?
day at nearby Pound, after a
klrive from Washington. He spent
the rest of the morning e hours,
pvith his family, got
sleep and was up again.
After a home-cooked turkey din
ner last night, Powers said "there
are no words to describe" his feel-
ing at revisiting his home. He said
it was the first time he and his
five sisters had been together
since 1933.
His wife, Mrs. Barbara Powers,
was not on hand for the home-
ng-
Approved For Release 2000/08/03 : CIA-RDP75-00001 R000400080116-8