What is robert stirm?

Robert Stirm is a retired United States Air Force officer who is best known for being the central figure in a famous photograph taken during the Vietnam War. The photograph, known as "Burst of Joy," shows Stirm being reunited with his family at Travis Air Force Base in California after being held as a prisoner of war in Vietnam for over five years.

Stirm was shot down while flying a combat mission over North Vietnam in 1967 and was captured by the North Vietnamese. He spent over five years in various prison camps before being released in 1973 as part of the Paris Peace Accords. The iconic photograph of his reunion with his family was taken by photojournalist Sal Veder and went on to win a Pulitzer Prize.

After his release, Stirm continued his military career, eventually reaching the rank of Colonel before retiring from the Air Force. He has since become a motivational speaker and advocate for veterans issues.