what was it like being a pow in vietnam

We were kept in a 1517 warehouse six of us on a wooden pallet. An official website of theU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Looking for U.S. government information and services? Michael Hoff, was missing in action in Laos. Over 3 million people perished in the conflict, and hundreds of American and Vietnamese citizens were held in prison camps as unofficial POWs. You may also like: 50 best American war movies. I signed up to become a fighter pilot, even though I had never set foot on a planeI thought it sounded exciting. If not a hero, I am, however, a proud American veteran. The cheers continued when they landed in the Philippines, Hawaii, and Andrews AFB, Maryland. History is who we are and why we are the way we are.. The ropes were tightened to the point that you couldnt breathe. The gun jammed. Then, two days before the U.S. election, four Americans were killed in an NLF shelling of Bien Hoa Air Base, with 76 more wounded, and five B-57 bombers destroyed. The battle resulted in the deaths of 2,200 French soldiers and the capture of almost 11,000. He said it meant a lot to him that we were able to do that to make sure those people could go to the polls and not get hurt. Harkers first prison was in Quang Nam Province, a difficult, mountainous country that made food scarce and meant deplorable living conditions for the POWs. Guards would return at intervals to tighten them until all feeling was gone, and the prisoners limbs turned purple and swelled to twice their normal size. History is a guide to navigation in perilous times. Bow to their captors or take a beating. Some of my friends, however, were not so lucky. If you are a Veteran in crisis A private airline flew me and my father back and the local TV station had sent a reporter who interviewed me all the way back. A photo taken in 1967 shows US Navy Airforce Maj. John McCain being examined by a Vietnamese doctor following his capture. Unlike the mountain camp we couldnt roam around, and the boredom would overtake you and the heat was oppressive, but we had plenty to eat compared to the south. storytelling. Comments like those of Donald Trump, or any other American, suggesting that veterans like Senator John McCain or any other of America's honorable POWs are less This form of protest would continue for much of 1963, and the impact it had on the Diem government gave it the label "the Buddhist Crisis.". Robert E. Meyers during a burial service at Arlington National Cemetery on October 26, 2015. Three former Vietnam War POWs appeared before a gathering of U.S. By Harkers estimation only about 150 U.S. soldiers were captured in South Vietnam most of whom were taken during the Tet Offensive. Over the course of the Vietnam War, hundreds of American aircraft were shot down by the North Vietnamese. Declassified documents have subsequently indicated that the Johnson Administration lied about the events precipitating the passage of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolutionnamely, that a second and more coordinated attack on both the Maddox and the Turner Joy had not actually occurred. Starvation, isolation and torture were constant companions. Drama like The Guns of Navarone. Widespread infrastructural destruction set the country back on many of the early improvements the Communist government had undertaken. The POW/MIA movement headed by the National League of Families (who created the famous POW/MIA flag) pushed for the return of the remains of all missing American servicemen from the war. A newspaper clipping from the time shows support from his hometown. Advancing into Laos to stem the flow of soldiers and supplies along the Ho Chi Minh trail, three South Vietnamese divisions marched into a trap laid by North Vietnamese forces. HistoryNet.com is brought to you by HistoryNet LLC, the worlds largest publisher of history magazines. The last of the American POWs returned from Vietnam to the United States in 1973. Claim: Sen. John McCain was referred to as "Songbird John" following his imprisonment during the Vietnam War. In 1964 an Ohio woman took up the challenge that had led to Amelia Earharts disappearance. Some had been held for as long as five years, and the longest-held U.S. POW for ninewith North Vietnam acknowledging that 55 American servicemen had died during their captivity. By Deseret News. Its about our values and our standards. Starting in 1982, it became the day the POW/MIA flag was flown over the White House just below the American flagthe only other flag to do so. General admission - $10.00 Beginning in 1969 and 1970 and lasting until 1973, U.S. National Security Advisor (and later Secretary of State) Henry Kissinger conducted negotiations over the course of 68 meetings with Le Duc Tho, the fifth-ranking member of North Vietnam's politburo. John McCain is greeted by President Richard Nixon, left, in Washington, after McCain's release from a prisoner of war camp in North Vietnam. Despite McCains inconsistency in applying the same standards to the CIA, many still support his general position that using torture to interrogate captured militants is unacceptable. In March 2008, retired Lt. Gen. Harry Ed Soyster, a former director of the Defense Intelligence Agency who was severely wounded in Vietnam as an artillery officer, flatly stated that people who support the harsh methods do not understand the craft of intelligence and do not know what they are talking about. Lessons from History is a platform for writers who share ideas and inspirational stories from world history. You may also like: 40 military terms and their meanings. Phisayavong has found that with the passage of time, locals are more willing to help in recovery efforts: I feel that now when I go to missions, people openly cooperateThe first time, villagers did not fully cooperate. Every war has prisoners, yet Vietnam stands out as unique in the American psyche. I mean, we won: The Century-Long Battle Over This Confederate Flag, Revisiting the Small but Important Riots between Brandy Station and Gettysburg. On a human level, the war was disastrousan estimated 2 million Vietnamese civilians were killed, and over 1 million Vietnamese soldiers lost their lives. In defiance of his captors, he repeatedly blinked his eyes in Morse code during the interview, spelling out the word T-O-R-T-U-R-Eand thus confirming to U.S. intelligence for the first time that we were indeed being tortured. From 1991 to 1993, the U.S. Senate investigated these claims before ultimately ruling that there was no strong evidence to prove that any American military personnel remained imprisoned. Lock Meyers, whose remains were identified due to advances in technology, was declared missing in action in December of 1950 after his unit was involved in combat operations near Sonchu, North Korea.  Over 100 veterans, most of them World War II as well as veterans of the Korean and Vietnam wars, marched to demand an accounting of the American veterans in South East Asia on January 24, 1982. When the enemy began firing at us from the ground, I switched to guns and squeezed the trigger. The memorandum (NSAM 52) enabled "military, political, economic, psychological" actions to be taken in the regionwhich included helicopters and 400 Green Beret troops. A classic!! All Rights Reserved. Even after the war ended, the potency of the POW issue was not diminished. The trip to Vietnam brought Harker through Hawaii, and Guam, before landing in Vietnam Nov. 15, 1967. Between February and March 1973, 591 American servicemen were released by the North Vietnamese. That includes defending my fellow service members and POWs and ensuring they receive the support they needboth when they serve and when they return safely home. A locked padlock But if they put a blindfold on you and all you can hear is round being chambered thats different too. You didnt know what to do. When my German father-in-law asked me that question for the first time right after the news broke about abuses in Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, I didnt have a good answer for him. I know they have a heart for those Veterans, or they wouldnt work there, Harker said. The NVA are stripping everything off us anything they can use. We were under a 1-to-1 prisoner-to-guard ratio, and the guards would trade manioc and so we would put baskets on our backs and go back and forth over miles of mountain trails carrying 70-80 pounds of root. Feb 3, 1989, 11:00pm PDT. OPTICS: The Ranks on Capitol Hill: Photos of Congress' veterans on the front lines. Cybercrime and identity theft are rampant, but you can follow a few best practices and tips to keep your information safer online. Although trained on a vehicle-mounted recoilless rifle, Harker was made an infantryman upon arrival in-country and reassigned from the 9th Infantry Division to the 196th Light Infantry Brigade. I was spared the device only because I was already so injured. I learned firsthand that the trying times do have a purpose and that we must choose to let them make us stronger. In the end, we did not get anywhere near the reciprocity from the VC and North Vietnamese that we had hoped for; but as badly as American POWs were treated, it could have been much worse. Admittedly, harsh interrogation techniques do produce answersfast answers. My father-in-laws question is still hanging there, and I still dont have an answer for him. His first-person account of that harrowing ordeal was published in U.S. News & World Report on in I do not feel like a hero, and I do not call myself oneI reserve that title for my fellow veterans who fought and paid the ultimate sacrifice with their lives. It read, Freedom has a taste to it to those who fight and almost die that the protected will never know.. Browse our unique collection of books, exhibit merchandise, precious coins and more. I share this sentiment. During the Vietnam War, for example, photographs and footage brought the conflict home to the American people. At first you looked out for yourself, but as time went on, you got more altruistic you realize, its not about me, but about the guy next door and you realize you had to take care of each other. When victory in Korea did not materialize, access to these burial sites didnt, either. The whole theory was that we needthe Vietnam veterans needa place they would be recognized, says Jan Scruggs, founder of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. That experience gave him a pretty strong clue that all the Nazi propaganda about the savage and barbaric Americans might not be quite accurate. The embarrassment of the Pentagon Papers led President Nixon to attempt to illegally discredit Ellsberg, efforts which came to light during the Watergate scandal and resulted in Nixon's resignation in 1974. American soldiers were used as propaganda pieces and were forced to suffer indignities. Napoleon III, France's first President, began an invasion process of Vietnam in 1858 that would conclude in 1883 with a complete annexation of the country. A last and perhaps desperate attempt to materially and psychologically damage the North Vietnamese people through "shock and awe" tactics, Operation Linebacker resulted in the deaths of at least 1,600 Vietnamese civilians in densely populated regions. The question of whether any U.S. military personnel were kept imprisoned after the war was and for some Americans, still is one of the chief legacies of the Vietnam War. If there is any justification to that argument, we certainly could have applied it to the soldiers who served the Nazi and Japanese regimes. You may also like: Europe in photos before World War I. Author Robert F. ONeill reconsiders three overlooked 1863 cavalry clashes. Many of The April protests garnered the participation of hundreds of thousands across multiple U.S. cities, with a number of prominent public figures attending, including the Rev. Yet the POWs of Vietnam seem to occupy a special place in the narrative and legacy of the war. A trail that was used to ferry both supplies and soldiers to South Vietnam, the Ho Chi Minh Trail snaked through the mountains and jungles of neighboring Cambodia and Laos. This, too, is a discussion we have had before. Nearly 50 years since the end of the Vietnam War, and more than a quarter century since the normalization of U.S.-Vietnam relations, Vietnam is emerging as a rising power at the heart of the Indo-Pacific region and an increasingly important U.S. partner. Over 2.7 million Americans served in the war and 58,318 died, with thousands more going on to suffer from the lifelong impacts of post-traumatic stress disorder, a poorly understood affliction at the time. In spite of these conditions, there were many instances that I will never forget of my fellow POWs demonstrating profound patriotism. A native of Lynchburg, Virginia, Harker is the third of seven children. For the families of MIAs, the flag and these memorials serve as places to remember. The battle had long-lasting implications, in that it reinforced tactics for both armieswith the NLF relying upon close-quarter combat to reduce artillery efficacy, and the U.S. pursuing a war of attrition with North Vietnam, aiming to dwindle their numbers. There are a few guidelines and Since ancient times, soldiers have gone to war and never returned, their fate unknown. One of the most infamous domestic events of the Vietnam War, the protests at Kent State had arisen as news of the secret raids conducted in Cambodia had spread. They got me, he said. They served our country faithfully and with all their heart. I had recently left the Air Forces precision demonstration flying team, the Thunder Birds, and Chesley and I were flying low over the trees doing 700 knots on the deck. I remember that because he died in the rice paddies when we were ambushed.. The date Sept. 14 was assigned the number 001and all in all, only numbers 1 through 195 were called to duty. Flipboard. (Click to view gallery.) Get more resources at VeteransCrisisLine.net. My POW years shaped my perspective on faith and service unlike any other experience in my life. Shot down in the early days of the Vietnam War, Lt. Because the Korean War never officially endedno peace treaty was ever formally signedthe recovery of American remains is complicated. Many others do not. However, this propaganda, coercion, and staging did little to sway international public opinion. In late June, as an act of defiance against the Diem government's oppressive policies, Thich Quang Duc, a Buddhist monk, self-immolatedthe photos from which led President Kennedy to remark that "No news picture in history has generated so much emotion around the world as that one." That brings us to the current U.S. presidential elections, where the treatment of prisoners in the so-called Global War on Terror is one of the issues, and that debate has been profoundly shaped by the experiences in Vietnam of the Republican Party candidate. Torture is counterproductive on all fronts. This operation marked the beginning of the use of chemical warfare by the U.S. in Vietnam, known most infamously as Agent Orange. A USIP Fact Sheet. On Feb. 1, 1971 there were a dozen men still alive in the mountains and they were taken in groups of six to begin their march north up the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Work out fanatic, martial artist, student, MBA, and connoisseur of useless information. 312-374-9333 Browse the selection of POW related content below. Tickets available upon arrival. I remember saluting an Air Force general who was sitting with a North Vietnamese officer, and when we saluted, we had been officially repatriated. We were separated from civilization in the middle of nowhere and we couldnt communicate; had no food, and no medical attention thats torture enough for an individual. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. It produces bad intelligence. Pejoratively labeled the Viet Cong by the U.S. and the government in Saigon (for Communist traitors to the Vietnamese nation), the NLF differed from its predecessor the Viet Minh in that it was not directly tied to a provisional government until nearly a decade later. Vietnam War veteran Bob Kakuk helped lead the fight to have government buildings fly the flag of prisoners of war and missing in action. Naval Academy midshipmen to talk about their ordeal a half-century ago. In the end, I was the last man to be released from solitary, after three and half years. Major General David T. Zabecki, Army of the United States (retired), is editor of Vietnam Magazine and senior historian at Weider History Group. RT @MaxAzadi: A Ukrainian POW freed from Russian captivity being given an apple to eat after months of torture and starvation. He still drives it today. Six weeks later, he was a POW. 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. This brings us to the issue of military necessity, the argument that rough interrogation of detainees is justifiable if it produces intelligence that will save American lives. Once Japan surrendered, Ho Chi Minh and the Viet Minh successfully led Vietnam to independence, forming the short-lived Democratic Republic of Vietnam. Seniors, students, and teachers with valid IDs -$8.00Members,children under 12, First Responders, and Active Military - FREE With the signing of the Paris Peace Accords in January 1973, the American withdrawal had a firm end date. The Johnson Administration used this and a supposed conflict the following day to ensure passage of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which provided President Johnson with the legal power to wage all-out war in Southeast Asia. https://www.historynet.com/torture-lesson-vietnam/, Jerrie Mock: Record-Breaking American Female Pilot, Why? And as McCain stated in his book: Eventually, I gave them my ships name and squadron number, and confirmed that my target had been the power plant. The war saw the Americans and the South Vietnamese fighting against the commies of North Vietnam. David and Linda also enjoy their grandchildren: 13-year old Emily, 11-year old Ethan, and 6-year old Eli, children of Megan; and Adams 23-month old daughter Ava. South Vietnam had amassed nearly 1 million soldiers in its army by this point. Explore longer form content written by staff and guest bloggers. Equipped with new weaponry provided by China and Soviet Russia, North Vietnam launched a more conventional, multipronged, and full-scale attack from Laos, Cambodia, and across the demilitarized zone, leading to a gradual South Vietnamese retreat but ultimately repelling North Vietnamese forces. His funeral was attended by 250,000 mourners, including the Soviet Premier and the Chinese Vice-Premier. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. What makes America different from its enemies? The recollection of arrival is still fresh even 53 years later. WebThe greatest war film every made. McCain, who died Saturday at age 81, was held 5 years as a prisoner of war. Part of the North's guerrilla and revolutionary warfare strategy, the trail would remain an important and continually growing pathway from North to South, though it often took more than one month to traverse. Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter. Worse still, reports of the horrible conditions and torture that many faced haunted the American people. | Photo courtesy of Congressman Johnson's office. Commemorated thereafter in Vietnam as "Reunification Day," the reunification of the country also resulted in the renaming of Saigon to Ho Chi Minh City. Senator John McCain knows from firsthand experience what it is like to be a POW, and to endure prolonged brutal torture in violation of every norm of international law and every basic standard of decent human behavior. I was 35 years old, a husband and father of three small children. Bringing citizens and soldiers together to explore military history, military affairs and national security. I was led to a blue 1973 Corvette and handed the keys. After basic and advanced infantry training, Harker was approached and offered an opportunity to go to Officer Candidate School. Life in Vietnam under French colonial rule was brutal, with Vietnamese people granted few civil liberties and subjected to constant exploitation. For a stark example of how the cancer of incremental compromise can rot and slowly eat away at a great institution, one has only to take a good look at what happened to the German army during the Third Reich. My parents found out that a couple of those who were released were at Fort Jackson, and so they went there and got onto base and met with them and heard from them that I was alive. For about the next seven years, Boyd endured the hardships of Vietnamese POW (Prisoner of War) camps as he resisted interrogation, torture, and harsh living For years, recovery efforts in Southeast Asia were hampered by lack of resources, governments wary of letting Americans back in and locals who remember the conflict all too well, says Sompatana Tommy Phisayavong, a research analyst at the Department of Defense who works with teams recovering remains from the C.I.A.s Secret War in Laos. But that begs a more fundamental question: Does it work? But in February 2008, McCain inexplicably failed to back another bill that would have restricted the Central Intelligence Agency to using only those techniques specified in the Army field manual. The SAMs (surface-to-air missiles) shot down a bunch of planes on the third night, after they figured out the flight patterns, and one night they pulled up a deuce and a half and told us to crawl in the back. 10am - 4pm CT. Search our catalog and scope out our consortial partner, the Consortia of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois (CARLI) and other libraries worldwide. We were ecstatic, Harker said. Each of us, before we were ever in shouting distance of another American, was made to take the ropes. That was a real shock to our systems and as with all shocks, its impact on our inner selves was a lot more impressive and lasting and important than to our. This created a unique situation in most previous American wars, the majority of prisoners were enlisted men captured by the enemy, often times in groups. In a Wall Street Journal /NBC News poll taken in 1991, 69 percent of the American people believed that U.S. POWs were still being held in Indochina, and 52 percent had concluded that the government was derelict in not securing their release. We couldnt call him doc, but he was a big source of information and help to us. One such argument asserts that our enemies are a bunch of barbarians who launched a devastating surprise attack against us, do not adhere to even the basic rules of civilized human behavior and, therefore, do not deserve civilized treatment. He holds a doctorate in military history from Great Britains Royal Military College of Science, Cranfield University. Knowing your privacy rights and keeping your personal information safe is paramount. A brand new Mustang was awaiting his arrival. They are heroes. HistoryNet.com contains daily features, photo galleries and over 25,000 articles originally published in our nine magazines. Never mind that the planes had no bombing system for air-to-ground combat, which the Air Force needed for ground support, no gun and no sight system for bomb targeting and dogfighting. And sometimes we have to make that choice many times throughout the day. As one clear indicator of the long-term and devastating impact of colonialism, in Vietnama state that had existed for centuries before the French invasionbefore French colonial rule, a majority of the population was literate. The news deeply dismayed the South Vietnamese government, which struggled to maintain a grip on its territory. Marking a turning point in the U.S. Marines' primary mission from one of defense toward aggressive action, 5,500 U.S. Marines conducted an assault on the 1st NLF Regiment. The next morning theyd put a ball of rice on a banana leaf and wed carry that with us for lunch as we moved. Davids story is so impressive to even survive the starvation and torture. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE AMERICA I KNEW AS A POW?. Lasting six days, Operation Starlite largely scattered the 1st NLF Regiment, though it would regroup and rebuild later. how to respond to you're a dime, is patti bryan still on moonshiners,
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