cellmates
of Denton, 62, 68, 104–7, 115
of other POWs, 57, 59, 180, 183
Cherry, Fred, 57, 58
chess matches of POWs, 58–59, 145
China, 6, 174–75
Christmas
in Alcatraz, 144–45
in Hanoi Hilton, 182, 186–88
in the Zoo, 48–49
Church Riot of 1971, 188–89
Code of Conduct
articles of, 16–17, 30
and Camp Authority’s methods, 47
central importance of, 86
consequences for upholding, xii, xv
and Davis, 45
Denton’s commitment to, 30, 52, 159
and Denton’s confession, 75
establishment of, 15
and interrogations, 20, 30, 38–39, 44
and new POWs, 111
and plans for escape, 26–27
POWs operating outside of, 182–83
Coffee, Jerry, 97, 106
Coker, George
at Alcatraz, 126, 131, 132, 135
and Alcatraz Gang, 209
and Church Riot of 1971, 188
and communication of prisoners, 151
and Denton’s death, 210
at Hanoi Hilton, 178–79, 180
in Heartbreak Hotel, 190
leadership of resistance, 108
Cold War, 6, 11
communication between prisoners
between cellblocks, 60–61
cessation of punishments for, 174
content of, 61
between Denton and Davis, 33, 45
between Denton and Guarino, 22–25
Denton’s directives on maintaining, 30
for games, 58–59, 145
importance of, 56, 60
and increasing number of POWs, 59
lengthy, 139
by means of coughing, 143
by means of Morse code, 45
by means of note drops in latrine, 25–26, 30–31, 37, 167
by means of scraping buckets, 133–36, 153
by means of sweeping, 136–37, 139
by means of wall taps (see tapping code)
POWs’ lack of participation in, 180
prison rules on, 23, 36, 37
prison’s attempts to thwart, 60, 121
punishment for, 117–19, 153, 154, 170, 174
Communism, 6, 13, 174–75
complaints made by prisoners, 30
confessions
broadcast, 84, 86–87
and compassion for victims, 87–88
of “criminal” POWs, 67–69, 74–75, 84
of Denton, 74–75, 84, 88, 101
Denton’s counsel on, 86, 87–88
extracted with torture, 67–69, 74–75, 86, 87–88
lies relayed in, 86–87
recordings of, 86–87
restraints used to obtain, 100–101
of Risner, 84
“Superman Confession,” 135
correspondence
allowed by Lê Dun, 169
of Denton, 48–51, 144–45, 182
distributed on Christmas, 182
guards’ theft of contents, 191
and lack of mail service, 23
POWs’ desire for, 48–49, 144
regular arrival of, 191
coughing as code signals, 143
criminals, POWs treated as
and BACK US resistance tactics, 112–13
and confessions, 67–69, 74–75, 84
and demands for rights afforded by Geneva Convention, 62
and Denton’s leadership, 31
and “Make Your Choice” program, 84–86
and march of POWs through Hanoi, 91–92, 93, 94–96, 97–98
and military regulations, 191
and rules at Zoo complex, 36
and US’ undeclared war, xiv, 21
and work party program, 113–14
Cronkite, Walter, 147–48
Daughtrey, Norlan, 101
Davis, Ed
beaten by guards, 45
and Denton, 32–33, 43–44
food rations withheld, 44–45
punished for resistance, 43–45
removed from the Zoo, 46
singing of, 32–33
weight loss of, 45
Day, Bud, 189
Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), 7
Democratic Republic of Vietnam. See North Vietnam
Denton, Don (son), 78–79
Denton, Jane (wife), 50
advocacy of, 169, 171
and Alcatraz Gang, 209
and confession of Denton, 75
correspondence to/from Denton, 48–51, 144–45, 182
and Denton’s anticipation of death, 70–71
Denton’s thoughts of, 33, 141
and homecoming of Denton, 204–5, 206
on Powers’s public trial, 78–79
and POW-MIA movement, 171
and release of Denton, 200, 203
and retirement of Denton, 209–10
and wedding ring of Denton, 1
Denton, Jeremiah “Jerry,” 18,
and Alcatraz Gang, 209
bombing mission of, 1–5, 5, 7–8
capture of, xiv, 9–10
Catholicism of, 33, 105, 122 (see also religious devotion of Denton)
death of, 210–11
education of, 57, 99–100, 123
family (see family of Denton)
homecoming, 204–5, 206, 208–9
leadership (see leadership of Denton)
length of captivity, 186, 206
life after POW camps, 207–10
official statement, upon release, 200–202, 210–11
optimism of, 90, 91, 160, 195
patriotism of, 57
poetry composed by, 148–49, 164–65
principles of, 158–59 (see also Code of Conduct)
release of, 198, 199–200
televised interview of, xv–xvi, 76–81, 82, 83
youth of, 99–100, 142
Denton, Jerry, III, 210
depression, 104, 167–68. See also mental/emotional strain of prison life
Disraeli, Benjamin, 10
Domino Theory of Communism, 6
early releases of POWs, 113, 147, 167
Easter holidays, 148–49, 164–65
education program led by POWs, 191
Eisenhower, Dwight D., 12
emotional strain of prison life. See mental/ emotional strain of prison life
escape, 15, 16, 26–27, 30, 36
families of POWs
advocacy of, 169–70, 171–73
of Denton (see family of Denton)
and POW-MIA movement, 171–73, 172, 173
and release of POWs, 203
and uncertainty of POWs’ fates, 48
family of Denton, 50
correspondence to/from Denton, 48–51, 144–45, 182
Denton’s thoughts of, 37, 141
and deployment of Denton, xiii–xiv
and difficulties of separation, 144–45
and homecoming of Denton, 204–5
news of son’s Little League, 117
and retirement of Denton, 209–10
See also Denton, Jane
Fellows, Jack, 101
Fink Release Program, 113
Five Questions, 145
Flynn, John, 190
food rations
at Alcatraz, 136, 145, 174
complaining about, 30
covert sharing of, 103–4
and end of Vietnam War, 195–96, 197–98
feces in, 43
at Hanoi Hilton, 20, 23, 195–96, 197–98
withheld, 23, 38, 44–45
at the Zoo, 38, 41, 42–43, 103–4
Four Wise Men, 190
Fourth Allied POW Wing, 190, 195
France
colonial rule of Vietnam, 11–12, 174
and Indochina War, 11–12, 13, 76
prisons
constructed by, 19–20
and Vietnam’s Communist allies, 174–75
Vietnam’s independence from, 11–12, 75, 121, 174–76
Garden Party, 97
“GBU” (“God bless you”), xvi, 88, 164
Geneva Conference (1954), 12
Geneva Convention (1949)
Camp’s enforcement of, 170
demands for rights afforded by, 62
and interrogations, 20, 21, 62
and Johnson administration, 169–70
and Lê Dun administration, 169
and Nixon administration, 172
and SERE training, 15
and threats, 21
and treatment of POWs (see criminals, POWs treated as)
and Zoo prison complex, 36
“The Great Sign” (Denton), 148–49
Guarino, Larry
capture of, 15
and Denton’s command, 29
Denton’s communication with, 22–24, 25, 27, 69
deteriorating health of, 23–24
pencil acquired by, 29
Gulf of Tonkin resolution, 13
Halyburton, Porter, 57–59
Hanoi, North Vietnam
hardship faced by citizens in, 199
map of POW camps in and around, 185
POWs marched through, 91–92, 93, 94–96, 97–98, 198–99
US’ bombing of, 89–90, 91–92, 193–94
Hanoi Hannah
addresses to soldiers, 111, 145–46
on antiwar sentiment in US, 110, 116, 146
broadcast at Alcatraz, 138
confessions reported by, 87, 88
on Cronkite’s assessment of war, 147–48
and end of Vietnam War, 195
on H Ch Minh’s death, 168–69
on Nixon’s inauguration, 161
on release of three POWs, 147
on Tt Offensive, 146, 147
on US’ withdrawal, 192
Hanoi Hilton (Ha L Prison), 11–34, 26
Alcatraz Gang’s relocation to, 178
Christmas at, 182, 186–88
and Church Riot of 1971, 188–89
commanding officers at, 184–85
communication between prisoners at, 22–23, 25–26, 30–31, 33
Denton’s arrival at, 11, 13–14, 17–20
Denton’s leadership in, 26
Denton’s return to, 60, 108, 178
and Denton’s televised interview, xv–xvi, 76–81, 82, 83
education program led by POWs, 191
and end of Vietnam War, 193–97
food rations at, 20, 23, 195–96, 197–98
hunger strikes in, 183
influx of POWs to, 185, 186
isolation of prisoners in, 180
latrine of, 24–26, 29–31
location of, 185
map, 114
release of prisoners, 194, 198–200, 201
religious observances at, 188–89
stacked-stools punishment at, 65–69, 70
See also Little Vegas
Harnavee, Chicharn, 190
Harris, Smitty, 32
heroism, 10
Ha L Prison. See Hanoi Hilton
H Ch Minh
ambitions of, 47, 75–76
and amnesty statements, 160
and Communist allies, 174–75
death of, 168–69
and guerrilla fighters, 12
and independence of Vietnam, 11, 75
and Operation Rolling Thunder, 6
and public opinion, 47
homecoming, 193–210
and antiwar sentiment in US, 203–4
arrival of Denton in US, 204–5, 208–9
clothing choices for, 197
and families of POWS, 203
with honor, 205
official statement by Denton, 200–2, 210–11
premature expectations of, 168, 177, 178
and psychological exams, 203
release of prisoners, 194, 198–200, 201
wagers placed on dates of, 160–61
honor
goal of returning with, 39, 47, 85, 191
and homecoming of Denton, 205
and resistance, 47, 52, 55, 67, 129
humane treatment of POWs, 15
hunger strikes, 162–63, 183
Indochina War, 11–12, 13, 76
interrogations
and Code of Conduct, 20, 30, 38–39, 44
confessions pursued through, 67–69, 74–75
of Davis, 43–44
of Denton, 19–21, 62–63, 196–97
and end of Vietnam War, 196
focused on leadership of POWs, 124–25
and Geneva Convention, 20, 21, 62
of Guarino, 24
lies told in, 86
punishments for lack of cooperation in, 43
resistance exercised in, 20, 51–52
threats made in, 21
violent techniques used in, 38 (see also punishment; torture)
interview of Denton, televised, xv–xvi, 76–81, 82, 83
“Invictus” (Henley), ix
isolation of POWs, 23, 37. See also solitary confinement of prisoners
Jeffrey, Bob, 103
Jenkins, Harry
at Alcatraz, 132, 134, 135
cramps, 161–62
at Hanoi Hilton, 178
instruction led by, 191
leadership of resistance, 108
and Shumaker’s anniversary, 190
Johnson, Lyndon B.
and antiwar sentiment in US, 146
and authority to send military forces to war, 13
and bombing of Hanoi, 89
and Diệm regime, 12
and Domino Theory of Communism, 6
escalation of conflict, 12–13
peace talks proposal of, 149–50
policy on POW-MIAs in Vietnam, 169–70
refusal to seek second term in office, 150
Johnson, Sam
at Alcatraz, 132, 134, 135
and Alcatraz Gang, 208
and antiwar sentiment in US, 147
and Christmas service, 188
and Denton’s death, 210
at Hanoi Hilton, 178
hunger strike on behalf of, 183
instruction led by, 191
leadership of resistance, 108
letter of apology signed by, 163–64
in solitary confinement, 183–84
and Storz’s decline, 176
journalists, Denton’s televised interview with, xv–xvi, 76–81, 82, 83
Kennedy, John F., 12
King, Martin Luther Jr., 110
Kissinger, Henry, 194
Laird, Melvin, 170
“La Pieta” (Denton), 164–65
latrines
buckets for, 17, 40, 118–19, 130, 133–36, 153
cleaning duties, 39–40, 139–40, 163
described, 24
items conveyed through, 29, 33
note drops in, 25–26, 30–31, 37, 167
and toilet paper, 118–19
unsanitary conditions of, 39
leadership of Denton
in Alcatraz, 139
Camp Authority’s attempts to undermine, 88
and Code of Conduct, 30
and Denton’s youth, 28–29, 99–100
directives issued, 30, 31, 62
and example set by Denton, 100
and faltering solidarity, 181, 182–83
in Hanoi Hilton, 29–31
and hard-line resistance, 39, 44, 51, 85–87, 124
importance of service, 207
and lists of POWs, 59, 140–41
and Rabbit’s threats, 113
respect of POWs for, 88–89
and Stockdale’s return, 184–85
and torture of POWs, 44–47
leadership of POWs
of Alcatraz Gang members, 137
Camp Authority’s crackdown on, 74, 88, 120, 124–25, 147
on early rele
ases, 113
and end of Vietnam War, 195
Four Wise Men, 190
isolation of, 74, 103, 120, 130–31, 131, 136, 147
in Little Vegas, 108
POWs’ protection of, 124
Lê Dun, 169
leg irons and leg stocks
about, 17, 28
and bodily wastes, 27, 122
and Code of Conduct, xii
leg irons and leg stocks (cont.)
Denton’s restraint in, 27, 39, 99–100, 121–24, 138, 155
Guarino’s restraint in, 23–24, 27
Mulligan’s restraint in, 121–24
letters. See correspondence
Liar’s Box, 86
Little Vegas, 109–25
and BACK US resistance tactics, 111–12, 113–14
and cellblock names, 109–10
communication between prisoners, 117–18
Denton’s relocation to, 107–8
excessive heat in, 115–16
facilities of, 109
leadership of resistance at, 108, 118–19, 124–25
map, 114
punishment of Denton in, 118–22, 123–24
and Radio Hanoi, 110
restoring order to, 182–83
and work party program, 113–14
mail service in prisons. See correspondence
“Make Your Choice” program, 84–86, 99, 198
march of POWs through Hanoi, 91–92, 93, 94–96, 97–98, 198–99
McCain, John, 191
McDaniel, Red, 117, 192
McGill Institute, 57, 99–100, 123
McGrath, Mike, 114, 131
McKnight, George
at Alcatraz, 131, 132, 135, 136, 137
and Alcatraz Gang, 208
Camp Authority’s attempt to isolate, 136
and communication between prisoners, 151, 153, 168
at Hanoi Hilton, 178–79, 180
leadership of resistance, 108
torture endured by, 153
McNamara, Robert, 6
mental/emotional strain of prison life
on Denton, 166
and depression, 104, 167–68
feelings of purposelessness, 133, 148, 191
and regression, 142
of solitary confinement, 37, 68, 104, 107, 167
on Storz, 166–67
strategies for fighting, 140–42
Morse code, 45, 79–81, 82
Mulligan, Jim, 105
at Alcatraz, 134, 136
and Alcatraz Gang, 208
attempts to extract statements from, 160
Catholicism of, 105, 122
and Christmas, 186
as Denton’s cellmate, 104–7, 115–16, 119–20, 181
and Denton’s death, 210
Denton’s relationship with, 122–23
at Hanoi Hilton, 178
homecoming of, 203, 204
homecoming wager placed by, 160
leadership of resistance, 108
in leg irons, 121–24
memorized lists of POWs, 141
news of wife, 117
on number of POWs, 116
physical debilitation of, 101, 151
and Shumaker’s anniversary, 190
on Storz’s condition, 166–67
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