Captured
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on sympathetic guard, 115–16
Mulligan, Louise, 171
National League of POW-MIA Families, 171–73, 172, 173
Ngô nh Diệm, 12
Nguyn Quc ạt, 190
Nixon, Richard
and advocacy of families, 170, 172
aid promised to North Vietnam, 196
inauguration, 161
North Vietnam’s worries about, 180
and peace negotiations, 193
and withdrawal from Vietnam, 192
North Vietnam
aid promised to, 196
Communist allies of, 174–75
and damage from bombings, 113–14
and Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), 7
and French colonialism, 11, 19–20
government of, 98
hardship faced by citizens in, 199
origins of conflict with South Vietnam, 12
and public opinion, 47
and US’ undeclared state of war, xiv, 21
and Việt Cộng, 6, 12, 146
note drops in latrines, 25–26, 30–31, 37, 167
Operation Rolling Thunder, 5–6, 13, 15, 116
Overton, Ed, 99–100
Peel, Bob
communication with Denton, 119
interrogation of, 61
and march of POWs through Hanoi, 90, 91, 94, 95
physicians, civilian, 162–63
Powers, Francis Gary, 79
POW-MIA movement, 171–73, 172, 173
prisoners of war (POWs) in North Vietnam
body weights of, 196
and Christmas holidays, 48–49, 144–45, 182, 186–88
Church Riot of 1971, 188–89
collective strength of (see solidarity/unity of POWs)
commanding officers, 25–26, 74, 108, 113, 132, 184–85
considered criminals (see criminals, POWs treated as)
and correspondence, 48–49, 144, 169, 182, 191
Denton’s lists of, 59, 140–41
duty of (see resistance)
earliest POWs, 15
early releases of, 113, 147, 167
and Easter holidays, 148–49, 164–65
ethical guides of (see Code of Conduct; honor)
families (see families of POWs)
fatalities of, 59 (see also Storz, Ron)
and “GBU” (“God bless you”), xvi, 88, 164
isolation of (see solitary confinement of prisoners)
leadership of (see leadership of Denton; leadership of POWs)
lectures endured by, 75–76
marched through Hanoi, 91–92, 93, 94–96, 97–98, 198–99
morale of, 27, 86 (see also mental/emotional strain of prison life)
number of, 25, 59, 111
physical debilitation of, 101, 106, 134, 151, 176, 202
release of, 194, 198–200, 201 (see also homecoming)
from South Vietnam, 190
starvation of, 103, 151
and tactics of Camp Authority, 46–47 (see also interrogations; punishment; torture)
from Thailand, 190
uniforms of, 17, 19, 24
See also Geneva Convention (1949)
prisons
authority in (see Camp Authority)
bathrooms (see latrines)
cellmates of Denton, 62, 68, 104–6, 115
cellmates of other POWs, 57, 59, 180, 183
communication in (see communication between prisoners)
conditions in, xi–xii, 17, 42–43, 83–84, 115–16, 129–30
daily existance in, xiii
excessive heat in, 83–84, 150–51, 152
and isolation of POWs, xvi, 23, 37 (see also solitary confinement of prisoners)
personal items in, xii
restraints used in (see leg irons and leg stocks)
rules of, 36–37
water rations, xi–xii, 83–84 (see also food rations)
See also Alcatraz; Hanoi Hilton; Zoo prison complex
propaganda
BACK US guide on, 111
confessions sought for, 67–69, 74–75
Denton’s biographical statement, 52–53, 55–56
Denton’s letter used for, 51
and Fox, 60
in Little Vegas, 110
and “Make Your Choice” program, 84–86
statements sought for, 47, 61
and work party program, 114
See also Hanoi Hannah
punishment
cessation of, 174
for communication between prisoners, 117–19, 153, 154, 170, 174
of Denton, 154–55
and enforcement of Geneva Convention, 170
for spitting at Pimples, 121–24
used to extract statements, 154–55
See also leg irons and leg stocks
Purcell, Bob, 103–4
purposelessness, feelings of, 133, 148, 191
Radio Hanoi, 51, 87, 146. See also Hanoi Hannah
reading campaigns at Alcatraz, 159–60
Reagan, Ronald, 207–9
recordings of POWs, 111. See also propaganda
release of prisoners, 23, 194, 198–200, 201. See also homecoming
religious devotion of Denton
and belief in power of prayer, 106
religious devotion of Denton (cont.)
and crosses of Denton, 33, 41–42
and letter to family, 50–51
and memories of Catholic school, 56–57
perspective gained from, 122
and poems marking Easter, 148–49, 164–65
and prayer for death, 156
in times of punishment/torture, 102, 118–19, 122
and uncertainty of situation, 148–49
Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam), 5–6, 12, 76
resistance
of Alcatraz Gang members, 137
BACK US tactics of, 111–12, 113–14, 124
Camp Authority’s impatience with, 38, 120
and Code of Conduct, 16–17
Denton’s commitment to, 20, 51–52, 54–55, 67–69, 70–71
Denton’s encouragement of POWs, 101
and Denton’s interrogations, 20, 51–52
and feelings of purposelessness, 133, 148, 191
and Fox, 60, 64
of Halyburton, 58
hard line advocated by Denton, 39, 44, 51, 85–87, 124
and honor of POWs, 47, 52, 55, 67, 129
leadership of, 88, 108
and “Make Your Choice” program, 84, 85, 198
and SERE training, 15
and work party program, 113–14
restraints. See leg irons and leg stocks
Risner, Robbie
broadcast confession of, 84
and Church Riot of 1971, 188
disappearance of, 41
and end of Vietnam War, 195
and Four Wise Men, 190
at Hanoi Hilton, xv–xvi, 74, 77, 185
isolation of, 74
leadership of, 74, 77, 185
on televised interview of Denton, xv–xvi, 77
roommates. See cellmates
rules issued by Camp Authority, 36–37
Rutledge, Howie
at Alcatraz, 126, 132, 134, 135
Christmas wish of, 144
and Church Riot of 1971, 188
at Hanoi Hilton, 178
in Heartbreak Hotel, 190
leadership of resistance, 108
SERE (survival, evasion, resistance, and escape) training, 15
Shepard, Alan, 123
shootdowns, anniversaries of, 138–39
Shumaker, Bob
at Alcatraz, 132, 134, 135, 137
and Alcatraz Gang, 209
anniversary party for, 190
capture of, 15
code proposed by, 31, 31–32
and Denton’s death, 210
at Hanoi Hilton, 25, 31–32, 178
instruction led by, 191
and Johnson, 184
leadership of resistan
ce, 108
length of captivity, 190, 198
and march of POWs through Hanoi, 93
and note drops in latrines, 25
on optimism of Denton, 168
release of, 198
at the Zoo, 38
sleep difficulties, 142
Smitty Harris Tap Code, 32, 37. See also tapping code
solidarity/unity of POWs
and BACK US resistance tactics, 111–12, 113–14, 124
and early releases, 113, 147
and example set by Denton, 157
faltering of, 147, 180–81, 182–83
and “GBU” messages, 88
and hard-line resistance, 124–25
protesting on behalf of Jenkins, 161–63
See also resistance
solitary confinement of prisoners
at Alcatraz, 130–31, 132, 140, 174
of Denton, 28, 37, 52–55, 56, 103, 104, 181
end of practice, 180
hunger strike protesting, 183
mental strain of, 37, 68, 104, 107, 167
of Mulligan, 181
softening of policies on, 174
of Storz, 41
Sn Tây POW camp, 185–86, 191
South Vietnam, 5–6, 12, 76
Soviet Union, 6, 11, 174–75
Stafford, Hugh, 117
starvation, 103, 151
Stockdale, Jim
at Alcatraz, 133–34, 136
and Alcatraz Gang, 209
and antiwar sentiment in US, 147
and BACK US resistance tactics, 111–12, 113
and Cat, 76
command of, 184–85
and Denton’s expectation of dying, 70–71
Denton’s initial interaction with, 69–70
disappearance of, 162, 180
on emotional regression, 142
and Fink Release Program, 113
and Four Wise Men, 190
homecoming wager placed by, 160–61
isolated by Camp Authority, 74
leadership of resistance, 108, 120
and Rabbit’s threats, 113
reemergence of, at Hanoi Hilton, 184
stoicism of, 70
torture endured by, 70, 76, 184
Stockdale, Sybil, 171
stools, stacked (punishment), 65–69, 70
Storz, Ron
at Alcatraz, 132, 134, 135
death of, 196
disappearance of, 179, 180
leadership of resistance, 108
physical/mental decline of, 166–68, 176–77, 184
solitary confinement of, 41
summertime heat in Vietnam, 83–84, 150–51, 152
Sunday devotional period, observing, 30
surrender, Code of Conduct on, 16
Tanner, Nels
at Alcatraz, 132, 135
and Alcatraz Gang, 208
and communication of prisoners, 151
at Hanoi Hilton, 178
and Johnson, 184
leadership of resistance, 108
tapeworms, 106
tapping code, 31
and attempts to thwart communication, 60
content of, 61
between Davis and Denton, 33, 43–44
“GBU” (“God bless you”), xvi, 88, 164
implementation of, 31–32
by means of coughing, 143
by means of sweeping, 136–37, 139
mental stimulation of, 61–62
as primary means of communication, 37
prison rules on, 36
shorthand used in, 139
Tt Offensive, 146, 147, 148
toilet paper, lack of, 118–19
torture
abatement of, 62, 153, 190
and “biographical” statement of Denton, 52–53, 55–56
and Cat’s public self-criticism, 179–80
for communication of prisoners, 153
confessions extracted through, 67–69, 74–75, 86, 87–88
of Davis, 45–46
of Denton, 52–57, 71–72, 75, 99–100, 101–2, 155–56, 159
Denton’s coded message on, 79–81, 82
Denton’s counsel to POWs on, 86, 87
and Denton’s expectation of death, 70–71
and Denton’s religious faith, 102
for disobeying orders, xv
and end of Vietnam War, 196, 198
guards’ reactions to, 102
of McKnight, 153
mental effects of, 66–67, 75
and physical debilitation of POWs, 101
in pursuit of propaganda statements, 47
in pursuit of resistance leaders, 120
in pursuit of statements of apology, 153–56, 163–64
in pursuit of statements on camp radio, 159, 160
Rabbit’s threats of, 67–69
and reading campaigns, 159–60
restraining prisoners, 99–101 (see also leg irons and leg stocks)
starvation, 103, 151
of Stockdale, 70, 184
Tschudy, Bill
bombing mission of, 3, 7–8
and Denton’s imprisonment, 14
as prisoner in Hanoi, 25
release of, 198
survival of, 188
uniforms of prisoners, 17, 19, 24
United States
antiwar sentiment in, 110, 116, 146–48, 203–4
condemnation of POWs’ treatment, 170
and French colonialism in Vietnam, 174–76
and Indochina War, 11–12
and Ngô nh Diệm, 12
United States (cont.)
policy on POW-MIAs in Vietnam, 169–70, 171
and undeclared state of war, xiv, 21
withdrawal from South Vietnam, 192
US Congress, 13
US military
failed attempt to liberate Sn Tây prison, 185–86, 191
and Johnson’s escalation of conflict, 12–13
number of troops committed to war, 7, 12, 13
and Operation Rolling Thunder, 5–6, 13, 15, 116
SERE (survival, evasion, resistance, and escape) training, 15
targets of, 6, 89
See also Code of Conduct
US Naval Academy, 123, 142
US Navy, 4, 15
USS Independence, xiii–xiv, 2–5
Việt Cộng, 6, 12, 146, 147, 148
Vietnam
division of, 12
independence from France, 11–12, 75, 121, 174–76
and Indochina War, 11–12, 13, 76
Vietnam War
and antiwar sentiment in US, 110, 116, 146, 203–4
and bombing of Hanoi, 89–90, 91–92, 193–94
casualties in, 116, 203
end of, 193–97
and peace negotiations, 149–50, 192
as proxy conflict of Cold War, 6
public response to returning troops, 203–4
Tt Offensive, 146, 147, 148
and US withdrawal, 192
water rations, xi–xii, 83–84
Westmoreland, William, 116
wristbands of POW-MIA movement, 172, 173
Zoo prison complex, 35–63, 97–108
chess match of POWs at, 58–59
Christmas at, 48–49
communication between prisoners at, 36, 37, 45, 56, 58–59, 60–61
conditions at, 42–43, 83–84
Denton as ranking officer at, 38
Denton’s cells in, 57
Denton’s leadership in, 74, 103
Denton’s relocations to, 35–36, 83
food rations at, 38, 41, 42–43, 103–4
latrine duty at, 39–41
location of, 185
and “Make Your Choice” program, 84–86, 99
names of buildings at, 37
number of prisoners at, 59
restraints used in, 99
rules issued by Camp Authority, 36–37
Shumaker at, 38
summertime heat at, 83–8
4
Vietnamese commanders at, 60
violent interrogations at, 38
water rations at, 83–84
The captive aviators in Hanoi who endured years of uncertainty and hardship during the Vietnam era deserve the first and last acknowledgment here. They set an unsurpassed example of duty, honor, and perseverance. And to a one, they would say the real heroes were the men fighting it out below the DMZ in South Vietnam.
These former POWs generously shared their stories and perspectives with me and I am grateful. A special circle of these men has become a family to me; I count myself lucky. Special thanks go to the Alcatraz Gang and their family members and particularly to the entire Denton family. They have all been extraordinarily supportive, accommodating, and caring throughout my journey.
In New York, Russ Galen continued to steer me right, and Scholastic’s Lisa Sandell helped me ease into a new genre. She embraced this story from the outset and pushed me to tell it better with each edit. Amla Sanghvi proved patient and thorough.
In Atlanta, the Woodruff Arts Center and the Home Depot Foundation have continued to support me and allow me to share the important stories of our POWs and other veterans. Mark Fastoso and the Jeremiah team helped inspire me to revisit Jerry Denton’s story. My family remains the greatest cheering section for which a writer could hope. And I couldn’t have written this without my loving and ever-understanding wife, Suzanne. Writing it would have had less purpose without my daughter, Kensington. I hope this story will resound through generations to inspire her and others after her.
Finally, to the 4th Allied POW Wing, to the Alcatraz Gang, and to the Denton family, GBU.
Bestselling author Alvin Townley has traveled the world to discover inspiring stories of leadership, adventure, and purpose. He has written the nationally acclaimed adult books Legacy of Honor, Spirit of Adventure, Fly Navy, and Defiant and was part of the Emmy Award–winning team behind the documentary film Jeremiah. Defiant, which told the story of the leading American prisoners of war in North Vietnam, was called “gripping” by The New York Times, “unforgettable” by former president Jimmy Carter, and “riveting” by Senator John McCain. Alvin speaks often, to both youths and adults, about subjects he holds dear, including veterans, character, perseverance, and citizenship. You can learn more at www.AlvinTownley.com and follow him @AlvinTownley.
Copyright © 2019 by Alvin Townley
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Townley, Alvin, author. Title: Captured : an American prisoner of war in North Vietnam / by Alvin Townley. Other titles: American prisoner of war in North Vietnam Description: New York : Scholastic Focus, [2019] | Includes bibliographical references and index. Identifiers: LCCN 2018016709 | ISBN 9781338255669 Subjects: LCSH: Denton, Jeremiah A., Jr. (Jeremiah Andrew), 1924-2014—Juvenile literature. | Vietnam War, 1961-1975—Prisoners and prisons, North Vietnamese—Juvenile literature. | Prisoners of war—United States—Juvenile literature. | Prisoners of war—Vietnam—Juvenile literature. | Vietnam War, 1961-1975—Personal narratives, American—Juvenile literature. Classification: LCC DS559.4 .T686 2019 | DDC 959.704/3092--dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018016709