CHAPMAN, Lieut. Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office. The final phase was the relocation of the POWs to military hospitals.[2]. Cmdr, David k., Navy. BLACK, Cmdr, Cole, Navy, Lake City, Minn., San Diego, Calif., captured June 1966. List of Famous Prisoners at the Hanoi Hilton ranked by fame and popularity. By 1954, when the French were ousted from the area, more than 2,000 men were housed within its walls, living in squalid conditions. - Backpacks WIDEMAN, Lieut. The Alcatraz Gang was a group of eleven POWs who were held separately because of their particular resistance to their captors. On November 21, 1970, U.S. Special Forces launched Operation Ivory Coast in an attempt to rescue 61 POWs believed to be held at the Sn Ty prison camp 23 miles (37km) west of Hanoi. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. During the 1910s through 1930s, street peddlers made an occupation of passing outside messages in through the jail's windows and tossing tobacco and opium over the walls; letters and packets would be thrown out to the street in the opposite direction. [27], Only part of the prison exists today as a museum. "[19], The North Vietnamese occasionally released prisoners for propaganda or other purposes. . Throughout the conflict period, the North Vietnamese had established at least thirteen prisons and prison camps (mostly located near Hanoi) to detain its American POWs, the most notoriously. The name Ha L, commonly translated as "fiery furnace" or even "Hell's hole",[1] also means "stove". [5], During the Vietnam War, the first U.S. prisoner to be sent to Ha L was Lieutenant Junior Grade Everett Alvarez Jr., who was shot down on August 5, 1964. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. MULLIGAN, Capt. Aubrey A., Navy, listed previously as Texan. As of 2016, he is the only person to be awarded both the Medal of Honor and Air Force Cross. Hannah McKennett is a Dublin-based freelance writer that is dedicated to traveling the world while writing about it. These details are revealed in accounts by McCain (Faith of My Fathers), Denton, Alvarez, Day, Risner, Stockdale and dozens of others. Kenneth H., Navy, home town unknown, captured. One escape, which was planned to take place from the Hanoi Hilton, involved SR-71 Blackbirds flying overhead and Navy SEALs waiting at the mouth of the Red . [20], Beginning in late 1969, treatment of the prisoners at Ha L and other camps became less severe and generally more tolerable. [2] It was intended to hold Vietnamese prisoners, particularly political prisoners agitating for independence who were often subject to torture and execution. : A Definitive History of the American Prisoner-of-War Experience in Vietnam, 19641973 (published 1976) and Stuart Rochester and Frederick Kiley's Honor Bound: American Prisoners of War in Southeast Asia, 19611973 (published 1999). It was also located near the Hanoi French Quarter. He previously served two terms in the United States House of Representatives and was the Republican nominee for president of the United States in the 2008 election, which he lost to Barack Obama. "It's easy to die but hard to live," a prison guard told one new arrival, "and we'll show you just how hard it is to live." BALDOCK, Lieut. * Firearms, to include conceal carry and other dangerous weapons, are specifically prohibited in Federal facilities in accordance with 18 USC 930 (c) He was the first living recipient of the medal.Risner became an ace in the Korean War and commanded a squadron of F-105 Thunderchiefs in the first missions of Operation Rolling Thunder in 1965. and Indiana Governor, Dies at 74", "Vietnam: The Betrayal of A Revolution; Victims of Discredited Doctrine, My People Now Look to America", "American Experience: Return With Honor: Online Forum", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=U.S._prisoners_of_war_during_the_Vietnam_War&oldid=1140276278, Vietnam War crimes committed by North Vietnam, Articles with dead external links from March 2022, Articles with permanently dead external links, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Borling, John: Taps on the Walls; Poems from the Hanoi Hilton (2013) Master Wings Publishing Pritzker Military Library, This page was last edited on 19 February 2023, at 09:35. Windell B. Rivers, Navy, Oxnard, Calif. ROLLINS, Lieut, Comdr. The POWs held at the Hanoi Hilton were to deny early release because the communist government of North Vietnam could possibly use this tactic as propaganda or as a reward for military intelligence. Although North Vietnam was a signatory of the Third Geneva Convention of 1949,[9] which demanded "decent and humane treatment" of prisoners of war, severe torture methods were employed, such as waterboarding, strappado (known as "the ropes" to POWs),[10] irons, beatings, and prolonged solitary confinement. Topics included a wide range of inquiries about sadistic guards, secret communication codes among the prisoners, testimonials of faith, and debates over celebrities and controversial figures. Significant numbers of Americans were also captured during Operation Linebacker between May and October 1972 and Operation Linebacker II in December 1972, also known as the "Christmas Bombings". Hanoi's list of Americans in captivity is as follows: Clodeon Adkins, Michael D. Benge, Norman J. Brookens, Frank E. Cins, Gary L. Davos, John J. Fritz Jr., Theodore W. Gosta, William H. Hardy, Alexander Henderson, Mihcael H. Kjome, Philip W. Manhard, Lewis E. Mayer, James A. Newingham, Robert F. Olsen, Russell J. The most prominent name on the civilian list was that of Philip W. Manhard of McLean, Va., a 52yearold career diplomat, who was taken prisoner in Hue, South Vietnam, when enemy forces seized the city in their 1968 Tet offensive. Hanoi's list of Americans in captivity is as follows: Clodeon Adkins, Michael D. Benge, Norman J. Brookens, Frank E. Cins, Gary L. Davos, John J. Fritz Jr., Theodore W. Gosta, William H. Hardy,. [8], U.S. prisoners of war in North Vietnam were subjected to extreme torture and malnutrition during their captivity. The Hanoi Hilton is a 1987 Vietnam War film which focuses on the experiences of American prisoners of war who were held in the infamous Hoa Lo Prison in Hanoi during the 1960s and 1970s and the story is told from their perspectives. Williams J., Air Force, not named in previous public lists. The filthy, infested prison compound contained several buildings, each given nicknames such as "Heartbreak Hotel," "New Guy Village" and "Little Vegas" by POWs. Robert E., Navy, Ohio, and Lemoore, Calif., captured May, 1972. In 1967, McCain joined the prisoners at the Hanoi Hilton after his plane was shot down. So the Vietnamese moved them to a remote outpost, the one the POWs called Alcatraz. US Prisoners of War who returned alive from the Vietnam War Sorted by Name Military Service Country of Incident Name Date of Incident Date of Rank Return USAF N. Vietnam BEENS, LYNN RICHARD O3 1972/12/21 1973/03/29 USN N. Vietnam BELL, JAMES FRANKLIN O4 1965/10/16 1973/02/12 CIVILIAN S. Vietnam BENGE, MICHAEL 1968/01/28 1973/03/05 Wayne K., Navy, Berlin, N. Y., captured. [8] These missing personnel would become the subject of the Vietnam War POW/MIA issue for years to come. Individuals are permitted to take their own photographs or videos while touring the museum. Ron Storz. Constitution Avenue, NW Comdr. Leslie H. Sabo, Joseph William Kittinger II (born July 27, 1928) is a retired colonel in the United States Air Force and a USAF Command Pilot. The first flight of 40 U.S. prisoners of war left Hanoi in a C-141A, which later became known as the "Hanoi Taxi" and is now in a museum. The American soldier followed his instructions, and even managed to leave his own note, identifying himself as Air Force Capt. ESTES, Comdr. Ha L Prison (Vietnamese:[hwa l], Nh t Ha L; French: Prison Ha L) was a prison in Hanoi originally used by the French colonists in Indochina for political prisoners, and later by North Vietnam for U.S. prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. Robert Ray, Marines, Not named in previous lists. American POWs gave them nicknames: Alcatraz, Briarpatch, Dirty Bird, the Hanoi Hilton, the Zoo. Frank A. Sieverts, the State Department official charged with prisoner affairs, said that Hanoi apparently did not inelude any information on Americans captured or missing in Laos or Cambodia, despite the provision in the ceasefire agreement to account for all Americans throughout Indochina. He became a naval aviator and flew ground-attack aircraft from aircraft carriers. [3] A 1913 renovation expanded its capacity from 460 inmates to 600. His initial operational assignment was in fighter aircraft, then he participated in Project Manhigh and Project Excelsior high altitude balloon flight projects from 1956 to 1960, setting a world record for the highest skydive from a height greater than 19 miles (31 km). [21] Many POWs speculated that Ho had been personally responsible for their mistreatment. Leo T., Navy, Palo Alto, Calif. PURRINGTON, Lieut. James A. Jr., Navy, Virginia Beach, Va., and Lawrence, Mass., captured March, 1966. Air Force pilot Ron Bliss later said the Hanoi Hilton sounded like a den of runaway woodpeckers.. - Food and Soda Drinks Locked and with nowhere to move or even to go to the bathroom vermin became their only company. That delightful day in 1973 would not be the last time that some of the prisoners would see the Hanoi Hilton. CRAYTON, Cmdr. "Vietnam War Accounting History". McCain spent five and a half years at the Hanoi Hilton, a time that he documented in his 1999 book "Faith of My Fathers." McCain was subjected to rope bindings and beatings during his time as a POW. Of the POWs repatriated to the United States a total of 325 of them served in the United States Air Force, a majority of which were bomber pilots shot down over North Vietnam or VC controlled territory. Whitesides was killed, and Thompson was taken prisoner; he would ultimately spend just short of nine years in captivity, making him the longest-held POW in American history. Ralph E., LL Miami. American POWs gave them nicknames: Alcatraz, Briarpatch, Dirty Bird, the Hanoi Hilton, the Zoo. Only one room in the back is dedicated to American POWs, though it doesnt make any reference to torture there are even videos detailing the kind treatment of the prisoners alongside photos of Americans playing sports on the prison grounds. The prison was originally built by the French colonial government in the late 1800s and was . Hanoi - Today, I had the opportunity to visit the infamous Hoa Lo Prison, also known as the "Hanoi Hilton." We rented the audio guide which was extremely useful in explaining the suffering of the Vietnamese political prisoners and their liberation. [2] By 1954 it held more than 2000 people;[1] with its inmates held in subhuman conditions,[3] it had become a symbol of colonialist exploitation and of the bitterness of the Vietnamese towards the French. Bruce R., Marines, Pensacola, Fla., captured March, 1968. These details are revealed in famous accounts by McCain (Faith of My Fathers), Denton, Alvarez, Day, Risner, Stockdale and dozens of others. Edward D., Navy, Lemoore, Calif. EVERETT, Lieut, (jg.) For those locked inside the Hanoi Hilton, this meant years of daily torture and abuse. Weapons, Return with Honor: American Prisoners of War in Southeast Asia. Who was the most famous prisoner at the Hanoi Hilton? Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}21131N 1055047E / 21.02528N 105.84639E / 21.02528; 105.84639. [9] Following the late 1970 attempted rescue operation at Sn Ty prison camp, most of the POWs at the outlying camps were moved to Ha L, so that the North Vietnamese had fewer camps to protect. During the French colonial period, Vietnamese prisoners were detained and tortured at the Ha L prison. Our tapping ceased to be just an exchange of letters and words; it became conversation, recalled former POW James Stockton. While on a bombing mission during, James Bond Stockdale (December 23, 1923 July 5, 2005) was a United States Navy vice admiral and aviator awarded the Medal of Honor in the Vietnam War, during which he was a prisoner of war for over seven years. - Service animals His right knee and arms were broken in the crash, but he was denied medical care until the North Vietnamese government discovered that his father was a U.S. Navy admiral. Everett Alvarez Jr., Mexican American, US Navy pilot, the 2nd longest-held U.S. POW, enduring over 8 years of captivity. Hoa Lo Prison, after all, is a place best known in the West as one of the prisons where American pilots who had been shot down and captured were kept as prisoners of war (although, technically, the North Vietnamese did not regard the pilots as "prisoners of war" in a legal sense). They also were responsible for debriefing POWs to discern relevant intelligence about MIAs and to discern the existence of war crimes committed against them. [14] These names were chosen because many pilots had trained at Nellis Air Force Base, located in proximity to Las Vegas. EASTMAN, Comdr. The name originated from the street name ph Ha L, due to the concentration of stores selling wood stoves and coal-fire stoves along the street in pre-colonial times. WALSH, Capt. [1], The central urban location of the prison also became part of its early character. The prisoners returned included future politicians Senator John McCain of Arizona, vice-presidential candidate James Stockdale, and Representative Sam Johnson of Texas. James J. Jr., Marines, not named in previous lists. The "Hanoi Hilton" and Other Prisons. This military structure was ultimately recognized by the North Vietnamese and endured until the prisoners' release in 1973. By Bernard Gwertzman Special to The New York Times. The march soon deteriorated into near riot conditions, with North Vietnamese civilians beating the POWs along the 2 miles (3.2km) route and their guards largely unable to restrain the attacks. When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current selection. BRADY, Capt. On February 12, 1973, the first of 591 U.S. prisoners began to be repatriated, and return flights continued until late March. WARNER, Capt. list of hanoi hilton prisonersearthquake today in germany. Operation Homecoming was the return of 591 American prisoners of war (POWs) held by North Vietnam following the Paris Peace Accords that ended U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. Additionally, soon after the raid all acknowledged American prisoners in North Vietnam were moved to Ha L so that the North Vietnamese had fewer camps to protect and to prevent their rescue by U.S. They exercised as best they could. This Pentagon . The list left about half the 51 American civilians believed missing or captured unaccounted for. Diego, Calif., captured Novent ber, 1967. The most notorious POW camp was Hoa Lo Prison, known to Americans as the "Hanoi Hilton." They were also viciously beaten and forced to stand on stools for days on end. [11] Such POW statements would be viewed as a propaganda victory in the battle to sway world and U.S. domestic opinion against the U.S. war effort. Over nearly a decade, as the U.S. fought the North Vietnamese on land, air, and sea, more than 700 American prisoners of war were held captive by enemy forces. American POWs in Vietnam struggled to survive horrid conditions, physical pain, and psychological deprivation, often for years on end. Cmdr, Paul E Navy, Richmond, Va. NAUGHTON, Lieut. A majority of the prisoners were held at camps in North Vietnam, however some POWs were held in at various locations throughout Southeast Asia. WHEAT, Lieut. Built in the late 19th century, Ha L originally held up to 600 Vietnamese prisoners. After the implementation of the 1973 Paris Peace Accords, neither the United States nor its allies ever formally charged North Vietnam with the war crimes revealed to have been committed there. Prisoners of War during the Vietnam War, National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia, the resumed bombing of North Vietnam starting in April 1972, "Vets, Flyers discuss ideology, time in POW camps", "John Dramesi's unflattering memories of his fellow POW John McCain", "Unshakable Will to Survive Sustained P. O. W.'s Over the Years", "Joseph Kernan, Vietnam P.O.W. - Diaper bags He flew a combined 163 combat, The Most Influential Contemporary Americans, Every Person Who Has Hosted 'Saturday Night Live', The Best People Who Hosted SNL In The '00s. MARTIN, Comdr. Bob Shumaker noticed a fellow inmate regularly dumping his slop bucket outside. They cut my flight suit off of me when I was taken into the prison, McCain said. But we did the best we could. Lawrence Victor, Marines, Huron, S. D. MARVEL, Lieut, Col. Jerry Wen. The Vietnam War - known in Vietnam as the Resistance War Against America - lasted from November 1, 1955, until the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975. After Operation Homecoming, the U.S. still listed about 1,350 Americans as prisoners of war or missing in action and sought the return of roughly 1,200 Americans reported killed in action and body not recovered. Accounted-For: This report includes the U.S. personnel whose remains have been recovered and identified since the end of the war. [We realize], over time, that we all fall short of what we aspire to be. BUDD, Sgt. In North Vietnam alone, more than a dozen prisons were scattered in and around the capital city of Hanoi. TELLIER, Sgt. [4] The last POWs were turned over to allied hands on March 29, 1973 raising the total number of Americans returned to 591. During his time at the Hanoi Hilton, McCains hair turned completely white. [14][24] At this time, the prisoners formally organized themselves under the 4th Allied POW Wing, whose name acknowledged earlier periods of overseas captivity among American military personnel in World War I, World War II and the Korean War. Allen C., Navy, Virginia Beach, Va. CHRISTIAN, Cmdr., Michael D., Na Virginia Beach, Va. COSKEY, Cmdr., Kenneth L., Navy, Virginia Beach, Ve. John McCains alleged flight suit and parachute, on the display at the former Hanoi Hilton. "[14] Only a small number of exceptionally resilient prisoners, such as John A. Dramesi, survived captivity without ever cooperating with the enemy; others who refused to cooperate under any circumstances, such as Edwin Atterbury, were tortured to death. Open9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. Mr. Sieverts said that Hanoi, when turning over its list in Paris, said it was complete, but the United States informed North Vietnamese officials that we reserve the right to study it and raise questions.. Beginning in late 1965, the application of torture against U.S. prisoners became severe. Newly freed prisoners of war celebrate as their C-141A aircraft lifts off from Hanoi, North Vietnam, on Feb. 12, 1973, during Operation Homecoming. The Hanoi Hilton was used by the North Vietnam to hold prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. The film portrays fictional characters . Then they really got serious and gave you something called the rope trick.. Thirteen prisons and prison camps were used to house U.S. prisoners in North Vietnam, the most widely known of which was Ha L Prison (nicknamed the "Hanoi Hilton"). Following the first release, twenty prisoners were then moved to a different section of the prison, but the men knew something was wrong as several POWs with longer tenures were left in their original cells. William Kerr, Marines, not named in previous public lists. GOODERMOTE, Lieut. Even when the North Vietnamese offered McCain an early release hoping to use him as a propaganda tool McCain refused as an act of solidarity with his fellow prisoners. It was located near Hanoi's French Quarter. Among the last inmates was dissident poet Nguyn Ch Thin, who was reimprisoned in 1979 after attempting to deliver his poems to the British Embassy, and spent the next six years in Ha L until 1985 when he was transferred to a more modern prison. It enabled prisoners to establish a command structure, keep a roster of captives, and pass information. A considerable amount of literature emerged from released POWs after repatriation, depicting Ha L and the other prisons as places where such atrocities as murder, beatings, broken bones, teeth and eardrums, dislocated limbs, starvation, serving of food contaminated with human and animal feces, and medical neglect of infections and tropical disease occurred. Cmdr, William M., Navy, Virginia Reach, Va captured December 1965. Finally, after the U.S. and North Vietnam agreed to a ceasefire in early 1973, the 591 American POWs still in captivity were released. ALVAREZ, Lieut. The plane used in the transportation of the first group of prisoners of war, a C-141 commonly known as the Hanoi Taxi (Air Force Serial Number 66-0177), has been altered several times since February 12, 1973, to include its conversion (fuselage extension) from a C-141A to a C-141B. [19] The North Vietnamese also maintained that their prisons were no worse than prisons for POWs and political prisoners in South Vietnam, such as the one on Cn Sn Island. Some played mind games to keep themselves sane, making mental lists or building imaginary houses, one nail at a time. The first phase required the initial reception of prisoners at three release sites: POWs held by the Viet Cong (VC) were to be flown by helicopter to Saigon, POWs held by the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) were released in Hanoi and the three POWs held in China were to be freed in Hong Kong. On his next deployment, while Commander of Carrier Air Wing Sixteen aboard the carrier USS Oriskany (CV-34), his A-4 Skyhawk jet was shot down in North Vietnam on September 9, 1965. But at the same time the bonds of friendship and love for my fellow prisoners will be the most enduring memory of my five and a half years of incarceration.. Gareth L., Navy, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. All visitors may be screened with a metal detector upon entry. The POWs made extensive use of a tap code to communicate, which was introduced in June 1965 by four POWs held in the Ha L: Captain Carlyle "Smitty" Harris, Lieutenant Phillip Butler, Lieutenant Robert Peel and Lieutenant Commander Robert Shumaker. Synonymous in the U.S. with torture of American pilots captured during the Vietnam War . Between 12th and 14th Streets This would go on for hours, sometimes even days on end.. Roger G., Navy, not in previous public lists. Everett, Jr. Navy, Santa Clara, Calif., captured August, 1964. U.S. prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. James Stockdale, fearing that he might reveal details of the Gulf of Tonkin incident if tortured, attempted suicide, but survived; he never revealed this information to the enemy. After an early release, he was able to provide the names and personal information of about 256 fellow POWs, as well as reveal the conditions of the prisoner-of . Multiple POWs contracted beriberi at the camp due to severe malnutrition. Meanwhile, Paul was taken prisoner, tortured, placed in solitary confinement in what became known as the "Hanoi Hilton" and fed a diet that was later determined to be about 700 calories a day, which caused him to drop to about 100 pounds. MOORE, Lieut. They drew strength from one another, secretly communicating via notes scratched with sooty matches on toilet paper, subtle hand gestures, or code tapped out on their cell walls. Despite the endless torture, the American soldiers stayed strong the only way they knew how: camaraderie. Charles G. Boyd, USAF pilot, POW for almost 7 years, retired general; the only Vietnam-era POW to reach a four-star rank. [9][16][17] When prisoners of war began to be released from this and other North Vietnamese prisons during the Johnson administration, their testimonies revealed widespread and systematic abuse of prisoners of war. American pilots continued to be captured over the north between 1965 and 1968 as part of Operation Rolling Thunder, the sustained aerial bombing campaign against North Vietnam. Home. [7], Overall, Operation Homecoming did little to satisfy the American public's need for closure on the war in Vietnam. (U.S. Air Force photo), DAYTON, Ohio - Recreated POW cells in the Return with Honor: American Prisoners of War in Southeast Asia exhibit in the Southeast Asia War Gallery at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. The agreement also postulated for the release of nearly 600 American prisoners of war (POWs) held by North Vietnam and its allies within 60 days of the withdrawal of U.S. PIRIE, Comdr, James G., Navy, Lemoore, Calif. PLUMB, Lieut.
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