This paper seeks to examine the experiences of Vietnam POWs, both those held in the
jungles of South Vietnam and those in the Hanoi prison camps of North Vietnam based
on POW narratives consisting of memoirs, autobiographies, and interviews. Early POW
history depicts great differences between the two groups of POWs, giving the impression
that Pilot POWS, who comprised the majority of prisoners in Hanoi camps, acted more
honorably while interned in comparison to enlisted army POWS, who spent the majority
of their captivity in the jungles of South Vietnam. This paper demonstrates the
similarities in their experiences through these narrative sources and how certain myths
regarding their varying performances solidified
Faith, Re-birth ofFreedom, and Pride (Ralph Browning)
I was stationed at Clark Air Base in the Philippines in February 1973. I was fortunate to be able towitness the return of the POW’s as they were brought to Clark Air Base from Hanoi after release fromvarious camps across the country.There were seven dates in February and March 1973
