Behind Bamboo: True Stories of Vietnam War POWs and Escape

In the unforgiving jungles of Vietnam, freedom was a dream—and escape was a miracle.

 

Behind Bamboo is a harrowing and deeply human account of American prisoners of war who were captured, caged, and nearly forgotten in the dense, sweltering bamboo wilderness of Southeast Asia. From brutal interrogation camps to death-defying escapes, this gripping narrative sheds light on the untold stories of those who refused to give up hope behind enemy lines.

 

Drawing from declassified military documents, POW memoirs, and firsthand survivor interviews, author Caleb P. Crosby pieces together true stories of resilience, resistance, and raw courage. These were the soldiers who endured starvation, disease, psychological torture, and total isolation—only to plot the impossible and make a break for freedom.

Inside this book, you’ll discover:

  • Heart-pounding escape missions through jungles, rivers, and minefields
  • Secret POW camps hidden from international observers
  • The underground networks that helped American soldiers survive
  • The psychological warfare tactics used by the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army
  • Tales of brotherhood, betrayal, survival—and sacrifice
  • The hidden legacy of those left behind, and those who made it home
  • Rarely told perspectives from South Vietnamese allies and civilian captives

Whether you’re a student of military history, a fan of real-life survival stories, or a reader who believes in the power of the human spirit, Behind Bamboo will keep you turning the pages long into the night.

Perfect for readers of:

Unbroken, We Were Soldiers Once… and Young, Six Years in Hell, and Escape from Camp 14

Other Books You Might Be Interested In

Escape from the Box: The Wonder of Human Potential

“…Human potential is nothing more than a state of mind, and that potential is controlled by two things…” -Col. Ed Hubbard The above quotation forms the heart of this fast moving, hard-hitting, inspirational self-leadership book in which Col. Hubbard shares the valuable lessons he learned during 2,420 days as a

Read More »

Patriot, Prisoner, Survivor

Patriot, Prisoner, Survivor: An American Family at War is CDR James Bedinger’s first-hand account of his life, and in particular, his service and imprisonment in Laos during the Vietnam War. CDR Bedinger recounts a tale of heroism, endurance, and the shared struggle in the fight for freedom, paralleled with the

Read More »

They Wouldn’t Let Us Die

Immediately after their release from captivity in Vietnam, veteran broadcast journalist Rowan set out to discover how the POWs were able to survive their long years of physical and mental torture. In this classic, he presents twelve gripping interviews with the true heroes of that era: Navy Lieutenant Commander John

Read More »

Contact Us