Few men have literally been blown out of the sky and lived to tell about it. If you can call being starved, beaten and otherwise tortured living. But not only did Phil Butler survive, he came out of the experience a new man…a war hero, a loving husband, a warrior for peace and justice. Now he is telling his story, a compelling tale about becoming a warrior, from the seeds of his childhood in Oklahoma, the tempering of his character as a POW for 2855 days and nights, and his conscious growth when he returned to the United States. Phil Butler’s story is not only interesting, it is instructive; he defines a path for the willing and the courageous. No, a man – or a woman – doesn’t have to be tortured to be a warrior and it doesn’t even always help. But most people who would evolve to that higher level do so after confronting great demons and daunting tasks. Phil Butler’s account of his journey is part road map, part history, and always an engaging tale.
Reflections on Captivity: A Tapestry of Stories by a Vietnam War POW
On October 17, 1965, Navy LTJG Porter Halyburton was shot down over North Vietnam on his 76th mission and listed as killed in action. One-and-a-half years later he was found to be alive and a prisoner of war. Halyburton was held captive for more than seven years. Reflections on Captivity,
