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 Bedinger family’s decorated history of service to the United States. From a fresh-faced recruit to a decorated veteran, CDR Bedinger’s story ties living history to the greater narrative of American history. Patriot, Prisoner, Survivor serves as a reminder of the impact an individual can have on the very course of history.
Son Tay 1970: The Operation Ivory Coast POW rescue mission
On November 21, 1970, a meticulously prepared force of US Special Forces in HH-53 helicopters, supported by more than a hundred combat aircraft, raided the POW camp at Son Tay, North Vietnam, just 23 miles west of Hanoi, seeking 61 American prisoners. Having trained for months in secret, and utilizing
