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
Decorated Vietnam War pilot, ex-POW dies in Las Vegas (James O’Neil)
Retired Air Force Col. James W. O’Neil, a decorated Vietnam War pilot and ex-prisoner of war who spent six months in the “Hanoi Hilton” Hoa Loa prison camp, died June 7 of complications from a heart ailment, his widow said. He was 82. He will be buried at noon Monday