P.O.W.’S HAD LIST OF PROHIBITIONS (David Rollins)

The North Vietnamese captors of American servicemen were adamant. No writing on the pri son walls. No noise. No dis courtesy to the guards.

Regulations issued by the North Vietnamese in 1969 pro mised a reward for prisoners who informed about violations and punishment for those who tried to oppose their captors’ will.

The regulations, which termed the American prisoners criminals, were posted in Eng lish in February, 1969, in the “Hanoi Hilton,” as American prisoners of war called one of the Hanoi prisons in which they were held.

A sheet containing the regulations was smuggled home by a Navy officer, Lieut. Comdr. David J. Rollins of Pioche, Nev., a prisoner for six years. He has now turned a copy over to re porters.

Other Publications You Might Be Interested In

Robert Shumaker: An extended stay at the Hanoi Hilton

Prior to his POW experience, Robert Shumaker had other memorable moments in the service. During one mission in the Mediterranean, multiple mechanical malfunctions forced him to freefall 2,000 feet before he could open his parachute. He was also one of the top 32 candidates for NASA’s Apollo program during the

Read More »

George Coker: A story of perseverance

It was supposed to be a routine mission, a “milk run” in the words of George Coker, who was serving on his 55th missions in Vietnam as a bombardier/navigator. Usually, his missions consisted of flying over Vietnam from the aircraft carrier USS Constellation and bombing strategic points like bridges and

Read More »

This Day in History: Vice Admiral William P. Lawrence

On this day in 2005, retired Navy Vice Admiral William “Bill” Lawrence passes away. Decades earlier, Lawrence had been a prisoner of war at the Hanoi Hilton. He was one of the highest-ranking members of our military to be held in that infamous prison. Trouble began in June 1967. Lawrence

Read More »