Taps on the Walls: Poems from the Hanoi Hilton

How did a prisoner of war survive six years and eight months of soul-crushing imprisonment and torture in the Hanoi Hilton during the Vietnam War? By writing poetry. And how did he do it without pencil or paper? Then-captain John Borling ”wrote” and memorized poems to keep his mind sharp and his spirits up. He shared his creations with fellow captives by their only means of communication–the forbidden POW tap code. Rapping on the cell walls with his knuckles, Borling tapped poems–certainly of pain and despair, but also of humor, encouragement and hope–to keep everyone’s strength and spirits alive. With a foreword by fellow POW, Senator John McCain, Taps on the Walls contains all the poems General Borling created during his confinement. Readers will discover remarkable stories of endurance, life lessons, and means to achieve personal triumph.

Other Books You Might Be Interested In

Open Doors: Vietnam POWs Thirty Years Later

OPEN DOORS is a tribute to Vietnam prisoners of war and their individual determination in seeking personal and professional happiness upon their release. A testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of human will, it is also a celebration of freedom. While their experience in captivity

Read More »

Who Will Go: Into the Son Tay POW Camp

THE SON TAY RAID RANKS AS ONE OF THE MOST DARING MISSIONS IN SPECIAL OPS HISTORY. Hear from the men of the Raid in their own words, moving and personal. The gripping (and often humorous) narrative follows the youngest Raider, Terry Buckler, through Special Forces training and the suspense-filled preparation for

Read More »

Seven Years in Hanoi: A POW Tells His Story

It Looked like and “ordinary” day when Air Force Capt. Larry Chesley took off. But less than an hour later he had been shot down over North Vietnam with a broken vertebra, stripped of his clothing and equipment and was sitting handcuffed and blindfolded in a hole in the ground.

Read More »

Contact Us