The actual story of Prisoners of War (POWs) left behind in previous wars is quite documented but became obscured by hoax POW pictures, small time scams, and other diversions. This is the story of those POWs left behind in Laos and Vietnam, drawn on facts from government published reports and official testimony from high-level figures such as former U.S. Defense Secretary and CIA Director James Schlesinger who testified under oath that POWs remained behind in 1973 at the end of the Vietnam War. For example, Colonel David Hrdlicka was shot down over Laos in 1965, and it was not known he was a POW until his pictures appeared as a POW in a Soviet newspaper. The Laos government never acknowledged his status and he remains behind to this day.
Resilience, Fortitude and Faith: Vietnam War POWs Reflect 50 Years Later
The Nixon Library will host three former Vietnam War POWs for a panel discussion celebrating the 50th anniversary of their emotional return home to the United States. These decorated veterans will reflect on their harrowing experiences of survival while imprisoned in North Vietnam and share their perspectives on the past fifty years of freedom. The panelists, all of whom were imprisoned in the infamous “Hanoi Hilton” prison camp, will discuss the challenges they faced during
