Defiant: The POWs Who Endured Vietnam's Most Infamous Prison, the Women Who Fought for Them, and the One Who Never Returned

by Alvin Townley

“In Nels’s … most dishonorably.” Charles N. Tanner, Letter written by Charles N. Tanner, Hanoi, October 1966.

  “It mentioned … Clark Kent.” “Hanoi’s Pavlovicms,” Time, April 14, 1967, 43.

  “On April 16 … waiting truck.” Department of the Air Force, Places and Dates of Confinement: Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps PWs, North Vietnam, 1964–1973, SEAsia PW Analysis Program Report (Washington, DC: Department of the Air Force, 1975).

  “He soon found … your deceit!” Hubbell 1976, 266.

  10. YOUR ADORING HUSBAND

  “With careful forethought … pass his letter.” Mulligan 1981, 116–20. Hubbell 1976, 228–30.

  “Dusk had … darkness.” Mulligan 1981, 116–21.

  “He prayed … Amen.” Ibid., 121.

  “You are too poor … in Bethlehem.” Ibid., 128–29.

  By the end … of writing home.” Davis 2000, 373.

  “Aircraft had … in Saigon.” Chester L. Cooper, The Lost Crusade: America in Vietnam (Greenwich, CT: Fawcett Publications, 1972). Herring 2002, 203–04. McNamara 1995, 248–50. Karnow 1983, 506–9.

  “The former air … bugs bite.” Stockdale 1984, 185.

  “On the occasion … she was here.” Ibid., 188–90, 214.

  “The instructions … Hang on.” Ibid., 193–94.

  “Jim had not … forgotten him.” In his writings and interviews reviewed by the author, Jim Stockdale made no references to receiving letters during 1966, nor did Sybil, and the letters received by him at Christmas were written in the fall, making it likely that he received no mail during the preceding months of 1966.

  “Jim’s spirits … and left.” Stockdale 1984, 197.

  “Go, Muste … target list.” Ibid., 201.

  “In now-visible … government would act.” Ibid., 207.

  11. BACK US

  “Đán! Đán … leave bucket.” Stockdale 1984, 233.

  “Jim heard … Saint.” Ibid., 235–36.

  “Some days … at home.” Howes 1993, 96.

  “At the week’s … Go.” Stockdale 1984, 244.

  “Bow … let that happen.” Stockdale 1984, 251–52. Johnson and Winebrenner 1992, 126–27. Howes 1993, 30–32.

  “The guards thrust … 3 feet by 7 feet.” Every inmate confined to the Mint interviewed by the author described the cells as measuring roughly 3 by 7 feet. Current layout and original French architectural drawings differ from each other and from the POW accounts, however. The book assumes the accounts of POWs to be accurate.

  “The guards thrust … into the Mint.” Rutledge 1973, 62.

  “Twice each week … of the pigs.” Coffee 1990, 193.

  “Apology … nicer compliment.” Ibid., 195.

  “You are criminals … home together.” Stockdale 1984, 253–54, 277.

  “He pictured … individually.” Ibid., 255–56.

  “Harry Jenkins … depsondent of prisoners.” Richard G. Capen, Finish Strong (San Francisco: HarperCollins/Zondervan, 2002), 123–26.

  “He announced … this cell.” Mulligan 1981, 159.

  “Efforts to win … the insurgency.” Karnow 1983, 450.

  “Jerry!… flew open.” Mulligan 1981, 160.

  “Jim didn’t hesitate … to be correct.” Ibid., 162.

  “On August 6 … the next cell.” Hubbell 1976, 298.

  “Oh, God … been stronger.” Coffee 1990, 201.

  “In a different … same propaganda film.” The film was almost certainly Pilots in Pajamas, produced in 1967 by an East German film crew based at the Plantation. Portions of the film run on continuous loop in Room Eighteen of the Hỏa Lò Prison Museum today.

  “Shu’s resistance … different explanation.” Walter Heynowski and Gerhard Scheumann, Piloten im Pyjama (Pilots in Pajamas), 1967, http://www.pownetwork.org/nvp/pilots_in_pajamas.pdf (accessed January 24, 2013).

  “After being tortured … Jim Stockdale.” Kiley and Rochester 1999, 305.

  “George began yelling … Torture!” Hubbell 1976, 302.

  “The staff soon … left arm.” Ibid., 305.

  12. A SNAKE YOU CAN’T KILL

  “Eighty-two … actually seen.” Michael McGrath, U.S. POWs in North Vietnam (Colorado Springs, CO: NAMPOW).

  “You attack … be punished.” Johnson and Winebrenner 1992, 135.

  “Jim bid good … communication infraction.” The Camp Authority had moved Nels Tanner out of the Mint shortly before transferring in Stockdale and Johnson.

  “The stint together … talking so much.” Hubbell 1976, 274.

  “Prior to his … solitary confinement.” Rutledge 1973, 59.

  “Whereas George … children he had.” Ibid., 60. Rochester 2010, 38.

  “Suspecting the nature … international law.” Hubbell 1976, 280.

  “If Howie, Sam … summer of 1967.” Prisoners of Hope.

  “One fair-skinned … counted 243.” Leo K. Thorsness, Surviving Hell: A POW’s Journey (New York: Encounter Books, 2008), Kindle edition, 886.

  “In a hushed voice … two years.” Stockdale 1984, 267. Hubbell 1976, 324. Author John Hubbell attributes a similar line to Mao at the trial of Jim Stockdale. In his book In Love and War, Stockdale recalled it coming from Vy before the interview with the Russians.

  “He leaned over … conference is finished.” Ibid., 268–69.

  “Why fool around … no repay.” Ibid., 270.

  “I have not been … Camp Authority.” Ibid., 271.

  “I am a war criminal … authority for mercy.” Hubbell 1976, 324.

  “Pigeye had untied … its own lot.” Kiley and Rochester 1999, 309.

  “In a happier … Job and Epictetus.” James B. Stockdale, Thoughts of a Philosophical Fighter Pilot (Palo Alto, CA: Hoover Institution, 1995), 177–78.

  “The Old Testament … southern Israel.” Job lived in “the land of Uz,” often thought to be territory in modern southwestern Jordan and southern Israel.

  “While in Hỏa Lò … trust in God.” James B. Stockdale, A Vietnam Experience: Ten Years of Reflection (Palo Alto, CA: Hoover Institution, 1984), 35.

  “When Jim and Rhinelander … the real danger.” Stockdale 1995, 187–88.

  “He listened intently … Jim Stockdale.” Kiley and Rochester 1999, 308.

  “Jim protested … matter seemed finished.” Stockdale 1984, 273. Hubbell 1976, 326–27.

  “The extensive list … more than 270.” POW leaders had designated several gifted POWs as official memory banks, responsible for memorizing POW names and other information. Jim Mulligan was one such designated POW, and he repeated his list three times each day. Still today, Mulligan has a particularly sharp memory.

  “Jim did his … matter seemed finished.” Hubbell 1976, 124–27. Stockdale 1984, 272–74.

  “He humbly accepted … ultimately triumph.” Jim Collins, Good to Great (New York: HarperBusiness, 2001), 83–87.

  “Two spiders … only companions.” Johnson and Winebrenner 1992, 138.

  “In August … of your imprisonment.” Ibid., 140.

  “It would be okay … woke up again.” Ibid.

  “Get up … shower and shave.” Ibid., 142–43.

  13. A HELLUVA STORY

  “One location satisfied … human shields.” Kiley and Rochester 1999, 317.

  “One inmate … black dandruff.” Ibid., 317.

  “From the day in 1864 … from South Carolinians.” Melvin Grigsby, The Smoked Yank (N.P.: Sam T. Clover, 1888).

  “You know, George … your grandkids.” Howren and Kiland, 11.

  “On the road…’crost the bay.” Rudyard Kipling, “Mandalay,” Poem Hunter, December 31, 2002, www.poemhunter.com/poem/mandalay (accessed January 27, 2012).

  14. THE BAD CAMP

  “One afternoon … kept laughing.” Mulligan 1981, 163.

  “Three other American … know each other” Ibid., 164.

  “Harry heard … guard barked.” Johnson and Winebrenner 1992, 156.

  “The French constructed … his leadership team.” Ro
bert Destatte, interview with Alvin Townley, March 5, 2012.

  “Suddenly, his ears … Get up.” Mulligan 1981, 167.

  “After the guard … in camp with us.” Ibid., 168.

  “In Thy gentle … smiling our thanks.” Rutledge 1973, 69.

  “When he sensed … very long message.” Denton 1998, 160.

  “The guards made sure … CAG for weeks.” Richard G. Capen, eulogy for Harry Tarleton Jenkins Jr, delivered in Coronado, CA, August 11, 1995.

  “Eventually, Coker had … you were born.” Hubbell 1976, 379–80.

  “When Jerry told CAG … their entire lives.” Denton 1998, 163.

  “Once, he counted … before he stopped.” Ibid., 164.

  “During one walk … recurrent problem.” Sam Johnson remembered Harry disconnecting wires behind the latrine to black out the camp. Harry’s notes recall using the wires inside his cell, the scenario the manuscript relates since it comes from the most direct source.

  “On some afternoons … myself all day.” James B. Stockdale, interview by Dr. Albert C. Pierce, in Moral Courage: An Evening in Honor of VADM James B. Stockdale, recorded at the U.S. Naval Academy (November 30, 1999).

  15. TO TELL THE WORLD

  “Why do you want … from your home.” Johnson and Winebrenner 1992, 169.

  “Ultimately, U.S.… refuse to bear.” James Willbanks, “Shock and Awe of Tet Offensive Shattered U.S. Illusions,” U.S. News & World Report, January 29, 2009.

  “What do you think … leaders were correct.” Johnson and Winebrenner 1992, 169–72.

  “By March 1968 … widespread.” Herring 2002, 243.

  “To say that we … best they could.” Walter Cronkite, Walter Cronkite’s “We Are Mired in Stalemate” Broadcast, February 27, 1968, https://facultystaff.richmond.edu/~ebolt/history398/Cronkite_1968.html (accessed July 28, 2012).

  “Speaking from the Oval … duty may require.” Lyndon Johnson, “President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Address to the Nation—March 31, 1968,” Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library, http://www.lbjlib.utexas.edu/johnson/archives.hom/speeches.hom/680331.asp (accessed January 29, 2013).

  “Consequently, the final year … died in Vietnam.” Comptroller, Secretary of Defense, Casualty Statistics on Southeast Asia, by Month, http://www.americanwarlibrary.com/vietnam/vwc24.htm (accessed August 21, 2012). National Archives, Statistical Information About Fatal Casualties of the Vietnam War, http://www.archives.gov/research/military/vietnam-war/casualty-statistics.html#year (accessed August 17, 2012).

  “On May 26 … Thank you, Lord.” Mulligan 1981, 183.

  “Rat was seated … We will study.” Denton 1998, 170–71.

  “The appearance of Cat … your meal today.” Mulligan 1981, 184–85.

  “Lieutenant Commander John … of early release.” John McCain with Mark Salter, Faith of My Fathers (New York: Perennial, 1999), 140–43.

  “In response, Harriman … servicemen to uphold.” Stockdale 1984, 298–99.

  “Heavens no … they should know.” Ibid., 300.

  “At Alcatraz, the summer … efficient administrator.” Kiley and Rochester 1999, 344.

  “Most important … summer heat.” Ibid., 335.

  “Here’s to CAG … to the end.” Stockdale 1984, 285.

  “The League organized … secretary of defense.” Evelyn Grubb and Carol Jose, You Are Not Forgotten (St. Petersburg, FL: Vandamere Press, 2008), 102.

  “The new president … missing servicemen.” Davis 2000, 408.

  16. WE WILL BREAK YOU NOW

  “A guard sprang … communicate.” Denton 1998, 176.

  “Purge, I say … comm.” Ibid., 176.

  “Jerry took it … break you now.” Denton 1998, 177–79.

  “Ah, Denton … back to Alcatraz.” Ibid., 180.

  “Mun, I take … of the Catholics.” Mulligan 1981, 192.

  “When the guards … so beautiful.” Jim Mulligan identified St. Joseph’s as the cathedral he visited by using modern-day interior photographs; he was blindfolded while outside in 1968.

  “The friendly gesture … you will be punished.” Ibid., 193–94.

  “Jerry responded that … summon a doctor.” Hubbell 1976, 471.

  “They want us to … long as you can.” Johnson and Winebrenner 1992, 177.

  “Bullshit … the same way.” Mulligan 1981, 195.

  “Quiet reigned … to shoot him.” Stockdale 1999.

  “They’re beating … beating him.” Johnson and Winebrenner 1992, 176.

  “Sad sack rushed … No bào cào.” Mulligan 1981, 196.

  “Enraged and defiant … lazy son of a.” Hubbell 1976, 472.

  “Everybody goes … for three days.” Stockdale 1984, 292.

  “Their defiance reminded … to the last.” Ibid., 292. Joseph Conrad, Lord Jim (New York: Doubleday, 1899), 64.

  “Coughs or snorts … God bless you).” Mulligan 1981, 197.

  “You must write … with my guards.” Ibid., 197–98.

  “When Sad Sack … I’ll write.” Ibid., 199.

  “One confession … Gonzales.” Kiley and Rochester 1999, 337.

  “The United States is … will be punished.” Johnson and Winebrenner 1992, 178–79.

  “Oh, God, let … to the others.” Ibid., 178–81.

  “Some of his fellow … You will die here.” Denton, Johnson, and Mulligan give different dates and accounts of Ron Storz’s collapse; the narrative incorporates the most plausible information from all accounts to portray the most likely date and scenario.

  “If something doesn’t happen … the summer.” Mulligan 1981, 205.

  “What happened … gave Storz blood.” Johnson and Winebrenner 1992, 183.

  “When Sam Johnson … uncharacteristically pessimistic.” Johnson and Winebrenner, 186.

  “When Mickey Mouse woke … will go on.” Denton 1998, 186.

  17. BLACKMAIL

  “It is you … say, or tape.” Stockdale 1984, 326.

  “Rabbit assigned Jim … bring you water.” Ibid., 328–29.

  “The next day … more comfortable.” Ibid., 330–32.

  “Pigeye screamed … to the ropes.” Ibid., 332–33.

  “Standing over his … my best regards, Jim.” Ibid., 334–39.

  “He now understood … it may lead.” Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Notes from Underground (New York: Barnes & Noble, 2003), 254.

  “I’m not going … Fast.” H. R. Haldeman, The Ends of Power (New York: Dell, 1978), p. 120.

  “We will not … our own.” Herring 2002, 271.

  “In his first … 157,000.” Ibid., 182.

  “Yet Vietnam … first term.” National Archives. Statistical Information About Fatal Casualties of the Vietnam War, http://www.archives.gov/research/military/vietnam-war/casualty-statistics.html#year (accessed August 17, 2012).

  “The wives believed … give them one.” Richard G. Capen, e-mail, July 21, 2012.

  “In the press … of their struggle.” Richard G. Capen, interview by Alvin Townley, June 26, 2012.

  “Before you leave … you to know.” Ibid. Stockdale 1984, 307.

  “The North … refused to do.” Melvin R. Laird, “Statement by Secretary of Defense Melvin R. Laird.” Washington, DC: Office of Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs), May 19, 1969.

  “He and Laird saw … support would also.” Davis 2000, 201, 419. Dale Van Atta, With Honor: Melvin Laird in War, Peace, and Politics (Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 2008).

  “I’m crazy to try … have an organization.” Stockdale 1984, 309.

  18. THE CAPTAIN OF MY SOUL

  “As he walked … Jim’s assessment.” Hubbell 1976, 480.

  “One POW who … locked in Alcatraz.” Kiley and Rochester 1999, 309.

  “The actual Nolan … their POWs.” “Defectors: By Mutual Consent,” Time, July 15, 1966.

  “Dear McKinley … your arm move.” Stockdale 1984, 351.

  “The prisoners at Alcatraz … dead man.” Johnson and Winebrenner 1992, 189.
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  “George refused to break … to do with you.” Joanne Kimberlin, “Our POWs,” Virginian-Pilot, November 11, 2008.

  “Good-bye … old bastard.” Stockdale 1984, 354.

  “I only have one … like we do.” Ibid., 355.

  “Đán! Đán … brought down.” Ibid., 356.

  “Tomorrow is the day … nagged to death.” Ibid., 356–58.

  “That fall, the Politburo … families via postcards.” Central Committee of the Vietnamese Communist Party, “Politburo Resolution 194: The Policy Regarding American Enemy Pilots Captured in Northern Vietnam,” Hanoi, November 20, 1969.

  “When a guard caught … punishment for communicating.” Denton 1998, 195.

  “One morning a guard … leg irons.” Johnson and Winebrenner 1992, 193.

  “Jerry and Softsoap … understand that.” Denton 1998, 197.

  “The POWs speculated … away with it now.” Johnson and Winebrenner 1998.

  “I’m freezing … get your clothes.” Mulligan 1981, 208.

  19. GBU

  “Yes, Mrs. Stockdale … man with you.” Stockdale 1984, 319.

  “Before his visitors … own government.” Ibid., 321.

  “The more divided … negotiate at Paris.” Richard Nixon, “Address to the Nation on the War in Vietnam,” November 3, 1969, University of California, Santa Barbara. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=2303 (accessed March 21, 2013).

  “In 1952 … same manner.” “Cold War: Feb. 21, 1972: Nixon Arrives in China for Talks.” This Day in History. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nixon-arrives-in-china-for-talks (accessed August 25, 2012).

  “When she heard … to your husband.” Stockdale 1984, 362.

  “Indeed, the volume … in 1970.” Davis 2000, 376. Michael J. Allen, Until the Last Man Comes Home (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina, 2009).

  “For crying out … what I said.” Stockdale 1984, 364.

  “Many of us are … forces from Vietnam.” Davis 2000, 416.

  “Ladies and gentlemen … in my life.” Richard Nixon, “Remarks Following a Meeting with Wives and Mothers of Prisoners of War and Servicemen Missing in Action in Vietnam,” December 12, 1969, University of California, Santa Barbara. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=2368 (accessed September 28, 2012).

  “Merry Christmas.” Stockdale 1984, 368.

  “You’re all moving … do as he likes.” Johnson and Winebrenner 1992, 200.