Draggingtree Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 The Alcatraz Gang and the Fight to Bring Them Home Posted on March 5, 2014 by Michael Hoak By Alvin Townley During the Vietnam War, more than six hundred American pilots were held in prison camps in and around Hanoi, North Vietnam. These POWs endured torture, beatings, and isolation, desperately clinging to the Code of Conduct as their captors attempted to extract intelligence, confessions, and propaganda. From those six hundred brave POWs, the North Vietnamese identified eleven men as the most uncooperative and subversive captives—the worst troublemakers and the leaders of the American resistance. The Camp Authority kicked them out of the Hanoi Hilton and sentenced them to a terrible prison called Alcatraz, where they become known as “The Alcatraz Gang.” At home, three of their wives started a nationwide movement to bring attention to the plight of the POWs. These courageous women battled unhelpful governments in Hanoi and Washington alike and were ultimately responsible for the men’s safe return in 1973. Their historic movement was marked by millions of POW/MIA bracelets and the still-ubiquitous black-and-white POW/MIA flag. During their eight-year ordeal, the men and women of the “Alcatraz Gang” endured more intense hardship for more years than any other group of men and women in American military history. We should not forget. Bob Shumaker becomes the second POW in North Vietnam (February 1965). More than 500 pilots would meet his fate during the coming eight years. North Vietnam would not honor the Geneva Convention and the POWs suffered. http://www.thehistoryreader.com/contemporary-history/alcatraz-gang-fight-bring-home/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valin Posted March 16, 2014 Share Posted March 16, 2014 The Alcatraz Gang and the Fight to Bring Them Home Posted on March 5, 2014 by Michael Hoak By Alvin Townley We should not forget. Bob Shumaker becomes the second POW in North Vietnam (February 1965). More than 500 pilots would meet his fate during the coming eight years. North Vietnam would not honor the Geneva Convention and the POWs suffered. http://www.thehistoryreader.com/contemporary-history/alcatraz-gang-fight-bring-home/ Some of us don't. Some wish we would. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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