Captive Warriors: A Vietnam Pow's Story

By Sam Johnson and Jan Winebrenner

Book Overview

"If hell is here on earth, it is located on an oddly shaped city block in downtown Hanoi, Vietnam," writes Sam Johnson, who lived in that hell for seven years. Col. Samuel R. Johnson, U.S. Air Force, was shot down in April, 1966, while flying his twenty-fifth mission over North Vietnam. Shortly after his capture and imprisonment in the infamous Hanoi Hilton, Colonel Johnson was labeled a diehard by his enemies. His creative and innovative resistance of prison authority earned him banishment to the high-security prison unit where, unknown to U.S. military intelligence, Ho Chi Minh kept the eleven prisoners believed to be a serious threat to his war efforts. For two years Johnson and the other ten endured leg irons, malnutrition, and appallingly primitive conditions while imprisoned in tiny cubicles built in the earthen-walled facility dug out of the center courtyard of North Vietnam's Ministry of Defense in downtown Hanoi. Captive Warriors is the story of Alcatraz, where courage and humor thrived amid the madness. It is the story of Colonel Johnson's seven-year battle for his life, limbs, and sanity. It is the story of the hundreds of captured warriors--American POWs--whose lives lay in the hands of angry and vengeful North Vietnamese captors. The book also chronicles America's trek into political confusion and chaos throughout the course of the Vietnam War. More than a story, Captive Warriors is a tribute to all the American prisoners of war who, without benefit of the conventional weapons of war, waged daily battles against an insidious enemy disdainful of the requirements of the Geneva Conventions and who, in the end, became the final pawn in the peace settlement that ended the longest war in American history.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0890964963
• ISBN13: 9780890964965
• Release Date: April 1992
• Publisher: Texas A&M University Press
• Length: 310 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Fantastic book about an amazing American Hero

Great book. Started with a brief history of VietNam and the impending conflict. It then spoke of his bombing of the North, his capture and the 7 years he was captive. I was rivited to this book. He does not speak like a polititian but of someone with first hand knowledge. Even though at the time he was oblivious to much of what was going on in the world this book interweaves all that was actually happening. It does it very well. This point also points out in detail the absolute human failures of communism. I appreciated that extra detail. When the time came for him to come home I could not put the book down. I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to learn a first hand account of what a hero does under the worst of circumstances.

A great book by a great American hero.

You won't put this book down until you finish it. Sam Johnson details the heroic sacrifice made by American POWs during a painful time in American history. I work with Sam Johnson on Capitol Hill. You won't find a more humble, patriotic, dedicated public servant. He is a true American hero.

Captive Warriors

Amid the blather today of who did what during the Vietnam War, Captive Warrior tells the story of one true American hero, Sam Johnson. Johnson, a Korean War veteran returned to fly and fight in Vietnam. On his 25th mission his F-4 was assigned to attack a target with little value. Johnson was shot down and badly injured during the ejection. For seven long brutal years, Johnson continued his fight while in captivity. Johnson's story is one of hope, dispair, of men bonding together and overcoming seemingly insurmountable challenges to the human mind, spirit and body. It is also a story that briefly touches on other POWs who willingly aided the North Vietnamese in propaganda and in some cases, turned on their own fellow pilots. Although Johnson was beaten, tortured and often consigned to solitary confinement, Johnson fought the good fight and prevailed. The book is the story of a man's courage, faith, endurance and tenacity. For students of the Vietnam War and for those who want to read about an indomitable spirit, I recommend Captive Warriors.

Excellent and well-written

While I would never claim to understand what Sam Johnson went through, I can't imagine a book doing a better job of expressing what it's like to be a POW than this one did. The description of his experiences was detailed without being tedious, and the book was both disturbing and uplifing -- disturbing due to the brutality of Johnson's captors, but uplifting because of his faith and optimism.I've also read "Faith Of My Fathers", but I enjoyed "Captive Warriors" quite a bit more. In my opinion, FOMF wasn't as effective at describing the POW experience, and while I don't intend to diminish what McCain went through, it seems apparent that his treatment was nowhere near as harsh as Johnson's.A previous reviewer implied that the references to Johnson's faith in God were numerous to the point of being excessive, but I didn't find that to be the case at all. I don't recall the point having been made more than a few times, and certainly not in a gratuitous manner.My only complaint about this book is that it didn't contain more information about Johnson's life after the war. He is continuing to serve his country, currently as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. After reading this biography, I'm hoping that he will consider pursuing a higher office, and maybe then he'll have enough material for a second book.

inspirational story of horrifying times

When Sam Johnson was shot down over Vietnam, he was badly injured in the bailout. He survived years of solitary confinement and extreme torture with his body broken yet his resolve firm. His story of his faith in God, his fellow prisoners, and the Code of Conduct is remarkable. We Americans owe Mr. Johnson and the other courageous POW's our undying gratitude.