{"product_id":"the-unlikely-war-hero-a-vietnam-war-pows-story-of-courage-and-resilience-in-the-hanoi-hilton","title":"The Unlikely War Hero: A Vietnam War POW's Story of Courage and Resilience in the Hanoi Hilton","description":"\n\u003ctable align=\"center\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"2\" cellspacing=\"0\" width=\"100%\"\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"productDetailSmallElements\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCommendation Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"[A]n immersive biography of Doug Hegdal. Leepson paints a striking picture of a canny survivor nonetheless committed to his compatriots. Vietnam War buffs will be riveted.\"-- \"Publishers Weekly\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBrief Description\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"This is the incredible tale of the youngest and lowest-ranking American POW captured in North Vietnam. Doug Hegdahl convinced his captors he was stupid, then spent the next two years memorizing the names of 254 fellow prisoners and other details of POW life. Upon his release, that information helped improve POW life for those still in captivity\"--\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCommendation Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\" \n\u003ci\u003eThe Unlikely War Hero\u003c\/i\u003e is a captivating reading experience. Marc Leepson deserves our heartfelt thanks for telling Hegdahl's inspirational story for the first time in full, and for doing so in a way that people will want to read it and to not stop until they're finished.\"-- \"Bill McCloud, Books in Review II, The VVA Veteran magazine\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCommendation Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"What a strange, fascinating, and ultimately powerful account of one man's endurance of life as a POW during the American war in Vietnam. Doug Hegdahl, the youngest and lowest ranking prisoner in the infamous Hanoi Hilton, survived with a mix of courage and cunning, fortitude and the wiliness of a fox. This book, I believe, will stand the test of time as one of the finest nonfiction narratives to emerge from the Vietnam War.\"--Tim O'Brien, National Book Award-winning author of The Things We Carried, If I die in a Combat Zone, and Going After Cacciato\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBiographical Note\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eMarc Leepson\u003c\/b\u003e graduated from George Washington University with a history degree in 1967, served in the U.S. Army for the following two years, including a tour in Vietnam, and earned an MA in history from George Washington. He was a staff writer for \n\u003ci\u003eCongressional Quarterly\u003c\/i\u003e for ten years before becoming a full-time freelancer. His work has appeared in magazines such as \n\u003ci\u003eSmithsonian\u003c\/i\u003e, \n\u003ci\u003eMilitary History\u003c\/i\u003e, \n\u003ci\u003eCivil War Times\u003c\/i\u003e, \n\u003ci\u003eAmerican History\u003c\/i\u003e, \n\u003ci\u003eVietnam\u003c\/i\u003e, and \n\u003ci\u003eWorld War II\u003c\/i\u003e, and in newspapers such as the \n\u003ci\u003eWashington Post\u003c\/i\u003e, \n\u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e, \n\u003ci\u003eWall Street Journal\u003c\/i\u003e, and \n\u003ci\u003eUSA Today\u003c\/i\u003e. He is senior writer, arts editor, and columnist for \n\u003ci\u003eThe VVA Veteran\u003c\/i\u003e (the magazine of Vietnam Veterans of America) and has written reviews for \n\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e and \n\u003ci\u003eKirkus\u003c\/i\u003e. He has been interviewed on \n\u003ci\u003eThe Today Show\u003c\/i\u003e, the History Channel, MSNBC, Fox News, NPR, and many other TV and radio shows. His previous books are \n\u003ci\u003eBallad of the Green Beret: The Life and Wars of Staff Sergeant Barry Sadler from the Vietnam War and Pop Stardom to Murder and an Unsolved, Violent Death\u003c\/i\u003e; \n\u003ci\u003eWhat So Proudly We Hailed: Francis Scott Key, a Life\u003c\/i\u003e; \n\u003ci\u003eLafayette: Lessons in Leadership from the Idealist General\u003c\/i\u003e; \n\u003ci\u003eDesperate Engagement: How a Little-Known Civil War Battle Saved Washington, D.C., and Changed American History\u003c\/i\u003e; \n\u003ci\u003eFlag: An American Biography\u003c\/i\u003e; and \n\u003ci\u003eSaving Monticello: The Levy Family's Epic Quest to Rescue the House That Jefferson Built\u003c\/i\u003e. He lives in Middleburg, Virginia.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"What a strange, fascinating, and ultimately powerful account of one man's endurance of life as a POW during the American war in Vietnam. Doug Hegdahl, the youngest and lowest ranking prisoner in the infamous Hanoi Hilton, survived with a mix of courage and cunning, fortitude and the wiliness of a fox. This book, I believe, will stand the test of time as one of the finest nonfiction narratives to emerge from the Vietnam War.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"[A]n immersive biography of Doug Hegdal... Leepson presents a complete picture of the extraordinary story, including its unlikely beginnings... a striking picture of a canny survivor nonetheless committed to his compatriots. Vietnam War buffs will be riveted.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Leepson has a firm handle on the subject. Utilizing archival research, personal interviews and his own experiences in the war, Leepson has written a thoroughly engaging biography - the first of its kind - about one of the unsung heroes of Vietnam... Hegdahl's incredible story adds a compelling facet to the canon of Vietnam literature... a compelling story, told by a skilled storyteller.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"...a compelling story about how men in the worst of times can endure horrible atrocities -- and still retain the will to resist and escape.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Once again, Leepson proves himself as an exceptional historian, employing various resources to tell Hegdahl's story and the P.O.W experience... This is a must-read book, one of the most impressive Vietnam War narratives.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Vividly written... solidly based on archival research, personal interviews, and [Marc Leepson's] experiences in the Vietnam War... \n\u003ci\u003eThe Unlikely War Hero\u003c\/i\u003e is a unique and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, community, and college\/university library Vietnam War History\/Biography\/Memoir collections and supplemental 20th Century U.S. Military History curriculum studies lists.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Marc Leepson's \n\u003ci\u003eThe Unlikely War Hero: A Vietnam War POW's Story of Courage and Resilience in the Hanoi Hilton\u003c\/i\u003e tells Hegdahl's story fully for the first time.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\" \n\u003ci\u003eThe Unlikely War Hero\u003c\/i\u003e is well-researched and written... [T]he number of sources that Leepson interviewed was extensive, and he successfully presents the hardship of the POWs and the difficulty that Hegdahl encountered in returning to the United States and civilian life after nearly three years of captivity.... The book is a must-read for anyone interested in the Vietnam War and the Prisoners of War issue of the conflict.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Marc Leepson delves deeply into the captive experiences of Douglas Hegdahl and many of his fellow POWs in \n\u003ci\u003eThe Unlikely War Hero\u003c\/i\u003e. It's a book that will enrich the personal libraries of anyone who served in Vietnam, others old enough to remember the war, or those who are teaching and studying it today.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"Talk about forgotten heroes! In \u003ci\u003eThe Unlikely War Hero\u003c\/i\u003e, Marc Leepson has dug gold. In telling one of the most remarkable stories to come out of the Vietnam War, he has come up with a damned good read. And he tells the story with compassion and verve.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"In \u003ci\u003eThe Unlikely War Hero\u003c\/i\u003e, author and Vietnam War veteran Marc Leepson probes one of the most under-appreciated stories of the American POW experience during the long and costly war in Southeast Asia. With the empathy of a former enlisted man, Leepson tells a thoroughly researched story of Doug Hegdahl, the youngest and lowest-ranking American captured by the North Vietnamese, who used his status as a low-value prisoner to become a veritable font of first-hand information regarding the status and treatment of his fellow POWs upon his reluctant early release from captivity. This book tells us once again never to underestimate the wily American enlisted man. It's an inspiring treat to read for veterans and those who simply appreciate the unsinkable American spirit.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"This remarkable, true story of a young American who used common sense, humor, guts, and guile to outwit his pitiless captors kept me turning its pages. Marc Leepson's book is an astonishing story of survival in the brutal POW camps of North Vietnam by an average boy from South Dakota who kept himself alive, and helped many of his higher-ranking fellow captives. At times, I almost felt like I was in those cells with Doug and the other POWs. Doug Hegdahl may be an unlikely hero, but a hero he was, and the nation should be thankful for the perseverance he demonstrated across years of cruel captivity.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\" \n\u003ci\u003eThe Unlikely War Hero\u003c\/i\u003e is a captivating reading experience. Marc Leepson deserves our heartfelt thanks for telling Hegdahl's inspirational story for the first time in full, and for doing so in a way that people will want to read it and to not stop until they're finished.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"[Marc Leepson's] latest book, \u003ci\u003eThe Unlikely War Hero\u003c\/i\u003e, focuses on a subject [Vietnam prisoner-of-war (POW) Doug Hegdahl] that is incredibly interesting, has been clearly overlooked in the past, and demands to be known by the public for his extraordinary contributions to our Nation and the Armed Forces . . . In Hegdahl, Leepson has once again selected a subject that will clearly interest perspective readers . . . [brings] to light to many the extraordinary contributions Hegdahl made to his fellow POWs, their families, and our Nation. These contributions have been severely overlooked and must be known and respected by far more people.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"Marc Leepson's \u003ci\u003eThe Unlikely War Hero\u003c\/i\u003e is a comprehensive and enthralling study of Navy sailor Douglas Hegdahl's captivity during the Vietnam War, and his extraordinary and dedicated service to his fellow POWs and to U.S. naval intelligence. It is a worthy complement to the literature on the POW experience.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher Marketing\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"What a strange, fascinating, and ultimately powerful account of one man's endurance of life as a POW during the American war in Vietnam. . . . This book, I believe, will stand the test of time as one of the finest nonfiction narratives to emerge from the Vietnam War.\" -Tim O'Brien, author of \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Things They Carried\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eOn April 6, 1967, twenty-year-old U.S. Navy Seaman Apprentice Doug Hegdahl fell off his ship, a guided-missile cruiser, in the Gulf of Tonkin. Close to exhaustion after nearly four hours in the water, he was picked up by a small fishing boat and soon found himself in Hỏa Lò Prison, the notorious North Vietnamese POW camp the prisoners called the Hanoi Hilton. Under intense interrogation, Hegdahl pretended to be a country bumpkin who could barely read or write. His captors fell for the ruse, calling him \"The Incredibly Stupid One.\" \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut Doug Hegdahl was far from stupid. Possessing a razor-sharp memory, during the next two years he memorized the names of 254 fellow prisoners and senior officers ordered him to accept an early release. After coming home in August 1969, Hegdahl shocked his debriefers by rattling off the names of the men. Hanoi had admitted holding only a few dozen, although the U.S. military had reliable intel on scores of others. With Hegdahl's names, 63 missing servicemen were reclassified to Prisoners of War.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut that's not all. In addition to divulging the names, Doug Hegdahl told the Pentagon about the systematic torturing of the American POWs in Hanoi and reported many other hitherto unknown details about life inside the Hanoi POW camps. The new information became an important factor in North Vietnam's fall 1969 decision to make life immeasurably easier for the 500-plus POWs held in Hanoi and assuaged the doubts and fears of dozens of POW families.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn a vividly written book based on archival research, personal interviews, and his experiences in the Vietnam War, Marc Leepson, for the first time, tells the incredible tale of the youngest and lowest-ranking American POW captured in North Vietnam. Doug Hegdahl has never been properly recognized for his extraordinary efforts, and his story has never been fully told. It's a story of survival-has own and scores of POWs. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a U.S. Navy historian put it: the North Vietnamese \"made a bad mistake when they released Seaman Doug Hegdahl.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Citations:\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"italic\"\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/span\u003e 10\/28\/2024 (EAN 9780811772921, Hardcover)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n","brand":"Stackpole Books Gpq","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51496037810454,"sku":"9780811772921","price":39.54,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0857\/9910\/8886\/files\/9780811772921.jpg?v=1783051400","url":"https:\/\/lusper.myshopify.com\/products\/the-unlikely-war-hero-a-vietnam-war-pows-story-of-courage-and-resilience-in-the-hanoi-hilton","provider":"Lusperbooks","version":"1.0","type":"link"}