Charlie Plumb

This is both a fascinating book and a great historical artifact.

Charlie Plumb was shot down near Hanoi in 1967 on his 75th mission. Captured almost immediately, Plumb set about the hard work of surviving as a prisoner of war. He was tortured on arrival, and then again for repeated infractions of prison rules, such as setting up communication networks, celebrating American holidays, and refusing to be a willing participant in North Vietnamese propaganda. Even on the days when he wasn't show more singled out for special punishment, there was still the poor food, vermin, and sheer tedium of 2,103 in prison.

Organized thematically by Glen DeWerff (presumably a pre-internet professional writer), Plumb candidly discusses the harsh conditions in the prison, how he set up communication networks of taps and passed notes to maintain discipline, and the little things like exercise and holidays that increased morale. A basic faith in America, in his fellow pilots, and in God sustained Plumb through the worst of times. It was fascinating to see how important the PoWs creation of an internal chain of command was, and the relative improvement in conditions (always poor) over the years. Having authorities to appeal to, and standards to meet, was vital for ensuring that the men presented a united front to the enemy.

Plumb reveals that everyone broke under torture, eventually. Initially holding himself to the Geneva Convention "name and number" standard, he wound up confessing useless information like the model of airplane he flew, a trivial surrender since they had taken the manuals for an F-4 Phantom off him, and then as many lies as he could manage. I doubt any meaningful secrets passed to the enemy, but men would always break and talk. Plumb regards his Vietnam captors as both brutal and inefficient. Their regime of pain, starvation, and isolation was horrific, but frequently evaded by the Americans.

Finally, published in 1973, this book came out when the war was very much still a live issue, though no longer one that directly affected many Americans. Plumb has a natural charm, which he turned into a successful and ongoing career as an inspirational speaker. As a book about the good things to take away from being a POW, it's a little odd, but still a solid read and artifact. show less

POW story. Charles was shot down May 19, 1967, during a combat mission over N. Vietnam. He was in captivity nearly six years. It is not a pretty story with the 'rope trick' and 'fanbelt' techniques designed to make a man talk. But also tells how the men got a chance to set up communication systems & escape plans. It tells of growing relationships with God which come as a result of desperate need.