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Hero Found: The Greatest POW Escape of the Vietnam War Audiobook
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(4.02) - 165 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
In February 1966, U.S. Navy pilot Dieter Dengler was shot down over "neutral Laos." He crashed deep in territory controlled by North Vietnamese army regulars and the communist Pathet Lao, who would eventually capture him and hold him prisoner in a fortified jungle prisoner-of-war camp.
But German-born Dengler was no ordinary prisoner. Already a legend in the Navy for his escape and evasion skills—amply demonstrated during training in the California desert—he would initiate, plan, and lead an organized escape from the POW camp, becoming the longest-held American to escape captivity during the Vietnam War. Caught in a most desperate situation, imprisoned not only by the enemy but by the jungle itself, Dengler's heroic impulse was to not only get himself out but to free all the other POWs—Americans, Thai, and Chinese—some of whom had been held for years.
In a surreal scene of brotherhood and celebration, Dengler returned to his aircraft carrier, the USS Ranger, six months after being shot down—emaciated and ravaged with strange tropical illnesses, but very much alive and joyous to be so—only two weeks before the ship was due to leave the Gulf of Tonkin and return home.
Bruce Henderson served with Dengler aboard Ranger off the coast of Vietnam and here tells Dengler's complete story for the first time, drawing on extensive interviews with the intrepid pilot, his squadron mates, friends, and family, as well as declassified military archival materials, some now available for the first time, and personal letters and journals. Henderson's riveting account amply demonstrates why Dengler's story of unending optimism, innate courage, loyalty, and survival against overwhelming odds remains for his fellow flyers and shipmates the best and brightest memory of their generation's war.
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"The first half of this book gets only 3+ stars, but the second half is so good, I just had to give it 5 stars. The first half is build up to the main story which tells of the capture and astonishing escape of Dieter Dengler from a POW camp in Laos. What this man went through is truly unbelievable."
— Todd (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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[McLaren's] animated involvement adds a special spark to a work already compelling from beginning to end.
— AudioFile -
“Henderson, who served as a navy weatherman aboard Dengler’s aircraft carrier, has crafted a worthy narrative that adds new material based on interviews with Dengler (who died in 2001) and his navy comrades, friends. and family, along with newly unearthed archival records…This often riveting account sheds new light on an oft-told true story.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“[McLaren’s] animated involvement adds a special spark to a work already compelling from beginning to end.”
— AudioFile
Hero Found Listener Reviews
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" Great book...a real life account of an escape from a prison camp during the Vietnam war. The story is well told and written from two perspectives. One of my favorites. Truly a "guy" book. "
— Buddy, 12/14/2013 -
" True American hero & bada$$!!! After crashing his Spud, he was captured and led a prison break with fellow POWs. This guy was a survivor! "
— Daniel, 12/3/2013 -
" This is an amazing story and a well read audio book. "
— Maria, 10/18/2013 -
" This was a bit more graphic than I usually read. Very gripping tale of one person's extraordinary life. Definite page turner. Would highly recommend to anyone able to stomache another Vietnam era story. "
— Gabrielle, 7/17/2013 -
" An exciting read (Kindle version). "
— John, 6/12/2013 -
" Wow, this was a gripping read. Warning: if you begin the second half at night, do not bother to try to get any sleep. "
— Scott, 8/4/2012 -
" Interesting and amazing story of survival in the jungles and prisons of southeast Asia during the Vietnam war. "
— Linda, 7/6/2012 -
" This is an astounding story of perseverence and bravery. Highly recommended. "
— Harry, 5/25/2012 -
" Awesome book about a the greatest escape from Nam. I really really liked it. "
— Bonsaiforlife, 5/13/2012 -
" All of us who lived through the Viet Nam war era should read this book. It is an amzing story of survival. It is very well written--NOT boring at all...... "
— Karen, 11/27/2011 -
" I love true stories and war stories. "
— Angiezajac, 7/14/2011 -
" Interesting story of a gutsy POW who barely survived and escaped the Viet Cong. "
— Mike, 6/9/2011 -
" If you like war history and biographies, this is a great read. "
— Alice, 3/9/2011 -
" Wow, this was a gripping read. Warning: if you begin the second half at night, do not bother to try to get any sleep. "
— Scott, 2/15/2011 -
" Interesting story of a gutsy POW who barely survived and escaped the Viet Cong. "
— Mike, 12/12/2010 -
" Interesting and amazing story of survival in the jungles and prisons of southeast Asia during the Vietnam war. "
— Linda, 11/21/2010 -
" All of us who lived through the Viet Nam war era should read this book. It is an amzing story of survival. It is very well written--NOT boring at all...... "
— Karen, 11/9/2010 -
" Great book...a real life account of an escape from a prison camp during the Vietnam war. The story is well told and written from two perspectives. One of my favorites. Truly a "guy" book. "
— Buddy, 8/19/2010
About Bruce Henderson
Bruce Henderson is the author and coauthor of many nonfiction books, including the #1 New York Times bestseller And the Sea Will Tell. A former newspaper reporter, magazine editor, private investigator, and field producer for television news, Bruce has taught reporting and writing courses at Stanford University and USC School of Journalism. He is a member of the Authors Guild, the American Society of Journalists and Authors, and the National Press Club. He lives in northern California.
About Todd McLaren
Todd McLaren, an Earphones Award–winning narrator, was involved in radio for more than twenty years in cities on both coasts, including Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. He left broadcasting for a full-time career in voice acting, where he has been heard on more than five thousand television and radio commercials, as well as television promos; narrations for documentaries on such networks as A&E, Discovery, and the History Channel; and films, including Who Framed Roger Rabbit?