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Hero Found: The Greatest POW Escape of the Vietnam War
The true story made famous in Werner Herzog's acclaimed film "Rescue Dawn"--the incredible drama of the pilot who overcame seemingly insurmountable odds to lead a mass escape from a POW camp deep in the Laotian jungle.
Hardcover, 293 pages
Published
June 29th 2010
by Harper
(first published June 17th 2010)
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Gary Null
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Whenever any of you couch-potato civilians get to feeling sorry for yourself and how bad your lot in life is, you need to sit down and read a book like "Hero Found" to be reminded what suffering and survival are really like, and how American servicemen and servicewomen put themselves in harm’s way for your freedoms.
This is the story of a Vietnam-era Navy pilot who became a hero. Dieter Dengler survived beatings and starvation at the hands of the enemy, but was still able to lead a dari...more
This is the story of a Vietnam-era Navy pilot who became a hero. Dieter Dengler survived beatings and starvation at the hands of the enemy, but was still able to lead a dari...more
A very exciting book, read by me in its audiobook form (CDs). I expected a book about prisoners of war, escape, and evasion, acts of horror and acts of courage and honor approaching martyrdom, and that's what I got, but I got even more. I got a lot of details about our involvement in Vietnam, of which I already had significant knowledge, since I was in college during the Vietnam War and have served in the armed forces fo 26+ years. I got a lot of background information about what it takes to ...more
A history of the Texas Rangers tracing how they evolved from a militia fighting border wars with the Indians and Mexicans, to becoming a law enforcing unit which they are better known for. An honest account which shows up the best in the Ranger tradition, but does not shy away from their worst defeats and rogues who shamed the Ranger name. The second half of the book tracing the Ranger exploits as they tracked outlaws and engaged in shootouts was a particularly exciting read. Recommended if you ...more
Beyond the military hubris which i do not care for is a clear picture of a uniquely potent individual. Raised to survive in war torn Germany Dengler developed an iron will and the knowledge of how to subsist on very little. He seemed destined to put his acquired skills to the ultimate test. Miraculously he survived in the dense thorny jungles filled with malarial mosquitoes, slippery leeches, deadly snakes and the Pathet Lao keenly observing any trace left behind.
A good story with a lot of interesting background in military history. I found it most unique that a German youth who lived through WW II would want to fly planes in America following the war. Even more fascinating was the fact that he ended up flying planes for the Navy in Vietnam. That was a strange odyssey to me. The book moved along nicely, painting a picture of Dieter and his comrades that was fairly vivid and engaging. A good read overall.
Hmmm. The first half of this book bored me to tears. It was overly verbose and heavy on details that were not of interest to me. I also did not like Dieter Dengler all that much - he was basically a petty thief, a womanizer, and cocky. However, the second half of the book involving his imprisonment and escape was very exciting, and I really enjoyed it.
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......
This was an amazing story of determination. Deiter Dengler grew up in post WWII Germany and learned how to survive from his mother when food was in short supply. These lessons served him well as a POW in Laos during the Vietnam War. Parts are extremely graphic when he describes his torture by various guards but this treatment ultimately convinced him to escape along with the 5 others he was being held with. His escape is still harrowing but his will to live wins out. When he was finally res...more
Awesome book about a the greatest escape from Nam. I really really liked it.
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Wow, this was a gripping read. Warning: if you begin the second half at night, do not bother to try to get any sleep.
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.
Interesting and amazing story of survival in the jungles and prisons of southeast Asia during the Vietnam war.
I thought this book was great...a little slow moving at first, and a little too much plane description for my tastes, but an amazing story of the hero and how his mother shaped/prepared him to survive his captive life and his amazing positive attitude that brought him home....
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.
Interesting story of a gutsy POW who barely survived and escaped the Viet Cong.
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