In a spirit reminiscent of Unbroken, Alvin Townley’s Defiant is a gripping Vietnam War narrative about the American POWs in one of Vietnam’s most brutal prisons. These men endured horrific conditions – starvation, sickness, isolation, and savage torture. With great bravery and determination, the POWs sought to uphold their Code of Conduct and fight the North Vietnamese at every turn, creating an underground resistance. In an effort to crush this resistance, the Vietnamese tried to separate the eleven leaders by isolating them in a jail eventually known as Alcatraz. This is the story of these men – the survivors, the one who never made it home, and their wives who fought the American government and rallied the nation to bring them home.
Just like Unbroken, this book is hard to read in many ways. The treatment the POWs received in Hanoi at the “Hanoi Hilton” prison and in Alcatraz was unfathomable. It breaks your heart to even try to imagine it. Yet, the courage and resilience of the POWs is astounding, as well as the devotion of their wives back in the US. The men languishing in the “Hanoi Hilton” as well as the isolated Alcatraz developed genius ways to maintain sanity, friendships, and faith. Their ability to find humor in their circumstances was inspiring. I was in awe of their desire to resist their captors despite what they were going through… I don’t think the words “resilient” or “courageous” even skims the surface describing these men. They were true heroes, and I am thankful Townley shared their story.
The emphasis definitely was on the POWs’ survival, but Townley did go into how the wives back in the US fought against their own government to get the POWs home. This certainly was an interesting part of the book and a little-known part of US history. If you’re interested in that, check out The League of Wives by Heath Hardage Lee, which is another excellent nonfiction account with much greater emphasis on the ladies’ work with and against the US government.
I learned a lot about the Vietnam War I hadn’t known before, but Defiant didn’t read like a history textbook in any way. It was gripping and fast-paced, while also being educational and thorough. I never felt lost in details or dates. I thought Townley did an excellent job telling this story – covering his bases, not glossing over the gritty experiences, and providing an honest portrayal of these men’s survival. There are a few instances of strong language (direct quotes from POWs or prison guards) to be aware of, and, of course, it is a very heavy read. If that’s okay with you, this is definitely a good war read.
Jessica
Copyright Alvin Townley and Thomas Dunne Books. Image from Amazon.com.
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