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Through The Valley: My Captivity In Vietnam

Through the Valley is the captivating memoir of the last U.S. Army soldier taken prisoner during the Vietnam War. A narrative of courage, hope, and survival, Through the Valley is more than just a war story. It also portrays the thrill and horror of combat, the fear and anxiety of captivity, and the stories of friendships forged and friends lost.In 1971 William Reeder was a senior captain on his second tour in Vietnam. He had flown armed, fixed-wing OV-1 Mohawks on secret missions deep into enemy territory in Laos, Cambodia, and North Vietnam on his first tour. He returned as a helicopter pilot eager to experience a whole new perspective as a Cobra gunship pilot. Believing that Nixon’s Vietnamization would soon end the war, Reeder was anxious to see combat action. To him, it appeared that the Americans had prevailed, beaten the Viet Cong, and were passing everything over to the South Vietnamese Army so that Americans could leave. Less than a year later, while providing support to forces at the besieged base of Ben Het, Reeder’s chopper went down in a flaming corkscrew. Though Reeder survived the crash, he was captured after evading the enemy for three days. He was held for weeks in jungle cages before enduring a grueling forced march on the Ho Chi Minh Trail, costing the lives of seven of his group of twenty-seven POWs. Imprisoned in the notorious prisons of Hanoi, Reeder’s tenacity in the face of unimaginable hardship is not only a captivating story, but serves as an inspiration to all. In Through the Valley William Reeder shares the torment and pain of his ordeal, but does so in the light of the hope that he never lost. His memoir reinforces the themes of courage and sacrifice, undying faith, strength of family, love of country, loyalty among comrades, and a realization of how precious is the freedom all too often taken for granted. Sure to resonate with those serving in the armed forces who continue to face the demands of combat, Through the Valley will also appeal especially to readers looking for a powerful, riveting story.

Hardcover: 256 pages

Publisher: Naval Institute Press; 1 edition (April 15, 2016)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1591145864

ISBN-13: 978-1591145868

Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 1.1 x 9.1 inches

Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)

Best Sellers Rank: #124,539 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #97 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Leaders & Notable People > Military > Vietnam War #130 in Books > History > Military > United States > Veterans #194 in Books > History > Military > United States > Vietnam War

Colonel (Retired) William (Bill) Reeder’s book, "Through the Valley; My Captivity in Vietnam," is an uplifting tale, despite the grim specifics that comprise most of the story. In May 1972, on his second Vietnam tour, Army Captain Reeder, a Cobra pilot, was shot down near the Laotian border. Among other injuries, his back was broken. After briefly evading capture, he was taken prisoner by North Vietnamese Army soldiers. Thus began an excruciating march, almost entirely on foot, lasting 154 days, to captivity in Hanoi. At the first camp where he was taken, an interrogator trussed him to the point of dislocating both shoulders. His determination to survive and ultimately return to his family, his ability to imagine himself outside his immediate situation, the generosity of the only other American and the South Vietnamese prisoners, and sheer luck enabled him to survive the march. Without any medical attention, protection from the elements, or even footwear for most of the trip – Reeder nearly died several times. Besides his broken back and other injuries, he developed three types of malaria, dysentery, and gangrene. The rules of the march were you stop, you die. Several prisoners fell out and were shot. At one point, a South Vietnamese prisoner carried Reeder to keep him alive. Once, he and his captors came close to being killed by a US air strike. Later, his captors had to protect their prisoners from angry villagers who’d lost family members either in combat or from US air raids. His final captivity in the notorious Hanoi Hilton seemed almost like a holiday cruise after the half-year preceding.Reeder was the last US Army captive to survive the war; all taken later died before they could return.

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