Customer Reviews

Why Didn't You Get Me Out?: A POW's Nightmare in Vietnam

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Why Didn't You Get Me Out?" should go hand in hand with George J. Veith's "Code Name Bright Light" in relating the appallingly hard-hearted and callous attitude the U.S. Government had towards the POWs and MIAs during the Indochina War. The more I read on the subject, two events take place: The first is that certain stories and key players keep reappearing (Jerry Mooney of NSA, General Tighe of DIA, Colonel Mike Peck, etc). The more they appear in the same form in different sources, the truer they must be. The second is that I find new information, such as the contents of Warrant Officer Anton's book. As WO Anton relates, the US had solid photographic intelligence of the locations of Viet Cong prison camps and often traced prisoner movements through the jungles all the way to Hanoi. WO Anton, in fact, is told years later that the US made no rescue attempts so as not to expose their sources!. Why develop sources if the information they provide goes unused? "Why Didn't You Get Me Out?" is unique in that most POW tales are set in the major Hanoi prisons such as The Plantation (Anton's last stop) or the infamous "Hanoi Hilton". Anton concentrates his focus on the putrid, festering smaller jungle camps he suffered through on the long trek from his capture in the Que Son Valley to the "relative comfort" of the Plantation. It's all here-the the dysentary, the skin leeches, the cruel guards(and some who were not), the attempts to reeducate/brainwash as well as the infamous Marine, Bobby Garwood, who colaborated with the enemy. Anton leaves no doubt as to the ultimate Vietnam?Indochina question" DID EVERYBODY COME HOME? Those of us who have followed things through the years know the answer is a resounding "NO!". "Why Didn't You Get Me Out" is recommended for any serious student of the Indochina War as well as those with a paticular interest in the fate of the 1.993 (as of October 23, 2000)MIAs still out there. After all these years and after spending one year of my life over there, it's just unreal how many sides there were to that War. This is a first rate new side/ new look. Those who have yet to read George Veith's book should try both.

I have a relative who served in Vietnam and knew Frank Anton, and thus I was able to read an autographed copy of this book. This is a terrifying account of Anton's five years as a POW. There are many books with this type of account out there, but this one has the added value of political insights into the POW/MIA phenomenon. When Anton finally returned home from years of maltreatment, disease, despair, and watching several fellow prisoners die, he learned that the government knew where he was all along. Anton has found compelling evidence that the US military chose not to rescue POWs while the war was in progress, for various political and strategic reasons; while political lethargy and historical myopia have prevented the rescue of many POWs who are surely still trapped in Southeast Asia or elsewhere. One potential source of controversy in this book is Anton's harsh but ultimately levelheaded coverage of the court-martialed turncoat Bobby Garwood. Contrasting information about Garwood has been published elsewhere, so approach this subject with an open mind. But otherwise, Anton has great insight into the continuing drama surrounding the experiences of himself and his comrades, as well as POW/MIAs in general and how the American leadership really does see missing servicemen as political collateral. In Anton's view, this is a betrayal that should cause real concern among military personnel and those dedicated to fighting for their country. [~doomsdayer520~]

I first meet Frank Anton when he and I were in Florida in 2002. We had just landed our Huey helicopter and he came out on the airfield to talk to us. That conversation got me really interested in learning more about his man. He handed me a signed copy of his paperback book, "Why Didn't You Get Me Out?" I devoured it, much like a starving man might over indulge on his first meal after a long fast. The book hooks your interest from the very beginning. You are pulled into the real life story of a survivor.

He spent five brutal years at the hands of NVA and the VC. He lived in conditions that others would never survive in. He was staved, tortured and held captive while holding out hope that his government would come and get him out of there.

His first person accounts of what happened inside his POW camp and the betrayal by a fellow American solider will keep you on the edge of your seat. This is not a fairly tale told by some Hollywood script writer for some Rambo character -- this is the real McCoy American hero story.

You will find this to be one of the best accounts of being held captive to come out of the Vietnam War. Certainly this is a must read if you wish to have a fuller understanding of the total history of that period of our nations history. It will make you question our own government non-actions and responses. It may even have you asking the same question that Frank did, "Why Didn't You Get Me Out?"

If you haven't read them yet, check out the following books for further enlightenment: An Enormous Crime: The Definitive Account of American POWs Abandoned in Southeast Asia; Five Years to Freedom: The True Story of a Vietnam POW ; Kiss the Boys Goodbye: How the United States Betrayed its Own POWs in Vietnam

Being a military person it raises some questions that I never would have thought to be a problem. The experiences and details Frank Anton recalls will amaze you, how any person could withstand the things that he and fellow POW's went through will surely show you just how strong human nature is. A great book for anyone.

I posted this on other POW websites and will continue to as long as I live. I've been telling anyone who would listen about it since I was in my mid 20's. I'm in my 40's now.

When I met my husband in 1979. He had just escaped Vietnam the year before. He was one of the boat people. He told me way back in 1979 that he had seen American POW's as late as 1978 with his own eyes on more then one occasion. He was riding his scooter far out in the country side and saw a group of tall, long haired and bearded Caucasion men working the rice paddy fields under Vietnamese armed guard. When he looked a little too long and too hard the guards aimed thier rifles at him so he looked away and kept driving.
He said the Caucasian mens faces were very sad.
My husband wouldn't lie to me. He still insists it true and we have told many people about it
Since then I made it a point to question every Vietnemese refugee I met. Several had told me they saw them with their own eyes as late as 1982.
I was also told that it was common knowledge in Vietnam that American POW's were still there.They were surprised that most Americans didn't know about it. They just figured maybe we didn't want them back or didn't care.
I don't know how much of Bobby Garwoods story is true. But, I know what my husband and others told me about seeing POW's as late as 1978- 1982. The only ones who seem to believe this story when we tell it, are Vietnam vets. Others are too horrifed to beleive it, but since my friends know my husband wouldn't make this up, they rationalize that yes, maybe he did see them, but they were most likely traitors, collaborating with the enemy and staying there by their own choice. If that is so why were they bedraggled, long haired and beared, emanciated and working at gun point with sad haunted faces? I don't know if there are any left alive now. It's been so long. But, I pray for them every night.

Frank has written an outstanding book. Altough I firmly beleive that there are some of our guys that stayed in Nam by choice I am as convinced that there are many that were kept as pawns and our government didn't have the guts to go get them. Am very proud to have served in the military with men of the caliber of men like Frank. Thank you Frank for writting this book to let the people of our great country,just how gutless our Leaders were. Roadrunner 6 Out

This book was well written from beginning to end, as if written by a professional literature professonal. They story however, is one of amazement that could only be told through the eyes of a POW who had lived it.

I have recently returned from Iraq myself, a little bitter and untrusting of my government, yet what I experienced pales in comparison to Chief Anton's ordeal. The heart wrenching description of his treatment in captivity was unimagianable. To find out, once he returned home, that the US government knew where he was the entire time, inexcusable!!!

This work was so well written and flowed so smoothly that I was able to finish it in only two sittings. The story being so captivating as it was helped with this, as I simply did not want to put this book down. Anyone who has ever served in the military needs to read this book and tell their friends.

For five hellish years, soldier Frank Anton was held prisoner during the Vietnam War and mistreated by the enemy with torture, starvation and all forms of deprivation. At times,he was depressed and ready to die, but he prevailed and was finally released bruised and battered. During most of the time, he came to realize that the US miitary/government knew where he and other American prisoners were being held, and even saw a photo of himself taken from the air while he was on the rugged Ho Chi Minh Trail. This is a must read for all Americans, especially when we send off our young warriors to war.

This is a must read for all americans. As a Vietnam veteran I was appalled that the US government knew so much and did so little to get these guys out and that so many pow's have been left unaccounted for, in all our wars. Sam Estes