Open Doors: Vietnam POWs Thirty Years Later (Paperback)

by Taylor Baldwin Kiland (Author), Jamie Howren (Author) "Men who grew up too young to fight in World War II saw their fathers tested physically and mentally by war..." (more)
Key Phrases: Age When Captured, Military Citations, Total Number of Days Held (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
OPEN DOORS is a tribute to Vietnam prisoners of war and their individual determination in seeking personal and professional happiness upon their release. A testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of human will, it is also a celebration of freedom.

While their experience in captivity has been well documented, historians have largely overlooked the current lives of former Vietnam POWs. Combining photo portraits and insightful profiles of thirty Vietnam-era POWs, Taylor Baldwin Kiland and Jamie Howren offer an intimate look at these men—the longest-held group of returned POWs in our nation"s history—as husbands, fathers, sons, brothers, and grandfathers. Subjects include the famous (Sen. John McCain and former vice presidential candidate Vice Adm. James Stockdale) and the not-so-famous. None received celebrity treatment on their liberation; all resumed their lives as private citizens. Most of them have flourished in the face of great challenges, proud of their accomplishments.

The book is based on a traveling photographic exhibit that has been touring the United States since October 2003. Rather than dwelling on the torture and suffering of their years in the notorious prison complex known to its inhabitants as the "Hanoi Hilton," the authors focused on commemorating the thirtieth anniversary of the POWs’ return to the United States and on celebrating the years of freedom and personal achievement that followed.

From the Publisher
Offers a unique look at America's survivors of the "Hanoi Hilton," in words and photographs; Examines their lives and contributions since their release and provides inspirational stories of overcoming adversity; Contains more than sixty photos showing the men before and after captivity.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 172 pages
• Publisher: Potomac Books Inc. (November 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1574889699
• ISBN-13: 978-1574889697
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 6.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #538,491 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Men who persevered with honor, December 14, 2005

By	Quang X. Pham (Orange County, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a review of the hardcover edition of "Open Doors," a combination of magnificant present-day photographs accompanied by snapshots of 30 former POWs held in North Vietnam. The profilees totaled less than 5% of the American military POWs captured in Southeast Asia. (There were civilian POWs as well.)

Everyone has heard of John McCain and Admiral James Stockdale. Most of the others retired as captain/colonel or admiral/general, once bomber/fighter pilots shot down and captured.

There is Doug Hegdahl, a young sailor who fell overboard in the Gulf of Tonkin, who remembered the names of all captives and relayed them upon his early release. Tony Marshall was a young African-American Air Force F-4 pilot held for nine months. He retired and became an airline pilot and teacher.

Following the vignettes, there are military biographical information on the men and their decorations. In my opinion, the best part is the summary at the end offering statistics of the entire group. One question remains. Do these POWs believe that there are Americans still missing in action in Vietnam/Laos/Cambodia?

"Open Doors" would make a perfect gift for aspiring military aviators, Vietnam veterans and their loved ones.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Journalistic Integrity At Its Best, February 17, 2006

By	Richard A. Stratton "The Beak" (Atlantic Beach, Florida United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The five stars are for the quality of research and the journalistic integrity of the authors. As one of the subjects of the book it would be misleading for me to assign stars for the overall merit of the work (although I did like it). I have no problem with giving five stars for the photography - a class act. Many reporters, journalists, would-be authors and just the downright curious attmept to tell our story. Most end up telling their story, the story they think they heard or the story the way they wish it were. These authors succeeded in telling our story by investing a prodigious effort in face to face sessions, research and validation through third party sources. The result is a lesson in journalistic integrity. What you sees is what you get and that is us. Enjoy!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best and the Brightest After the Hanoi Hilton, April 28, 2006

By	John Matlock "Gunny" (Winnemucca, NV) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Perhaps the most striking part of this book to me is the simple number, the number of days that these men spent in captivity in Vietnam: 2,381; 2,432; 2,676; 3,113. To me this made a stronger impact than saying 5 years or whatever. Three thousand days. These people sat there with nothing to do, scared, being mistreated, tortured, no idea if they would ever return home.

But return home 661 did. And the overwhelming percentage brought home with them a dedication to life. Most seem to have stayed in the service (some of them had been promoted twice while in captivity), most after the service went on to successful careers in a wide variety of fields. Coming to mind is the title of David Halberstam's book, 'The Best and the Brightest.' It would be difficult to find a better group of men than these.

This is the story of what happened afterward to thirty of these men.