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Code-Name Bright Light: The Untold Story of U.S. POW Rescue Efforts During the Vietnam War Mass Market Paperback – December 1, 1998

by George J. Veith (Author)

27 customer reviews

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The history of the U.S. POW/MIA intelligence and wartime rescue operations has long remained concealed under the shroud of national security, unknown both to the public and to the families of the missing. George J. Veith has assembled an extensive range of previously unseen material, including recently declassified NSA intercepts, State Department cables, and wartime interrogation reports which reveal how the U.S. military conducted a centralized effort to identify, locate, and rescue its POW/MIAs.

Code-Name Bright Light also traces the development of the various national POW intelligence operations and provides an in-depth look at the activities of the Joint Personnel Recovery Center, a secretive and highly classified unit in South Vietnam responsible for rescuing captives. Further, it uncovers one of the most tightly held POW/MIA secrets, the primary reason why the government did not think any Americans were left behind: a clandestine communication program between the POWs and the U.S. military. This still-sensitive program provided the identities and locations of American prisoners, defeating North Vietnamese efforts to keep their names and locations secret.

The raids and efforts that make up the narrative of Code-Name Bright Light succeeded in freeing hundreds of South Vietnamese soldiers but resulted in the rescue of few Americans. The vast network of efforts, however, is a testament to the U.S. military's unknown commitment to freeing its captive soldiers. Veith concludes that the United States secretly went as far as any army could go in freeing captives in this type of wartime situation.

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

At the end of Code-Name Bright Light, former Army captain George J. Veith reports the surprising results of a straw poll he took of former military personnel involved in the effort to liberate American POWs. More than half think that when the United States evacuated Vietnam in 1973, Yanks were left behind enemy lines. Veith is no conspiracy freak. He believes strongly that the military made a sincere effort to rescue captured troops, and argues his case well, yet he also reveals a troubled operation that did not liberate a single soldier due to a combination of its own incompetence and clever Viet Cong tactics. This important chapter of the Vietnam War has been largely ignored until the late 1990s, partly because so many relevant documents took that long to be declassified. Veith makes a genuine contribution to the historical understanding of the conflict, one that ought to engage those still wondering about men whose fates remain unknown. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Popular and academic works on U.S. prisoners of war continue to play a central role in Vietnam War literature and historiography. But even as the number of such titles proliferate, the quality of the research and the political bias of the writers have long been issues. Although a definitive scholarly volume awaits the opening of Vietnam's archives, Veith's research in the U.S. records places his study on American rescue attempts in the forefront of the discussion. The author, a specialist on POWs/MIAs, presents a tightly written, challenging essay on the ill-starred rescue efforts of the Joint Personnel Recovery Center and associated units in Vietnam and Laos. The catalog of bureaucratic inertia, interservice rivalries, and incredible bad luck combined to frustrate the numerous missions of American and Vietnamese special forces. An arresting and dramatic story supported by exceptional research, this is an essential purchase for Vietnam War collections in academic and public libraries.?John R. Vallely, Siena Coll. Lib, Loudonville, N.Y.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product details

Mass Market Paperback: 496 pages
Publisher: Dell (1999)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0440226503
ISBN-13: 978-0440226505
Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1 x 7 inches
Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 27 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,606,898 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #578 in Books > History > Military > Korean War
- #595 in Books > History > Asia > Korea
- #1324 in Books > History > Military > United States > Veterans

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A tremendous work on U.S. POW rescue and recovery.......

ByKyle Tolleon May 12, 2003

Format: Mass Market PaperbackVerified Purchase

Code Name Bright Light is a fascinating and highly revealing look into rescue operations in Vietnam performed under the auspices of the Joint Personnel Recovery Center (JPRC) during the longest war ever fought by the United States.

In a six year period, more than 125 rescue operations would be launched to recover U.S. prisoners of war. Attempts to retrieve U.S. servicemen would also be tried by ransoms and prisoner exchanges. The latter methods were minimally successful at best due to the dismal cooperation from the North Vietnamese government and their unwillingness to recognize humanitarian overtures. The actual rescue attempts themselves were outstanding examples of bravery, courage, and audacity in the most harrowing of situation but were also mired in endless problems.

Rescue teams would suffer the indignity of inter-service rivalries and competition, mediocre intelligence information, numerous bureaucratic breakdowns, compromised missions, and bad luck in many cases. Much of this would lead to slow response times to initiate raids on POW compounds which in turn produced many near misses when trying to extricate POW's. On countless occasions, rescue personnel would assault POW camps only to find that prisoners and camp cadre had relocated to new areas only hours before. Although some missions conducted were successful, they would also be bittersweet at the same time. The JPRC teams, during their tenure in Vietnam, were able to rescue hundreds of South Vietnamese POW's but were unsuccessful in ever freeing any living Americans held in confinement.

Leaving no stone unturned, geographically speaking, George J. Veith covers the entire spectrum of Vietnam regarding rescue efforts with serious emphasis placed on Laos which has always been, and continues to be today, highly controversial concerning Americans that are missing in action in that country. In addition, Code Name Bright Light uncovers further high profile operations and rescue missions such as the Son Tay POW camp raid, Operation Thunderhead, the Bat-21 incident, and the notorious Lima Site 85 in Laos.
George J. Veith has composed a meticulous and brilliant narrative in Code Name Bright Light which probably deserves recognition for being one of the finest books ever written about the Vietnam war. For those interested in this subject matter, this book is immensely satisfying and comes highly recommended.

0Comment 17 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Superb research and very easy to read and follow

ByCindy Stonebrakeron May 17, 2017

Format: Mass Market PaperbackVerified Purchase

A must read for anyone interested in the POW/MIA mission. Superb research and very easy to read and follow. Being the daughter of a man still listed as POW/MIA from Vietnam, this book gave me great insight into what was going on over there, Eye opening to the many frustrations that were dealt with then, and continue to be dealt with today. By far the finest book I have read regarding the Vietnam War.

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Was The Enemy US ?

ByMcgivern Owen Lon July 28, 2000

Format: Mass Market PaperbackVerified Purchase

"Code Name Bright Light" is an extremely well-researched and documented story about the efforts (failures! ) of the United States to rescue its' POWs during the Vietnam War. Just count the footnotes in each chapter! There can be no doubt that the story you will read is authentic. And that is a problem because most Americans will be saddened to learn that the blame cannot be heaped upon a cruel and intransigent enemy but with our own political. military and especially diplomatic leaders. Inter-service rivalry, intra-service rivalry, poor planning and just plain Vietnam-style bad luck all played a large part in the story. But there is so simple "sin-loi" here. Ambassador to Laos William Sullivan and Ambassador to South Vietnam Bunker wholeheartedly emphasized politics over POW rescues. One must ask even now whose side was Mr. Sullivan on? And where was the Johnson White House? Where was Robert McNamara? All very disturbing. There are many better "Vietnam" books but for those interested in the POW story, this is the Bible. I have read 4 other books on POWs, including Ms. Stephenson's "Kiss the Boys Goodbye" and seen the tape "We Can Keep You Forever", but "Code Name Bright Light" tells it all the best. A serious, disturbing but excellent job!

0Comment 9 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

it's a great story but this writer isn't the best at retelling ...

ByMatton July 7, 2014

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

I bought this book because one of the guys on the mission is my friend's dad. She told me about her dad and this book so I ordered it. As a story; it's a great story but this writer isn't the best at retelling the story. It's kind of a difficult read.

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Gives me some additional insight into Bright Light. I ...

ByRandy Solvangon June 3, 2015

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Gives me some additional insight into Bright Light. I wish there had been a little less focus on Politics of War and more about the mission.

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the untold story of the attempts to rescue American POWs held in Hanoi

ByCharles L. Byleron May 13, 2014

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

This is a must read for any student of the Viet Nam War. Carefully researched and documented, this book recounts the many efforts to recover Americans who were captured and held as prisoners of war in North Vietnam.

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Great book! Thanks for your help

ByKenon March 12, 2016

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Great book! Thanks for your help.
Ken

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Five Stars

ByChris Lotitoon August 11, 2015

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Bought as a gift.

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Five Stars

Very different from other war nonfiction that I've read. It is certainly an eye-opener.

Published on July 14, 2014 by Huckleberry Heart

hard to keep attention

hard to keep mty attention as it did not deal with a particular event in which the U.S. tried to free the prisoners.

Published on January 28, 2014 by james desjardins

Greaaaat!

Great service! Great Book! I am glad I read it. Every American should read this text after An Enormous Crime..

Published on October 28, 2013 by John Pat Bourassa

One of the better scholarly books on the MIA/POW issue

I really enjoyed this book about the POW/MIA issue of SE Asia. It tackles a complex issue in an intelligent and thoughtful way.Read more

Published on October 27, 2013 by Sgt. Rock

Required reading for any Vietnam Military Historian

My friends dad in High School 25 years ago claimed he was a Para Rescueman in Vietnam
that is what inspired me to read the book.Read more

Published on November 21, 2011 by Geoffrey P. I.

One of the two best on POW/MIAs

I'd rate this book and "The Bamboo Chest" by Graham as two of the best books on Vietnam POWs, rescue attempts, and the MIA question available!

Published on April 25, 2005 by CharlieTango

Why were no Americans ever recovered?

Captain Veith delivers a very concise description of the military bureaucracy that seemed to dominate POW recovery efforts. It was and still is a travesty.Read more

Published on October 25, 2004 by Old Soldier

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Code-Name Bright Light: The Untold Story of U.S. POW Rescue Efforts During the Vietnam War Mass Market Paperback – December 1, 1998

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