Hero Found: The Greatest POW Escape of the Vietnam War (38 page)

“crude stew”…“He sees us!”…“I’m sorry”…“something should foul”…“We finally made”…“In less than”…“scrambled eggs”…“there’s always”: Ibid., pp. 183–185.

“Don’t worry”…“Goddammit, why”…“skin and bones”…“black like tar”…“Leave me alone!”…“Hell, no”: Dengler Debriefing, p. 39.

“Yeah, mine’s been”: Dengler,
Escape from Laos
, p. 180.

“dry and happy”…“crazy villagers”…“You idiots!”…“Go on, Dieter”…“Nobody’s going”: Ibid., pp. 186–187.

Dialogue between Dengler and Martin, Dengler Debriefing, p. 40.

“so exhausted”…“drained”…“The villagers’”: Ibid.

“
Sabay
”…“
Americali!
”…“running and screaming”…“
Sabay
”…“long, pulsating”…“reality and horror”…“might explode”…“sheer chance”…“seconds and ten feet”…“a show they”: Dengler,
Escape from Laos
, pp. 189–91.

“It wasn’t ten”…“everything was burning”…“saw it all”…“good SOS”…“thirty or forty”: Dengler Debriefing, pp. 41–42.

“lost all fear”…“strange and interesting”: Dengler,
Escape from Laos
, p. 196.

“twenty grains”: Dengler Debriefing, p. 44.

“long brown liver”: Dengler,
Escape from Laos
, p. 201.

CHAPTER 12 TO THE RESCUE

“one way”…“the general would”…“last chance”…“a hell of”…“we can shoot”…“worked the trails”…“fishing nets”…“fully loaded”…“everything is considered,” and dialogue between Deatrick and
Crown
: Eugene Deatrick interview.

“all the buzzing”…“merry little fisherman”…“I’ll never know”…“It looks like”…“suck in and”…“in case he”…“go down the”…and dialogue between Deatrick and
Crown
: Eugene Deatrick, GE Lecture Series, Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, Washington D.C., March 23, 1989.

“quick-call checklist”…“put the fear”…“red-blossom”…“a lot of”…“We’ve got him!”…“pretty bad shape”: William Cowell interview.

“for dear life”…“a little excited”…“went to pieces”:
Oakland Tribune
, July 28, 1966.

“Oh my God”: Dengler,
Escape from Laos
, draft.

“This is our”…“Shot down in”…“all clicked together”: Cowell interview.

CHAPTER 13 RETURNING HERO

“many tears”: Dengler,
Escape from Laos
, p. 205.

“died that day”: Ibid., p. 210.

“prognosis good”: Report of Casualty, July 20, 1966.

“tired very easily”: Radio message from COMNAVSUPPORT DANANG, July 20, 1966.

“hotter pickups”: Cowell interview.

“death grip”: Dengler,
Escape from Laos
, p. 204.

“within [the] family”: Radio message from BUPERS, July 22, 1966.

“gruffest of the”:
Time
, June 10, 1966.

“No public announcement”: Radio message from COMSEVENFLT, July 22, 1966.

“considerable bitterness”: Radio message from COMNAVSUPPACT DANANG, July 26, 1966.

“to retain”…“expedite his movement”: Daily operations briefing, July 21, 1966.

“value in escape”…“formal debrief”: Radio message from COMSEVENTHFLT, July 24, 1966.

“send Ltjg Dengler”: Radio message from COMSEVENTHFLT, July 21, 1966.

“My C1A”: Radio message from CAG SEVEN SEVEN PT FOUR (
Ranger
), July 21, 1966.

“junior naval officer”: Cowell interview.

“the hero to”…“still coasting to”…“didn’t look like”…“barbered and cleaned”…“jaundice really
does
”…“Welcome aboard”…“Marina’s fine”: Montgomery interview.

“past history”…“let Dieter down”…“lifted this colossal”…“bawling like a”: Johns interview.

CHAPTER 14 ALIVE AND FREE

“big steak”: Balciunas interview.

“Ltjg. Dengler’s tenacity”: Report on the Fitness of Officers, VA-145, October 27, 1967.

“injected with sodium”: Deatrick interview.

“glory of his”…“tarnished a bit”…“condemning U.S.”…“no misconduct”…“the genuine hero”: Hill, “Just Below the Angels,” pp. 1019, 1021.

“a West German”:
New York Times
, July 30, 1966.

“practically cut”…“Navy escapee”…“read the riot”: Gaylord Hill interview.

Quotes and dialogue during press conference: Transcript of press conference, U.S. Naval Air Station, North Island, San Diego, September 13, 1966.

“almost stunned”…“incredible test of”…“national hero”…“hungry country”: Hill, “Just Below the Angels,” pp. 1022, 1026.

“surprised by all”…“wasn’t a big”…“modesty”…“just doing his”: Hill interview.

“Only dead people”: Dengler interview.

“Ain’t you”…“Man, you gonna”: Hill, “Just Below the Angels,” p. 1024.

Quotes and dialogue during Senate hearing: Testimony of Lt. ( jg) Dieter Dengler, USNR, before the Committee on Armed Services, United States Senate, September 16, 1966.

“his charming self”: Hill interview.

“I’ve heard the”: Hill, “Just Below the Angels,” p. 1028.

EPILOGUE

“no chance”: Hill interview.

“never be hungry”: Martin Dengler interview.

“dedicated career woman”…“buying furniture”: Dengler,
Escape from Laos
, p. 210.

“This one is”: Martin Dengler interview.

“at the top”…“slept so much”…“I’ve had all”: Dengler interview.

“rule with an”…“do it differently”…“tough enough”…“wouldn’t be standing”…“ten, at least”…“disintegrated”…“walked away”…“It was God’s”…“lots of good”…“the suffering”…“sucked into a”…“never wanted to”…“seen it up”…“against war”: Dengler interview.

“rapid onset”: Coroner’s report, Marin County Coroner, February 21, 2001.

“equaled what it takes”…“Dieter was like”: Yukiko Ichihashi-Dengler interview.

“a vegetable”: Lessard interview.

“trapped like a”: Ichihashi-Dengler interview.

“I have looked”: Dieter Dengler e-mail to author, August 15, 2000.

POSTSCRIPT

“One thought is”: Dengler,
Escape from Laos
, p. 211.

Bowden, Ray.
Tales to Noses over Berlin: The 8th Air Force Missions
. London: Design Oracle Partnership, 1996.

Bridgeman, William, with Jacqueline Hazard.
The Lonely Sky
. New York: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, 1955.

Bradley, James.
Flyboys
. New York: Little, Brown, 2003.

Burgess, Richard R., and Rosario M. Rausa.
U.S. Navy A-1 Skyraider Units of the Vietnam War
. New York: Osprey, 2009.

Cawthorne, Nigel.
The Bamboo Cage
. New York: S.P.I., 1994.

Colvin, Rod.
First Heroes: The POWs Left Behind in Vietnam
. New York: Irvington, 1987.

Cressman, Robert J.
USS Ranger: The Navy’s First Flattop from Keel to Mast 1934–1946
. Washington, D.C.: Potomac, 2003.

Dengler, Dieter.
Escape from Laos
. Novato, Calif.: Presidio, 1979. Paperback edition printed 1996.

Dorr, Robert F.
Skyraider
. Illustrated History of the Vietnam War, no. 13. New York: Bantam, 1988.

Drury, Richard S.
My Secret War
. Fallbrook, Calif.: Aero, 1979.

Fey, Peter. “The Effects of Leadership on Carrier Air Wing Sixteen’s Loss Rates during Operation Rolling Thunder, 1965–1968.” Master’s thesis, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kans., 2006.

Fields, Kenny Wayne.
The Rescue of Streetcar 304
. Annapolis, Md.: Naval Institute Press, 2007.

Foster, Wynn F.
Captain Hook: A Pilot’s Tragedy and Triumph in the Vietnam War
. Annapolis, Md.: Naval Institute Press, 1992.

Francillon, Rene J.
Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club
. Annapolis, Md.: Naval Institute Press, 1988.

Grant, Zalin.
Over the Beach: The Air War in Vietnam
. New York: Norton, 1986.

Gray, Stephen R.
Rampant Raider: An A-4 Skyhawk Pilot in Vietnam
. Annapolis, Md.: Naval Institute Press, 2007.

Heinemann, Edward H., and Rosario Rausa.
Ed Heinemann: Combat Aircraft Designer
. Annapolis, Md.: Naval Institute Press, 1980.

Hill, Gaylord “Hap.” “Just Below the Angels.” Unpublished manuscript, 1982.

Hirschman, Loree Draude, and Dave Hirschman.
She’s Just Another Navy Pilot
. Annapolis, Md.: Naval Institute Press, 2000.

Hobson, Chris.
Vietnam Air Losses
. Hinckley, England: Midland, 2001.

Holloway, James L. III.
Aircraft Carriers At War
. Annapolis, Md.: Naval Institute Press, 2007.

Hubbell, John G.
P.O.W.: A Definitive History of American Prisoner-of-War Experience in Vietnam, 1964–1973
. New York: Reader’s Digest Press, 1976.

Johnson, Frederick A.
Douglas A-1 Skyraider
. Atglen, Pa.: Schiffer, 1994.

Macdonogh, Giles.
After the Reich: The Brutal History of the Allied Occupation
. New York: Basic Books, 2007.

McConnell, Malcolm.
Into the Mouth of the Cat
. New York: Norton, 1985.

McGrath, John M.
Prisoner of War: Six Years in Hanoi
. Annapolis, Md.: Naval Institute Press, 1975.

McNamara, Robert S., with Brian VanDeMark.
In Retrospect
. New York: Times Books, 1995.

Morrocco, John.
Thunder from Above
. Boston, Mass.: Boston, 1984.

Nichols, John B., and Barrett Tillman.
On Yankee Station
. Annapolis, Md.: Naval Institute Press, 1987.

Rochester, Stuart I., and Frederick Kiley.
Honor Bound
. Annapolis, Md.: Naval Institute Press, 2007.

Sharp, U. S. Grant.
Strategy for Defeat
. Novato, Calif.: Presidio, 1998.

Sherwood, John Darrell.
Afterburner: Naval Aviators and the Vietnam War
. New York: New York University Press, 2004.

Stafford, Edward P.
The Big E: The Story of the USS Enterprise
. New York: Random House, 1962.

Stockdale, James Bond, and Sybil Stockdale.
In Love and War
. New York: Harper and Row, 1984.

Talbot, David.
Brothers: The Hidden History of the Kennedy Years
. New York: Free Press, 2007.

Turner, Richard E.
Big Friend, Little Friend: Memoirs of a World War II Fighter Pilot
. New York: Doubleday, 1969.

Webb, Kate.
On the Other Side
. New York: Quadrangle, 1972.

The pagination of this electronic edition does not match the edition from which it was created. To locate a specific passage, please use the search feature of your e-book reader.

Page numbers in
italics
refer to illustrations.

A-1 Skyraiders (Spads),
94
.
See also
VA-145 squadron

characteristics of, 41–42

Dengler’s wish to fly, 41–43

lack of ejection systems, 108–109

training in, 43–47

typical missions, 108

Abbott, Pierce, 245

Adamich, Marina

Dengler’s departure and, 73–74

Dengler’s marriage to, 249, 259

Dengler’s message to, after rescue, 234

Dengler writes to, 97–98, 103, 140–141

education and career, 259

reunion with Dengler, 241

ring given to Dengler, 73, 158–160

Air America crew, at POW camps

camp routines, 166, 170–171

crash, 165

escape, 198–201

escape plans made with Dengler, 173–176, 179–180, 194–198

forced to write confessions, 174

health, 178

keys made by, 169–170

length of captivity, 161, 166

members of, 164–165

Alameda O club, 70

Alvarez, Everett, Jr., 61–62

America
, 16–17

Anderson, Robert, 155

Armstrong, Clarence “Skip,” 67, 189

Balciunas, Algimantas “Doc,” 150–151

Ban Hoeui Het village, 173

Bastard (Pathet Lao guard), 137, 140, 145, 148, 158

Bates, Joseph, 152

Beneath the Wheel
(Hesse), 15

Bennett, Wayne, 71–72, 183

Black, Arthur N., 163

Blixt, Melvin, 57, 62, 68

Bumgarner, Walt “Bummy”

accuracy of, 189

Alert 15 flight and, 189, 192

careers after service, 259–260

Dengler’s flying and, 54–55

Dengler’s return and, 239

discovery of, 189

life insurance policy and, 71, 259–260

loss of Vigilante and, 88, 90, 91

mission over North Vietnam, 99–103

Tunnell’s death and, 190–191

Calw, Germany, 3-4, 8–12, 15

Carrier Air Wing 14

lost pilots of, 192–193

training and, 69

carrier qualification, 38–40, 46–47

Catterlin, Samuel, 61–62

Cheney, Joseph C., 165

Christensen, William, 183

Chumley, Sylvester G., 104–105

City College of San Francisco, Dengler brothers at, 21–25

Cline, Ray, 62

Code of Conduct for the Armed Forces of the United States, 48–49

College of San Mateo, 25–29, 73

Connelly, Thomas F., 249–250

Constellation
, 56, 59–60, 62, 66, 77, 118, 153

Corpus Christi Naval Air Station, 42–43, 45-47, 54, 70

Cowell, William “Skip”

careers after service, 260

on Dengler after rescue, 237

Dengler’s rescue and, 228–232

Dengler thanks, 245

Crazy Horse (Pathet Lao guard), 172, 179

crop dusters, 66, 259

Cubi Point Naval Air Station, 78, 156

Curtis, Thomas F., 163

Dallas Naval Air Station, 55

Dancy, John, 246

Deatrick, Eugene P.,
225

Dengler thanks, 245

leads Cowell’s helicopter to Dengler, 230

spots Dengler, 227–228, 260

DeBruin, Eugene “Gene”

appearance of, 165

Dengler’s arrival at camp and, 167

escape from POW camp, 198–201, 218, 234, 260

escape plans made with Dengler, 175, 195–198

forced to write confession, 174

goal in captivity, 171

Pathet Leo guards and, 171–172

probable death, 260

Delight, E. O., 155

Dengler, Dieter

early life,
9

in college, 19, 21–29

engagement of, 73–74

leaves Germany for U.S., 13–18

as “people magnet,” 26–27

in World War II and aftermath, 1–13

early military career

commissioned as ensign, 47

enters air force as enlisted man, 18–19

enters navy as aviation cadet, 29–30

Hassett and, 92, 96–97

life insurance policy, 70–71

marksmanship and, 19–20, 22, 77

modified gun of, 69

prepares for survival if ever shot down, 75–77, 84

promoted to lieutenant, junior grade, 73

scrounging abilities, 11–14, 21–22, 30

self-reliance and, 8–14

thoughts on war, 93, 253

flight training, 31–47

in A-1 Skyraider, 40–47

assignment choice after, 40–41

as cadence counter, 33–34

carrier qualification, 38–40, 46–47

discipline during, 31–32, 34–36

instrument flying, 37

SERE training, 47–53

in T-28, 37–39

in T-34 Mentor, 35–36

unauthorized vehicle and, 29–30, 34, 43

for Vietnam, 62–70

water survival tests, 32–33

Laotian crash landing

actual crash, 112–116,
121

Hassett’s reaction to, 116–118

injuries from, 125–126, 133

missions before, 106, 108–112

pursued through jungle after, 124–132

reaction of
Ranger
crew to, 150–156

wreckage found, 120–123, 130, 152

Pathet Lao capture of

attempts to pass for German citizen, 132–133, 135, 137

beaten and tortured, 143–144, 148–149

escape and recapture, 145–148

found, 132

looks for opportunities to escape, 134, 137

possible sighting by U.S. forces, 156

shows U.S. military identification papers, 137, 139

treks through jungle with captors, 133–139

in “Yamalot,” allowed to write home, 140–141

in “Yamalot,” asked to fly for China, 143

in “Yamalot,” treated well, 139–142

Pathet Lao hold captive in POW camp

beaten and tortured, 194

escape plans made, 173–176, 179–180, 194–198

food and water, 170, 176–178, 194, 196

goals and, 171

health and, 172, 178

injured arm and hand from beatings, 157–158, 178

interrogation of, 167–168

meets other captives, 161–163

move to second POW camp, 171–172

routine at camps, 166, 170–171

thinks about escaping, 162–163, 168, 172

trek to first POW camp, 157–160

POW camp escape

aborted attempt, 198

actual escape, 198–201

Ban Hoeui Het POW camp illustration,
202–203

flees from Martin’s killers, 220–221

food and water scarcity, 204–206, 209–210, 214, 216, 222–223

health and, 207–211, 218, 223–224

hears C-130 transports overhead, 214, 217, 221–222

signal fires, 211, 216–217, 221–222

wanderings in jungle, 204–224

rescue and physical recovery

appears before Senate Armed

Services Committee, 246–249

awards presented to,
249
, 249–250

condition at time of rescue, 234,
235

discharged from hospital, 249

last flight, 254

location when rescued, 234

media interest in, 236–237, 239, 242–246,
244
, 248–249

picked up by Cowell’s helicopter, 228–232

returns to
Ranger
, 237–238,
238

spotted by Deatrick in Spad, 225–228

treated and debriefed in San Diego hospital, 237, 241–243,
242

subsequent life

close calls with death, 253

death of, 255

diagnosed with ALS, 254

flies for TWA, 252

opens restaurant, 246, 251–252

returns to Germany, 252–253

Dengler, Klaus (brother),
9

career of, 261

flown to San Diego, 244

in World War II and aftermath, 2, 7–8, 10–11

Dengler, Maria Schnuerle (mother),
9

death of, 261

flown to San Diego, 244

notified of Dengler’s rescue, 236

in World War II and aftermath, 1–12

Dengler, Martin (brother),
9

career of, 261

in college in U.S., 20–25

Dengler lives with after service, 251

Dengler’s marriage to Marina and, 73

notified of Dengler’s rescue, 236

reunion with Dengler, 241

in World War II and aftermath, 2, 6–8, 11–12

Dengler, Reinhold (father), 3–5,
6

Dixon, Tom

reaction to Dengler’s crash, 153–154

SERE training and, 50–51

dogfights, prohibited by U.S. Navy, 54, 71–72, 72
n

Dunphy, Jerry, 245

Ely, Eugene, 40

Enstam, Dennis “Denny”

Dengler and, 77

flight on day of Dengler’s crash, 106, 111, 116–119

Tunnell’s crash and, 189, 191

Estes, Howell, Jr., 225

F-4 Phantom II, 71

Farkas, Daniel “Farky”

Dengler and Hassett and, 96–97

Dengler’s disappearance and, 118

on Dengler’s preparations for survival, 77

Dengler’s rescue and, 239

joins VA-145, 66

reaction to Dengler’s crash, 151–152, 154

Forrestal
, 67

Franklin, Clark David, 190
n

Frawley, William, 183

Fried, Joe, 236

Geneva Convention, Dengler and, 76, 126, 140

Golden Gate Bridge, 28, 74, 189

Goldwater, Barry, 60

Gower, Harold T., 57

Green, Frank, 20

Greenwood, Jeff, 119–120

Griffith, Harold “Hal”

background, 56–58

Dengler’s fitness report and, 241

Dengler’s return to
Ranger
and, 239

Gulf of Tonkin incidents, 56–62

Hassett and Dengler and, 97

Hassett and Dengler’s disappearance, 118

Hopps’s death and, 155

Johns and, 186–187, 261

mission over North Vietnam, 99–103

missions over Laos, 107

search for Dengler, 153

training for Vietnam, 62–63

Grimes, Mike, 27–28

Gulf of Tonkin incidents, 56–62

Haines, Chuck, 262

Haines, Doug, 46–47

Hancock
, 95

Hassett, J. K. “Ken”

A-4 pilot rescue and, 105

Dengler and, 92, 96–97

flight on day of Dengler’s crash, 106, 110–111, 116–119

Hopps and, 153–154

Johns and, 184, 187

Heinemann, Ed, 41–42

Herrick, Charles G., 165

Herrick, John J., 58, 59

Herrmann, Robert, 96

Hesse, Hermann, 15

Hill, Gaylord “Hap,”
244

media and, 242–244, 242
n
, 246–247

Hoffman, Cliff, 29

Hollingsworth, Hal T., 86–92

Holmes, Alden,
242

Hopps, Gary

death of, 153–156

life insurance policy, 71

memorial service for, 155–156

Hornet
, 95

Hunter, Stewart, 84–85

Hyland, John J., 95, 233–234

Ichihashi, Yukiko, 254–255

instrument flight training, 37

Intharathat, Phisit

debate about escape plans, 174–175, 178–179

escape from POW camp, 198–199

escape plans and, 195–197

as guards’ medic, 178

keys made by, 169–170

life in POW camp, 164, 166

rescued by CIA, 261

Y.C. and, 173

Johns, Malcolm “Spook,”
111

background, 67–68