Review: Goes above and beyond in chronicling the power of the human spirit!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 16, 2014
We like to think of military members as superheroes.  In combat, they are subjected to horrors that the average civilian would be ill-equipped to handle.  Some service members succumb in battle, offering the ultimate sacrifice for their country.  Others suffer from injuries that may be debilitating in nature, yet seem to awaken in them a warrior spirit ready to meet their new challenges.  Many return home unscathed.  These are the superheroes of war combat.Then, there are the POWs.  These aren’t superheroes.  These are infidels, criminals, evildoers, scum, and every other bad guy name their captors can think of.  POWs come face-to-face with the villians, and are subjected to a cruelty that most of us wouldn’t wish on our worst enemies.  They can be held captive for years, leaving loved ones back home hopeful and fearful at the same time.  Not all survive.  But, some manage to stay alive long enough for release.  Then, they emerge as free women and men.  Again, they are our superheroes.  However, they’ll be quick to tell you there’s nothing heroic in being a POW.  And there’s no one better to explain this than Captain Gerald Coffee (USN, Retired).Captain Coffee brilliantly portrays his time at a Vietnamese prison camp in his autobiography, Beyond Survival.  His commitment to detail makes a gripping narrative that shows the reality of a POW camp.  Like many service members, the Captain was duped into believing that the international laws of armed conflict would protect him in enemy hands.  Hollywood didn’t do Captain Coffee any favors either.  The author says, “My concept of such a camp was based partly upon the Hollywood versions that I had seen in movies such as Stalag 17, The Great Escape, or the TV serial Hogan’s Heroes.”  What he experienced was a world where food, clothing, shelter, and medical treatment were all used as tools of reward or punishment.  And, not even one second of life was promised.  Through it all, Captain Coffee exhibited a level of perseverance and longevity mostly seen in those fellows and gals wearing tights and capes—superheroes.  Even with his self-defeats, readers will see small victories in his ability to stay alive.  By the end of the book, it will be obvious why this former Navy officer continues to be an inspiration.If this person could endure the physical and mental anguish of his ordeal victoriously, there’s hope that there’s a little superhero in all us as we face overwhelming challenges in life.  As a Veteran, I’m honored to have read this story.