Review: An amazing story that brought tears to my eyes more than once
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 21, 2013
My brother served in the Korean War and I learned first- hand what our soldiers endured and the pain and heartbreak that those at home went through.When the Vietnam War began I recall thinking how once again our brothers, husbands and fathers would be subjected to things we couldn’t imagine in our wildest dreams.When I came  across author Captain Gerald Coffee’s book, I wanted to read it.  As many people of my generation know, Captain Coffee was shot down during a combat mission over North Vietnam.  He was held a prisoner for 7 years in what soon became known as the Hanoi Hilton – a sordid, inhumane holding pen for prisoners of war.Captain Coffee graciously takes us into Vietnam and into his seven years of containment.  This book truly is a book that shows us all the strength of the human spirit and goodness outweighing evil.You’ll read about his almost escape in the beginning and the condition of his surrounding as well as the mindset of his captors.  Eventually placed in a cell that was all of 3 feet by 7 feet , Captain Coffee describes in detail his ordeal.  Thinking it will be a short stint of maybe a few months, his ordeal lasts over 7 years.If you’re like me, over and over again, you’ll be amazed at how much the human spirit can endure.If you’re like me you’ll probably be shaking your head more than once when you read what our US soldiers endured.Captain Coffee walks us through the ordeals and his upbeat spirit shines throughout the story.  The book also contains a great assortment of photos including some taken during his imprisonment.There are many, many moments that brought tears to my eyes and I can’t imagine actually experiencing them firsthand as Captain Coffee did.This is a great read and a must gift for anyone with a love of history.  I think this book is also a must read for younger generations who may not have even been born when the Vietnam War took place.