Was a hot issue at one time. Just wondering if anyone has an opinion on whether this actually happened or not. I find it interesting and disturbing at the same time. I know there are strong opinions both ways. I tend to believe that Vietnam did hold a few back as "insurance" or bargaining chips.
POW's left in Vietnam after war?
- Thread starter gollumcat
- Start date
Yep, John Rambo found a few. They tried to cover up the whole thing though. Those damn desk jockeys at the Pentagon shining their seats with their asses.
Last edited:
All joking aside with the Rambo stuff, this was a huge hot button issue in the mid to late 1970's. I believe there were probably a handful of POW's left behind in small interment camps throughout Vietnam, and they were probably held for the purposes of using them for political reasons - i.e. public executions to keep the people in line or to trade for favors from U.S. diplomats, but they were all probably gone by the mid-70's. There would be no reason for the Viet Cong to keep them that long after the war had ended. There are so many M.I.A's from that war that some were probably POW's at some point but either died of disease, starvation, or wounds or were probably executed and buried in unmarked graves. The unnecessary loss of life is always the greatest travesty of war, but the second biggest travesty are the thousands of families who get no closure when a loved one goes missing on foreign soil and are never heard from again.
A lot of those guys were probably vaporized. We dropped a hell of a lot of bombs over there and odds are a few of them fell on our guys.
Pretty good take. I'd say that the thought of POWs left behind was fostered more by those who's loved ones were MIAs holding onto hope that they might someday come home. There's no reason to hold POWs if nobody knows they are there. They would hold no value and would be a drain on resources.
The POWs that were held there served two purposes for the North. Intel into battle plans and tactics and to serve as bargaining chips. After the war ended there was no motivation left for the North to hold onto any of our people.
Their was a fairly comprehensive investigation over this issue when the decision was made to pursue diplomatic relations with Hanoi. AS I recall at that time the Congress had to approve this and Senators McCain and Kerry were well satisfied that there were no more POWs left. We may never know everything but I have to trust in the judgement of these two on this issue due to their knowledge and background, especially McCain.
Their was a fairly comprehensive investigation over this issue when the decision was made to pursue diplomatic relations with Hanoi. AS I recall at that time the Congress had to approve this and Senators McCain and Kerry were well satisfied that there were no more POWs left. We may never know everything but I have to trust in the judgement of these two on this issue due to their knowledge and background, especially McCain.
http://www.wdrb.com/story/23931256/the-last-pows-fate-remains-a-mystery
Here is one of kentuckys own from Owensboro there has been books written and a new monument was built for him.
Here is one of kentuckys own from Owensboro there has been books written and a new monument was built for him.
Haven't been back to see theme memorial yet. Might go see it when I come home for Christmas. I remember the book "kiss the boys goodbye" had some crazy stuff in it. The family was given hope a few times but the book led you to believe some didn't want them to return
Pretty much agree, but would like to add one possible third reason, with that being HATE. Consider the possibility that a small village, which has lost members to the war effort or has been bombed, then gets their hands on a couple of these hated Americans. they may not be quite ready to give them up at wars end. I don't know that, but believe it to be possible.
As for mcain, respect his military record, that and that only. Kerry, I wouldn't believe if he said he took food in one end and let poop out the other, if fact I'm pretty sure he does this in reverse.