“The Incredibly Stupid One” (Stories from The Vietnam War)

TL;DR

Douglas Brent Hedgahl, a former POW during the Vietnam War, used his intelligence and wit to survive and outsmart his captors at the notorious Hanoi Hilton prison.

Transcript

the incredibly stupid one the hanoi hilton vietnam war p.o.w douglas brent hegdahl was still a young man from south dakota when he decided to join the navy and fight in the vietnam war like many other young men of his beliefs doug had no doubt when the country called he was ready to take up arms against his country's enemies even as far as vietnam ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🇰🇵 Douglas Brent Hedgahl survived being knocked overboard and captured by North Vietnamese authorities during the Vietnam War.
• 🤽 Hedgahl used his intelligence to play the role of a dumb farmer's son, allowing him to avoid torture and move freely around the Hanoi Hilton prison.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Douglas Hedgahl end up in the Hanoi Hilton prison?

After being knocked overboard by a blast while serving in the Vietnam War, Hedgahl was rescued by North Vietnamese fishermen but then captured and imprisoned by the North Vietnamese authorities.

Q: How did Hedgahl manage to survive and avoid torture in the Hanoi Hilton?

By playing the role of a dumb farmer's son, Hedgahl convinced his captors he was harmless and unintelligent. He carefully played the part, avoiding interrogations and even being allowed to move around the prison freely.

Q: How did Hedgahl sabotage enemy trucks while in captivity?

Taking advantage of his freedom to move around the prison, Hedgahl would pour small amounts of dirt into the fuel tanks of nearby trucks while a lone guard was asleep. He successfully disabled five enemy trucks using this method.

Q: What role did Hedgahl play at the Paris Peace Conference in 1970?

Hedgahl used the information he had memorized about other American prisoners to expose the harsh treatment of POWs at the Hanoi Hilton during the Paris Peace Conference. This led to increased awareness of the issue internationally.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Douglas Brent Hedgahl joined the Navy at 19 to fight in the Vietnam War. He was knocked overboard by a blast and rescued by North Vietnamese fishermen, but then taken captive and imprisoned at the Hanoi Hilton.

• In order to survive, Hedgahl played the role of a dumb farmer's son and convinced his captors he was harmless. He was the only prisoner allowed freedom to move around and used it to sabotage enemy trucks.

• Hedgahl memorized the identities of other American prisoners and their personal details. This knowledge led to his release and the exposure of the harsh treatment of POWs at the Paris Peace Conference in 1970.