English

DTIC ADA476288: Performance of American POWs in the Vietnam War: Adequate Training or Creative Leadership?

When examining the extraordinary circumstances American prisoners of war (POWs) faced in North Vietnam, one asks the following questions: Were these men trained to know exactly what to do, and can a training environment adequately duplicate the horrendous conditions they faced? This paper intends to show that no amount of training could have fully prepared these airmen for the grueling captivity they faced as POWs in North Vietnam. Rather, it was their heroism, innovation, imagination, and professional character that cause us to hold them in such high esteem. These traits cannot be taught directly, but certain levels of training can help develop them. These traits led the POWs to find creative ways to communicate, maintain the chain of command, avoid giving aid or comfort to the enemy, and return with honor. Though training may have provided some basic survival skills, the incredible sacrifice and leadership of the POWs were more significant in allowing them to persevere. First, the paper focuses on the protections afforded POWs by the Geneva Convention of 1949. After showing how the Convention was put to the test during the Korean War, the paper examines steps taken to improve POW

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