Vietnam POW Resources

Welcome to the Resources page of Beyond Survival—your growing gateway to the remarkable story, legacy, and lessons of America’s POWs held in North Vietnam. Here you will find current features and future additions including podcasts, blogs, historical facts, educational links, recommended books, videos, interviews, movies, and powerful stories of faith, courage, and resilience.

This page will continue to expand with announcements of upcoming events, special tributes, speaking engagements, new media releases, and opportunities to learn, engage, and help preserve this extraordinary chapter of American history.

Most current facts, names, dates and more about vietnam POWs 

(compiled by Capt. Mike McGrath, 6-year POW/NAM-POW Historian)

www.vietnamwarpows.com

Vietnam POW Videos

Life in Prison in their words

•Captain Jerry Coffee:
My Story

•Everett Alvarez:
Legends of Air Power

•Captain Jerry Coffee:
Beyond Survival Keynote

•President and Mrs. Nixon:
Host the POWs at the White House

•CBS Sunday Morning with Jane Pauley 2023:
50th anniversary of Vietnam POWs return

Beyond Survival Podcasts hosted by Susan Coffee

(Coming Soon)

ONE MORE ROLL

We toast our faithful comrades
Now fallen from the sky
And gently caught by God’s own hand
To be with him on high.

To dwell among the soaring clouds
They knew so well before
From dawn patrol to victory roll
At heaven’s very door.

And as we fly among them there
We’re sure to hear their plea
Take care, my friend; watch your six,
And do one more roll … just for me.

— Captain Jerry Coffee ©

FAITH UNDER FIRE

Voices of Vietnam POWs Who Endured—and Returned with Hono

Beyond Survival — Captain Gerald Coffee
A transformational journey of faith—choosing purpose,
forgiveness, and trust in God.

When Hell Was in Session — Jeremiah Denton
Unshakable belief in God under brutal torture.

In Love and War — Jim Stockdale and Sybil Stockdale The Story of a Family’s Ordeal and Sacrifice During the Vietnam Years 

Faith of My Fathers — John McCain
Redemption and faith forged through hardship

Chained Eagle — Everett Alvarez Jr.
First shot down. Longest held. Sustained by unwavering
faith.

The Passing of the Night — Robinson Risner
Leadership and faith shaped the POW code of conduct

In the Presence of Mine Enemies — Howard & Phyllis
Rutledge
Survival through Scripture and dependence on God’s
Word

Surviving Hell — Leo Thorsness
Humility, brotherhood, and belief

“They were stripped of everything—except their faith. And it was enough.”

 

Psalm 23

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness. For His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and loving kindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Prison Life in their Written Words

www.captaincoffee.com/resources

Communication – Life saving in Hoa Lo Prison

2 taps – 2 taps/1 tap – 2 taps
G.B = God Bless
2 taps – 2 taps/1 tap – 2 taps
1 tap – 1 tap
G.B.A = God Bless America

POWs in North Vietnam were not allowed to Communicate with each other so we used the centuries old “prisoners code” tap code.  It was derived from five rows of letters each, deleting the “K” because a “C” could usually be used when a “K” was called for.

We communicated the individual letters by tapping first the row then the column representing a particular letter.  We share poetry and other information by using variations of this tap code matrix.

Sketches by Jerry Coffee from his book Beyond Survival

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01
It wasn’t long before the cheering and the celebrating died down, and we were left alone with our memories and our questions.

02:
Later when clearing was available, our tin drinking cups made great transducers to voice and tapping.

03
I remember Alcatraz as a time of loneliness and misery, constant harassment, torture, and interrogation.

04
I watched in horror as my plane exploded into a ball of flame before me.

05
We took every opportunity to pass the tap code to new men or reach hurting comrades.

06
I could hardly breath, so constricted were my lungs from being bent over into a tightening little ball.

07
Commander Gerald Coffee reporting for duty. Sir, welcome back, Jerry

08
Here we were in one big room shaking hands with men we had known and loved for years.

09
In a few days the heat rash on the small of my back began to turn to painful bolts.

10
I sprang up to my trandsom stradding the space between the slabs and balancing pre-cariously with my good arm.

Help Us Preserve This Legacy

Your prayers & support ensures these stories of courage, faith, and resilience continue to inspire future generations.

Going Beyond Survival

Preserving the extraordinary legacy of U.S. Navy Captain Jerry Coffee and his fellow Vietnam POWs.

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