Milly Gaines
Dieter Dengler was a German-born United States Navy aviator who was shot down over Laos and captured during the Vietnam War. He was held as a prisoner of war in Laos from February 1, 1966, until his escape from captivity on June 30, 1966, evading recapture for 23 days before his rescue on July 20, 1966. Dengler was held by the Pathet Lao and marched to a prison camp where he was tortured and suffered from malnutrition. He eventually escaped with seven other prisoners of war, becoming only the second captured US airman to escape during the war. Dengler's story has been chronicled in various media, including books, documentaries, and the 2006 film Rescue Dawn.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time as a POW | 5 months (February 1, 1966 - June 29, 1966) |
| Escape date | June 30, 1966 |
| Days on the run | 23 days |
| Rescue date | July 20, 1966 |
| Number of prisoners who escaped with Dengler | 7 |
| Number of survivors from the group of prisoners who escaped | 2 |
| Location of the prison camp | Laos |
| Type of camp | Torture camp |
| Prisoner's nationalities | Thai, Chinese, American |
| Prisoner's occupations | Pilots, radio operators, Air America employees |
| Prisoner's illnesses | Malaria, intestinal worms, hepatitis, jaundice, fungus, malnutrition, tropical diseases, parasites, dysentery |
| Post-rescue weight | 98 pounds |
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What You'll Learn
Dieter Dengler's imprisonment lasted six months
Dengler was imprisoned with other American prisoners of war, including Duane Martin and Gene DeBruin, and Thai prisoners, including Phisit Intharathat, Prasit Promsuwan, and Prasit Thanee. The prisoners' feet were locked in blocks each night, and they suffered from malnutrition, chronic dysentery, and other tropical diseases and parasites. They also overheard the guards saying they would kill the prisoners to avoid having to feed them.
Dengler and the other prisoners planned to escape, and on June 29, 1966, they made their move. Dengler became only the second captured US airman to escape during the Vietnam War. After his escape, Dengler evaded recapture for 23 days before being rescued on July 20, 1966.
Dengler's story is documented in the book "Escape from Laos," which he wrote, as well as in the documentary "Little Dieter Needs to Fly" and the film "Rescue Dawn." He received several awards for his service and bravery, including the Navy Cross, one of America's highest military honors.
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Dengler was tortured by the Pathet Lao
German-born United States Navy aviator Dieter Dengler was held as a prisoner of war for six months, from February 1, 1966, to June 29, 1966. During this time, he was tortured by the Pathet Lao. Dengler was shot down over Laos and captured during the Vietnam War. He was imprisoned in a Pathet Lao prison camp in Laos.
Dengler was also subjected to other forms of cruelty during his imprisonment. The prisoners' feet were locked in blocks each night, and they suffered from chronic dysentery and malnutrition. They were forced to eat rats to supplement their meager portions of rice. Dengler and his fellow prisoners were in a constant state of weakness and dizziness, suffering from malaria and various other tropical diseases and parasites.
The Pathet Lao's treatment of Dengler caused him lasting physical and mental health issues. After his rescue, he was hospitalized and found to have two types of malaria, intestinal worms, fungus, jaundice, and hepatitis. He struggled with PTSD for the rest of his life. Dengler's captivity and torture impacted him deeply, and he eventually took his own life in 2001.
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He escaped from a Laotian prison camp
Dieter Dengler was a German-born United States Navy aviator who was shot down over Laos and captured during the Vietnam War. He was held as a prisoner of war in Laos from February 1, 1966, until his escape from captivity on June 30, 1966, evading recapture for 23 days before his rescue on July 20, 1966.
Dengler was handed over to the Vietnamese and brought to a prison camp near the village of Par Kung. There, he met Thai prisoners of war Phisit Intharathat, Prasit Promsuwan, and Prasit Thanee; Chinese prisoner Y.C. To; and Americans Eugene DeBruin and Duane W. Martin. Except for Martin, a helicopter pilot in the US Air Force, the other prisoners were civilians employed by Air America, a civilian airline owned by the Central Intelligence Agency. The civilians had all been held by the Pathet Lao for two and a half years by the time Dengler joined them.
The prisoners' feet were locked in blocks each night, but they learned how to open the locks with keys they made by melting down toothpaste tubes. As the weeks and months passed, food became increasingly scarce. The prisoners ate rats to supplement their meager portions of rice. They also suffered from malnutrition, unhygienic conditions, and abuse by the guards. Dengler later wrote of being kicked, battered with rifle butts, and dragged behind water buffalo.
Dengler immediately planned to escape, but he received only grudging support from the other prisoners. The prisoners decided to escape before they became so weak it would be impossible. They made a scale model of the camp and, when enough guards were out, they made their move. Dengler told many people after the war, "We would rather die free in the bushes than die at the communists' hands."
Dengler escaped from the Pathet Lao prison camp with seven other prisoners of war. He and Martin found a fast-flowing river they believed fed into the Mekong and built a raft to escape. They stopped in the evening to rest and tied themselves to trees to avoid being washed away by the torrential water. The next morning, they realized they had gone in a circle. They had spotted several villages but remained undetected and eventually set up camp in an abandoned village. Though they had brought rice and were able to scavenge for food, they were still on the verge of starvation and initially lacked the strength to start a fire. Dengler eventually managed to locate Martin's discarded carbine cartridges and used the powder to start the fire. When the C-130 flew overhead that evening, they waved lit torches to signal an SOS.
Of the seven prisoners of war who escaped together, only Dengler and Thai citizen Phisit Intharathat survived. Dengler became a national hero. He received the Navy Cross, one of America's highest military honors. He lived a colorful life post-military, opening a German restaurant, becoming a pilot for TWA, and marrying three times. He even traveled back to Laos after the war.
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Dengler was the second US airman to escape during the war
Dieter Dengler was a German-born United States Navy aviator who was shot down over Laos and captured during the Vietnam War. He was imprisoned for six months, tortured, and held in captivity by the Pathet Lao. Dengler was brought to a small camp near the village of Par Kung, where he met Thai prisoners of war Phisit Intharathat, Prasit Promsuwan, and Prasit Thanee, as well as Chinese prisoner Y.C. To and Americans Eugene DeBruin and Duane W. Martin.
Dengler and his fellow prisoners were subjected to harsh conditions, including chronic dysentery and malnutrition, which led them to plan their escape. On June 29, 1966, Dengler and six other prisoners seized the guards' weapons and made their escape, killing five guards in a shootout. Of the seven prisoners of war who escaped, only Dengler and Thai citizen Phisit Intharathat survived.
Dengler's escape from the Pathet Lao prison camp in Laos made him only the second US airman to escape during the Vietnam War. He endured 23 days on the run before his rescue on July 20, 1966. Dengler's harrowing escape turned him into a national hero, with his story appearing in major newspapers and television broadcasts. He received the Navy Cross, one of America's highest military honors.
Dengler's experiences as a prisoner of war had a lasting impact on his life. He documented his escape in the book "Escape From Laos," published in 1979. His story also inspired the documentary "Little Dieter Needs to Fly" and the drama film "Rescue Dawn." Dengler's life after the military was colourful and varied. He worked as a test pilot for private aircraft and as a commercial airline pilot for TWA. He also opened a German restaurant, married three times, and travelled back to Laos, where he was welcomed as a celebrity.
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He was awarded the Navy Cross for his heroism
German-born United States Navy aviator Dieter Dengler was held as a prisoner of war for six months, from February 1, 1966, to June 29, 1966. During his captivity, Dengler was subjected to torture and malnourishment. After his escape, he evaded recapture for 23 harrowing days before his rescue on July 20, 1966.
Dengler became a national hero and his story was featured in every major newspaper and television broadcast. He was awarded the Navy Cross, one of America's highest military honours, for his heroism. Dengler's bravery was evident not only during his imprisonment but also in his daring escape.
Dengler was captured during the Vietnam War when his aircraft was shot down over Laos. He was held in a prison camp by the Pathet Lao, a communist group that controlled large parts of the country. The conditions in the camp were harsh, with prisoners suffering from chronic dysentery and malnutrition. They were also in constant fear of being killed by the guards. Despite the challenges, Dengler and the other prisoners worked together to plan their escape.
Dengler's heroism was further demonstrated in the escape itself. He and the other prisoners bravely decided to put their plan into action, knowing that failure could result in their deaths. Dengler's determination and resilience shone through as he endured the physical demands of the escape, despite his weakened state. He and the other prisoners built a raft to escape down a river, but they struggled with starvation and a lack of strength. Dengler's ingenuity came into play when he used the powder from carbine cartridges to start a fire and signal for help.
After his rescue, Dengler faced a long period of recovery. He had lost a significant amount of weight and was suffering from various illnesses, including malaria, intestinal worms, fungus, jaundice, and hepatitis. Despite the challenges, Dengler went on to live a colourful life. He worked as a test pilot for private aircraft and became a commercial airline pilot. Dengler's story continues to inspire and his bravery is honoured through the Navy Cross award.
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Frequently asked questions
Dieter Dengler was a prisoner of war for five months, from February 1, 1966, to June 29, 1966, or June 30, 1966, according to different sources. He evaded recapture for 23 days before his rescue on July 20, 1966.
Dengler was tortured and suffered from malnutrition, intestinal worms, fungus, jaundice, hepatitis, and various tropical diseases, including two types of malaria. He was also forced to sign a document condemning America, but he refused.
Dengler and his fellow POWs planned a mass escape for July 4, 1966, after overhearing the guards planning to kill them due to food and water shortages. Dengler and Duane W. Martin ran into the dense jungle, but Martin was killed by a villager. Dengler was rescued by a rescue helicopter after signalling with a torch.
Dengler became a national hero and received the Navy Cross, one of America's highest military honours. He later worked as a test pilot for private aircraft and as a commercial airline pilot. He also wrote a book about his experiences called "Escape from Laos", published in 1979.
