Milly Gaines
Dieter Dengler, a German-born United States Navy aviator, was held captive for six months in a prisoner of war camp during the Vietnam War. He was shot down over Laos and captured by the Pathet Lao, a communist group. Dengler endured torture and malnutrition during his imprisonment, and after escaping, he evaded capture for 23 days in the jungle before being rescued. Dengler's story is remarkable for being only the second captured US airman to escape during the Vietnam War. His experiences inspired documentaries, films, and books, including Little Dieter Needs to Fly and Rescue Dawn.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time held captive | 6 months |
| Time on the run after escaping | 23 days |
| Date of escape | June 29, 1966 |
| Date of rescue | July 20, 1966 |
| Location | Laos |
| Prison type | Prisoner of war camp |
| Prison controlling entity | Pathet Lao |
| Prison location | Near the village of Par Kung |
| Prison move | To a new camp 10 miles away at Hoi Het |
| Fellow prisoners | Thai prisoners of war Phisit Intharathat, Prasit Promsuwan, Prasit Thanee; Chinese prisoner Y.C. To; Americans Eugene DeBruin, Duane W. Martin, and Thomas J. Curtis |
| Prisoner conditions | Malnutrition, unhygienic conditions, abuse by guards, chronic dysentery, torture |
| Escape plan | Agreed upon by prisoners after learning guards planned to kill them |
| Post-rescue health | Two types of malaria, intestinal worms, fungus, jaundice, hepatitis, severe malnourishment |
Explore related products
$9.04 $16.99
What You'll Learn
Dieter Dengler's imprisonment lasted six months
Dengler's imprisonment began in February 1966 when his plane was shot down near the Laos-Vietnam border. He was captured by villagers sympathetic to the Pathet Lao and spent seven days being interrogated by a province chief before being handed over to the Vietnamese and brought to a prison camp. At the camp, he met other prisoners, some of whom had been held captive for years. They suffered from malnutrition, unhygienic conditions, and abuse by the guards.
Dengler and the other prisoners were kept in harsh conditions. At night, they were handcuffed together and shackled to wooden foot blocks, and they also suffered from chronic dysentery. Despite the challenges of captivity, Dengler refused to sign a document condemning American aggression in Southeast Asia, even under torture.
After several months, the food supply at the camp worsened, and the prisoners learned that the guards were planning to kill them. This prompted Dengler and the others to implement a long-prepared escape plan. On June 29, 1966, Dengler and several other prisoners, including Duane W. Martin, Eugene DeBruin, and Phisit Intharathat, made their escape. They faced a challenging journey through the dense jungle, surviving on limited food and facing illness and injury.
Dengler's imprisonment and subsequent escape have been documented in various media, including the book "Escape from Laos", the documentary "Little Dieter Needs to Fly", and the feature film "Rescue Dawn." His story has also received widespread recognition, with Dengler becoming a national hero and receiving the Navy Cross, one of America's highest military honors.
The Dubrow Diet: What Do the Dubrows Eat?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Dengler was held captive in a Pathet Lao prison camp
Dieter Dengler was held captive in a Pathet Lao prison camp in Laos. Dengler, a German-born United States Navy aviator, was shot down over Laos and captured during the Vietnam War. He was interrogated by a province chief for seven days and tortured. Dengler was held captive for six months and suffered from malnutrition, unhygienic conditions, and abuse by the guards.
At the prison camp, Dengler met other prisoners, including Thai prisoners of war Phisit Intharathat, Prasit Promsuwan, and Prasit Thanee; Chinese prisoner Y.C. To; and Americans Eugene DeBruin and Duane W. Martin. The other prisoners had been held by the Pathet Lao for two and a half years by the time Dengler arrived. At night, the men were handcuffed together and shackled to wooden foot blocks, and they suffered from chronic dysentery.
Dengler and his fellow prisoners were eventually moved to a new camp ten miles away at Hoi Het. After several months, the food supply worsened, and the prisoners learned that the starving guards were planning to kill them. This prompted the prisoners to decide to escape. Dengler was one of two survivors out of seven prisoners of war who escaped the Pathet Lao prison camp. He was rescued after 23 days on the run and became the first or second captured US airman to escape during the Vietnam War.
Dengler's story became well-known, appearing in newspapers and television broadcasts. He received the Navy Cross, one of America's highest military honors. He later wrote a book about his experiences, "Escape from Laos," and participated in the documentary "Little Dieter Needs to Fly." Dengler's life and experiences in the Pathet Lao prison camp continue to be remembered and commemorated.
Hospital Diet Secrets: 3-Day Plan for Obese Patients
You may want to see also
Explore related products
He was tortured and malnourished during his captivity
Dieter Dengler was held captive for six months and endured torture and malnutrition during his imprisonment. Dengler was a German-born United States Navy aviator who was shot down over Laos and captured during the Vietnam War. He was offered leniency if he agreed to sign a document condemning America, but he refused, leading to his torture and imprisonment in a prisoner of war camp.
At the prison camp, Dengler and the other prisoners suffered from malnutrition, unhygienic conditions, and abuse by the guards. The food supply was scarce, and the prisoners learned that the starving guards planned to kill them. They decided to escape, with Dengler taking the lead. During his captivity, Dengler was tortured in various ways, including being handcuffed and shackled to wooden foot blocks at night. He also suffered from chronic dysentery, a common condition among the prisoners.
After six months of imprisonment, Dengler and his fellow prisoners of war escaped from the Pathet Lao prison camp in Laos. Dengler was one of only two survivors, along with Thai citizen Phisit Intharathat. They spent 23 days on the run in the jungle, surviving on fruits, berries, rice, and corn. Dengler's health deteriorated significantly during this time, and he was suffering from jaundice, in addition to the malnutrition he had experienced in captivity.
Dengler's escape was a remarkable feat of courage and endurance, and he became a national hero. His story garnered widespread media attention, and he received the Navy Cross, one of America's highest military honors. However, his physical and mental health suffered greatly due to his captivity, torture, and malnutrition. Dengler's post-military life included working as a test pilot for private aircraft and as a commercial airline pilot. He also opened a German restaurant and married three times.
Dengler's story serves as a reminder of the harsh realities of war and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. His experience as a prisoner of war, including the torture and malnutrition he endured, highlights the physical and mental toll that captivity can inflict on individuals.
Drinking Diet Dr Pepper: Hydration or Health Hazard?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Dengler escaped and spent 23 days on the run
After six months of imprisonment and torture, Dieter Dengler escaped and spent 23 days on the run. Dengler was a German-born United States Navy aviator who was shot down over Laos and captured during the Vietnam War. He was held in a Pathet Lao prison camp, where 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.
Dengler and Martin escaped into the jungle, surviving on fruit, berries, and rice they had saved during their captivity. They floated downstream on a raft they had constructed, eventually finding an abandoned village where they discovered some corn. Dengler and Martin signalled a C-130 flareship by setting fire to the huts in the village. The plane dropped flares, but the fires were not recognized as a signal from a survivor.
On July 20, 1966, after 23 days in the jungle, Dengler caught the attention of a US Air Force pilot by using a parachute from one of the flares. Dengler was rescued and became a national hero. He received the Navy Cross, one of America's highest military honors. His story was featured in newspapers and television broadcasts.
Dengler's escape was a remarkable feat of courage and endurance, and he became only the second captured US airman to escape during the Vietnam War. After the war, he worked as a test pilot for private aircraft and as a commercial airline pilot.
The Science Behind Diet Pepsi's Success
You may want to see also
Explore related products
He was one of two survivors out of seven POWs
Dieter Dengler was a German-born United States Navy aviator and pilot during the Vietnam War. He was shot down over Laos and held captive by the Pathet Lao. Dengler was imprisoned and tortured for six months before he escaped. He was one of two survivors out of seven prisoners of war (POWs) who escaped together from the prison camp.
Dengler was captured in February 1966 and held in a prison camp near the village of Par Kung. There, he met six other prisoners: 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, who was 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 other prisoners had all been held captive for two and a half years by the time Dengler joined them. They suffered from chronic dysentery and were handcuffed together and shackled to wooden foot blocks at night. Despite initial suspicion due to Dengler's thick German accent and American allegiance, the group eventually included him in their escape plans.
On June 29, 1966, the prisoners learned that the guards planned to kill them, so they decided to escape. Dengler and Martin, along with others, including DeBruin, fled into the jungle. They survived on fruits, berries, and rice they had saved during their captivity. They constructed a raft and floated down the river, eventually reaching an abandoned village.
After 23 days on the run, Dengler was rescued by a US Air Force pilot on July 20, 1966. He became the first or second captured US airman to escape during the Vietnam War. Dengler and Intharathat were the only two out of the seven POWs who made it to safety.
Marathon Runner's Diet: Energy, Nutrition, and Performance
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Dengler was held captive for six months.
Dengler was a German-born United States Navy aviator and pilot during the Vietnam War.
Dengler was tortured and taken to a prisoner-of-war camp.
Dengler escaped with six other prisoners after learning that the guards planned to kill them.
Dengler spent 23 days in the jungle evading capture before being rescued by a US Air Force pilot.
