An Enormous Crime: The Definitive Account of American POWs Abandoned in Southeast Asia

by Bill Hendon and Elizabeth A. Stewart

Book Overview

"The dramatic history of living American soldiers left in Vietnam, and the first full account of the circumstances that left them there" "An Enormous Crime" is nothing less than shocking. Based on thousands of pages of public and previously classified documents, it makes an utterly convincing case that when the American government withdrew its forces from Vietnam, it knowingly abandoned hundreds of POWs to their fate. The product of twenty-five years...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312371268
• ISBN13: 9780312371265
• Release Date: May 2007
• Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
• Length: 587 Pages
• Weight: 2.14 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.9" x 6.4" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Shocking Truth!

Stunning, massive 600 page exhaustive study of the unaccounted for/abandoned men America left behind in Vietnam. This is the definitive account and dramatic history of living American POWs left in Vietnam, and the first full account of the circumstances that left them there. The product of 25 years of research, this book exposes the reasons why these heroic American soldiers and airman were held back by the North Vietnamese at Operation Homecoming in 1973, and what these patriots have endured since. A stiff read packed with incredible facts and thousands of now unclassified sighting accounts, Congressman Hendon's study will go beyond shocking you in how America covered up and obfuscated the truth - all for politics. Every President, their administration, and their military hierarchy from Nixon on knew the truth but turned a blind eye while telling the American people and the men's families they were doing all they could to resolve the problem. Simply not true. A conspiricy in the JFK assassination genre? NO. BUT, due to political expediences these heroes were simply left behind and their fate sealed. Is it true? Did America really do this? Congressman Hendon's (R-NC) research and 100 pages of footnotes seem to indicate it is. OF COURSE the politicos and military types tried to hide this and completely and totally blasted Hendon as a liar and fool! All the more reason it probably is true in some form. Remember: The cover-up is always worse than the crime. The book is well written but can be a tough slog. I'm a historian by training and liked the [...] attention to detail. If only 1/10 of the book is true and only 1 man knowingly left behind it is truly an Enormous Crime and the perpetrators need be exposed for their dastardly actions. IMHO this does more to hurt the military ethic of "leave no man behind" than anything that happened before or after the fact. How our military leaders could not only allow this but condone it is the most shocking part of the book. NOTE: I flew rescue in Vietnam and personally know of several incidences when we talked to a downed pilot but due to night conditions could not rescue him. These men were in good physical condition after ejection/bailout. Advised to hunker down for the night, we would return at first light to pick them up. The following day they were GONE never to be seen or head of again. What happened to them? Unknown/MIA.

AN AMERICAN TRAGEDY

A monumental work of of research and dedication, this is a tragic and true account of how America's leaders--both Republican and Democrat--turned their backs on the men they sent into battle. If Vietnam was a mistake, then the fate of U.S. POWs is a colossal tragedy. Hendon and Stewart have harnessed the brutal facts, Liz Trotta

disgusting beyond belief and criminal in all aspects.

I finished the book last night, I must say that I am totally convinced that our government intentionally and routinely covered up our live POW. I was never one to believe there were live POW's left behind, I swallowed the government's spin. This book will open your eyes as it did mine. Through out the book, time and time again, you will discover how the government attacked every aspect of any information that showed there were live American POWs left behind. You will discover at no time was there ever anyone in any of the administrations who looked at the information with an objective view to use that information to validate there were prisoners. The administrations took the position of debunking everything and time and again the government is laid out as presenting a false case. You will learn the depths of the relationship between John Kerry and John McCain; how they both derailed any hope our POWs had of ever being returned. You will learn that John Kerry intentionally lied about his trips to Hanoi. You must remember that John Kerry illegally met with the representatives of North Vietnam during the time when the Peace accords were being conducted (1973) on several occassios returning back to the US to advocate that America adapt all the North Vietnamese positions. Our government's acts are disgusting beyond belief and criminal in all aspects. I am sure the administration, past and present, will attacks the authors and book as a continuing process they have prefected; however, until they can stand and show me that they are taking an in-depth, objective look at each bit of evidence with someone who has not already shown themselves to be negative to the process, I'll just blow them off as liars they have shown themselves to be. I will not be blinded by someone who goes to Vietnam and demands to see prisons who already has a mindset that there are no prisoners. Do you think Kerry is stupid, he knew well in advance there would be no Americans in the prison he chose to inspect--if there had been, his career would have been shot and he has shown himself to be far to slick and sleazy to have that happen to him. Only an idiot would accept his word that he had a no warning prison inspection. I recently received information that I can get $2,000.00 for each recruit I get to enlist in the military, how can I do that, knowing how our government will one day willing abandon them on the field of battle? I have two sons in the Armed Forces and one Son In Law, now I must realize that their continued service may subject them to the status of POWs, with the Democrats wanting to pull out of Iraq, will our government once again walk away leaving these young men behind. I am conflicted, I love the military, but I know I must ensure they are fully aware their government "WILL NOT" stand behind them when the chips are down and suggest they may want to consider another way of life. I just got off the phone with my Grandson who is graduating high school this w

Fascinating Military and Political History Book

A former Congressman who served on the POW MIA Committee in Congress writes An Enormous Crime. Congressman Bill Hendon was involved with POW issues and had access to top secret documents regarding American Prisoners of War. He and other congressmen want to tell the real story about Vietnam and the POWs. The author spent ten years researching and putting together the book. A great read about how Washington D.C. really works. Should be required reading for all who are interested in Vietnam and citizens concerned about the future of America. This is a real life historical adventure. A fascinating book that is hard to put down once you start reading. There are real life stories about secret rescue missions, presidential politics and military intelligence that involve many of today's top leaders. The book highlights the American can do spirit, battles between good guys and bad guys and efforts to free American prisoners of war. The author takes you right into the action, negotiating for prisoners, working with the intelligence agencies, organizing rescue missions and how major world events shaped policies regarding POW issues. Starting with an excerpt from World War II to today, the book examines the battles and struggles between America and its enemies, especially Cuba and its relationship to Vietnam. The author takes you inside the White House Oval Office for planning meetings to the jungles of Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. The book covers privately funded rescue missions funded by Hollywood heavy weights such as Clint Eastwood and William Shatner. Billionaire Ross Perot, who successfully organized a hostage rescue mission in Iran is involved with trying to get the POWs home from Vietnam. Once you buy it you won't be able to put it down.

The Bible of the POW Issue

AN ENORMOUS CRIME is simply the BEST book ever written about the biggest cover-up in American political history. One of the keys to understanding the POW issue - and it is all explained in detail in this seminal work - is the context in which these 700 US POWs were abandoned. By the spring of 1973 - just when Operation Homecoming was underway and the first group of POWs was being released in Hanoi - Watergate began to dominate President Nixon's thinking, time, concentration and focus. Simply stated, he was fighting to save his presidency. And then came word that not all the POWs we thought would be returned had been released. AN ENORMOUS CRIME proves there was a second, 'secret' system of POWs kept behind - following the example of Fidel Castro and the Bay of Pigs prisoner swap - and these 700 men were kept as an 'insurance policy' against the $4.75 billion President Nixon secretly promised to pay Vietnam on Februarly 1, 1973. Since Watergate soon consumed the Nixon Administration, the unwitting victims became this second group of yet-to-be-released POWs. They simply fell through the cracks. And the US Government started to do what it always does: denied a fact. Just denied it. Defense Secretary William Clements said, "There are no more POWs." Period. End of story. Only it wasn't - and isn't - the end of the story. AN ENORMOUS CRIME details how the Defense Intelligence Agency tracked these POWs for years - and even photographed Escape and Evasion signals that these airmen placed in fields, on roof-tops and in rice paddies. The message? "I am a US airman. Please come rescue me right now!!!" AN ENORMOUS CRIME will become one of the biggest books of 2007 once it is read and the message spreads. With 200,000 US troops in Iraq, the lessons of the abandoned POWs in Vietnam and Laos are directly relevant to our current war effort. This book is not only a great read but - for all patriots who care about our country's future - AN ENORMOUS CRIME is also a MUST read.