Journey Into Darkness: Follow the FBI's Premier Investigative Profiler as He Penetrates the Minds and Motives of the Most Terrifying Serial C

by Peggy Herz and Philip E. Smith

Book Overview

One of two American pilots held by the Chinese as prisoners during the Vietnam War recounts his seven years in captivity and reveals how his discipline and adherence to the POW code of conduct pulled... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0671728237
• ISBN13: 9780671728236
• Release Date: January 1992
• Publisher: Pocket Books
• Length: 271 Pages
• Weight: 0.34 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

enduring prison saga is must reading for today

I picked up this book on the advice of a friend who knew I was interested in the plight of US intel officers John Downey and Richard Fecteau, and indeed Philip Smith provides new (to me) details and insights into the captivity they shared. But in its own right, Smith's story of his incarceration as a prisoner in China should be a classic, in the sense that it will endure. In a real sense, this is the book that neither Downey nor Fecteau would write, and it honors all of them for their perservance in the face of evil. Given that the threat remains, this should be on the reading list of all military branches and some other government agencies I know. Highly recommended.

Thank a Veteran

Phil's story was personal for me: My dad is Lt Col Dayle Carlson (ret) who, with Harvey Quackenbush, went out to find Phil Smith. What an honor to have such bravery as a part of my history. It was a gripping story; how many of us can even imagine the tenaciousness required to survive solitary confinement for so many years. Thank you, gentlemen, for your service to our country. You make me proud to be an American.

Poignent, powerful and emotion filled, tears of joy/sadness.

It was an honor to have been a beneficairy of the democracy this man fought for. His perseverance in times we could only imagine through such excellent writing is inspiration for us all. To try to feel one fraction of his emotion is our challenge we probably could not accomplish. His spirit and disipline are unparelleld.Colonel Smith's story begins with an unbelievable turn of events that if they weren't true, you would think they were scripted fiction. If anything could go wrong on his fateful day it did. As he takes you through the result of those misfortunes, his attention to detail puts you looking over his shoulder and wanting to lean in to help him. The feelings, pride and emotions he exhibited were enough to keep the pages turning and make you want to read faster and faster. As the events of his debacle unfold you'll find yourself wishing this wasn't history-that it was happening now and you could do something about it early on before it became his nightmare. The writing style is complete and solid without becoming too technical. It has interesting insight into the pilot and soldiers roles and duty without losing sight that it is a story of courage, faith, family and most of all hope. This is the perfect story to make us all take a step back to help us forget the little things that may be a nuisance and appreciate the big things that are taken away from some. It will make you look at all who protected us and our freedoms gratefully.