Book Review-In the Woods

I have become a big fan of books with "unreliable narrators." In addition to the main story, which is usually a mystery, the reader has to determine when the narrator is telling the truth and when s/he is lying. It is an intriguing twist to the psychological thriller genre.

I just finished In the Woods by Tana French. Not only is there the mystery the narrator is trying to solve in the present, but there is a mystery in the past that affects the characters' actions, AND the narrator tells you at the outset that he lies. Wow!

The story takes place in Dublin, Ireland. A young girl has been found murderd in a small suburb of Dublin. One of the detectives that is assigned to the case is the sole survivor of a 20 year old child disappearance case from the same town. When they were children, Det. Ryan's two best friends disappeared and he was found in the woods gripping a tree, his shoes filled with blood (not his own.) He didn't remember a thing that had happened, and the other two children were never found. Are the two cases related? Ryan decides not to inform his superiors of his connection to the earlier case (he has changed his first name so as not to be associated with the case.) He and his partner try to solve the case, but come against deadends whereever they look. Psychological suspense at its best.

Other good books with unreliable characters are:

In the Woods By French, Tana 2008-05 - Penguin Books 9780143113492 Check Our Catalog For readers who like their hard-boiled police procedurals with an international flare ("USA Today"), this thriller marks the debut of an astonishing new voice in psychological suspense. …More

The Little Stranger By Waters, Sarah 2010-05 - Riverhead Books 9781594484469 Check Our Catalog The "New York Times" bestseller and Booker Prize contender that "delivers...a ghost story that creeps up your spine" ("Seattle Times"). " One post-war summer in rural Warwickshire, Dr. Faraday is called to a patient at lonely Hundreds Hall. Home to the Ayres family for over two centuries, the Georgian house, once impressive and handsome, is now in decline. Its owners-mother, son, and daughter-are struggling to keep pace with a changing society, as well as with conflicts of their own. But are the Ayreses haunted by something more sinister than a dying way of life? Little does Dr. Faraday know how closely, and how terrifyingly, their story is about to become intimately entwined with his. …More

The Egyptologist By Phillips, Arthur 2005-05 - Random House Trade 9780812972597 Check Our Catalog From the bestselling author of "Prague comes a witty, inventive, brilliantly constructed novel about an Egyptologist obsessed with finding the tomb of an apocryphal king. This darkly comic labyrinth of a story opens on the desert plains of Egypt in 1922, then winds its way from the slums of Australia to the ballrooms of Boston by way of Oxford, the battlefields of the First World War, and a royal court in turmoil. Just as Howard Carter unveils the tomb of Tutankhamun, making the most dazzling find in the history of archaeology, Oxford-educated Egyptologist Ralph Trilipush is digging himself into trouble, having staked his professional reputation and his fiancee's fortune on a scrap of hieroglyphic pornography. Meanwhile, a relentless Australian detective sets off on the case of his career, spanning the globe in search of a murderer. And another murderer. And possibly another murderer. The confluence of these seemingly separate stories results in an explosive ending, at once inevitable and utterly unpredictable. Arthur Phillips leads this expedition to its unforgettable climax with all the wit and narrative bravado that made "Prague one of the most critically acclaimed novels of 2002. Exploring issues of class, greed, ambition, and the very human hunger for eternal life, this staggering second novel gives us a glimpse of Phillips's range and maturity-and is sure to earn him further acclaim as one of the most exciting authors of his generation. "From the Hardcover edition. …More

The Listener By Nayman, Shira 2009-12 - Scribner Book Company 9780743292825 Check Our Catalog BookPage Notable Title Nayman's riveting and haunting first novel of madness and passion is set in apsychiatric hospital just after World War II. …More

Life of Pi By Martel, Yann 2003-05 - Mariner Books 9780156027328 Check Our Catalog A BookPage Notable Title This brilliant novel combines the delight of Kipling's "Just So Stories" with the metaphysical adventure of "Jonah and the Whale, " as Pi, the son of a zookeeper, is marooned aboard a lifeboat with four wild animals. His knowledge and cunning allow him to coexist for 227 days with Richard Parker, a 450-pound Bengal tiger. …More

HPL's New Books

Below is a partial list of our new books. To see the full list, download the Excel file for: 2011 . To see new books from other years try: 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, or 2006.

Here I Am By Alers, Rochelle 2011-03 - Kimani Press 9780373534418 Check Our Catalog The bestselling author of the Hideaway novels, Alers continues her breathtaking new series, The Wainwright Legacy, chronicling the lives and loves of two prestigious New York families. Original. …More

Black Friday By Ashley &. Jaquavis Author Ashley, And Jaquavis 2011-04 - Urban Books 9781601624451 Check Our Catalog Authors Ashley and JaQuavis live up to their reputations as the dynamic duo of street lit with this highly suspenseful, hood-savvy tale of a murder that changes one unlucky witness's life forever. Original. …More

Started Early, Took My Dog By Atkinson, Kate 2011-03 - Reagan Arthur Books 9780316066730 Check Our Catalog BookPage Notable Title Retired police detective Tracy Waterhouse leads a quiet, ordered life--until she cares for a young child. Meanwhile, Jackson Brodie, the beloved detective from "Case Histories," rescues an abused dog. Jackson is about to learn, along with Tracy, that no good deed goes unpunished. …More

The Land of Painted Caves By Auel, Jean M. 2011-03 - Crown Publishing Group (NY) 9780517580516 Check Our Catalog The highly anticipated sixth book of Auel's Earth's Children series, "The Land of the Painted Caves" is the culmination fans have been waiting for. Continuing the story of Ayla and Jondalar, Auel combines her brilliant narrative skills and appealing characters with a remarkable re-creation of the way life was lived more than 25,000 years ago. …More

The Sixth Man By Baldacci, David 2011-04 - Grand Central Publishing 9780446573108 Check Our Catalog Sean King and Michelle Maxwell dig into the past of an alleged serial killer, but the more they investigate, the harder it is to separate fact from fiction. Each new revelation pushes them to the limit, and this deadly case might be the one that leaves the duo permanently parted. …More

Once Upon a Time, There Was You By Berg, Elizabeth 2011-04 - Random House 9781400068654 Check Our Catalog A beautiful story about the power of love and family, this new novel by the beloved, bestselling author of "The Last Time I Saw You" follows the journey of a couple who meet again after their divorce. …More

Jim and Louella's Homemade Heart-Fix Remedy By Berry, Bertice 2003-09 - Harlem Moon 9780767909891 Check Our Catalog A sizzling, smart, and utterly engaging novel about sex, love, folklore, and family history from the author of "Redemption Song and "The Haunting of Hip Hop. With her characteristic sense of humor and a good dose of motherly wit, Bertice Berry spins the endearing tale of Jim and Louella Johnson, an elderly couple in a southern town who have settled into a marriage that has long lost its pizzazz. Louella, fed up with her lackluster love life, decides to contact her departed ancestors for some advice. Conjuring up her mother, grandmother, and aunt in a dream, she receives a delightful lesson in the art of reigniting the fires of love. Even more startling, the Johnsons discover they can help others rejuvenate their passions, heal their hearts, and mend their souls Written in language that is folksy yet eloquent, "Jim and Louella's Homemade Heart-Fix Remedy is an uplifting and flat-out funny celebration of the connections between past and present, the importance of family, and the pleasures of the body and the heart. …More

Murder in Passy By Black, Cara 2011-03 - Soho Crime 9781569478820 Check Our Catalog The wealthy Parisian neighborhood of Passy is the last place one would expect a murder. But when Aimee Leduc's godfather asks her to check on his girlfriend at her home there, that's exactly what Aimee finds. …More

Leviathans of Jupiter By Bova, Ben 2011-02 - Tor Books 9780765317889 Check Our Catalog Years after the events in "Jupiter," physicist Grant Archer prepares a new expedition to prove once and for all that the huge, native creatures discovered on Jupiter are intelligent. …More

Cold Wind By Box, C. J. 2011-03 - Putnam Adult 9780399157356 Check Our Catalog BookPage Notable Title When Earl Alden is found dead, dangling from a wind turbine, it's his wife, Missy, who is arrested. Unfortunately for Joe Pickett, Missy is his mother-in- law, a woman he dislikes heartily, and now he doesn't know what to do-especially when the early signs point to her being guilty as sin. But then things happen to make Joe wonder: Is Earl's death what it appears to be? Is Missy being set up? …More

River Marked By Briggs, Patricia 2011-03 - Ace Books 9780441019731 Check Our Catalog Car mechanic and shapeshifter Mercy Thompson senses that an evil is stirring in the depths of the Columbia River--one that her father's people may know something about. And to have any hope of surviving, Mercy and her mate, the Alpha werewolf Adam, will need their help. …More

Suddenly Single By Burton, Shana 2010-07 - Urban Books 9781601628626 Check Our Catalog Burton delivers the emotionally compelling tale of a bride left at the altar who faces family opposition when she finds love again with a man who is two decades older than she. Original. …More

Dracula: The Company of Monsters Vol. 2 By Busiek, Kurt Illustrator Godlewski, Scott 2011-05 - Boom Studios 9781608860494 Check Our Catalog A new horror series sure to make your blood run cold! A powerful, predatory corporation acquires a valuable asset...Dracula! They think they own him, but no one can own the Son of the Dragon. Now, there's a monster in their midst that puts Hannibal Lecter to shame -- and he plans to gain his freedom in blood. In Volume 2, Dracula takes to the night, intent on bringing the villainous Barrington Corporation down anyway he can. But Dracula is not the only one haunting the streets -- the vampire hunters have finally gathered, and Dracula is their number one target! Kurt Busiek, along with award-winning author Daryl Gregory and sensational artist Scott Godlewski, take you through the dark corridors of the corporate American boardroom and show you vampires aren't the only kinds of bloodsuckers! …More

I Can't Make You Love Me, But I Can Make You Leave By Cash, Dixie 2011-04 - William Morrow Paperbacks 9780061910142 Check Our Catalog Cash continues the wacky and wild stories of Edwina and Debbie Sue--the Domestic Equalizers, whose motto Don't get mad, get evidence has gotten these two hairdressers-turned-private-eyes into a heap of trouble. …More

Song of Slaves in the Desert By Cheuse, Alan 2011-03 - Sourcebooks 9781402242991 Check Our Catalog …More

Mobbed: A Regan Reilly Mystery By Clark, Carol Higgins 2011-04 - Scribner Book Company 9781439170281 Check Our Catalog Private investigator Regan Reilly and her husband, Jack, head of the NYPD Major Case Squad, become involved with a case that takes them from Cape May through the casinos and boardwalks of Atlantic City to the music halls and restaurants of Asbury Park. …More

I'll Walk Alone By Clark, Mary Higgins 2011-04 - Simon & Schuster 9781439180969 Check Our Catalog The #1 bestselling Queen of Suspense Mary Higgins Clark presents her latest captivating thriller. …More

Justify My Thug By Clark, Wahida 2011-04 - Cash Money 9781451617092 Check Our Catalog Tasha and Trae try to overcome their troubles and make their marriage work. Meanwhile, Jaz is facing drama of her own. In the torrid world of sex, drugs, and crime, author Clark continues her definitive hip-hop soap opera that fans have come to love. …More

Mister Wonderful: A Love Story By Clowes, Daniel 2011-04 - Pantheon Books 9780307378132 Check Our Catalog Clowes's fan-favorite Eisner Award-winning story, originally serialized in "The New York Times Magazine," is now collected and includes 40 pages of new material. …More

Live Wire By Coben, Harlan 2011-03 - Dutton Books 9780525952060 Check Our Catalog Myron Bolitar's family takes center stage in this new Coben thriller. Former tennis star Suzze T and her rock star husband, Lex, are both clients, and now Lex has disappeared and a very pregnant Suzze is in tears. Myron is forced to confront deep secrets in Suzze's past, his family's mortality, and before "Live Wire" is over, his own. …More

The Sorcerers' Plague By Coe, David B. 2009-02 - Tor Books 9780765355508 Check Our Catalog Coe enthralled readers and critics with "Winds of the Forelands," an epic fantasy full of political intrigue, complex characters, and magical conspiracy. Now he takes the hero of that series to new adventures across the sea on a journey to the Southlands. …More

The Fifth Witness By Connelly, Michael 2011-04 - Little Brown and Company 9780316069359 Check Our Catalog Falling on tough times, Mickey Haller expands his business into foreclosure defense, only to see one of his clients accused of killing the banker she blames for trying to take away her home. Mickey puts his team into high gear to exonerate Lisa Trammel, even though the evidence and his own suspicions tell him his client is guilty. Connelly proves again why he "may very well be the best novelist working in the United States today" ("San Francisco Chronicle"). …More

The Outfit By Cooke, Darwyn Editor Dunbier, Scott Illustrator Cooke, Darwyn 2010-10 - IDW Publishing 9781600107627 Check Our Catalog After he evens the score with those who betrayed him and recovers the money he was cheated out of from the syndicate, Parker is riding high, living in swank hotels and enjoying the finer things in life again. Until, that is, he's fingered by a squealer who rats him out to The Outfit for the price they put on his head... and they find out too late that if you push Parker, it better be all the way into the grave! Darwyn Cooke, multiple Eisner-Award winning creator of such works as DC: The New Frontier and Selina's Big Score, now follows up The Hunter with the forthcoming release of The Outfit, the second of four planned adaptations of Richard Stark's Parker novels. …More

Act of Treason By Coughlin, Jack Author Davis, Donald A. 2011-03 - St. Martin's Press 9780312612016 Check Our Catalog In the fourth novel in the "New York Times"-bestselling series, Marine sniper Kyle Swanson finds himself in the sights of a man he once idolized--a true American hero turned traitor. …More

The Jungle By Cussler, Clive Author Du Brul, Jack B. 2011-03 - Putnam Adult 9780399157042 Check Our Catalog The extraordinary new adventure from the #1 "New York Times"-bestselling author. Juan Cabrillo and his crew face the greatest threat against U.S. security that the world has ever known. …More

New Links on our Site

• Free Online Health Tools – BMI Calculator, Pill Finder, Symptom Checker, Health Encyclopedia, Drug Compare Tool - AARP / health medical healthy_people


• NRDC: Smarter Living / environment conservation

I am hackleyref on Delicious
Add me to your network

Upcoming Events at Hackley Public Library

	Harbor Hospice Support Group Tuesday, May 3 2p-3:30p Harbor Hospice Support Group, Torrent House For more information call HPL at 231-722-7276.

	Invasive Species Tuesday, May 3 6:00 pm Joe Hill returns to talk about how to cope with invasive species. Free and open to the public. For more information call HPL at 231-722-7276.

	Wednesday Knitters Wednesday, May 4 Open to knitters of all skill levels, from beginners to advanced. Learn to knit, hone your skills, help other knitters! For more information call 231-722-7276 and ask for Jocelyn

	Cheese Lady Tuesday, May 10 6:00 pm The Cheese Lady returns! This is a limited seating class, only 15 seats are available. Call the library to register in advance starting on May 1. For more information call HPL at 231-722-7276.

	E-Myth with Michael Gerber Tuesday, May 10 6pm – 7pm Torrent House HPL is working with the Chamber of Commerce to promote small business in a program called "e-Merge". As part of this, author Michael Gerber will be in Muskegon on May 18. There will be a discussion session at HPL about his book "E-Myth" on May 10. Please RSVP at 231-724-3713

	Muskegon County Genealogical Society Tuesday, May 10 6:30 - 9:30 pm. Meets at the Torrent House

	MS Support Group Wednesday, May 11 5:30 - 6:30 pm Torrent House

Tech Wednesday-Chat Rooms Wednesday, May 11 Tech Wednesdays 2:30 pm Each class will cover a specific topic and run from 30 – 60 minutes. No registration is required, just show up! All classes will start at 2:30 pm in the Julia Hackley Room. If you have your own laptop feel free to bring it along, otherwise these are watch and learn classes. March 9: Overdrive eBooks March 23: Ebay April 6: Storing Pictures online (Flickr, Picasa) April 20: Learning Express Library (MeL practice tests) May 11: Chat Rooms May 25: Surfing the Internet

	Wednesday Knitters Wednesday, May 11 Open to knitters of all skill levels, from beginners to advanced. Learn to knit, hone your skills, help other knitters! For more information call 231-722-7276 and ask for Jocelyn

	Yarnspinners Wednesday, May 11 7:00 - 9:00 pm Torrent House

	Family History Workshop Saturday, May 14 10:30 am - 12:30 pm Learn how to do Genealogy research in the Local History Department. For more information call 231-722-7276 x 233

Teen Bookend Art Saturday, May 14 2:00 PM Turn ordinary bookends into works of art for the Library shelves. Students will work with acrylic paint to give the book holders an all new look! Snacks will fuel the student artists. For grades 5 and up. Please call the Youth Services Department at 231-722-7276 x 230.

President Obama’s remarks on Osama Bin Laden from the...

President Obama’s remarks on Osama Bin Laden from the...: From the USA.gov Blog: "

President Obama’s remarks on Osama Bin Laden from the White House:

Good evening. Tonight, I can report to the American people and to the world that the United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of al Qaeda, and a terrorist who’s responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent men, women, and children.


It was nearly 10 years ago that a bright September day was darkened by the worst attack on the American people in our history. The images of 9/11 are seared into our national memory—hijacked planes cutting through a cloudless September sky; the Twin Towers collapsing to the ground; black smoke billowing up from the Pentagon; the wreckage of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where the actions of heroic citizens saved even more heartbreak and destruction.


And yet we know that the worst images are those that were unseen to the world. The empty seat at the dinner table. Children who were forced to grow up without their mother or their father. Parents who would never know the feeling of their child’s embrace. Nearly 3,000 citizens taken from us, leaving a gaping hole in our hearts.


On September 11, 2001, in our time of grief, the American people came together. We offered our neighbors a hand, and we offered the wounded our blood. We reaffirmed our ties to each other, and our love of community and country. On that day, no matter where we came from, what God we prayed to, or what race or ethnicity we were, we were united as one American family.


We were also united in our resolve to protect our nation and to bring those who committed this vicious attack to justice. We quickly learned that the 9/11 attacks were carried out by al Qaeda—an organization headed by Osama bin Laden, which had openly declared war on the United States and was committed to killing innocents in our country and around the globe. And so we went to war against al Qaeda to protect our citizens, our friends, and our allies.


Over the last 10 years, thanks to the tireless and heroic work of our military and our counterterrorism professionals, we’ve made great strides in that effort. We’ve disrupted terrorist attacks and strengthened our homeland defense. In Afghanistan, we removed the Taliban government, which had given bin Laden and al Qaeda safe haven and support. And around the globe, we worked with our friends and allies to capture or kill scores of al Qaeda terrorists, including several who were a part of the 9/11 plot.


Yet Osama bin Laden avoided capture and escaped across the Afghan border into Pakistan. Meanwhile, al Qaeda continued to operate from along that border and operate through its affiliates across the world.


And so shortly after taking office, I directed Leon Panetta, the director of the CIA, to make the killing or capture of bin Laden the top priority of our war against al Qaeda, even as we continued our broader efforts to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat his network.


Then, last August, after years of painstaking work by our intelligence community, I was briefed on a possible lead to bin Laden. It was far from certain, and it took many months to run this thread to ground. I met repeatedly with my national security team as we developed more information about the possibility that we had located bin Laden hiding within a compound deep inside of Pakistan. And finally, last week, I determined that we had enough intelligence to take action, and authorized an operation to get Osama bin Laden and bring him to justice.


Today, at my direction, the United States launched a targeted operation against that compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. A small team of Americans carried out the operation with extraordinary courage and capability. No Americans were harmed. They took care to avoid civilian casualties. After a firefight, they killed Osama bin Laden and took custody of his body.


For over two decades, bin Laden has been al Qaeda’s leader and symbol, and has continued to plot attacks against our country and our friends and allies. The death of bin Laden marks the most significant achievement to date in our nation’s effort to defeat al Qaeda.


Yet his death does not mark the end of our effort. There’s no doubt that al Qaeda will continue to pursue attacks against us. We must—and we will—remain vigilant at home and abroad.


As we do, we must also reaffirm that the United States is not—and never will be -– at war with Islam. I’ve made clear, just as President Bush did shortly after 9/11, that our war is not against Islam. Bin Laden was not a Muslim leader; he was a mass murderer of Muslims. Indeed, al Qaeda has slaughtered scores of Muslims in many countries, including our own. So his demise should be welcomed by all who believe in peace and human dignity.


Over the years, I’ve repeatedly made clear that we would take action within Pakistan if we knew where bin Laden was. That is what we’ve done. But it’s important to note that our counterterrorism cooperation with Pakistan helped lead us to bin Laden and the compound where he was hiding. Indeed, bin Laden had declared war against Pakistan as well, and ordered attacks against the Pakistani people.


Tonight, I called President Zardari, and my team has also spoken with their Pakistani counterparts. They agree that this is a good and historic day for both of our nations. And going forward, it is essential that Pakistan continue to join us in the fight against al Qaeda and its affiliates.


The American people did not choose this fight. It came to our shores, and started with the senseless slaughter of our citizens. After nearly 10 years of service, struggle, and sacrifice, we know well the costs of war. These efforts weigh on me every time I, as Commander-in-Chief, have to sign a letter to a family that has lost a loved one, or look into the eyes of a service member who’s been gravely wounded.


So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when our people have been killed. We will be relentless in defense of our citizens and our friends and allies. We will be true to the values that make us who we are. And on nights like this one, we can say to those families who have lost loved ones to al Qaeda’s terror: Justice has been done.


Tonight, we give thanks to the countless intelligence and counterterrorism professionals who’ve worked tirelessly to achieve this outcome. The American people do not see their work, nor know their names. But tonight, they feel the satisfaction of their work and the result of their pursuit of justice.


We give thanks for the men who carried out this operation, for they exemplify the professionalism, patriotism, and unparalleled courage of those who serve our country. And they are part of a generation that has borne the heaviest share of the burden since that September day.


Finally, let me say to the families who lost loved ones on 9/11 that we have never forgotten your loss, nor wavered in our commitment to see that we do whatever it takes to prevent another attack on our shores.


And tonight, let us think back to the sense of unity that prevailed on 9/11. I know that it has, at times, frayed. Yet today’s achievement is a testament to the greatness of our country and the determination of the American people.


The cause of securing our country is not complete. But tonight, we are once again reminded that America can do whatever we set our mind to. That is the story of our history, whether it’s the pursuit of prosperity for our people, or the struggle for equality for all our citizens; our commitment to stand up for our values abroad, and our sacrifices to make the world a safer place.


Let us remember that we can do these things not just because of wealth or power, but because of who we are: one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.


Thank you. May God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America.

"

U.S. Department of State: Worldwide Travel Alert for U.S. Citizens

Worldwide Travel Alert for U.S. Citizens

The U.S. Department of State alerts U.S. citizens traveling and residing abroad to the enhanced potential for anti-American violence given recent counter-terrorism activity in Pakistan. Given the uncertainty and volatility of the current situation, U.S. citizens in areas where recent events could cause anti-American violence are strongly urged to limit their travel outside of their homes and hotels and avoid mass gatherings and demonstrations. U.S. citizens should stay current with media coverage of local events and be aware of their surroundings at all times. This Travel Alert expires August 1, 2011.

U.S. Embassy operations in affected areas will continue to the extent possible under the constraints of any evolving security situation. U.S. government facilities worldwide remain at a heightened state of alert. These facilities may temporarily close or periodically suspend public services to assess their security posture. In those instances, U.S. Embassies and Consulates will make every effort to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens. U.S. citizens abroad are urged to monitor the local news and maintain contact with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Media coverage of local events may cause family and friends to become concerned for their loved ones traveling and residing abroad. We urge U.S. citizens to keep in regular contact with family and friends. U.S. citizens living or traveling abroad are encouraged to enroll in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), to receive the latest travel updates and information and to obtain updated information on travel and security issues. U.S. citizens without Internet access may register directly with the appropriate U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By enrolling, U.S. citizens make it easier for the U.S. Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency.

Travel information is also available at www.travel.state.gov. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.

Navy and Marine POWs in Vietnam

Navy and Marine POWs in Vietnam: From Gov Book Talk:  "
For some time now, the Naval History & Heritage Command has been producing concise studies of the Navy’s role during the Vietnam War. IN previous posts, I’ve blogged about Navy Medicine in Vietnam and The Approaching Storm, the latter covering the decade-long run up to the introduction of combat troops in 1965. Today’s subject is The Battle Behind Bars: Navy and Marine POWs in the Vietnam War. The author, the late Stuart Rochester, was particularly well qualified to write on this subject, since he was the co-author of what must be considered the definitive account of POWs in Vietnam – Honor Bound: American Prisoners of War in Southeast Asia, 1961-1973 – published by the Army’sCenter ofMilitary History.

A personal note:This is the first time I’ve written about a book whose author I knew personally. Stuart and I worked together for years, on and off – he as deputy and then chief historian at the Pentagon’s Historical Office and me as a GPO marketing contact for his office’s books. We talked mainly by phone, although we did meet in person a couple of times. He was great to work with, a fine scholar, and I regret he wasn’t able to enjoy his position of chief historian longer before his untimely death from cancer in 2009.

The Battle Behind Bars, as the subtitle indicates, focuses on Navy and Marine POWs. Most of the Navy personnel captured during the war were pilots, so they formed a close-knit group of like-minded individuals. One exception was Seaman Apprentice Douglas B. Hegdahl, who was swept overboard from the missile cruiser Canberra and picked up by North Vietnamese fishermen. In a terrific sidebar, the book describes the incredulity of Hegdahl’s captors when he told them how he had come to be swimming in the Gulf ofTonkin – they understandably found his story so incredible that they assumed he was a spy! Once they accepted that he was a raw recruit, an enlisted man, and had trouble seeing due to the loss of his glasses in the water, he became a kind of camp mascot, perceived as not that bright. In realty, he was smart, alert, and able to serve as a secret mailman for other prisoners under the noses of the guards. He also had a retentive memory that let him memorize a huge amount of information about other POWs, which he revealed to the Navy after his early release by the Vietnamese.

Another sidebar discusses the use of a “tap code” by Navy POWs to communicate via their cell walls. Initially a simple code, it was changed often to prevent detection, to the point where Defense Intelligence Agency personnel had difficulty in decoding some of the samples the prisoners brought back after their release.

It wasn’t all movie derring-do, however. The book details the poor conditions, attempted ideological indoctrination, and sometimes brutal treatment of prisoners in North Vietnam and the even worse situation of POWS in the South, where they shared the miserable living conditions of their Viet Cong captors. The author is fair-minded enough to point out instances, such as in the area of medical treatment, where the Vietnamese often did provide decent care, albeit under primitive conditions. Overall, though, captivity in Vietnam was a prolonged ordeal which, even as conditions eased after 1970, meant years of misery for American POWs.

This is a fine study of a controversial subject and a fitting capstone to the career of a talented scholar. You can get a copy of The Battle Behind Bars at Hackley Public Library


Filed under: U.S. Navy "