General Information:
Throughout the Vietnam War (1956-1975) several soldiers, both American and Vietnamese, were captured and held as prisoners of war. At first, North Vietnam refused to reveal how they treated their prisoners of war. They stated that "American prisoners captured in North Vietnam were 'war criminals' who had committed crimes against the North Vietnamese people in the course of an illegal war of aggression and that therefore the American prisoners were not entitled to the privileges and rights granted to prisoners of war under the terms of the Geneva Convention." The problem faced by the U.S. was North Vietnam never signed or agreed to the terms of the Geneva Convention. Because of this, North Vietnam would not provide the Red Cross with names of prisoners or regular inspection visits. In 1969, the Nixon Administration demanded information about the American POW's. They also demanded that the North Vietnamese follow the rules of the Geneva Convention moving forward. On August 5th, 1969 North Vietnam released three American POW's in response to a visiting group of American anti-war activists.
Throughout the Vietnam War (1956-1975) several soldiers, both American and Vietnamese, were captured and held as prisoners of war. At first, North Vietnam refused to reveal how they treated their prisoners of war. They stated that "American prisoners captured in North Vietnam were 'war criminals' who had committed crimes against the North Vietnamese people in the course of an illegal war of aggression and that therefore the American prisoners were not entitled to the privileges and rights granted to prisoners of war under the terms of the Geneva Convention." The problem faced by the U.S. was North Vietnam never signed or agreed to the terms of the Geneva Convention. Because of this, North Vietnam would not provide the Red Cross with names of prisoners or regular inspection visits. In 1969, the Nixon Administration demanded information about the American POW's. They also demanded that the North Vietnamese follow the rules of the Geneva Convention moving forward. On August 5th, 1969 North Vietnam released three American POW's in response to a visiting group of American anti-war activists.
Individual Treatment:
According to the Vietnamese, American POW's were not being tortured at all. In fact, their government declared, "Claims that prisoners were tortured during the war are fabricated." According to the American POW's, however, the North Vietnamese beat, tortured, and threatened them on a routine basis. POW's also said their living conditions were also unhealthy and cramped.
According to the Vietnamese, American POW's were not being tortured at all. In fact, their government declared, "Claims that prisoners were tortured during the war are fabricated." According to the American POW's, however, the North Vietnamese beat, tortured, and threatened them on a routine basis. POW's also said their living conditions were also unhealthy and cramped.
Personal Accounts:
Jeremiah Denton was an American POW who was tortured repeatedly for 10 months. The North Vietnamese threatened to beat him more if he didn't respond accordingly to a propaganda broadcast with the Americans. Cleverly, Jeremiah blinked out t-o-r-t-u-r-e in morse code throughout the entire interview pretending to be blinded by the spotlights. This was the first confirmation received by the U.S. government that showed the American POW's were being tortured by their North Vietnamese captors.
Jeremiah Denton was an American POW who was tortured repeatedly for 10 months. The North Vietnamese threatened to beat him more if he didn't respond accordingly to a propaganda broadcast with the Americans. Cleverly, Jeremiah blinked out t-o-r-t-u-r-e in morse code throughout the entire interview pretending to be blinded by the spotlights. This was the first confirmation received by the U.S. government that showed the American POW's were being tortured by their North Vietnamese captors.