Word: nams
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1960-1969
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...weak and slightly bewildered, three Americans came out of North Viet Nam last week. For a total of 86 months among them, they had served in North Vietnamese prison camps; their release brought to nine the number of U.S. prisoners released by Hanoi since early 1968. The men were turned over to a four-member American peace group that had come to Hanoi to escort them home (see box). Obviously, propaganda was a major element in North Viet Nam's gesture. But whatever Hanoi's motives and however callously it toyed with the hopes harbored by the families...
...were besieged by questions. What had it been like? Had they been mistreated or brainwashed? But the prisoners said little more than that their treatment had been "adequate"-obviously out of fear that any statement might spoil the chances of release for their comrades still in North Viet Nam...
Frishman, the most talkative of the three, did not discuss the justice or injustice of the war in which he had fought. His anguish and confusion abated somewhat when, during a stop at Frankfurt, the men changed into uniform. "I went to Viet Nam a military man and I am coming out a military man," explained Frishman. "The one thing I would definitely say for the record is that I am a Navy man and proud of it. But I am small potatoes at the mouth of the dragon...
...There is not much work or exercise. When Captain Rumble was asked how the prisoners fought boredom, he replied: "We were allowed to sweep the grounds." Then he added hesitantly: "We ate two meals ... we smoked cigarettes ... we were allowed to listen to the Voice of Viet Nam"-English-language broadcasts from Hanoi...
...first contact leading toward last week's prisoner release came on July 1, two days before the North Vietnamese announced the move as a gesture in honor of American Independence Day. Xuan Oanh, of the Viet Nam Committee for Solidarity with the American People, cabled U.S. Pacifist David Dellinger, urging him to come to Paris to discuss matters of a similar character to Stewart Meacham's trip to Hanoi. The obliquely worded message referred to last year's release of prisoners to a delegation headed by Meacham, peace education secretary of the American Friends Service Committee. Dellinger...