Six Years in the Hanoi Hilton

An Extraordinary Story of Courage and Survival in Vietnam

By: Amy Shively Hawk, Senator John McCain - foreword

Narrated by: Traber Burns, Caroline Shaffer, Michael Braun

In 1967, US Air Force fighter pilot James Shively was shot down over North Vietnam. After ejecting from his F-105 Thunderchief aircraft, he landed in a rice paddy and was captured by the North Vietnamese Army. For the next six years, Shively endured brutal treatment at the hands of the enemy in Hanoi prison camps. Back home, his beloved girlfriend Nancy eventually moved on and married another man. Bound in iron stocks at the Hanoi Hilton, unable to get home to his loved ones, Shively contemplated suicide. Yet somehow he found hope - and he became determined to help his fellow POWs survive.

In a newspaper interview several years after his release, Shively said, "I had the opportunity to be captured, the opportunity to be interrogated, the opportunity to be tortured and the experience of answering questions under torture. It was an extremely humiliating experience. I felt sorry for myself. But I learned the hard way life isn't fair. Life is only what you make of it."

Written by Shively's stepdaughter Amy Hawk - whose mother Nancy ultimately reunited with and married Shively in a triumphant love story - and based on extensive audio recordings and Shively's own journals, Six Years at the Hanoi Hilton is a haunting, riveting portrayal of life as an American prisoner of war trapped on the other side of the world.

©2017 Amy Shively Hawk (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Take this tribute for what it is

This is a loving tribute from a daughter to get remarkable father. It's a good story.
Don't expect professional writing. Don't expect any nuance about the war.

The narration is flat. Every sentence intoned exactly the same, as if each sentence was written as a statement of defiance. It's a short book though and not to hard to get through even with the narration.

Worth a listen for a free book.

I can't even imagine.

very interesting account. I had heard so many and accounts from this Era, I thought there would be no surprises left to hear. I was wrong. This story tells things I didn't have a clue about.

hero

absolutely love this book from front to back
jim was a true hero may he rip

The story of the man behind the story

A great book about a man who has endured great heights, deep lows, and who kept himself whole through it all. Highly recommend it for military and professional business leaders.

Great book

This was a great book, took me a day in a half to finish.

A True HERO in every sense of the word!!!

This book is well written and brings you into the life of a real man. It takes you through his youth, through going to the Air Force Academy, into war, into POW camps, and from coming home till he went to his final Home. It delves into his thought and feelings. It shows what a real hero is. It was perfectly read and kept you wanting to here more!!!

American hero

Listen to this book, was very entertaining, makes you proud to be an American again. With what going on in the world today. Wish more people would read or listen to it. May change their thinking or matters.

not a day goes by without remembering

All of us who are Vietnam veterans struggle to keep that war from defining us. In particular, POWs who had the most to lose overcame the divisiveness of the Vietnam War as well as witnessing opponents of the war who actively visited POWs and used that disgusting exhibition to make millions. Shively, veterans and POWs picked up their lives to live honorably; many continued to serve their country. Read this book once a year to refresh your memory.

Powerful tribute to a brave American hero.

This was one of those books that grips you and pulls you along throughout the entire unbelievable story. The stories of his torture and suffering should make us all appreciate and treasure our freedom - freedom we take for granted every day and freedoms that were bought through the suffering and sacrifice of heroes like Jim Shively. Thank you for sharing the amazing story of your brave father. We honor his service and sacrifice. I only wish I could have met this brave man, shaken his hand, and said, "THANK YOU."

The sample made it seem it was a memoir

I thought this was a memoir. The sample made it seem so. it was a good story, but it would have been better if the daughter would have taken his diaries and put in memoir form.