Re: Korean War PW's

["Richard Tunison" <rtunison@cox.net>]

Mr. Eveland,

An older book on the subject of American POW's during the Korean War is
titled, "Believed to be Alive" by Navy Captain John W. Thornton, published
by Paul S. Eriksson, Middlebury, VT 1981, ISBN 0-8397-1064-X. The book may
be available from one of the larger used book stores such as Powell's, but
is now out of print.

"Believed to be Alive" details helicopter pilot Thornton's capture and
imprisonment, and his treatment by North Korean and Chinese while he was
held captive until his release during Operation Big Switch.

A second book that you may find interesting is "In Every War But One" by
Eugene Kinkead, published by W.W. Norton & Co, NY 1959. It is available as a
used book through www.amazon.com (go to books, then enter the title). This
book reports on a five year study of the effects of the indoctrination by
North Korean and Chinese of prisoners of war. The objective of this book is
quite different from Thornton's autobiographical work.

You may find of particular interest chapter III of Kinkead's book with the
heading, "The Voyage Home," in which he treats the in-depth debriefing
program used by the government as they interviewed POWs after their release.
The men were informed of their rights under the Uniform Code of Military
Justice that they were not required to say anything about their behavior
that might be self-incriminating.

Good luck in your search.

Dick Tunison
Edmond, OK



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "D. Eveland" <dnaleve@charter.net>
To: <KOREAN-WAR-L@listproc.cc.ku.edu>
Sent: Friday, November 14, 2003 10:16 AM
Subject: Korean War PW's


> Hello -  This is my first post to this list.  My primary
> interest in the KW has been the situation encountered by
> UN POW’s.  My father was a POW for 2 ½ years being
> released during Operation Big Switch in August of 1953.
>  He never has talked about it much and was not aware at
> all of the treatment that some of his fellow POW’s
> received by the govt upon their return.  The irony that
> the 21 non-repatriates were discharged and thus could not
> charged with anything upon their eventual return is
> astonishing.="60">
>
>