What do you think?
Rate this book
The Unlikely War Hero: A Vietnam War POW's Story of Courage and Resilience in the Hanoi Hilton
On April 6, 1967, twenty-year-old U.S. Navy Seaman Apprentice Doug Hegdahl fell off his ship, a guided-missile cruiser, in the Gulf of Tonkin. Close to exhaustion after nearly four hours in the water, he was picked up by a small fishing boat and soon found himself in Hỏa Lò Prison, the notorious North Vietnamese POW camp the prisoners called the Hanoi Hilton. Under intense interrogation, Hegdahl pretended to be a country bumpkin who could barely read or write. His captors fell for the ruse, calling him “The Incredibly Stupid One.”
But Doug Hegdahl was far from stupid. Possessing a razor-sharp memory, during the next two years he memorized the names of 254 fellow prisoners and senior officers ordered him to accept an early release. After coming home in August 1969, Hegdahl shocked his debriefers by rattling off the names of the men. Hanoi had admitted holding only a few dozen, although the U.S. military had reliable intel on scores of others. With Hegdahl’s names, 63 missing servicemen were reclassified to Prisoners of War.
But that’s not all. In addition to divulging the names, Doug Hegdahl told the Pentagon about the systematic torturing of the American POWs in Hanoi and reported many other hitherto unknown details about life inside the Hanoi POW camps. The new information became an important factor in North Vietnam’s fall 1969 decision to make life immeasurably easier for the 500-plus POWs held in Hanoi and assuaged the doubts and fears of dozens of POW families.
In a vividly written book based on archival research, personal interviews, and his experiences in the Vietnam War, Marc Leepson, for the first time, tells the incredible tale of the youngest and lowest-ranking American POW captured in North Vietnam. Doug Hegdahl has never been properly recognized for his extraordinary efforts, and his story has never been fully told. It’s a story of survival—has own and scores of POWs.
As a U.S. Navy historian put the North Vietnamese “made a bad mistake when they released Seaman Doug Hegdahl.”
But Doug Hegdahl was far from stupid. Possessing a razor-sharp memory, during the next two years he memorized the names of 254 fellow prisoners and senior officers ordered him to accept an early release. After coming home in August 1969, Hegdahl shocked his debriefers by rattling off the names of the men. Hanoi had admitted holding only a few dozen, although the U.S. military had reliable intel on scores of others. With Hegdahl’s names, 63 missing servicemen were reclassified to Prisoners of War.
But that’s not all. In addition to divulging the names, Doug Hegdahl told the Pentagon about the systematic torturing of the American POWs in Hanoi and reported many other hitherto unknown details about life inside the Hanoi POW camps. The new information became an important factor in North Vietnam’s fall 1969 decision to make life immeasurably easier for the 500-plus POWs held in Hanoi and assuaged the doubts and fears of dozens of POW families.
In a vividly written book based on archival research, personal interviews, and his experiences in the Vietnam War, Marc Leepson, for the first time, tells the incredible tale of the youngest and lowest-ranking American POW captured in North Vietnam. Doug Hegdahl has never been properly recognized for his extraordinary efforts, and his story has never been fully told. It’s a story of survival—has own and scores of POWs.
As a U.S. Navy historian put the North Vietnamese “made a bad mistake when they released Seaman Doug Hegdahl.”
312 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 17, 2024
About the author
Marc Leepson
82 books29 followersHistorian and journalist Marc Leepson is the author of nine books, including Ballad of the Green Beret: The Life and Wars of Staff Sergeant Barry Sadler (Stackpole, 2017); What So Proudly We Hailed: Francis Scott Key, A Life (Palgrave, 2014); Lafayette: Lessons in Leadership from the Idealist General, a concise biography of the Marquis de Lafayette (Palgrave, 2011); Desperate Engagement, the story of the Civil War Battle of Monocacy (Thomas Dunne Books, 2007); Flag: An American Biography, a history of the American flag from the beginnings to today (Thomas Dunne, 2005); and Saving Monticello, the first complete history of Thomas Jefferson's House (Free Press, 2001, University of Virginia Press, 2003, paperback).
A former staff writer for Congressional Quarterly, Marc Leepson is the arts editor, senior writer, and columnist for The VVA Veteran, the magazine published by Vietnam Veterans of America.
He has written about the Vietnam War and Vietnam veterans and other topics for many other newspapers and magazines, including the Washington Post, New York Times, New York Times Book Review, Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, Baltimore Sun, Newsday, the Arizona Republic, Smithsonian, World War II, Vietnam, Military History and Preservation Magazines, Civil War Times, the Encyclopedia Britannica, the Encyclopedia Americana, and the Dictionary of Virginia Biography.
He has been a guest on many television and radio news programs, including All Things Considered, Talk of the Nation, On the Media, CBS This Morning Saturday, History Detectives, The Diane Rehm Show,Fox News Channel, MSNBC, CBC (Canada), the BBC News Hour, and Irish Radio. And he has given talks at many colleges and universities, including the University of Maryland, the University of Notre Dame, the University of Miami, Appalachian State University, the College of Southern Maryland and Georgetown University.
He tought U.S. history at Lord Fairfax Community College in Warrenton, Virginia from 2008-2015. He graduated from George Washington University in 1967. He was then drafted into the U.S. Army and served for two years, including a year in the Vietnam War. After his military service, he earned an MA in history from GWU in 1971. He lives in Middleburg, Virginia, with his wife. They have two adult children.
A former staff writer for Congressional Quarterly, Marc Leepson is the arts editor, senior writer, and columnist for The VVA Veteran, the magazine published by Vietnam Veterans of America.
He has written about the Vietnam War and Vietnam veterans and other topics for many other newspapers and magazines, including the Washington Post, New York Times, New York Times Book Review, Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, Baltimore Sun, Newsday, the Arizona Republic, Smithsonian, World War II, Vietnam, Military History and Preservation Magazines, Civil War Times, the Encyclopedia Britannica, the Encyclopedia Americana, and the Dictionary of Virginia Biography.
He has been a guest on many television and radio news programs, including All Things Considered, Talk of the Nation, On the Media, CBS This Morning Saturday, History Detectives, The Diane Rehm Show,Fox News Channel, MSNBC, CBC (Canada), the BBC News Hour, and Irish Radio. And he has given talks at many colleges and universities, including the University of Maryland, the University of Notre Dame, the University of Miami, Appalachian State University, the College of Southern Maryland and Georgetown University.
He tought U.S. history at Lord Fairfax Community College in Warrenton, Virginia from 2008-2015. He graduated from George Washington University in 1967. He was then drafted into the U.S. Army and served for two years, including a year in the Vietnam War. After his military service, he earned an MA in history from GWU in 1971. He lives in Middleburg, Virginia, with his wife. They have two adult children.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 16, 2024
Inside the ‘Hanoi Hilton’.
Unlikely is the key word in the relaying of twenty year old Seaman Apprentice Doug Hegdahl’s story of captivity in North Vietnam.
Ending up in the ‘Hanoi Hilton’ after falling overboard from his ship the U.S.S. Canberra, a guided missile cruiser, off North Vietnam in the South China Sea, the picture we have of Doug is an highly intelligent young man whose bumbling attitude covered an adept mind. The lowest ranking prisoner in the Hilton, Doug was dismissed as being importantly, or even capable.
The men he was imprisoned with, including Senator John McCain, are legend.
This is his and their stories and how against his wishes Doug was ordered by the camp higher command to take release as a POW to let the Pentagon know about POW’s who’d been listed as dead or MIA. Doug finally came home against his will, having memorized the details of 254 men and their condition.
An unsung hero of a war no-one in the end wanted I found it a testimony to the strength of mind of many of these men.
Their suffering is not to be ignored. The idea of humanely treating prisoners, the Geneva convention, is necessary to separate us from the those we stand against. Which I am sure is no easy task.
A Globe Pequot ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
Unlikely is the key word in the relaying of twenty year old Seaman Apprentice Doug Hegdahl’s story of captivity in North Vietnam.
Ending up in the ‘Hanoi Hilton’ after falling overboard from his ship the U.S.S. Canberra, a guided missile cruiser, off North Vietnam in the South China Sea, the picture we have of Doug is an highly intelligent young man whose bumbling attitude covered an adept mind. The lowest ranking prisoner in the Hilton, Doug was dismissed as being importantly, or even capable.
The men he was imprisoned with, including Senator John McCain, are legend.
This is his and their stories and how against his wishes Doug was ordered by the camp higher command to take release as a POW to let the Pentagon know about POW’s who’d been listed as dead or MIA. Doug finally came home against his will, having memorized the details of 254 men and their condition.
An unsung hero of a war no-one in the end wanted I found it a testimony to the strength of mind of many of these men.
Their suffering is not to be ignored. The idea of humanely treating prisoners, the Geneva convention, is necessary to separate us from the those we stand against. Which I am sure is no easy task.
A Globe Pequot ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
July 30, 2025
The content and subject is very interesting and informative. Unfortunately, it’s written like a boring history textbook.
November 16, 2024
This is an interesting tale about a young American who is taken prisoner in the Vietnam War and what happens to him. However, I would recommend not reading the introduction as it goes into such detail, its hardly worth reading the book as all has been revealed.
There is the usual American pomp surrounding military personnel (and the idea that anyone survives a conflict is somehow a 'hero', without actually doing anything heroic. I was also rather hoping some of the servicemen who promptly chose to take the chance to come home (with accompanying propoganda) were not apparently held to account at all.
Doug Hegdahl was an unusual and resilient young man, who survived his imprisonment and made the best of it, bringing home information to help the families of other men still in prison. He was an example to many (if incredibly unlucky in how he became captured). It sounded as though the rest of his life was sadly affected by his experiences.
The story is well researched, with interviews with survivors. The early part was rather disjointed, but overall the story is told well. Thank you to NetGalley, Globe Pequot and Stackpole Books for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
There is the usual American pomp surrounding military personnel (and the idea that anyone survives a conflict is somehow a 'hero', without actually doing anything heroic. I was also rather hoping some of the servicemen who promptly chose to take the chance to come home (with accompanying propoganda) were not apparently held to account at all.
Doug Hegdahl was an unusual and resilient young man, who survived his imprisonment and made the best of it, bringing home information to help the families of other men still in prison. He was an example to many (if incredibly unlucky in how he became captured). It sounded as though the rest of his life was sadly affected by his experiences.
The story is well researched, with interviews with survivors. The early part was rather disjointed, but overall the story is told well. Thank you to NetGalley, Globe Pequot and Stackpole Books for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 29, 2026
The Ultimate Underdog
I picked up Marc Leepson’s book, The Unlikely War Hero, got caught up in it, and finished it that day.
The thing that made it so compelling was the question: “Suppose you were Doug Hegdahl, a 21 year old newly trained seaman with a few weeks of service experience performing a low level job on a navy ship firing missiles into N. Vietnam. And a month later you are the lowest ranking American in a prison camp in Hanoi, Vietnam, a prison camp where sadistic interrogators are inflicting mental and physical torture so viciously that if you resist their demands there is no guarantee of surviving. What would you do?”
His fellow prisoners were career officers with specialized training on how to survive capture and torture honorably but Hegdahl was isolated when he arrived, and all Hegdahl knew was that he was only permitted to give the enemy his true name, rank, and serial number. Given those circumstances, the North Vietnamese interrogators thought they had secured a young, lesser-educated, and minimally trained sailor that they could bully or manipulate for propaganda purposes. What they actually had was something else entirely, and Marc Leepson’s book clearly shows us what that was, and how Hegdahl was able to wend his way creatively and honorably through his years of captivity on his terms.
Written in a style that is both historical and personal, Unlikely is a book about men who lived an existence so harrowing that the tiniest of actions or inactions could ring with honor and courage, or the opposite, and that could sometimes determine life or death. Hegdahl and the men with him understood that and, regardless of your views on the politics of the Vietnam War, the way they conducted themselves will surely stir feelings of pride and admiration. That was certainly true for me as I read this outstanding book which I highly recommend.
I picked up Marc Leepson’s book, The Unlikely War Hero, got caught up in it, and finished it that day.
The thing that made it so compelling was the question: “Suppose you were Doug Hegdahl, a 21 year old newly trained seaman with a few weeks of service experience performing a low level job on a navy ship firing missiles into N. Vietnam. And a month later you are the lowest ranking American in a prison camp in Hanoi, Vietnam, a prison camp where sadistic interrogators are inflicting mental and physical torture so viciously that if you resist their demands there is no guarantee of surviving. What would you do?”
His fellow prisoners were career officers with specialized training on how to survive capture and torture honorably but Hegdahl was isolated when he arrived, and all Hegdahl knew was that he was only permitted to give the enemy his true name, rank, and serial number. Given those circumstances, the North Vietnamese interrogators thought they had secured a young, lesser-educated, and minimally trained sailor that they could bully or manipulate for propaganda purposes. What they actually had was something else entirely, and Marc Leepson’s book clearly shows us what that was, and how Hegdahl was able to wend his way creatively and honorably through his years of captivity on his terms.
Written in a style that is both historical and personal, Unlikely is a book about men who lived an existence so harrowing that the tiniest of actions or inactions could ring with honor and courage, or the opposite, and that could sometimes determine life or death. Hegdahl and the men with him understood that and, regardless of your views on the politics of the Vietnam War, the way they conducted themselves will surely stir feelings of pride and admiration. That was certainly true for me as I read this outstanding book which I highly recommend.
March 27, 2026
The Unlikely War Hero: A Vietnam War POW's Story of Courage and Resilience in the Hanoi Hilton by author & historian Marc Leepson is a powerful read and a history lesson in itself. Leepson’s riveting retelling of U.S. Navy Seaman Apprentice Doug Hegdahl’s time in the service, his strength & resilience while being held as a POW at the Hanoi Hilton, and the courage & patriotism he showed after his release were thoroughly researched and cited. The author’s accurate and in-depth attention to fine details such as names, ranks, dates, locations, models of aircraft and sea faring vessels, and other military facts deliver the reader an unforgettable story. A must read for anyone who wants to learn more about the Vietnam War and for every American to fully grasp the risks our military personnel face and the sacrifices they make when serving. Leepson’s latest book serves as a reminder to us all that freedom isn’t free and that sometimes the most unlikely person can become a true hero.
July 4, 2025
This is a great story about a POW during the Vietnam War. It’s extremely detailed and fact heavy, more like a textbook or like reading a documentary. I read most but didn’t finish it. Still an interesting story.
October 7, 2025
I bought this book thinking it was a story about the prisoner of war in Vietnam. I expected it to be written more in the first person view by the actual prisoner. Instead it read like a history book. If I wanted to read a history book, I would go back to school. I could not get past the first couple chapters due to this fact. It was way to boring and not really a first person story at all. This is the second book written like this I have bought and will not do so again.
February 4, 2025
After falling off a battleship Doug Hegdal the youngest and lowest-ranking American POW was captured in North Vietnam. The men he was imprisoned with, including Senator John McCain, are legend. The interrogators first believed that Hegdahl was a commando or an agent. His story of being blown overboard seemed unbelievable to the interrogators. Hegdahl thought he would be much better off if he pretended to be of low intelligence. Hegdahl was physically maltreated for a few days before he was able to convince his captors that he was of little value for their propaganda campaign. His bumpkin demeanor and youthful appearance aided in his ability to convince them that he was no threat to them. Later, he came to be known to the Vietnamese as "The Incredibly Stupid One", and he was given nearly free run of the camp. Doug Hegdahl outfoxed them. Doug Hegdahl convinced his captors he was stupid, then spent the next two years memorizing the names of 254 fellow prisoners and other details of POW life. Upon his release, that information helped improve POW life for those still in captivity.
Leepson has written a great story that not only conveys the story of Doug Hegdal but also what other POWs went through in this facility. Hegdal along with his other POWs are the unsung heroes of a war that no one in the end wanted. What a story of a young kid who simply survived and, in the end, contributed to the fate of many POW’s. Awesome read.
Leepson has written a great story that not only conveys the story of Doug Hegdal but also what other POWs went through in this facility. Hegdal along with his other POWs are the unsung heroes of a war that no one in the end wanted. What a story of a young kid who simply survived and, in the end, contributed to the fate of many POW’s. Awesome read.
May 31, 2026
I was a child raised in the 60s and saw many of my friends and their families agonize over POWs, We were ignorant of the facts of this war. There were such opposing views/opinions.. The draft was a huge deal to us as we anxiously watched and listened for our loved ones’ draft number. My husband’s was No. 1 in 1970!!. It was beyond my comprehension to think he might have to fight in a ground war. Thankfully he was able to continue his college education and serve his country through the Army Reserves where he served 6 years. During that time his unit was put on “alert” at least twice meaning they could be activated at any moment. The people in our small town supported the war for the benefit of all the young men called into service. It was polarizing and heartbreaking to watch the protests happening in major cities where people spoke negatively about our military.
We wore POW bracelets for years. I don’t think people today realize how huge this was for our generation. I love this story about Doug, the lowly seaman who did so much for his fellow POWs. Yes it gets tedious at times with the names, ranks, birth dates, etc. but this is critical to the story as it was the POWs, especially Doug Hegdahl who memorized all those details. It was those details that gave many families hope just to know their loved one was still alive. I hope many will read this story and appreciate our military for their sacrifices.
We wore POW bracelets for years. I don’t think people today realize how huge this was for our generation. I love this story about Doug, the lowly seaman who did so much for his fellow POWs. Yes it gets tedious at times with the names, ranks, birth dates, etc. but this is critical to the story as it was the POWs, especially Doug Hegdahl who memorized all those details. It was those details that gave many families hope just to know their loved one was still alive. I hope many will read this story and appreciate our military for their sacrifices.
May 23, 2026
totally recommend - the author provides a glimpse into the life in POW camps during Vietnam, specifically Hanio Hilton through the experience of Doug Hegdahl. Hegdahl was the lowest ranking prisoner in the camps, so theoretically not 'high value' to the North Vietnamese, but still waters run deep, as they say. A lot of information is packed into the book, coming from former POWs, contemporaries of Hegdahl, media at the time and previous interviews with Hegdahl. Leepson gives some background to the political situation in the US, but really focuses on Hegdahl and the other POWs he met, sometimes just through the walls of their cells. Some of it is very difficult to read without flinching, it is hard to comprehend how these men survived these conditions, some for over five years.
August 21, 2025
During the Vietnam War, a small-town boy named Doug Hegdahl was swept off the deck of the ship he was on into the Tonkin Gulf. He became the youngest and lowest ranking POW of the war when he was taken to the infamous "Hanoi Hilton" POW camp. Incredibly he was able to memorize the names and details of 254 of his fellow POWs! He was ordered by his senior imprisoned officers to accept the conditions of release. He was able to divulge amazingly detailed and largely unknown details of life in the camp, thus giving valuable intel and allowing many MIAs to be reclassified as POWs. Marc Leepson was able to interview many people and piece together an interesting account of Doug's story.
March 27, 2025
I really wanted to like this book and I have the utmost respect for Doug Hegdahl but unfortunately the Prologue told most of the story so it was hard to stay interested in the book. Leepson was not able to interview Hegdahl for the book which was a downer for me. I felt the book was more the story of the Hanoi Hilton and the other 300+ POWs and less about Hegdahl. I've read a lot of nonfiction about the Vietnam War and this certainly wasn't the best.
December 19, 2024
Amazing story of an American Hero.
Doug was of great support to my family, and all of the POWs and their families. This well foot noted Biography puts together his efforts both in POW prison, and after coming home. He saved many lives. The youngest and most junior POW held in Hanoi proved to be one of the bravest heroes of the POWS.
Doug was of great support to my family, and all of the POWs and their families. This well foot noted Biography puts together his efforts both in POW prison, and after coming home. He saved many lives. The youngest and most junior POW held in Hanoi proved to be one of the bravest heroes of the POWS.
February 9, 2025
Dull story about a very young seaman who fell off a ship sailing along the Vietnam coast during the war. He was picked up by some fishermen and ended up in a North Vietnam POW camp. He got out early and became an advocate for Vietnam POW's. It was disappointing to find out that he declined to be interviewed by the author for the book.
February 11, 2026
The things we do for love. This was a long, tedious read for such a short book. I struggled with facts and figures and not falling asleep. Did I learn some stuff? Yeah. Do I appreciate my husband’s experience at SERE? Sure. Would I gladly recommend this book to others who aren’t excited about military history? Probs nah.
June 17, 2026
Was an interesting story about his captivity. I was a little disappointed because he did not participate in the writing of this book his story. I understand wanting to be out of the limelight, just disappointed because his story , this story is important.
May 13, 2025
Interesting story. Told in a running fashion, but interesting.
June 1, 2025
Really wish Mr. Hegdahl would have interviewed and cooperated more with the author. However, his story is still one that needs to be told and recognized. Great story and well written.
Want to Read
August 4, 2025Purchased in epub format from Barnes and Noble for my Nook.
August 28, 2025
I really enjoyed the story but the author was very detailed to the point it was distracting.
November 4, 2025
An interesting story of a remarkable individual. I just wish it had been more emotionally engaging to read.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews