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Glory Denied: The Saga of Jim Thompson, America's Longest-Held Prisoner of War
Reconstructs the life of war hero Jim Thompson, profiling the lives of his family on the home front as well as his brutal treatment and five escape attempts as a prisoner of war in Vietnam.
480 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
October 11, 2017
While I expected a story of resilience and courage about a man's survival in Vietnam as the longest held POW, this book is so much more. Instead of stopping the story as he got out of the plane to meet his family, the book tells the story of what happened after the happy picture as well. And it's not happy.
The author manages to give authentic and honest voices to everyone involved, a cast of imperfect and rather normal people caught in a situation no one can prepare for. After surviving the impossible, Jim Thompson comes home expecting to find the family he had left behind, but what he finds is a group of strangers, betrayal and a world he can't recognize. He finds people who believe he fought for nothing. He finds a shift of values. What follows is the undoing of a family, told with so much heart one can feel the pain and reasons of every person presented in the book, even when they make mistakes.
Overall, the book is about Thompson's two wars, the one in Vietnam and the one at home with his mind. A most powerful telling about the effects of war and most importantly about what happens behind the happy pictures.
The author manages to give authentic and honest voices to everyone involved, a cast of imperfect and rather normal people caught in a situation no one can prepare for. After surviving the impossible, Jim Thompson comes home expecting to find the family he had left behind, but what he finds is a group of strangers, betrayal and a world he can't recognize. He finds people who believe he fought for nothing. He finds a shift of values. What follows is the undoing of a family, told with so much heart one can feel the pain and reasons of every person presented in the book, even when they make mistakes.
Overall, the book is about Thompson's two wars, the one in Vietnam and the one at home with his mind. A most powerful telling about the effects of war and most importantly about what happens behind the happy pictures.
February 24, 2017
Most people have never heard of Jim Thompson - a man who was held as a prisoner of war for almost 9 years in Vietnam. 5 of those years in solitary confinement. Philpott presents Thompson's story through the format of "oral history" - direct transcription of interviews with the players.
The story that unfolds reads like a Greek tragedy, or perhaps the book of Job, with each horrible event followed by something worse. In many points, a difficult book to read.
The story that unfolds reads like a Greek tragedy, or perhaps the book of Job, with each horrible event followed by something worse. In many points, a difficult book to read.
September 18, 2017
This was more of a story of a Vietnam Vet who returned to the US and created a dysfunctional family. I don't mean to take away from the bravery and service to his country that Col. James Thompson displayed; his fortitude to continue to live under the worse of circumstances. But the author doesn't go into depth of what Thompson endured. Perhaps he couldn't because Thompson couldn't explore that as either. It was good that the other vets were able to fill in the blanks, but they didn't come into the picture for several years after Thompson had been captured and endured solitary confinement. There seemed to be no malice or ill thoughts towards his captors that so many returning vets had to work through. Yet, the interviews with his comrades did show some discrepancies on Thompson as a leader of his men. It seemed he was unprepared for leadership both during and after the war, though he felt he should be based on his POW status. Unfortunately, Thompson didn't make use of the opportunity afforded him to gain promotions. And then his alcoholism and attitude tore apart his family, but his wife was also put into a unusual situation not knowing for years if he was dead or alive. It's amazing that his family was able to pick up the pieces as well as they did.
March 1, 2019
I read this book because I will be participating in the opera that was based on and inspired by this book. So my focus was primarily on the POW, Jim Thompson, and his wife Alyce. Because this is an oral history, it does not read and should not be expected to read like a novel. However, it does have a strong chronological arc, beginning with Jim and Alyce's youthful past and time of early marriage. It then launches into Jim's time in Vietnam, pre-capture, before the awful beginning of his time as a POW. It is, in my opinion, extremely compelling and heartbreaking. Jim and Alyce are imperfect humans who are subjected to a searing trial, and then are left trying to rebuild lives that are completely shattered by the separation and the changing culture of the United States. Both of them make many choices that I found to be destructive and repugnant, but at the same time I found them mostly to be relatable humans who were reacting badly to impossible situations. This book gave me a lot of insight into a time and world view that I have had no exposure to. As part of my preparation, I will be re reading it, with a particular emphasis on Alyce's letters before and during the capture. Overall, this book is definitely worth a read, but may not be for everyone because of the style as an oral history. An enduring book.
September 4, 2017
This was a sad story. The heroic part was how Jim Thompson survived 9 years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. I thoroughly enjoyed that part of the book and found the way he survived exemplary and encouraging. After he returned to the United States and continued to serve as Army Officer until he was medically retired, his experience was not so heartening. His experience with his family after his return was also discouraging. His life after returning to the United States was a sad story. However this book gives one a better understanding of the difficulties returning prisoners of war as well as well as combat soldiers face returning to a nation at peace.
This is the first time I have read a book that is an oral history featuring the witnesses in their own words. I liked it and thought this type of writing worked well.
This is the first time I have read a book that is an oral history featuring the witnesses in their own words. I liked it and thought this type of writing worked well.
September 10, 2018
An amazing book about the longest held POW of the Vietnam war.
Steve S.
I joined the Army in 73. The U.S. had stopped sending troops to Nam by that time. I read the stories of other POW's and had never heard of Col. Thompson. His distinction of being the longest held POW of the Vietnam war killed him so many years later. Thank you for writing his story.
Steve S.
I joined the Army in 73. The U.S. had stopped sending troops to Nam by that time. I read the stories of other POW's and had never heard of Col. Thompson. His distinction of being the longest held POW of the Vietnam war killed him so many years later. Thank you for writing his story.
December 29, 2018
Our book club committed to this book because one of our members grew up with children of this POW as her father was in the Army. I'm so glad we did because my knowledge of the Vietnam War was seriously lacking. What an amazing story, but how tragic that this man was denied the glory and recognition he deserved, and that his family never recovered from the impact of his captivity. A great read!
August 25, 2018
Sad family saga
A well written book about a POW of the Vietnam war and his dysfunctional family. This is not a feel good book....Just a sad story of how the war utterly wrecked the man and his family.
A well written book about a POW of the Vietnam war and his dysfunctional family. This is not a feel good book....Just a sad story of how the war utterly wrecked the man and his family.
November 12, 2018
A truly tragic story from the Vietnam war!
A gripping must read for anyone wanting to understand the effect the Vietnam war had, not only on the soldiers who served there, but their families as well.
A gripping must read for anyone wanting to understand the effect the Vietnam war had, not only on the soldiers who served there, but their families as well.
August 16, 2017
Remarkable
This is an extraordinary true story. I cried at several places while reading it. My heart goes out to this family.
This is an extraordinary true story. I cried at several places while reading it. My heart goes out to this family.
February 11, 2018
Very good read... recommended for reading
September 3, 2018
Heartbreaking, powerful account...
Of the impact of the war and captivity of on an individual soldier and his family. The author did a superb job of piecing it all together.
Of the impact of the war and captivity of on an individual soldier and his family. The author did a superb job of piecing it all together.
June 2, 2024
Another heartbreaking book. Another living casualty of the Vietnam war.
March 15, 2021
This book..... 🥺
There were too many subjects in this book that hit close to home. I half cried and wanted to throw it in the Allegheny River not because it was bad, it just hit so hard on variety of subjects.
It took me a while to read it. I had to stop so many times. Be warned, if you/family ever were involved with addiction, horrendous family feuds, violence, and last but not least... infidelity, this book hits fucking hard, way too hard.
There were too many subjects in this book that hit close to home. I half cried and wanted to throw it in the Allegheny River not because it was bad, it just hit so hard on variety of subjects.
It took me a while to read it. I had to stop so many times. Be warned, if you/family ever were involved with addiction, horrendous family feuds, violence, and last but not least... infidelity, this book hits fucking hard, way too hard.
December 21, 2007
Wow, Glory Denied evokes so many emotions. I stayed up late and got up early to finish this one.
Colonel Jim Thompson is America’s longest-held prisoner of war, ever. A Special Forces soldier captured early in the Vietnam War, Colonel Thompson kept himself alive for 9 years in captivity, 5 years in solitary confinement, enduring torture and wretched conditions by believing in God, in the patriotism and righteousness of our Nation and Armed Forces, and in the love of his wife and children. Having survived war and the cruelty of the communists, he was almost destroyed by the changes in our Nation and in his family that occurred during his long captivity. Written in an “oral history” format, I was shocked to discover how the roots of many of our Nation’s current cultural problems began during that era, a time of birth for the most extreme liberal philosophies. During the 60’s and 70’s morality, patriotism, self-sacrifice, religion and family commitment all gave way to the needs and desires of the “me.” Recreational drug use, sexual “liberation,” feminism, civil rights, the anti-war movement and a secular lifestyle became the world POW’s came home to. This liberal “me” ideology continues to divide (think diversity) our nation today. In the midst of a mainstream culture hedonistically obsessed, how do we choose God and Country, how do we choose to sacrifice our own desires for the good of our family, the good of our nation, for all mankind? Just as Colonel Thompson made a decision to live each day, let us renew our devotion to God and Country, and to our families, one day at a time. And as we live fully each day, let us pray for and honor those who’ve given and lost much.
Epilogue: http://www.powmiaff.org/Thompson.html
http://www.militaryupdate.com/Thompso...
Colonel Jim Thompson is America’s longest-held prisoner of war, ever. A Special Forces soldier captured early in the Vietnam War, Colonel Thompson kept himself alive for 9 years in captivity, 5 years in solitary confinement, enduring torture and wretched conditions by believing in God, in the patriotism and righteousness of our Nation and Armed Forces, and in the love of his wife and children. Having survived war and the cruelty of the communists, he was almost destroyed by the changes in our Nation and in his family that occurred during his long captivity. Written in an “oral history” format, I was shocked to discover how the roots of many of our Nation’s current cultural problems began during that era, a time of birth for the most extreme liberal philosophies. During the 60’s and 70’s morality, patriotism, self-sacrifice, religion and family commitment all gave way to the needs and desires of the “me.” Recreational drug use, sexual “liberation,” feminism, civil rights, the anti-war movement and a secular lifestyle became the world POW’s came home to. This liberal “me” ideology continues to divide (think diversity) our nation today. In the midst of a mainstream culture hedonistically obsessed, how do we choose God and Country, how do we choose to sacrifice our own desires for the good of our family, the good of our nation, for all mankind? Just as Colonel Thompson made a decision to live each day, let us renew our devotion to God and Country, and to our families, one day at a time. And as we live fully each day, let us pray for and honor those who’ve given and lost much.
Epilogue: http://www.powmiaff.org/Thompson.html
http://www.militaryupdate.com/Thompso...
November 14, 2011
Very interesting book, for two reasons. First, the book is written in a unique and engaging style, and second, the characters are so very interesting from a psychological perspective.
While I'm not a big biography fan (probably because I read so much non-fiction every day for work) I enjoyed this book because it was not a "typical" biography, i.e., a dry narrative with numerous footnotes. My understanding (from the book and talking to the author) is that the author interviewed about 150 people, and the book is 99.9% straight quotes from the various interview (with a few documents such as personal letters). Thus the book reads more as an oral history or a "story" because very little of it is in narrative form. One of the benefits of this approach is that the author doesn't color the biography with his own judgment and the reader is free to drawn his/her conclusions about the various characters. And believe me, I drew many conclusions and then re-drew them as the tale unfolded...
I knew nothing about Jim Thompson before reading the book, and although some of the book was predictable (the title gives away his POW status), I learned many new things about the Viet Nam war, the military, and Jim himself. I won't get into the details, but the family is quite troubled during and after Jim's return to the USA, and things don't end particularly well for anyone. Alyce is no Penelope, but I ended up being more sympathetic to her position than I expected. Definitely worth a read.
While I'm not a big biography fan (probably because I read so much non-fiction every day for work) I enjoyed this book because it was not a "typical" biography, i.e., a dry narrative with numerous footnotes. My understanding (from the book and talking to the author) is that the author interviewed about 150 people, and the book is 99.9% straight quotes from the various interview (with a few documents such as personal letters). Thus the book reads more as an oral history or a "story" because very little of it is in narrative form. One of the benefits of this approach is that the author doesn't color the biography with his own judgment and the reader is free to drawn his/her conclusions about the various characters. And believe me, I drew many conclusions and then re-drew them as the tale unfolded...
I knew nothing about Jim Thompson before reading the book, and although some of the book was predictable (the title gives away his POW status), I learned many new things about the Viet Nam war, the military, and Jim himself. I won't get into the details, but the family is quite troubled during and after Jim's return to the USA, and things don't end particularly well for anyone. Alyce is no Penelope, but I ended up being more sympathetic to her position than I expected. Definitely worth a read.
February 6, 2008
Not our most famous POW but James Thompson is America's longest held POW serving over 9 years in a prisoner of war camp. This book deals with that ordeal as well as they years he spent afterwards struggling to return to a world that wasn't ready for him.
October 5, 2008
Wow, this book was very good! It tells of Jim Thompson, longest held POW, 11 yrs I believe. It will make you cry and develope an intense respect and awe at those who have and currently serve to protect our freedoms...God Bless Our Soldiers!
December 28, 2010
The story of a man who spent nearly nine years as a POW in Vietnam, and its affects on his life and his family's lives. I really enjoyed reading the experiences through the first person accounts of the people involved.
February 8, 2013
Wow. A tragic story of Jim Johnson, America's longest held POW. He was held 9 years in Vietnam. Told in a very compelling style, this is a very sad story, but keeps the reader engaged because the characters are real.
March 22, 2012
Very very good so far!
November 17, 2013
To this day the information about the longest held POW is still not correct
This solder was held almost 10 years in Vietnam POW camps
This solder was held almost 10 years in Vietnam POW camps
March 9, 2021
A very sad story.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews