Under the Cover of Light: The Extraordinary Story of USAF COL Thomas "Jerry" Curtis's 7 1/2 -Year Captivity in North Vietnam

by Carole Engle Avriett, Thomas J. Curtis (Contributor)

In 1965, Col. Thomas “Jerry” Curtis’s helicopter was shot down over North Vietnam. He was immediately captured and spent 7½ years confined in a filthy 5′ x 7′ cell at the notorious Hanoi prison camp. Thousands of miles from home and unable to communicate with his wife and children, Jerry endured months of solitary confinement, suffocating heat, freezing cold, grueling physical and psychological torture, constant hunger, and unimaginable mental duress. And yet, time and again, the Light that darkness cannot overcome became his beacon of hope. Now, for the first time in print, Jerry shares the full story of his 2,703 days in captivity and what he learned about faith, hope, and the indomitable power of the human spirit.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir

320 pages, Hardcover

Published May 2, 2017

About the author

Carole Engle Avriett is a former writer/editor for Southern Living Magazine. In addition to leading women's conferences throughout the United States, Canada, and Brazil, where she and her husband serve as missionaries during the summer months, Carole has also authored two Bible Studies. She currently resides in Florida.

Reviews

[Mazzou B · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the amazing autobiography of a colonel shot down down over North Vietnam in 1965. Colonel Thomas ''Jerry'' Curtis' life was changed as he endured the next 7 1/2 years in brutal captivity. That alone should be enough to make anybody want to read this biography, right? Add to it the fact that this account is a testimony of how a true Christian's faith is strengthened under hardships and trials such as this. Over and over again I was astounded by the fortitude Jerry showed. I absolutely loved how this book emphasized God's faithfulness and the hope Jerry had through Christ. This is a must-read! At first it took me a while to get into the book but for some (good) reason by the third chapter I was fully interested and didn't want to put the book down. I believe the reason I wasn't as engaged at first was that there are so many foundational details the author (Carole Avriett) is trying to lay down in the first chapters before getting to the action as it were. I found the writing style a little choppy (especially after being spoiled by Laura Hillenbrand's Unbroken). However, I think the writing style definitely improved further into the tale! One thing I loved about this book was the absence of foul language and crude names which were given by the Americans to their tormentors. (''Unbroken'' includes all the rude names given to the torturous captors and many of them are unrepeatable) I found this more appropriate for younger readers. The descriptions of the tortures, sickness and hardships made me cringe and weep and wonder how those men lived through them but are not unacceptable for even young teenage readers (thinking girls here :) ) to read. This book will make a perfect gift for anyone, especially for Dad's this upcoming Father's Day!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Yibbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hopeful. That wasn’t what I expected from this story, but that is the overwhelming lasting impression of it. Colonel Thomas ''Jerry'' Curtis’s faith permeates every point of the story. He wants us to understand the love and goodness of his God so as he tells us of his own fears, doubts, and despair, he also shares with us his growing realization of God’s closeness and sustaining power.
He also wants us to have a true picture of just what the American POWs went through for their country, so it is also a chronicle of hatred, terror, and brutality. The details of the torture and daily privations he survived are almost overwhelming. Then against that, the beauty of God’s sustaining grace and power outshine even brighter.
I would recommend it to everyone.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Under The Cover of Light was a difficult book for me to read. I mean, Vietnam was my war. Guys from my graduating class of 1969 were signing-up for military service before they finished their senior year!

And yes, I will never forget the funerals that took place in our little town.

Vietnam War POW

Vietnam was up close and personal for me.

Yet as tough a “read” as this story was for me, I am so glad I read this book. There are eternal lessons for all of us in Jerry Curtis’s seven and a half years of horror as a POW in North Vietnam.

The book has lots of military jargon and that really slowed me down, but once I got past all of that, I began to identify with the timeless truths woven throughout this story. The transformation that our prayers bring. The unity forged in the fires of shared suffering. The inability of anyone or anything to keep us separate from the keeping power of Christ’s love—even in a pit from hell dubbed—Briarpatch.

Jerry Curtis asked all the questions any of us ask when we find ourselves in circumstances beyond our control.
But, in one of his darkest moments a fellow POW reaches out to him and he realizes,

“…the sacrament through the walls led Jerry to understand that wrapped up in any explanation as to why believers might experience horrific circumstances in their lives was OPPORTUNITY—opportunity to fulfill a God-glorifying task, heightened by or as a direct result of the horrific event itself. The tragedy either brought others across a believer’s path who needed to receive God’s light FROM the believer or who needed to see God’s light THROUGH the believer. Then, once engaged, that person perhaps would become a light bearer too.

Jerry realized he had been a conduit for God’s glory to an unknown and unseen prisoner, and an eternal truth surfaced in his mind: the deeper the darkness, the more brilliant the light.”

I am so glad I read this heroic story. We need to be reminded that there are still heroes in this world.

Honestly, the accounts of torture are tough to get through, but the spiritual message from this man’s experience is one we can all grow and benefit from.

My thanks to Tyndale House Publishers for sending this complimentary copy in exchange for my review.

Under The Cover of Light is available on Amazon or at your other fine book retailers.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are some books that leave you pondering after you have read them. This is one such book. Admittedly this isn't always the easiest book to read. Torture is never a pleasant topic and this book describes it plainly. Those parts definitely made me flinch. At the same time, the courage and determination of Jerry and his fellow prisoners was truly inspiring. While all the prisoners had their breaking points, many still found the courage and the will to carry on through faith in God and/or their contact with each other. Through tremendous hardships both physical and mental/emotional, Jerry turned to God to help him cope. The tapping code he learned from other prisoners helped him stay in contact with other prisoners while he was in solitary confinement. It still boggles my mind though that he spent 7 1/2 years moving from prison to prison, suffering physical torture, malnutrition, and emotional distress. This is a powerful memoir that inspires with it's reminder of the power of faith in God and the love of family, friends, and country. Highly recommended for those who can handle reading about the sometimes awful, sometimes wonderful things that people are capable of doing to each other.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read a fair amount of nonfiction books, my favorite genres being anthropology, history and military. I haven't read much about Vietnam in the past so I was very excited when I received this book from the publisher. This book is the story of Col Thomas "Jerry" Curtis was was shot down over North Vietnam in 1965 and then was held captive for the next 7.5 years. This story in itself would have made for an excellent book, but the story also tells the tale of how this man's faith was tested and strengthened during everything he endured. Not only is it an amazing story of how this man survived captivity in horrible conditions for so long, but also how he held on to his faith and beliefs through all of it. I have to attempt I didn't know a great deal about Vietnam when I began reading this book. Although I love history, I have tendency to either read about World War II or most recent events, say in the last 20 years but I did learn a great deal about Vietnam while reading this book. The writing style wasn't my favorite at times, but overall it was a very interesting and inspiring story. Thank you to the publisher for sending my an ARC.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I could give this book more than five stars. It is one of the most beautiful stories that I have ever read. The book details an in-depth look at the life of Thomas "Jerry" Curtis and his 7 and half years in captivity in North Vietnam. I've learned more about the Vietnam war from this book than I ever have from a history textbook or class. The beauty of this book is it gives you war from a captives perspective taking you there and making you feel and experience what they did. It was hard to read at times because of the events that these men endured, to have full comprehension of their pain and sorrow for years. To fully understand what their families must be going through made my heart fill with compassion. Listening to how Jerry knew that God surrounded him and how he never lost hope or faith in God filled me intense hope. A truly inspiring hopeful story in a world filled with such turmoil. Beautifully written. A MUST READ.

Goodreads Giveaway Winner - & truly blessed because of it.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a perspective-changer for sure, one that most everyone needs. So many pages left me either in tears (especially the last few chapters) or in awe that I frequently had to re-read them to make sure I had the facts straight.

Knowing what our men in Vietnam went through, and how military discipline/order used to be, according this book, leaves me feeling even more deeply ashamed of our currently military leadership and the overall state of the military today. Col. Curtis, I'm so very sorry over what our country has become. I will do my part to fight back.

Highly recommend this book.

[James Crabtree · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book, Under the Cover of Light tells the true story of Lt. Col. Tomas J. Curtis's ordeal as a captive of North Vietnam following the shootdown of his rescue helicopter. Curtis endured starvation, torture and isolation in direct violation of the Geneva Conventions (which both the United States and the Democratic Republic of Vietnam were signatories) during the seven and a half years he spent as a prisoner. His faith in God provided the resilience he needed to survive.

Both inspirational and heartbreaking.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and read it slowly so I could savor every word. I have this book to my dad for his birthday. He said he cried all the way through it. He was an air traffic controller in the USAF from 56-78. He had orders to Vietnam in 68 but they were changed to Sembach AFB, Germany. Our family spent 4 years at Sembach.

This is the first first-person story I've read about the POW experience. The faith, comradeship and endurance of these men was remarkable and a true testament to their training and loyalty to our country.

[Andrea B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Vietnam War isn't a time in history that I'm very familiar with or read much about. So I appreciated this true story about USAF Col Curtis's 7.5 year imprisonment in North Vietnam after his plane was shot down. The book went through his imprisonment chronologically: daily life happenings, the "tap code" American POWs used to discreetly communicate with each other, and the cruel ways they were treated in captivity over there. It was also an encouraging reminder to keep our focus on the Lord in the darkest of circumstances.

[A Busscher · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting to read about the life of POW in Vietnam, the abuse-physical, emotional, spiritual, mental- as brutal. I can't imagine living like that for 7+years and everyday not know what was going to happen. Then when you are released what do you do? Time has moved on while you stopped. It was "nice" to read about the hardship that Terry and Jerry faced after getting back together. The fact that there are 2 parents when for the last 8 years there was only 1. It was a bit repetitive at some points and towards the end, I skimmed it b/c it was all the same talk.

[Uncle Alfred · Rating 4 out of 5]

What if you were gone for 7 1/2 years as a POW in North Vietnam? If you ever wondered how you would spend your time, this book is for you. Consider how grueling the uncertainty of your loved one's fate for the wife and family back home. Though I've read very similar accounts before, the strength of this book was in its final chapters as the book reminded me that an unwritten story perhaps harder for being mostly unrecognized and highly anticipated would be the reuniting of a family after such vastly different experiences in those 7 1/2 years.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

USAF Col. Thomas “Jerry” Curtis was shot down over Vietnam in 1965 and remained a POW for 7 1/2 years, 2703 days…this is his story of captivity, faith, friends and family. I’ve met this man and knew the outline of his story, but to read it and hear his words and thoughts was incredible.
I have to say, with all the suffering, pain and inhumanity in the world right now, it is inspirational to know that there is good, if we have faith, hope and love.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A friend loaned me this book, and I'm so glad she did. It chronicles the imprisonment of Jerry Curtis in North Vietnam, detailing the horrendous conditions, the meager food, and the torture he and his fellow prisoners endured. He attributes his survival to God, and the book details his growing faith during his ordeal. I couldn't put it down.

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An eye opening look at POWs in Vietnam. This showed the full extent of the human capabilities including breaking points, post traumatic growth and everything in between, particularly how faith played a significant if not vital role in survival. Many unexpected experiences were discussed (for someone with a little more than passing knowledge), so I'm really pleased to have read this.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Under the Cover of Light is the beautiful testimony of Col. Thomas “Jerry” Curtis, a hero of the faith that spent 7 1/2 years in confinement at the Hanoi prison camp. Shot down over North Vietnam, this amazing man put his faith in Jesus and clung to Him. My eyes are misting as I try to write this review. The cruelty and brutality that men can inflict on another human is something I wish to never understand. My heart aches for the brave members of our military who have fought and bled for this country—especially when I read accounts such as these.

Despite all the terror and physical pain, the remarkable and steadfast hope in Christ is a beautiful testimony. This book tells the story of not just an American hero but a spiritual hero. We may never fight the wars that this man has but we can learn from his experiences. Through powerful messages such as these, we can learn to put our faith in the Christ that gives peace that passes all understanding. In Him, and only through Him, can we find our salvation and our freedom.

A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Tyndale. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. All opinions are my own.

This review was originally posted on A Simply Enchanted Life

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is long, boring, and unbearable at times like 7.5 years of prison, because that is exactly what Thomas "Jerry" Curtis experienced as the POW. His faith was keeping him alive and hope to see his family. "Under the Cover of Light" is beautiful and sad at the same time.

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book free via Goodreads giveaways.

This was an extraordinary read. The details of his story were amazing. Anyone interested in the Vietnam War and the POW experience will like this book.

[Melissa B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book about a POW who was held captive for 7.5 years! His determination and faith in the face of such extreme adversity is inspiring.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

An outstanding story told well. It is a moving account of a faithful man and his family under the most difficult of circumstances.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good book. Highly recommend if you like memoirs or war history.

[Renee Albracht · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very moving testament to the power of faith. If listening to the audio version, I recommend not listening to the last few chapters while driving!

[Kay Schrock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent account of a "Hanoi Hilton" stay. Jerry's faith is deepened by his POW experience.

[Kyle Dresser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspirational. One of those stories that makes you marvel at the abilities of humans.

[Joan Buell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Account of a POW during the VietNam War, who spent 71/2 years at the "Hanoi Hilton". His Huey had been shot down over North Viet Nam while on a search and rescue mussion. Sustained by his Christian faith, Col. Thomas " Jerry" Curtis endured months of solitary confinement, freezing temperatures, suffocating heat, and torture. This book demonstrates the power of hope, and of God's love and care.

[Amanda Helle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A mindblowing story of how much a person can get through, and how much you can open your mind to when isolated. Of trying to stay sane and connected to others, even when it's almost impossible.