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I'm No Hero: A POW Story as Told to Glen DeWerff
ISBN: 1881886026
'I'm No Hero' is the story of Charlie Plumb, but it is also the story of all POWs who faced an isolated world of degradation, loneliness, tedium, hunger, and pain.
It is no pretty story. It tells of the torture room with walls built to muffle human screams, of the 'rope trick' and 'fanbelt' techniques designed to make a man talk, of illness, of insanity. But it also tells of the ingenuity and creativity which allowed the men to outsmart their guards and to set up communication systems, classes, escape plans, and to maintain their chain of command.
It is a revealing story. It pictures men who are reduced to the basics physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. It shows how these situations can be survived with individual integrity and pride intact.
It tells of growing relationships with God which came as a result of desperate need. It outlines a closed society's methods of developing rules which allow members to live together in harmony.
It is a story of hope, for it suggests that the techniques used by POWs to survive their conditions can be used by others to overcome similar situations faced in day-to-day living.
'I'm No Hero' is the story of Charlie Plumb, but it is also the story of all POWs who faced an isolated world of degradation, loneliness, tedium, hunger, and pain.
It is no pretty story. It tells of the torture room with walls built to muffle human screams, of the 'rope trick' and 'fanbelt' techniques designed to make a man talk, of illness, of insanity. But it also tells of the ingenuity and creativity which allowed the men to outsmart their guards and to set up communication systems, classes, escape plans, and to maintain their chain of command.
It is a revealing story. It pictures men who are reduced to the basics physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. It shows how these situations can be survived with individual integrity and pride intact.
It tells of growing relationships with God which came as a result of desperate need. It outlines a closed society's methods of developing rules which allow members to live together in harmony.
It is a story of hope, for it suggests that the techniques used by POWs to survive their conditions can be used by others to overcome similar situations faced in day-to-day living.
287 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1973
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
August 22, 2008
I was very young when I read this book and in the U.S. Navy at the time. I had the great honor of meeting the author and I believe (if memory serves me correctly) that he's actually the one who sold me the book. Yes, I'm sure of it! I have his autograph in the book! This was the first book I had read written by a POW and it really shaped my views/admiration of what these brave men suffered through as POWs.
August 18, 2012
Charlie Plumb put on a presentation (motivational speaker) at my company back in the mid 90's. He was so amazing that I rushed out to read his book. While he did not become as famous as John McCain, his story is no less amazing. He spent over 6 yrs as a POW during the Vietnam War. He tells how the will to live can get people thru anything, even the daily torture he and the other American POWs withstood. He told how the Americans basically outsmarted the Vietnamese by learning to communicate with each other in their cells. He told of his eventual release and how he was treated when he came home (sad). But the real message is that he makes you feel like any one of us can overcome anything and that there is nothing unusual or unique about him. I love stories about people who overcome incredible odds and this one doesn't disappoint!
January 26, 2008
I recieved a signed copy of hte book after speaking with the author at a speech he gave at a company convention. The book does not dwell on a the negative but speaks of overcoming hardship, keeping an open mind, learning wheat drives other and being thankful for the small things. The writing isn't as elequent but there is a gift for storytelling.
December 17, 2017
This is both a fascinating book and a great historical artifact.
Charlie Plumb was shot down near Hanoi in 1967 on his 75th mission. Captured almost immediately, Plumb set about the hard work of surviving as a prisoner of war. He was tortured on arrival, and then again for repeated infractions of prison rules, such as setting up communication networks, celebrating American holidays, and refusing to be a willing participant in North Vietnamese propaganda. Even on the days when he wasn't singled out for special punishment, there was still the poor food, vermin, and sheer tedium of 2,103 in prison.
Organized thematically by Glen DeWerff (presumably a pre-internet professional writer), Plumb candidly discusses the harsh conditions in the prison, how he set up communication networks of taps and passed notes to maintain discipline, and the little things like exercise and holidays that increased morale. A basic faith in America, in his fellow pilots, and in God sustained Plumb through the worst of times. It was fascinating to see how important the PoWs creation of an internal chain of command was, and the relative improvement in conditions (always poor) over the years. Having authorities to appeal to, and standards to meet, was vital for ensuring that the men presented a united front to the enemy.
Plumb reveals that everyone broke under torture, eventually. Initially holding himself to the Geneva Convention "name and number" standard, he wound up confessing useless information like the model of airplane he flew, a trivial surrender since they had taken the manuals for an F-4 Phantom off him, and then as many lies as he could manage. I doubt any meaningful secrets passed to the enemy, but men would always break and talk. Plumb regards his Vietnam captors as both brutal and inefficient. Their regime of pain, starvation, and isolation was horrific, but frequently evaded by the Americans.
Finally, published in 1973, this book came out when the war was very much still a live issue, though no longer one that directly affected many Americans. Plumb has a natural charm, which he turned into a successful and ongoing career as an inspirational speaker. As a book about the good things to take away from being a POW, it's a little odd, but still a solid read and artifact.
Charlie Plumb was shot down near Hanoi in 1967 on his 75th mission. Captured almost immediately, Plumb set about the hard work of surviving as a prisoner of war. He was tortured on arrival, and then again for repeated infractions of prison rules, such as setting up communication networks, celebrating American holidays, and refusing to be a willing participant in North Vietnamese propaganda. Even on the days when he wasn't singled out for special punishment, there was still the poor food, vermin, and sheer tedium of 2,103 in prison.
Organized thematically by Glen DeWerff (presumably a pre-internet professional writer), Plumb candidly discusses the harsh conditions in the prison, how he set up communication networks of taps and passed notes to maintain discipline, and the little things like exercise and holidays that increased morale. A basic faith in America, in his fellow pilots, and in God sustained Plumb through the worst of times. It was fascinating to see how important the PoWs creation of an internal chain of command was, and the relative improvement in conditions (always poor) over the years. Having authorities to appeal to, and standards to meet, was vital for ensuring that the men presented a united front to the enemy.
Plumb reveals that everyone broke under torture, eventually. Initially holding himself to the Geneva Convention "name and number" standard, he wound up confessing useless information like the model of airplane he flew, a trivial surrender since they had taken the manuals for an F-4 Phantom off him, and then as many lies as he could manage. I doubt any meaningful secrets passed to the enemy, but men would always break and talk. Plumb regards his Vietnam captors as both brutal and inefficient. Their regime of pain, starvation, and isolation was horrific, but frequently evaded by the Americans.
Finally, published in 1973, this book came out when the war was very much still a live issue, though no longer one that directly affected many Americans. Plumb has a natural charm, which he turned into a successful and ongoing career as an inspirational speaker. As a book about the good things to take away from being a POW, it's a little odd, but still a solid read and artifact.
March 2, 2025
This book explores resilience, faith, and the power of the human spirit in overcoming hardship. It emphasizes that while America has made mistakes, it also provides the means to correct them. Challenges and adversity are inevitable, but having a routine that strengthens spiritual, physical, and mental health helps individuals find silver linings and persevere.
The book highlights the importance of unity and communication in dark times, reinforcing the idea that learning is never wasted. A 15-year-old boy who built a clock and a ham radio likely never imagined that knowledge would aid him as a prisoner of war, yet it became a tool for survival. High-value tasks aren’t just about keeping busy; they come from an attitude of learning.
Themes of faith and personal responsibility are central. Faith should come first, and while forgiveness is important, it does not mean absolving individuals from accountability. Ultimately, the keys to overcoming hardship are faith, self-discipline, and pride. Everyone is a victim of something, but moving forward is a choice. As Ernest Henley wrote in Invictus, “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.”
The book highlights the importance of unity and communication in dark times, reinforcing the idea that learning is never wasted. A 15-year-old boy who built a clock and a ham radio likely never imagined that knowledge would aid him as a prisoner of war, yet it became a tool for survival. High-value tasks aren’t just about keeping busy; they come from an attitude of learning.
Themes of faith and personal responsibility are central. Faith should come first, and while forgiveness is important, it does not mean absolving individuals from accountability. Ultimately, the keys to overcoming hardship are faith, self-discipline, and pride. Everyone is a victim of something, but moving forward is a choice. As Ernest Henley wrote in Invictus, “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.”
January 8, 2019
A colleague gave me this book as a thank you for helping him out and it is definitely not a book I would usually pick up myself. And the two stars very accurately represents how I felt about it...it was okay. I WANTED to like Charlie, but his ideals are just so far removed from mine that I had a hard time doing so. While I certainly understand his poor views of the Vietnamese after being captured and tortured by them, the fact remains that I'm sure he had those views of them before he ever became a POW. And I found it very ironic the way he would talk about them and how brainwashed they were when he was just as brainwashed about his own country. We are different people from very different life experiences, but it was hard for me to slog through some of his blind patriotism. I also prefer books with a more linear structure and his story kind of jumped all over the place. Still...much of what he explained about how they all survived was very interesting and I cannot image going through and surviving what he went through. But overall, this is just not my kind of book.
January 26, 2025
I first heard about Charlie Plumb when I listened to his appearance on Jocko's podcast, probably years ago now, but now and again I find myself thinking about it, and the, frankly, lessons one can gather from his experiences as a POW in North Vietnam.
It took me a while, but I finally got around to reading Plumb's book.
I didn't make as much of an impression on me as the podcast, perhaps I'm more swayed by audio interviews than by the written word, and the fact that I already knew the big takeaways, but its still a good book.
The one thing that took some getting used to is the organization, its starts out chronologically, before it gets structured into themes, which means that it jumps around a lot in terms of time, before it concludes with, naturally, the home coming and the end.
Therefore, I at least, didn't get the feeling of how long he really was imprisoned, 6 years.
Still, I won't hold it against the book, its just different from what I'm used to.
There are moving parts, there are parts that makes you angry and there are humorous parts, like the POW that snored so loudly that the N.Vietnamese guards accused the prisoners of communicating, which wasn't allowed(no talking, no signalling).
And the thing I tend to think about, that I first got from the podcast, but is expressed in writing like this:
"We told ourselves that if we weren't mature enough to adjust to personality conflicts and irksome mannerisms, we were the ones in error."
Imagine living in a small cell, perhaps its not big enough to stand up straight in and you have to share it with someone, for months on end, that *really* irritates you?
Who is really in error? The one who irritates *you*, or *you* who let yourself be irritated by someone else (maybe even for something that can't be changed)?
At least you can attempt to control yourself.
A short read, that makes me wonder how, if ever, I would have coped under such conditions.
It took me a while, but I finally got around to reading Plumb's book.
I didn't make as much of an impression on me as the podcast, perhaps I'm more swayed by audio interviews than by the written word, and the fact that I already knew the big takeaways, but its still a good book.
The one thing that took some getting used to is the organization, its starts out chronologically, before it gets structured into themes, which means that it jumps around a lot in terms of time, before it concludes with, naturally, the home coming and the end.
Therefore, I at least, didn't get the feeling of how long he really was imprisoned, 6 years.
Still, I won't hold it against the book, its just different from what I'm used to.
There are moving parts, there are parts that makes you angry and there are humorous parts, like the POW that snored so loudly that the N.Vietnamese guards accused the prisoners of communicating, which wasn't allowed(no talking, no signalling).
And the thing I tend to think about, that I first got from the podcast, but is expressed in writing like this:
"We told ourselves that if we weren't mature enough to adjust to personality conflicts and irksome mannerisms, we were the ones in error."
Imagine living in a small cell, perhaps its not big enough to stand up straight in and you have to share it with someone, for months on end, that *really* irritates you?
Who is really in error? The one who irritates *you*, or *you* who let yourself be irritated by someone else (maybe even for something that can't be changed)?
At least you can attempt to control yourself.
A short read, that makes me wonder how, if ever, I would have coped under such conditions.
July 4, 2020
If you want to know what Hell is really like, Charlie Plumb lived through it and survived. I was a little hesitant to read this book as I thought it would be quite depressing, but instead it was inspiring. The author writes about his experiences as a POW after being shot down from his flight mission on May 19, 1967, in North Vietnam. He survived six years of captivity in various Vietnamese prison camps. He gives many examples of his experiences and I could not put this book down. He survived physical torture. However, without giving up, he still made the best of his situation, befriending other military American prisoners, communicating with them through code when they were separated, when together played homemade games, celebrated holidays such as Christmas in the best way they could, without ever giving into Vietnamese propaganda even if it would have made living in Hell just a little bit better. The author stayed true to his country, to his faith and to other prisoners. He says that he is not a hero, and doesn't even call himself a survivor. But he is amazing. The unbearable experiences he and other POWs had to go through during the Vietnam War was incredible.
February 14, 2021
I first met Charlie in 1973 when he was working on this book. My dad was an accountant for a publishing house in Independence, Missouri and, with his knowledge of the business helped Charlie get this book published. I was in High School at the time and Charlie used to come to our house for dinner and to talk with dad. I didn't get my first copy of the book until 12 years later when I was taking college classes and he was a guest speaker. When I started reading his book I couldn't put it down. It is absolutely captivating. My copy got lost when I was serving in the Army and Charlie was gracious to send me another copy. I have just had the pleasure to read it again and it was just as captivating as before. Charlie is one of the most humble, gracious men I have ever met. You will certainly recognize this and not be disappointed when you read this book.
February 18, 2025
I wore Lt Charles Plumb's POW bracelet during the Vietnam war up until the POWs were released. I still had the bracelet in an old jewelry box at the end of 2024. When I googled his name I was so surprised and elated to see that he was alive and well and had written a book about his experiences as a POW. After communicating with him, he very generously sent me a copy of his book "Im no Hero". This is a wonderfully written book containing many stories of hardships and humor during his 6 years in captivity. Because of this, it allows the reader to not dwell on the pain and suffering, but be uplifted by the ingenuity, resourcefulness snd cultural observances of Captain Plumb. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in survival and self motivation as well as further understanding the war in Vietnam.
February 17, 2019
Incredible book and story by Charlie Plumb. It was gifted to me by my father, who met Charlie at a book signing, and I couldn’t put it down. This book highlights the struggles our POWs experienced in Vietnam and specially, what life was like for Charlie who was captured for nearly 6 years. We cannot thank our vets enough for their service. Thank you for sharing your story with us Charlie, and more importantly, thank you for serving our country.
September 7, 2022
This book surprised me all the way through. The author's matter of fact style kept you surprised at what he endured all the way through. It was a hopeful book with a great ending. I appreciated Charlie Plumb's ability to survive.
April 23, 2024
The author is shot down during his 75th combat mission over Vietnam. An Annapolis graduate serving on the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk. This book chronicles his nearly six years of captivity in N. Vietnam.
November 1, 2021
A very interesting story.
November 5, 2023
Outstanding. Gave a clear view of POW life and how it affected his life and guidelines for us to live by. Great reaf.
April 11, 2025
Interesting story of a real hero - thank you Charlie for your service
September 30, 2025
This is the best book I have read all year, and I have read many. This first-person account of his experience in war will make you appreciate what sacrifices were made. This man was a POW for 7 years. What he went through mentally and physically is an eye opener. The book was great to read and I couldn't put it down and read it in two days and passed it on for others to read. This many now travels all over speaking about his experiences. This book is a must read!
January 28, 2022
“I’m Am No Hero” by Naval Air Pilot Officer Charlie Plumb was first released in 1973 and by 2014 the autobiography was reprinted 33 times. The book describes his childhood experiences, graduation from U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, and his 75 Vietnam flight missions. During his last mission, Captain Plumb was shot down, captured, tortured, and spent 2,103 days in many different North Vietnam POW camps. His writing is exceptional and very inspiring. I am very grateful for his service and for his writing about his life experiences. (P)
January 18, 2010
Charlie is a Naval Academy classmate as well as a great person. His book about his time as a POW in Vietnam is well written and gives the reader an excellent insight into not only what he endured, but life as a POW was like for all of those who endured this tragedy. Charlie has since become a featured speaker on the subject who is sought after for being able to apply lessons learned from what he endured and how they can be applied to one's life and business.
January 27, 2015
I had the privilege of hearing the author speak before I read this book and despite this title, it's truly moving to learn the first-hand accounts of the brave men & women who serve in the American armed forces. I recommend this book to anyone, and even more highly recommend the authors live speaking engagements for bringing his story & experiences to life in a way that written words cannot convey.
June 26, 2019
This was a very interesting read. I thought it might be in the vein of “Unbroken”. However this was a story, not so much about the detailed torture but also included the description of the culture around him. He included the story of what seemed to be his greatest pain endured due to the captivity. My only confusion was that he made it sound as though we won the war. I would highly recommend reading this book, if you know my rating, a 4 star rating is very good
October 10, 2012
This particular book concerning Charlie Plumbs experience as a POW in North Vietnam completes another piece of the puzzle for those interested in this topic. It covers the different aspects of routines and innovations used to assist with emotional and psychological survival. Especially the importance of routines, faith, and unity (teamwork).
September 7, 2022
One of the best books I have ever read. Gives realistic insight into what prisoners of war in Vietnam endured and how Capt Plumb survived. Very thought provoking about what really matters in life, and just how good we have it everyday. I did cry toward the end of this book, very moving and would highly recommend.
December 31, 2014
I heard Charlie Plumb speak in June of 1982. I then purchased and read what must have been the original printing of this book. Although ten years removed from the Vietnam War when I heard him speak, that war was still a wound in the American psyche.
January 15, 2008
tough to read at times, but moving all the same
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July 17, 2008973.92osbwar
August 15, 2009
Wow, life as a POW...Mr. Plumb is not THE best writer, but it is his words of his own experience. Moving.
November 27, 2011
Very good bio of a POW in North Vietnam. Intense, don't recommend eating while reading.
January 16, 2017
amazing story, mental toughness to a whole new level
November 26, 2017
Very much a journal of Captain Plumb's personal journey through captivity — somber but, ultimately empowering.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews