What do you think?
Rate this book
A POW's Story: 2801 Days in Hanoi
Shot down on his fiftieth mission over North Vietnam, Major Larry Guarino was the eleventh American to be captured during the Vietnam War. Through eight years of humiliation and imprisonment which included physical and mental torture, and through the bleakest periods of suffering and despair, Guarino never lost his courage, his patriotism, or his will to live. His riveting tale of survival is truly a triumph of the human spirit.
352 pages, Paperback
First published August 28, 1990
1 person is currently reading
56 people want to read
About the author
Larry Guarino
2 booksColonel Lawrence (Larry) N. Guarino (USAF, retired) April 16, 1922 in Newark, NJ.
Growing up, his boyhood hero was Charles Lindbergh because of his heroic, solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean. Young Larry always dreamed of becoming a flyer, like his hero, and his father fueled his dream by scraping together five dollars to take him on a flight around the local airport in an old Jenny. In high school, he was quarterback of his team and later played in a semi-pro league.
Guarino's life-long love of fishing also began at an early age, and was passed on to his sons, grandchildren and great grandchildren. But the real love of his life was Evelyn, who he met at a church dance and was married to for more than 71 years.
Guarino went on to earn his wings and commission in the U.S Army Air Force in 1943. During WWII, he saw service as a fighter pilot in North Africa, Italy and China. He was recalled again for the Korean War. He was later assigned to the Philippines, Japan, and Okinawa.
Major Guarino was flying combat missions in Southeast Asia in early 1965 when he was shot down and forced to eject over North Vietnam. He was captured and taken as prisoner of war, spending the next 2,801 days in captivity.
Colonel Guarino was released on February 12, 1973. He was awarded the nation's second highest award, the Air Force Cross, also the Distinguished Service Medal, two Silver Stars, a Legion of Merit, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Purple Hearts, and more than 50 service medals.
Guarino later authored 'A P.O.W.'s STORY: 2801 DAYS IN HANOI' about his experience. He also wrote a novel based on his experience as a fighter pilot flying the Supermarine Spitfire in combat over North Africa during WWII entitled 'Down in Flames.'
After 33 years of service in the Air Force, Colonel Guarino retired to Satellite Beach (then Indian Harbour Beach) and Melbourne, FL. He enjoyed many years making up for lost time with Evelyn, their four sons, Allan, Thomas, Raymond and Jeffery, and their wives Maureen, Jan, Carolyn and Mary. He was a loving grandfather of eight, with six wonderful great-grandchildren.
Guarino lived out another dream of owning and running charter sport fishing boats, engaged in local real estate development, excelled at fly fishing, golf and bridge. He remained very involved in the community and gave dozens of speeches and interviews over the years. Larry was a most memorable personality, who contributed much to the lives he touched.
Growing up, his boyhood hero was Charles Lindbergh because of his heroic, solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean. Young Larry always dreamed of becoming a flyer, like his hero, and his father fueled his dream by scraping together five dollars to take him on a flight around the local airport in an old Jenny. In high school, he was quarterback of his team and later played in a semi-pro league.
Guarino's life-long love of fishing also began at an early age, and was passed on to his sons, grandchildren and great grandchildren. But the real love of his life was Evelyn, who he met at a church dance and was married to for more than 71 years.
Guarino went on to earn his wings and commission in the U.S Army Air Force in 1943. During WWII, he saw service as a fighter pilot in North Africa, Italy and China. He was recalled again for the Korean War. He was later assigned to the Philippines, Japan, and Okinawa.
Major Guarino was flying combat missions in Southeast Asia in early 1965 when he was shot down and forced to eject over North Vietnam. He was captured and taken as prisoner of war, spending the next 2,801 days in captivity.
Colonel Guarino was released on February 12, 1973. He was awarded the nation's second highest award, the Air Force Cross, also the Distinguished Service Medal, two Silver Stars, a Legion of Merit, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Purple Hearts, and more than 50 service medals.
Guarino later authored 'A P.O.W.'s STORY: 2801 DAYS IN HANOI' about his experience. He also wrote a novel based on his experience as a fighter pilot flying the Supermarine Spitfire in combat over North Africa during WWII entitled 'Down in Flames.'
After 33 years of service in the Air Force, Colonel Guarino retired to Satellite Beach (then Indian Harbour Beach) and Melbourne, FL. He enjoyed many years making up for lost time with Evelyn, their four sons, Allan, Thomas, Raymond and Jeffery, and their wives Maureen, Jan, Carolyn and Mary. He was a loving grandfather of eight, with six wonderful great-grandchildren.
Guarino lived out another dream of owning and running charter sport fishing boats, engaged in local real estate development, excelled at fly fishing, golf and bridge. He remained very involved in the community and gave dozens of speeches and interviews over the years. Larry was a most memorable personality, who contributed much to the lives he touched.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 15, 2022
It is a good book, but a little long at times. I have a ton of respect for what our POW's in Hanoi went thru and I know I could not have handle it as well as the vast majority of these men did. My only complaint with this book is that Major Guarino tends to come across as more than a bit arrogant at times. I understand that he was the SRO in most of the camps he was held in, but it seems like he was right in almost every decision he made and others were wrong all of the time. Overall it is a good book, but there are better ones on the Vietnam POW's experience out there.
September 14, 2024
Excellent, detailed, important book that shines a horrific light on what POWs endured for years in Vietnam. I was lucky enough to get to know one of them and he recommended this book as a good glimpse into their years of torture and an uncertain future.
Read
March 11, 2016paperback 4x6
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews