P.O.W.

Vietnam: Ground Zero #2

by Eric Helm

"I will ask you questions; you will give me answers." And the Vietcong commander knew just how to ask questions of the three American soldiers who had become his prisoners.

When units from U.S. Army Special Forces Camp A-555, the Triple Nickel, were lured into a well-planned VC ambush south of the Parrot's Beak, the Americans took heavy casualties. But for three of those who lived, the nightmare had just begun.

Force-marched to a well-hidden P.O.W. camp - nicknamed the Jungle Hilton - near the Cambodian border, the Americans had their bodies and minds broken under the sadistic torture of an embittered Vietcong general.

Marked for death in reprisal for the shooting of three Vietcong in Da Nang, the Americans knew that they had to escape. But escape seemed impossible.

Eric Helm is the pen name of two Vietnam veterans, men who were there and who now tell it like it was.

Genres: Military Fiction

219 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1986

Reviews

[John Podlaski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading POW: The only way to survive is to escape by Eric Helm. The series follows a group of Special Forces soldiers from A-Camp A-555 during missions in Vietnam and Cambodia. This book follows the storyline from book 1, where First Sergeant Fetterman has a vendetta against a Chinese soldier who is aiding and training a group of NVA and VC soldiers. The enemy missions to overrun A555 have failed to date, but the Chinese Major has a plan to ambush the SF groups and capture the Americans. It turns out to be a devastating battle where three American teams are wiped out, and three Americans are captured.

General Vo has no intent of moving the American POWs to North Vietnam. Instead, he finds amusement in torturing them with the intent of killing them when he's done. The remaining SF soldiers are intent on rescuing their POW friends, but first, they must find them. Will they die in captivity or be rescued?

There is edge-of-your-seat suspense that keeps readers captivated from the start to the finish. I've read several books in this series and have enjoyed them all.

[Richard A. Smith (Consignment) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Non-stop Action

Richard Smith- This book takes you with a SF patrol that gets ambushed and some captured. Oh but the Hell the VC pay for their capture. The author has really done a great job on a nonstop action book. Onlly get this book if you want an Acton book you can t put down.

[Jeff Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable page turner from the Vietnam war. I've no doubt this close to the author's experience but some parts of the story should be taken with a large dose of salt. I've no doubt p.o.w. camps were brutal but the Anthony Fetterman character escapes a little bit too easy.

[Sam Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good one

Off we go into the jungle of no return, but we return again and again. That's who we are. Warriors
Rock on

[Jack Rilkoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a pretty good read. I will try another in the series.

[Kay Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

Not a putter-downer. So exciting and how war was in Vietnam. Our heroes were there! I look forward to next book by Helm

[Bill Elston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good reading.

Entertaining reading from Mr. Helm. Worth the time. His series is good entertainment. Enjoy the adventures of these SF soldiers.

[Josh Hitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great squad based Vietnam book. Technically the 6th book after the four Scorpion Squad books, the characters are now well formed and really starting to have their own personalities. In this they are set up and end up in a well done ambush by the NVA, several of the Americans are captured after a lot of their allies are killed. Now Captain Gerber has to figure out what to do and find his captured men.

Highly recommended, A really strong series.