Book Review, Reflections on Captivity: A Tapestry of Stories by a Vietnam War POW

By Porter Halyburton

Reviewed by Lee Duckworth
HRNM Docent

Reflections in Captivity is decidedly different from any of the myriad books I’ve read on the subject of Vietnam prisoners of war. Release of this book (actually 50 short stories) is timed perfectly to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the return of American POWs.

Author Porter Halyburton spent over seven years in captivity but somehow came away with a positive outlook on his time in imprisonment. His focus isn’t on the torture, mistreatment, and solitary confinement, though those topics are covered. Uniquely, the book centers on Halyburton’s ability to adapt and react physically, mentally, and spiritually to various situations, changes, and time periods.

The first third of the book (“Rolling with the Punches”) is devoted to how he concentrates on the past in order to escape the reality of the present. The second part (“Surviving”) is where he lives in the future—to get away from the present. And the final portion (“Living in the Present”) is where he discovers he can still lead a meaningful life that did not depend on his freedom.

Much of the early part of the book is focused on Halyburton’s time caring for fellow POW Major Fred Cherry. If you haven’t read about the amazing story of friendship and devotion, I’d recommend James S. Hirsch’s Two Souls Indivisible: The Friendship that Saved Two POWs in Vietnam. Halyburton provides just enough of the story of their eight months as a black and white cellmate living together that you come away with tremendous respect for what they endured and how they persevered.

Sketch showing torture of Vietnam POWs (Naval Institute Press)

During his time in North Vietnam, the author composed poetry and even put some of it to music, doing this in his mind and retaining it for years before he could put pen to paper. Various poems are interspersed throughout the book, and most are uplifting, speaking of hope rather than the woes of being a POW. Halyburton used humor, faith, prayer, and mind exercises to persevere. Placing emphasis on the positive aspects, he and his comrades mentally developed detailed meal plans as ways to fill their time. He even taught other prisoners how to play bridge—a difficult enough game, especially when much of the time they had no cards to play with and had to totally rely on their memory. Halyburton learned to play the guitar using a broom that had six strings (straws) that the POWs colored black and pretends to play musical chords. Finally, he kept a jukebox in his mind, cataloging scores of songs he could call up on demand.

Vietnam POW release, 1973 (UPI)

The author credits the superior leadership of the senior POW officers as a factor in keeping his positive outlook. In addition, there were excellent lines of communication among American prisoners despite the fact that guards were always on the lookout for covert networks. The bottom line on his seven-plus years as a POW was that it shaped and guided his life in a very positive way—he seemingly had few “down days” and weathered the storm that brought down and humbled so many others. Poignantly, his final words as he left prison will echo in your mind—Halyburton turned around to the POW camp and said out loud: “I forgive you…I forgive you.” He walked away with a clear conscience and a knowledge that his entire life was still ahead of him. Fifty years later, in this highly recommended book, he openly shares how his years as a POW positively affected his life.