In 1965, the Vietnam War was becoming more intense for the United States. A group of U.S. Navy aircraft called A-6 Intruders took off from the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Independence. Their mission was to bomb enemy military targets deep in North Vietnam, near the city of Hanoi.
During the mission, the lead aircraft was hit by enemy fire and crashed. Luckily, both the pilot and the bombardier ejected safely but were captured by enemy soldiers. The pilot was Commander Jeremiah Denton, a 41-year-old who had previously been recognized for his work on international affairs. Before going to Vietnam, he was a respected strategist and served as the fleet Air Defense Officer with the 6th Fleet.
In 1966, after a year of being held captive, Denton and other American prisoners of war (POWs) were paraded through the streets of Hanoi. This was done for propaganda, and the POWs faced harassment from the crowd. Even the North Vietnamese soldiers were worried about the prisoners’ safety at one point.
Later, Denton was forced to appear in a staged television interview by the North Vietnamese. During the interview, he said that conditions in the camps were “adequate” but refused to criticize the U.S. government, despite his captors’ demands. While on camera, Denton cleverly blinked the word “TORTURE” in Morse code, pretending that the bright TV lights were bothering his eyes. This message was noticed by U.S. Naval Intelligence and provided the first solid evidence of the mistreatment of American POWs by the North Vietnamese.
The interviewer was believed to be a Japanese journalist, brought in to make the interview seem neutral. Denton was determined to send his “TORTURE” message, giving vague answers to ensure the interview was broadcast. He described the camp conditions as “adequate” and gave diplomatic responses about the U.S. involvement in the war.
Denton later shared that he disliked talking about his time as a prisoner because it brought back terrible memories. He spent eight years in North Vietnamese POW camps, enduring harsh treatment, including starvation, torture, beatings, isolation, and humiliation. Denton was mainly held at a prison camp nicknamed “Hanoi Hilton,” a sarcastic name given by the prisoners. This camp was infamous for its torture methods, including sensory deprivation, electric shocks, mind games, and beatings.
Despite North Vietnamese claims of following the Geneva Convention, U.S. POWs faced horrible conditions. Denton showed incredible leadership and courage throughout his captivity. For four years, he was kept in solitary confinement, sometimes in a tiny, windowless cell.
On February 12, 1973, as the Vietnam War was ending, Denton was released and returned home. He was awarded the Navy Cross, a prestigious honor, for his bravery during his time as a POW.
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Research the Vietnam War and create a presentation that highlights key events, figures, and the impact of the war on both Vietnam and the United States. Use visuals like maps and photos to make your presentation engaging. Share your findings with the class to deepen everyone’s understanding of the historical context.
Learn the basics of Morse code and practice sending messages with your classmates. Create a secret message related to the article and challenge your peers to decode it. This activity will help you understand the cleverness of Commander Denton’s message and the importance of communication in difficult situations.
In groups, create a short role-play that depicts a day in the life of a prisoner of war based on Commander Denton’s experiences. Focus on the emotions and challenges faced by POWs. This activity will help you empathize with the struggles and resilience of those who endured captivity.
Pair up with a classmate and simulate an interview between a journalist and a POW. One of you will play the role of Commander Denton, and the other will be the interviewer. Practice giving diplomatic answers and using non-verbal cues to convey hidden messages, just like Denton did during his televised interview.
Develop a timeline that outlines Commander Denton’s journey from his capture to his release. Include significant events and milestones, such as his televised interview and the conditions he faced in captivity. This will help you visualize the duration and challenges of his experience as a POW.
**Sanitized Transcript:**
**The POW Who Blinked a Secret Message on TV**
**The Vietnam War**
The year was 1965, and the Vietnam War was intensifying for U.S. forces. A group of Naval A-6 Intruder all-weather attack aircraft had taken off from the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Independence. They were on a bombing mission, assigned to attack hostile military installations deep inside North Vietnamese territory near Hanoi.
When the lead aircraft was hit by enemy anti-aircraft fire, it plummeted out of control and crashed to the ground. Fortunately, both the pilot and bombardier managed to eject safely but were captured by enemy soldiers after landing. The pilot was Commander Jeremiah Denton, a 41-year-old academic who had won the President’s Award for his thesis on international affairs. Before being deployed to Vietnam, he was a respected strategist and served as the fleet Air Defense Officer with the 6th Fleet.
In 1966, after a year in captivity, Denton and a large group of American prisoners of war were paraded through the streets of Hanoi for propaganda purposes, facing harassment from a civilian crowd. At one point, even the North Vietnamese soldiers guarding the POWs were concerned for their safety.
On another occasion, Denton was forced to participate in a staged North Vietnamese television conference. He stated that conditions in the camps were adequate but supported U.S. government policies, refusing to condemn their involvement in the Vietnam War, despite his captors’ instructions. During the televised interview, Denton managed to blink a Morse code message that spelled out “TORTURE.” He did this by pretending that the glare of the TV lights was bothering his eyes. Remarkably, the message was picked up by U.S. Naval Intelligence and marked the first time the American military had conclusive proof of the mistreatment of American POWs by the North Vietnamese.
It is believed that the interviewer was a Japanese journalist brought in to create an appearance of neutrality. Denton seemed determined to convey his “TORTURE” message at any cost, giving lukewarm answers to their questions to ensure his interview was broadcast. He made sure his responses had little propaganda value by describing the conditions in the camps as “adequate” and providing diplomatic answers regarding his government’s involvement in the war.
Denton later expressed that he disliked discussing his imprisonment experiences, as they often led to terrible nightmares. He spent a total of eight years in North Vietnamese POW camps, enduring significant cruelty, including systematic starvation, torture, beatings, isolation, and humiliation. Denton was primarily held at a prison camp nicknamed “Hanoi Hilton,” a sarcastic reference by the prisoners to the luxury hotel chain. This camp was notorious for widespread torture, including sensory deprivation, electric shock, mind games, and various forms of beating.
U.S. POWs generally faced terrible conditions while in captivity, despite North Vietnamese claims of adhering to the Geneva Convention and treating POWs well. Throughout this ordeal, Denton demonstrated remarkable leadership and courage. For four of those years, he was kept in solitary confinement, at one point in a 3-foot by 9-foot windowless cell.
On February 12, 1973, as the Vietnam War was winding down, Denton was released and returned home. He was awarded the prestigious Navy Cross for his bravery during captivity.
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Vietnam – A country in Southeast Asia, known for its history of conflict, especially during the Vietnam War in the 20th century. – The Vietnam War was a significant conflict that involved the United States and had a major impact on global politics.
War – A state of armed conflict between different countries or different groups within a country. – The war between the North and South in the United States is known as the Civil War.
POW – Prisoner of War; a person who is captured and held by the enemy during conflict. – Many soldiers became POWs during World War II and faced harsh conditions in captivity.
Torture – The act of inflicting severe pain on someone as a punishment or to force them to say or do something. – During the medieval period, torture was often used to extract confessions from prisoners.
Government – The governing body of a nation, state, or community. – The government of ancient Rome was a complex system that included the Senate and various elected officials.
Captivity – The condition of being imprisoned or confined. – The explorer wrote about his experiences in captivity after being captured by enemy forces.
Hanoi – The capital city of Vietnam, which played a central role during the Vietnam War. – Hanoi was a strategic location during the Vietnam War and was heavily bombed by American forces.
Conditions – The circumstances affecting the way in which people live or work, especially with regard to their safety or well-being. – The conditions in the trenches during World War I were harsh and dangerous for soldiers.
Leadership – The action of leading a group of people or an organization. – Strong leadership was crucial for the success of the civil rights movement in the United States.
Recognition – The acknowledgment of something’s existence, validity, or legality. – The recognition of women’s right to vote was a significant milestone in the history of democracy.
