How were North Vietnamese prisoners treated?

Although North Vietnam was a signatory of the Third Geneva Convention of 1949, which demanded “decent and humane treatment” of prisoners of war, severe torture methods were employed, such as waterboarding, strappado (known as “the ropes” to POWs), irons, beatings, and prolonged solitary confinement.

How were Viet Cong POWs treated?

Americans held prisoner in North Vietnam experienced boredom, discomfort, hunger, and torture over the period of their captivity. Each of these conditions was deliberately imposed on the POWs by their Vietnamese captors. Until 1969 or 1970 the Vietnamese kept the POWs as isolated as possible.

What nickname was given to the worst prisoner of war in North Vietnam?

The prison complex was sarcastically nicknamed the “Hanoi Hilton” by the American POWs, in reference to the well-known Hilton Hotel chain.

When were the last Vietnam POWs released?

1973
Part of what was called Operation Homecoming, the first 20 POWs arrived to a hero’s welcome at Travis Air Force Base in California on February 14. Operation Homecoming was completed on March 29, 1973, when the last of 591 U.S. prisoners were released and returned to the United States.

When was the last Vietnam POW released?

Often cited as the last verified American POW from the Vietnam War, Garwood was taken to North Vietnam in 1969, and reportedly was released in 1973 along with the other U.S. POWs as part of the Paris Peace Accords. However, he did not return to the United States until March 22, 1979.

How many Vietnam POWS are still missing?

Current Status of Unaccounted-for Americans Lost in the Vietnam War

	Vietnam	Total
Original Missing	1,973	2,646
Repatriated and Identified	729	1,062[1]
Remaining Missing	1,244	1,584

How did American prisoners talk to one another in isolation?

The first communication between isolated prisoners of war may have been a name scrawled on a piece of toilet paper with the burnt end of a matchstick. Notes and whispers were attempted, but both were often detected and severely punished. To do so, they knew communicating closely would be essential.