Defiant

Reviews

“If the suffering of American POWs at the hands of their Vietnamese captors was unimaginable, this audiobook goes some way to make that expeience vivid…The anguish of the POWs comes through in [Barrett’s] voice…Townley weaves a remarkably detailed account.”

“Townley composes a complex historical narrative covering roughly 1965 to 1973, following two parallel elements: the experiences of POWs in the notorious ‘Hanoi Hilton,’contrasted with their families’ anguish and, more broadly, the American military’s declining fortunes in the conflict…An inspirational yet grueling read that demonstrates the price some paid for patriotism in a different era and another unpopular war.”

“A grippingaccount of the ‘Alcatraz Eleven’…Townley’s telling of these important storiesis fresh and vivid, thanks to his interviews with surviving prisoners and theirfamily members. Defiant is anexcellent book for younger readers with little knowledge of this searingchapter in American history, when a brash United States stumbled its way deeperand deeper into the Indochina morass. Townley also adds an important, and oftenoverlooked, dimension to the prisoners’ stories—that of their wives’campaign athome to thrust the plight of the POWs into the national spotlight.”

“Where do we get such men like the Alcatraz Eleven? Capturedduring a controversial war and imprisoned by a cruel enemy, this stirring taleby Alvin Townley of resilience and leadership under unimaginable conditions isa must read.”

“Defiant isa riveting tribute to the unyielding men who endured years of brutal captivityas POWs in Vietnam and the families they left behind. The men of the ‘AlcatrazEleven’ are true American heroes, and their extraordinary stories will serve asan inspiration for generations to come.”

“That most tragic war in American history, Vietnam, demandedmore from many American servicemen than humans should have to endure. That someAmericans are asked by fate to give so much while most others give so little isone of the insoluble conundrums of our age. Alvin Townley’s story of thecourage, valor, and honor of eleven indomitable POWs and their wives is a newAmerican classic that will be read as long as the breezes kiss Old Glory. As Iread it I wept.”

“A unique American epic which must never be forgotten.Thanks to Alvin Townley’s ability to convert its heartbreaking reality intovivid prose, its men and women are alive as human beings as well assymbols of their commitment to each other—and their country.”

“In Defiant, Alvin Townley reveals a moving,inspiring, untold story of courage and sacrifice that stands as a vividtestimony to what the human spirit can overcome. This is an important and toooften overlooked aspect of the Vietnam War’s history. But for those interestedin Vietnam’s Band of Brothers, it is a must read.”

“Defiant is an astounding story that willcapture your heart and mind, proving once and for all that determination trumpscircumstance.”

“An engaging account that focuses on about a dozen of the captives…Townley writes reverently of these POWs, whom he calls ‘American stalwarts,’ ‘defiant patriots,’ and ‘corralled incorrigibles.’”

“Defiant is Unbroken meets Bandof Brothers—and thensome. In it, Alvin Townley’s vivid prose reveals the epic story of theAlcatraz Eleven—Vietnam’s own Dirty Dozen—and how their wives never stoppedfighting for their safe return. The devotion and undefeatable will of thesecourageous American heroes shines on every page and reminds us exactly what ourgreat nation is made of.”

“If you have ever wondered how real courage and ultimateperseverance should be defined, all you need to do is read these pages. If youhave ever pondered whether Americans still have the grit and the ‘guts’ to showthe world what it takes to defend freedom, reading about  the ‘AlcatrazEleven’ will bolster your confidence. What these men endured nearly defiesdescription, but Alvin Townley has managed to pull it off brilliantly. Thewriting is hard-hitting and powerful, dynamic and breathtaking. So, too, ishis retelling of the stoic courage of the loved ones stuck at home withuncertainty and doubt: uncertainty about their own abilities to bear up, thendoubt in the fortitude and truthfulness of their own government. What thefamilies did from afar, and how they ultimately put backbone into their ownleaders and pushed accountability onto the captors of the POWs, is a storyheretofore largely untold. It is a narrative as striking in its own right asthe tales of the ‘Alcatraz Eleven’ themselves.”

“Defiant is all about voices—those that wentunused for days by solitary prisoners of war and those of silently sufferingwomen back home who eventually felt no choice but to speak out. Alvin Townleysoberly evokes the terror, sadness, frustration, pain, and inspiration they allfelt and along the way gives us a Vietnam War most of us have never heardabout, involving legions of American women and imprisoned men fighting together,thousands of miles apart.”

“The story of human courage, individual and familyperseverance, survival based on a warrior’s code of honor. Alvin Townleyweaves the recollections of these remarkable men into a compelling narrativeagainst the backdrop of war, freedom, forgiveness, and reconciliation. Aninspirational account of POWs who served with honor while in captivity andreturned home with a commitment to serve their country.”

“I carried this book from room to room and kept trying toput it down, but I couldn’t stop reading. Alvin Townley shows the heart of whatit means to be American in this tale of some of our greatest heroes. Defiant issuperb.”

“With Defiant, Alvin Townley hasdone readers a huge favor. By describing the POWs’ scenes of torture anddeprivation in such detail—to the point we can almost feel our own bones crackunder pressure—he reminds us that we should never take our civil liberties forgranted. This book is a testament to the human spirit and how, in the worst ofconditions with the best of men, it can be bent but never broken.”

“AlvinTownley’s Defiant is a compelling recounting of the horror,hope, hell, and humanity that was daily life for the American prisoners of warwho struggled through existence at Hanoi’s most brutal prison camp. Expertlyresearched and compellingly written, Townley’s account of the reality of lifeboth in Hanoi’s prisons and for the families of the prisoners at home isinspiring reading and should be part of any Vietnam War library.”

“Defiant is a must-read for those who seek tounderstand and honor the very best of America and its heroes. Alvin Townley’sexhaustive research shows us how our prisoners of war in Vietnam served withinspired bravery and unrelenting courage. We can now know in detail howthe most abused of them all survived years of brutality and solitaryconfinement.”

“Alvin Townley has done a magnificent job of weavingtogether the powerful and complex story of eleven men who survived theunbelievable cruelty of their North Vietnamese captors. Defiant honorsthe bravery and sacrifice of our prisoners of war and their families as no otherreporting has done to date. These men, many of whom I knew, deserve no less.”

“I couldn’t put it down! Alvin Townley’s work speaks volumesof America and our service men and women, and their spouses…their honor,steadfastness, perseverance, spirit, and love of country…and clearlyilluminates the differences in our militaries and governments. Reading ‘today’of their time in captivity brings the same emotions America shed upon theirrelease and return in 1973.”

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