Through the Valley, William Reeder Jr.
Through the Valley, William Reeder Jr.
List: $19.99 | Sale: $13.99
Club: $9.99

Through the Valley
My Captivity in Vietnam

Author: William Reeder Jr.

Narrator: Corey M. Snow

Unabridged: 8 hr 11 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 01/17/2023


Synopsis

Through the Valley is the captivating memoir of the last US Army soldier taken prisoner during the Vietnam War.

In 1971 William Reeder was a senior captain on his second tour in Vietnam. He had flown armed, fixed-wing OV-1 Mohawks on secret missions deep into enemy territory in Laos, Cambodia, and North Vietnam, on his first tour. He returned as a helicopter pilot eager to experience a whole new perspective as a Cobra gunship pilot. Believing that Nixon's Vietnamization would soon end the war, Reeder was anxious to see combat action. To him, it appeared that the Americans had prevailed, beaten the Viet Cong, and were passing everything over to the South Vietnamese Army so that Americans could leave.

Less than a year later, while providing support to forces at the besieged base of Ben Het, Reeder's chopper went down in a flaming corkscrew. Though Reeder survived the crash, he was captured after evading the enemy for three days. He was held for weeks in jungle cages before enduring a grueling forced march on the Ho Chi Minh Trail, costing the lives of seven of his group of twenty-seven POWs. Imprisoned in the notorious prisons of Hanoi, Reeder's tenacity in the face of unimaginable hardship is not only a captivating story, but serves as an inspiration to all.

About William Reeder Jr.

William Reeder Jr. is a retired Army colonel and highly decorated combat veteran of the Vietnam War. He received the Silver Star for gallantry, two Distinguished Flying Crosses for heroism, an Air Medal for valor, and three Purple Hearts for wounds received during the events related in his memoir, Through the Valley. Since military retirement, he has continued to be involved in leadership training and education for the US Army and NATO Special Operations Forces. In 2014, he was inducted into the US Army Aviation Hall of Fame.


Reviews

Harrowing and intense account of one soldier's capture by the North Vietnam Army during the Vietnam War. It's 1972, and William Reeder, a senior captain on his second tour of duty, is flying a helicopter and fighting in the battle of a base at Ben Het. His chopper gets shot down, and Reeder is soon c......more

Goodreads review by Brent

I've never been much of a reader, however I've always had a heavy intrigue in historical events...especially military history. Through The Valley was an outstanding account of the events of POW's during Vietnam as told by Colonel William Reeder. I had difficulty finding stopping points as I read thr......more

Goodreads review by Wharton

It is with no small hesitation that I offer a review of this holy book, a record of the author's captivities, wounds, torturing walks, tropical diseases, dietary abnormalities, all in the service of the United States and his fellow warriors. I have read many memoirs written by our military men who w......more

Goodreads review by Todd

Amazing, harrowing tale of the last Army helicopter pilot shot down in Vietnam. When Capt. Bill Reeder was shot down in early May 1972, most of America assumed that the war in Vietnam was over. For Reeder and many other POWs, the truth was more terrifying. Until his release in late March 1973, Reede......more