this book was really well written you could picture yourself being in the setting with Mr. Reeder Jr. It was a sad story and I'm glad he was able to get through it.

Wonderful first person account of the POW experience, told with wit and compassion. An American hero.

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 captured. What follows is a memoir of a truly grueling death march from South Vietnam to the communist North, including several occasions of captivity under shockingly inhumane conditions.

The first fifth of the book reads a bit like a report, and had me worried - it's a dry rattling off of place names, military hardware, and military lingo. But as soon as the helicopter is shot down, the story takes a deeply personal turn, and becomes very engaging.

For me it was also interesting to read about someone who believed the war had meaning, that it in some way was 'worth it'. Reeder writes a bit about patriotism, and his palpable disgust at communism, which to me comes across as overly simplistic, but he also shows a lot of heart on a more personal, human level. However badly he is treated (and dear lord, he is treated horribly), he keeps up an impressive level of optimism.

Overall it is a touching, humane story about survival, both mentally and physically.

Free ARC from Net Galley

A Vietnam version of "Unbroken" if you will, no disrespect

When a helicopter crash is the GOOD thing you know this will be hard

The spirit of man, when left intact is truly the most glorious, amazing, and dangerous thing on the earth

Bravo Mr. Reeder!!

This book was very compelling. It managed to tell a story that was harrowing, yet easy to follow, and didn't get bogged down in military acronyms/terms. I think anyone interested in learning more about life in the US miitary or about Vietnam would find Through The Valley quite valuable. The only real problem I saw was that the dialogue seemed a little stilted at times. Still, I learned a lot from this and would recommend it.

This one stepped a little outside my predominate range of what I read for pleasure, but is certainly a topic I am passionate about.

As a former attack pilot myself, and a student of some of the training that was implemented as a result of the experiences of COL (ret) Reeder and others, I always seek out opportunities to hear the stories of men like him. One can't help but wonder how they would fare if placed in the same positions.

I have read other accounts, first hand and otherwise, in addition to having had opportunities to speak face to face with the men that have lived through similar experiences and I can only imagine the mental/emotional aspect of facing and capturing all those memories to share.

That being said, I found the personal narrative approach a smooth vehicle to tell this tale. It is a compelling story and I am glad to have been able to share in it.

It may not be for everyone, but for the right reader it is absolutely worth the time.

Through the Valley is an impossible tale to rate.
Is it perfect? No, it's not perfect - there are a few grammatical errors and some of the reconstructed dialogue feels forced - but that's not what is important in this story.

This is the true story of the the last American Army POW's capture and struggle to survive his imprisonment during the Vietnam War. There are no word to describe the prisoners loyalty to each other and their countey.

For me this raises a lot of the same emotions as Man's Search for Meaning. What do you do when all outside hope is gone?

A must read but have your tissues handy. Thanks to the Naval Institute Press and Net Galley for my copy to read and review.

Never Give Up

William Reeder Jr. Has shared in his book the incredible story of his life, before, during, and after his capture by the North Vietnamese in Vietnam. It must have been hard to tell and even harder to remember. Thank you Mr. Reeder for sharing your story with us.

This story is very personal, laying out his feelings, his failings, his challenges and his successes. It is a very realistic account. It tugged at my heart to read of the horrible treatment he received in captivity. It is well written and tells the story of those also in captivity with him. You might just need a few Kleenex to read those parts, especially the march to North Korea.

His story tells how brave and patriotic our soldiers were even amid the public war protests. He even tells the story of the few that collaborated with the enemy, received special treatment and were never punished for it .

The statistics about the divorces among the POW'S is sad as are the physical and mental problems of many returning from the war. I really liked that at the end of the book he told a little about each of the group of POW'S and their lives after returning.

The book was interesting, and it was historical. It told a story that kept you turning the pages, but in doing so you were learning about the war, the country and the people. Even in Captivity he wrote about the natural wonders of the country and the beauty he saw.

This is a book that all should read. I highly recommend it.

Thanks to William Reeder Jr., The Naval Institute Press, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of the book for an honest review.

There have been a great history and documented writing on Vietnam. Reeder continues the story of a dark time and the horror of Vietnam. Than you writing a fine story that holds you tight. Highly recommend.