Through the Valley

My Captivity in Vietnam

By: William Reeder Jr.

Narrated by: Corey M. Snow

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.

©2016 William Reader Jr. (P)2023 Tantor

great book

The whole book was great an amazing story of our great heroes!!! Go U.S.A GOD BLESS ARE VETS!

Phenomenal story!

My father was a classmate of Mr Reeder in Cobra School and one of the few graduates who went to Vietnam after graduation. Several years ago my father mentioned this story to me as well as bought me a copy of the book. I was immediately intrigued and read the book cover to cover in one day. While my father was not a POW, he was shot down in a very similar situation but unlike Mr Reeder he was safely recovered. This book helped me understand what my father and countless others experienced during their time in Vietnam. everything about this audiobook, in my opinion, is phenomenal. The narrator was out of this world, I was especially impressed by his pronunciation of the Vietnamese spoken language as it added to the realism of the story. his narration added so much realism it seemed as if I was right there next to him!

Inspiration

Great book of inspiration and motivation. I enjoyed it very much and am so thankful for our military heroes.

Humbled

We dont d enough for our service people. I simply can not see myself making it through all the stuff he endured. GREAT book.

Great read!!!

Thank you for writing ur experience. Col Reeder went thru hell and still decided to share it with us.