What the repatriated prisoners of war wrote about themselves

Books written or contributed to by U.S. military men repatriated from Vietnamese prison camps were reviewed, with particular attention to common themes of effective coping strategies. The underlying theme was an internal standard of behavior which each set for himself. This took the specific forms of loyalty to country, to family, to fellow prisoners, or to a self-image. This letter involved considerable use of denial at times. Religious convictions were important to some, but not to all. There was no evidence of the "identification with the aggressor" phenomenon that has been reported in some other prisoner situations. Some men reported beneficial aspects of the captivity situation, usually phrased in terms of personal growth. Mature coping skills include healthy humor, sublimation, anticipation, and the maintenance of self-esteem through an awareness of service.