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Vietnam Vet and POW Doug Hegdahl of Clark, SD

Episode 3089 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will continue the incredible story of Navy Vietnam Vet Doug Hegdahl and how he outfoxed his North Vietnamese captors.

Doug Hegdahl, a young sailor from South Dakota, wasn’t what the North Vietnamese expected in a prisoner of war. Captured in 1967 after being blown overboard from the USS Canberra, Hegdahl was scooped from the sea by fishermen and sent to the infamous “Hanoi Hilton.” His captors underestimated him from the start.

Doug played the fool. He pretended to be illiterate, simple-minded, and harmless—so convincingly that the guards nicknamed him “The Incredibly Stupid One.” They eventually stopped watching him closely. But behind the act, Hegdahl was gathering priceless intelligence.

While sweeping the prison yard, he memorized the names, capture dates, and personal information of over 250 fellow American POWs using a rhyming system. This list would later become the most comprehensive record of POWs held in North Vietnam. He also sabotaged five trucks by putting dirt in their gas tanks—completely unnoticed.

The North Vietnamese tried to use him for propaganda. When they ordered him to write a statement condemning the U.S., Doug pretended he couldn’t read or write. Frustrated, they decided to release him in 1969—expecting little gain. Instead, Doug carried out the vital intelligence he’d memorized and gave the U.S. military and families back home crucial confirmation about POWs’ identities and conditions.

Doug Hegdahl’s simple demeanor was a mask for incredible bravery and cunning. By playing dumb, he outwitted his captors, supported his fellow prisoners, and became one of the unsung heroes of the Vietnam War.

Listen to Episode 3089 and discover more the incredible story of Navy Vietnam Vet Doug Hegdahl and how he outfoxed his North Vietnamese captors.

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