Changes

It was always an adventure to make contact with a new shoot down, no matter what prison you happened to be in. Certainly you did not wish them ill, but in a society where thought control prevailed and familial communication was minimal to non-existent, you became starved for news. And the new shoot downs were the only source of the straight skinny.

It was always an adventure to make contact with a new shoot down, no matter what prison you happened to be in. Certainly you did not wish them ill, but in a society where thought control prevailed and familial communication was minimal to non-existent, you became starved for news. And the new shoot downs were the only source of the straight skinny.

Incoming and outgoing communications were censored. In the early years I was actually tortured to write letters home. Refusing to write because of censorship and the fact that letters were the justification for traitorous “peace groups” to conduct their treason, made such refusal a keystone of resistance posture.

Incoming and outgoing communications were censored. In the early years I was actually tortured to write letters home. Refusing to write because of censorship and the fact that letters were the justification for traitorous “peace groups” to conduct their treason, made such refusal a keystone of resistance posture.

  There were difficulties associated with initiating contact within the prison system since communication of any kind between prisoners was considered a sign of leadership and subversion by our jailers. New prisoners were isolated while awaiting interrogation and torture if not compliant. After processing they were as space allowed placed in solitary confinement for attitude adjustment purposes. To complicate matters further, most aviators only had a rudimentary knowledge, if any, of Morse Code.

  There were difficulties associated with initiating contact within the prison system since communication of any kind between prisoners was considered a sign of leadership and subversion by our jailers. New prisoners were isolated while awaiting interrogation and torture if not compliant. After processing they were as space allowed placed in solitary confinement for attitude adjustment purposes. To complicate matters further, most aviators only had a rudimentary knowledge, if any, of Morse Code.