Through the Valley is the captivating memoir of the last U.S. Army soldier taken prisoner during the Vietnam War. A narrative of courage hope and survival Through the Valley is more than just a war story. It also portrays the thrill and horror of combat the fear and anxiety of captivity and the stories of friendships forged and friends lost.
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 Nixons 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 Reeders 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 gro