| Aliases |
man, bond, james, stockdale, admiral |
| Long description |
A man beaten to the brink of his life stares up at you with powerful eyes. |
| Detailed description |
James Stockdale was shot down by anti-aircraft fire during Vietnam. He was
held as a POW for seven years. He spent over half of this time in solitary
confinement in leg irons. Even being incapacitated he was still able to lead
the POW underground resistance successfully. For this he was routinely tortured
and beaten resulting in permanent disablement from a repeatedly broken leg,
broken back, and shoulders being wrenched from their sockets. When his captors
attempted to use him as televised propaganda, he slit his scalp with a razor.
When they covered the cut with a hat he beat himself with a stool until his face
was swollen beyond recognition. As a final attempt he slit his wrists rather
than allow himself to be used or let down his fellow POWs. His captors found
him unconscious and near death. The torture stopped after that and they no
longer attempted to use him. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions. |