The Incredibly Stupid One

Those who give a final opinion about a person at first sight often suffer. Every human being has many forms, he is presenting himself to you as something else, but in reality something else happens. Such an intelligent man is part of American history who, despite being a prisoner, did something that history will always remember his intelligence. Even in difficult situations, he used his intelligence in such a way that the opponents were astonished. We are talking about a young hero.

Douglas egdahl:

On April 6, 1967, The young 20-year-old Douglas Hegdahl was knocked overboard by the blast from a 5-inch gun mount from the USS Canberra in the Gulf of Tonkin, three miles off the shore. He swam until he was picked up many hours later by Cambodian fishermen who treated him nicely. Attempting to cover for him, his shipmates did not report him missing for two days, so the controlling officer did not arrange a search. Hegdahl was handed over to Vietnamese militiamen who clubbed him continually with their rifles before moving him to the notorious "Hanoi Hilton" prison.

An agent

The interrogators initially thought that Hegdahl was a commando or an agent. His story of being hit overboard seemed unusual to the interrogators. Hegdahl thought he would be much better off if he acted to be of low intelligence. Hegdahl was physically maltreated for a few days before he was able to satisfy his captors that he was of small importance to them. His bumpkin behavior and young impression supported in his mastery to assure them that he was no problem to them.

The stupid one:

When inquired to write statements against the United States, he accepted but acted to be incapable to read or write, which was acceptable to his Vietnamese captors. Believing they had a young boy who would be easily turned to their purpose, they appointed someone to educate Hegdahl to read. After Hegdahl seemed to be unable of understanding to read and write, his captors gave up on him. After that, he came to be recognized to the Vietnamese as "The Incredibly Stupid One", and he was allowed nearly free rein of the center.

Intelligence

With the assistance of Joseph Crecca, a U.S. Air Force officer and friend prisoner, Hegdahl memorized names, capture duration, the procedure of capture, and unique information of about 256 other prisoners—to the music of a nursery rhyme "Old MacDonald Had a Farm". Hegdahl is however prepared to repeat the information. According to his senior officer and cellmate, Lieutenant Commander Richard A. Stratton, Hegdahl also satisfied his captors that he wanted new glasses and remembered the path from the prison into the city of Hanoi, where he was brought to be fitted.

During his prison stay, Hegdahl damaged five trucks by putting dirt in their fuel tanks.

Released

Hegdahl was one of three prisoners of war, along with Navy Lieutenant Robert Frishman and Air Force Captain Wesley Rumble who was released on August 5, 1969, as a publicity move by the North Vietnamese. Although the POWs had decided that none would accept early discharge, they approved that Hegdahl's release should be an exception. He was ordered by Stratton to approve an early release so that he could submit the names of POWs being gripped by the North Vietnamese and disclose the situations to which the prisoners were being subjected.

After his release, Hegdahl was brought to the Paris Peace Talks in 1970 and opposed the North Vietnamese with his first-hand information about the mistreatment of hostages.

Source: Wikipedia