His captors tried to teach him to read. He made sure they never succeeded. It was the smartest thing he ever did.
Overboard
On April 6, 1967, 20-year-old US Navy sailor Douglas Hegdahl was knocked overboard by the blast of his own ship's gun mount while serving aboard the USS Canberra in the Gulf of Tonkin. He swam for hours before being picked up by Vietnamese fishermen and turned over to militia forces, who transferred him to the Hỏa Lò Prison in Hanoi, known to American POWs as the "Hanoi Hilton."
Playing the Fool
Believing he could be more useful to his fellow prisoners and less useful to his captors by appearing unintelligent, Hegdahl convinced interrogators he was largely illiterate and of limited understanding. When pressed to sign propaganda statements, he claimed he couldn't read them. His captors, thinking they could still make use of him, attempted to teach him to read -- and he made sure the lessons never took. Convinced he posed no real value or threat, guards nicknamed him "The Incredibly Stupid One" and granted him far more freedom of movement within the prison than most other captives received.
Memorizing Names
Hegdahl used that freedom to move through the prison and quietly memorize the names, capture dates, and personal details of more than 250 fellow American prisoners, reportedly setting the list to the tune of "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" to keep it straight in his memory.
Early Release
In 1969, North Vietnam released Hegdahl along with two other prisoners as a propaganda gesture. His superior officers initially ordered him to refuse repatriation out of order, unwilling to leave fellow prisoners behind -- but senior POW leadership recognized what he was carrying and ordered him to accept his release specifically so he could deliver the information. Once home, Hegdahl's detailed list helped confirm the status and treatment of numerous American POWs still held in North Vietnam, providing intelligence that had been unavailable through any other channel.
FAQ
How did Douglas Hegdahl end up as a prisoner of war?
He was knocked overboard by his own ship's gun blast in 1967 and captured by North Vietnamese forces after being picked up by local fishermen.
Why did he pretend to be unintelligent?
He believed it would earn him more freedom of movement and less scrutiny from his captors, which he used to gather information on fellow prisoners.
What did Hegdahl accomplish before his release?
He memorized the names and details of more than 250 fellow American POWs, information he delivered to US authorities after his 1969 release.