“With astonishing verve, The League of Wives persisted to speak truth to power to bring their POW/MIA husbands home from Vietnam. And with astonishing verve, Heath Hardage Lee has chronicled their little-known story — a profile of courage that spotlights 1960s-era military wives who forge secret codes with bravery, chutzpah and style. Honestly, I couldn’t put it down.” — Beth Macy, author of … Macy, author of Dopesick and Factory Man
“Exhilarating and inspiring.”
— Elaine Showalter, Washington Post
The true story of the fierce band of women who battled Washington–and Hanoi–to bring their husbands home from the jungles of Vietnam.
On February 12, 1973, one hundred and sixteen men who, just six years earlier, had been high flying Navy and Air Force pilots, shuffled, limped, or were carried off a huge military transport plane at Clark Air Base in the Philippines. These American servicemen had endured years of brutal torture, kept shackled and starving in solitary confinement, in rat-infested, mosquito-laden prisons, the worst of which was The Hanoi Hilton.
Months later, the first Vietnam POWs to return home would learn that their rescuers were their wives, a group of women that included Jane Denton, Sybil Stockdale, Louise Mulligan, Andrea Rander, Phyllis Galanti, and Helene Knapp. These women, who formed The National League of Families, would never have called themselves “feminists,” but they had become the POW and MIAs most fervent advocates, going to extraordinary lengths to facilitate their husbands’ freedom–and to account for missing military men–by relentlessly lobbying government leaders, conducting a savvy media campaign, conducting covert meetings with antiwar activists, and most astonishingly, helping to code secret letters to their imprisoned husbands.
In a page-turning work of narrative non-fiction, Heath Hardage Lee tells the story of these remarkable women for the first time. The League of Wives is certain to be on everyone’s must-read list.
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“The League of Wives” is a wonderful story that should be read and told as often as possible. In simple terms I look at he current state of affairs around me, the politics, the economy, social unrest, inequality, etc… Suddenly I pickup this book and realize that as long as there are those who will not be silenced, those who are willing to take on the herculean task regardless of the personal risk to them, things may be shaky, but they will always turn out well.
A true story filled with a huge struggle, strengthened by hope, faith and love. Some where along the educational process, this should be required reading.
Wonderful non-fiction that told me a lot about the wives of POW men during the Vietnam war. As a child of an Air Force pilot during that war, I had no clue what was REALLY going on back then. Kudos to these strong, brave women!
With astonishing verve, The League of Wives persisted to speak truth to power to bring their POW/MIA husbands home from Vietnam. And with astonishing verve, Heath Hardage Lee has chronicled their little-known story — a profile of courage that spotlights 1960s-era military wives who forge secret codes with bravery, chutzpah and style. Honestly, I couldn’t put it down.
You’ll put hand to heart after reading The League of Wives about Americans who epitomize heroism in high heels. From white gloves to boxing gloves these military wives, once quiet and subservient, became warriors to save their POW MIA husbands shot down in Vietnam. They battled their government―challenged the State Department, the Pentagon, even the White House―to stand up and make the enemy accountable to the accords of the Geneva Convention. Girls with grit, these wives deserve the supreme salute, and Heath Hardage Lee honors them with grace and humanity.
I love stories about women in history and this one was another story built on powerful women who broke the mold and made a difference for America! These women fought American government as much as they fought for the return of their POW and MIA husbands, sons and boyfriends! Much respect to them all!
The story was well written and informative and the narration was superb!
In July, 1965, I was eagerly looking forward to start high school when Jeremiah Denton was shot down over North Vietnam to become the first POW. In February, 1973, I had been married for two years when he became the first released prisoner to get off the plane to freedom. His wife was raising seven children on her own during this time and trying to figure out what she could do to get her husband home. We have heard about the difficult time our prisoners had but not much attention was paid to what the amazingly brave wives endured during this time.
The League of Wives is an amazing account to the courage, tenacity, and resilience of POW wives. Heath Lee brings their stories to life. Amazing research. I felt like I was a “fly on the wall” reading their story. I could imagine their stories as a mini-series. I also think the book would be a great bookclub choice. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.