Unexpected Prisoner, Memoir of a Vietnam POW

Unexpected Prisoner is the memoir of Robert Wideman, who was taken prisoner during the Vietnam War. Wideman was a Navy bomber pilot, and during one of his sorties, his plane was hit by enemy fire and went down. Able to eject, Wideman parachuted down deep into the rice paddies of North Vietnam. Shortly afterwards, he found himself at the mercy of the local villagers. The rest of the book details Wideman’s time in captivity and his struggle to survive each and every day.

Robert Wideman’s story is a story of faith and courage. In the beginning of the book, he writes that he was an atheist. However, as it goes on, he slowly starts to believe in God and to pray. Also, Wideman starts to philosophize and reflect upon his life during the six years he was held prisoner.

I enjoyed reading Robert Wideman’s memoir. I couldn’t help but empathize with him as he struggled every day to survive and come out of the whole ordeal alive.