Douglas Hegdahl was a Seaman Apprentice on the USS Canberra in the South China Sea in 1967. When the Littoral class combat ship fired its 5-inch guns, Hegdahl was blown off the ship’s deck and floated for 12 hours before being captured by the North Vietnamese.
As a guest at the Hanoi Hilton, Douglas convinced his captors that he could not read or write or see very clearly. His North Vietnamese captors called him the “poor peasant” because they thought he was mentally challenged. When they failed to teach him how to read and write, they decided to write a confession for him to sign. Which he did as, “Seaman Apprentice Douglas Brent Hegdahl III United States Navy Reserve, Commanding Officer, USS Canberra.”
The ”poor peasant” was allowed to sweep and clean the prison yard because the guards felt he was harmless. As he cleaned the yard, he would put handfuls of dirt into the gas tanks on vehicles parked in the yard. A US Air Force officer taught him to memorize the names of the other 256 prisoners by singing “Old MacDonald.”
The POWs vowed that none of them would ever accept an early release. In 1969 an early release was offered; Hegdahl was ordered by the American POW commanding officer to accept the offer. Unknown to the North Vietnamese, the young seaman had not only memorized the 256 names, but, as he cleaned the front gates, had memorized the location of the prison in the city of Hanoi. When released, the young sailor sang the names of the POWs, along with names of their children or pets and social security numbers. And the exact location of Hanoi Hilton. Such information was a significant force to get all the prisoners released.
As we approach Memorial Day, many will likely sing patriotic songs. In song we remember those who died in service to our country. These patriotic tunes also remind us it is God who provides strength and courage in times of peril (Joshua 1:9).
We who have put our faith in the Lord understand patriotic songs are, by definition, a hymn – a song of praise to God. Lifting our voices in song is our way to both remember the sacrifice of others and express our gratitude to the Lord God. “America the Beautiful” carries the theme blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord (Psalm 33:12). “Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory” captures the vision of a holy God seated on a throne, high and exalted (Isaiah 6:1). The second verse of our National Anthem recalls our trust that the heaven-rescued land praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation (Psalm 20:7).
Sing the songs, and maybe this Memorial Day, also take a moment to read or pray the POW Hymn to someone. The hymn may add a new dimension to how you remember veterans. It was written in 1971 by Colonel J. Quincy Collins, an Air Force aviator, while in the Vietnamese prison camp dubbed “Camp Unity” in downtown Hanoi. The American prisoners first sang the hymn publicly at a White House dinner on May 23, 1973.
Oh God, to Thee we raise this prayer and sing,
From within these foreign prison walls,
We’re men who wear the gold and silver wings
And proudly heed our nation’s call.
Give us strength to withstand all the harm,
That the hand of our enemy captors can do,
To inflict pain and strife and deprive every life,
Of the rights they know well we are due.
We pledge unswerving faith and loyalty to our cause,
To America and to Thee. Amen.
Nomads2 