In February 1966, Dieter Dengler was shot down over "neutral" Laos in jungle territory controlled by Pathet Lao guerrillas and North Vietnamese regulars, who captured and held him in a fortified prisoner-of-war camp. Already a legend in the navy for his unique escape skills, the German-born Dengler proved to be no ordinary prisoner. Caught in a desperate situation, imprisoned by the enemy and by the jungle itself, Dengler set out to free not only himself but also other POWs--American, Thai, and Chinese--some of whom had been held for years. Bruce Henderson, who served with Dengler aboard USS "Ranger," tells the complete story of Dengler's captivity and remarkable escape--based on in-depth personal interviews as well as military archival materials, some never before made public--in this riveting account of unending optimism, courage, loyalty, and survival against overwhelming odds.