The League of Wives [eBook - NC Digital Library] : The Untold Story of the Women Who Took on the U.S. Government to Bring Their Husbands Home

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 fifteen men who, just six to eight 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, 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 in The League of Wives.--Adapted from jacket.;The right wife -- It can't happen to us -- A Great Society for some, not for all -- Wives or widows? -- A reluctant sorority -- New girl village -- The league of wives -- Incredibly screwed up -- So you say you want a revolution? -- "Nixon's the one!" -- Go public -- Don't mess with Texas -- May day debut -- Here comes your nineteenth nervous breakdown -- Write Hanoi and silent nights -- Is peace at hand? -- "We chose to be together" -- To the First Ladies of America! 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 Fifteen 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, 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 In The League Of Wives.--biography. On February 12, 1973, One Hundred And Fifteen Men Shuffled, Limped, Or Were Carried Off A 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. The First Vietnam Pows To Return Home Learned That Their Rescuers Were Their Wives, Who Formed The National League Of Families And Became The Pow And Mias Most Fervent Advocates. Lee Describes The Extraordinary Lengths The Women Went To, In Order To Facilitate Their Husbands' Freedom And To Account For Missing Military Men. -- Adapted From Jacket The Right Wife -- It Can't Happen To Us -- A Great Society For Some, Not For All -- Wives Or Widows? -- A Reluctant Sorority -- New Girl Village -- The League Of Wives -- Incredibly Screwed Up -- So You Say You Want A Revolution? -- Nixon's The One! -- Go Public -- Don't Mess With Texas -- May Day Debut -- Here Comes Your Nineteenth Nervous Breakdown -- Write Hanoi And Silent Nights -- Is Peace At Hand? -- We Chose To Be Together -- To The First Ladies Of America!. Heath Hardage Lee. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 269-308) And Index.

"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 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.

"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 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. "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 couldnt put it down." Beth Macy, author of Dopesick and Factory Man The true story of the fierce band of women who battled Washingtonand Hanoito bring their husbands home from the jungles of Vietnam. On February 12, 1973, one hundred and fifteen 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 freedomand to account for missing military menby relentlessly lobbying government leaders, conducting a savvy media campaign, conducting covert meetings with antiwar activists, 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 in The League of Wives , a book certain to be on everyones must-read list. 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