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In the hostage camp, how did you feel when you heard the American anthem and saw your flag being raised at the end?

I still remember that part. I had tears in my eyes.

It was a very difficult experience. We had an inept officer who was our highest ranking "POW" in the camp. He was terrible. The Resistance Training guards had enough of him because he was such a terrible example. They took him away and said he as being "executed" - in reality they took him away from the camp and said he was finished with the scenario. They put me in charge as the next highest ranking. I was singled out for abuse, harsh interrogations, and trips to the commandant's office - and I worked for 2 days to play the game. I did OK, and I was glad when it was over.

I could try and imagine what it is like, but I'm only helped by seeing the camp on History Channel or something.

They showed the emotions of the "freed prisoners" when the Star Spangled Banner was played as they turned around to see Old Glory.

Hell, I'm getting goose bumps typing it in.

I went through SERE training, the Navy's version of the camp you are talking about, before going to Vietnam. About a week long, it included escape and evasion training and concluded with a few days in POW camp. It was quite realistic including putting us upside down in a barrel of water and dunked repeatedly, placed in a footlocker size box for a few hours, and in a larger box for 8 hours blindfolded without the ability to stand up or sit down, and periodically punched and kicked.

Despite the controlled conditions, thrree out of our group of 72 were broken, signed confessions, and read them from the guard towers. The reason they broke was claustrophobia. The couldn't stand to be in the small box, which was very confining and hot. I literally was numb from the waist down and had to be helped out of the box. I could understand why someone with claustrophbia would have a hard time enduring it.

Anyone can be broken eventually. The key for the enemy is to find that fear that marks the tipping point. I don't fault the UK boarding party for surrendering and being captured. As more and more information comes out, I do have a hard time with their conduct while in captivity. They appeared to put up no resistance at all and didn't even suffer "torture" that would be administered in a training program.