Navy Lt. Dieter Dengler was shot down over Laos in 1966 during a secret mission in the Vietnam War. Captured by Pathet Lao forces, he endured brutal torture, starvation, and near-death conditions in a jungle prison camp.

But Dengler refused to give up. After 23 days on the run—barefoot, starving, and alone—he became one of the only Americans to ever escape captivity in Southeast Asia.

In this video, we tell the full story of Dengler’s incredible journey: from growing up in war-torn Germany and dreaming of flight, to joining the U.S. Navy and surviving one of the most daring escapes in military history.

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Photos Courtesy Wikimedia Commons & Basile Morin

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