Two CIA Prisoners in China, 1952–1973

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Iata un fragment dintr-un articol care descrie experienta acestor 2 oameni, capturati de chinezi in prima lor misiune . Erau pe-atunci "in their 20s" si au iesit" in their 40s". Ultima fraza, in care unul dintre ei sustine ca "... had he been released after only five years, he would have come out in far worse shape than he did after 20 years", mi-a dat de gindit ...

"Shot down on their first operational mission, Downey and Fecteau spent 20 years decades in Chinese prisons. There may be some among us who can imagine 20 days in captivity; perhaps a fraction of those can imagine a full year deprived of liberty and most human contact.

But 20 years? Downey and Fecteau have consistently sought to downplay their period of imprisonment; and neither has done what arguably too many former CIA officers do these days with far less justification: write a book. Downey has said that such a book would contain “500 blank pages,” and Fecteau says the whole experience could be summed up by the word “boring.”

Insights from Captivity

Even if Downey and Fecteau do not consider their long captivity suitable for literary treatment, there is great value for today’s intelligence officers in how they played the bad hand dealt to them. The men’s reflections on their imprisonment—generally made shortly after their release, when impressions were freshest—provide a series of “lessons learned” that could be relevant to others facing long captivity.

Never Give Up Hope.

Scale Down Expectations.

Create a Routine. The Chinese occasionally allowed them periodicals like the New Yorker (i-auzi !) and Sports Illustrated. In addition, prayer and Bible study, as well as learning Chinese and Russian, composed a big part of Downey’s day.

Get Physical.

Keep a Secret Space for Yourself.

Remember that a Brain Cannot be Washed.

Care for Each Other. Even through the years of solitary confinement, each man drew comfort from the thought of his nearby comrade. When Fecteau was told of his impending release, his first question was whether Downey would be coming out, too. After release, Fecteau spurned lucrative offers to tell his story publicly because of the impact it might have on Downey’s fate. To this day, the men remain close friends.
Find Humor Where You Can.

Be Patient. Because of insufficient training, both men acknowledged it took several years to develop effective coping strategies. At the beginning, each thought he was going crazy. Fecteau says he started to have “mental aberrations”: “The walls started moving in on me. I would put my foot out in front of me and measure the distance to be sure the wall wasn’t really moving.” Downey, besides being “extremely scared,” was frustrated to the point of despair, seeing every day in prison as a day robbed from him. As the men learned how to deal with their fate, it became easier. Fecteau did not have a vivid imagination at first, but he developed one as a skill. Downey maintained that, had he been released after only five years, he would have come out in far worse shape than he did after 20 years. "
(full article, here ... )