Hanoi Hilton

Hanoi Hilton

Dr. Barbara Poermba and nursing, student Nu Vo are standing in the doorway of what was called, "The Maison Centrale" by the French and later nick-named the"Hanoi Hilton" during the Vietnam War.

The official name of the prison was "the Hoa Lo Prison", and was operated by the French who built it in 1904 as part of their barracks.

Jane Fonda, alias "Hanoi Jane" was denied access here when she tried to visit the prison during the war.

Vietnamese prisoners were often subject to torture and execution under the French.

American POWs would have exercised outside in this courtyard during the Vietnam War.

Dr. Poremba demonstrates one of the cells used to hold captured American pilots during the war.

It was in a cell just like this that American Senator John McCain was held as a POW. I thought of him as we entered this dirty, dismal space.

Above are some of the leg irons commonly used by the French.

Vietnamese prisoners were held in place to their hard, wooden beds by leg irons.

Barb and Nu are looking at a large bronze art work depicting the type of torture routinely used by the French on their prisoners.

The French used the guillotine as their chief method of execution.

Here Nu and I are demonstrating the toilets used in the prison. The hole in the floor is barely visible just below us. This is actually a standard toileting set-up in Vietnam and wouldn't be considered unusual.

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