Captain
Humbert Roque Versace was serving in the Vietnam War when on October 29, 1963
he and his men attacked by a large Viet Cong force. Not willing to give up, he
instructed his men to fight until the very end. He kept his word and fought
until he could no more, but was ultimately taken as a prisoner of war along
with many of his men. However, when all seemed lost, Captain Versace wouldn’t
let the Viet Cong break his spirits.
He
would sing popular songs to his fellow prisoners from his isolation box in
order to cheer them up. He would also write many encouraging messages on the
walls of the latrine for the other prisoners to read. After many failed escape
attempts, he used what he knew of the Vietnamese language to complain about the
poor conditions he and the other prisoners were kept in, he was chained and
gagged so the other prisoners couldn’t hear him.
The
last time that any prisoners heard him, he was singing God Bless America at the
top of his lungs. The Viet Cong were unable to break his will to live, which
frustrated them and resulted in his execution on September 26, 1965. Captain
Humbert Rogue Versace was awarded a Medal of Honor for his services, and will
always be remembered as hero.
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