Prisoners of War
Summary
Fifty years after the Vietnam War, hear the story of Long Binh Jail (LBJ), a US military prison for American soldiers who broke the law. Discover the harsh, overcrowded conditions, the significant racial tensions, and the catalysts, including the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., that led to a violent riot by inmates in August 1968. The episode explores the prisoners' experiences, the guard's perspective, and the military's hesitant response to the prolonged standoff that followed.Episode description
It's been 50 years since the end of the Vietnam war. In honor of the anniversary, we're revisiting a story about a notorious American military prison on the outskirts of Saigon, called Long Binh Jail.
LBJ wasn’t for captured enemy fighters—it was for American soldiers. These were men who had broken military law. And there were a lot of them. As the unpopular war dragged on, discipline frayed and soldiers started to rebel.
By the summer of 1968, over half the men in Long Binh Jail were locked up on AWOL charges. Some were there for more serious crimes, others for small stuff, like refusing to get a haircut. The stockade had become extremely overcrowded. Originally built to house 400 inmates, it became crammed with over 700 men, more than half African American. On August 29th, 1968, the situation erupted.
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