The Flag is the true story about Steve Kiba; Radio Operator on an unarmed B-29 during the Korean War. He graphically details the horrors that began with his being shot down over North Korea and being captured and ended almost 32 months later with his release from a political prison in Peking; Red China.Steve vividly takes us from prison to prison on a 'virtual reality' journey through the Red Chinese gulag system. He shares his feelings of fear; anxiety; frustration; despair; abandonment; and hopelessness. His story allows us to endure vicariously the POW/MIA experience: unending hours of solitary; excruciating pain of seemingly endless interrogation and re-education sessions; the constant pain of hunger and unquenched thirst; and the devastating effects of prolonged sleep deprivation.Coupled with the pains of deprivation; we share his physical; emotional; and mental distress of living in utter filth; being denied even the most basic sanitary and hygienic needs; being daily threatened never to be released; and suffering the continuous barrage of false accusations: violating Red Chinese airspace; working for the CIA; and engaging in germ warfare.In October 1954; Steve was judged guilty of war crimes; and in November he was sentenced to four years imprisonment.
#16525 in Books Vintage 2005-04-12 2005-04-12Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.00 x .90 x 5.20l; .84 #File Name: 1400078679416 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Loving this book!By A. HolderOmgosh! This book is amazing (I'm 3/4 of the way through it)! If you are the least bit interested in colonial history; or the history of Manhattan or the history of Dutch dominance prior to the English taking over; this book with enthrall you as if you were reading fiction. Very well researched and a joy to read. I teach Advanced Placement US History and I will be incorporating into my class what I have learned from this book. Thank you Mr. Shorto for writing a book that you may have thought would be too esoteric for some; but is actually a book that any reader would find fascinating.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A must readBy margmaI loved this study so much that I went onto read Shorto's latest book; "Amsterdam". I also purchased a copy for my grandson; a bright HS history student; and both he and his parents; who also read the book; praised it highly. Shorto's research is deep; and he has thoroughly mastered the material and written; in the best historical narrative style; a fascinating study exploring the Dutch roots for the unique economic; social and culture aspects of New York; and subsequently; the US. It can be argued that the best in the American concepts of equality; individualism; capitalism; religious tolerance; self goverance are Dutch; even more so than English. It's a must read.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Curious New Yorkers have to read thisBy J.A.If you're even remotely interested in New York; and its origins; and how it got that way; you will like this book. Terrifically well-written; never dull for a minute; and full of things you had no idea about. If you love New York; you'll love it even more after this.
