Captain Gerald ‘Jerry’ Coffee (US Navy Retired) is a true American hero and important part of history. He was a Navy Fighter Pilot during Vietnam, and it was his 7 years as a POW in one of the most famous North Vietnamese prisons (Hanoi Hilton) that he is most famous for. But what few know, is that Capt. Coffee was the pilot who was flying and recording video over Cuba when Russian ballistic missiles, capable of reaching the United States and Canada, were discovered in 1962. These images and video were presented to President John F. Kennedy as proof that the Russians were staging ICBM’s in Cuba as a threat to the United States. 

But it is what happened on February 3, 1966 that would make Capt. Coffee a hero. After taking off from the US Navy carrier, the USS Kittyhawk in the Gulf of Tonkin, his RA-5C Vigilante plane was shot down. He, along with his co-pilot, Lt. Robert Hanson were immediately captured by the North Vietnamese and taken to Hanoi. Capt. Coffee found himself a prisoner of war for 7 years in what is considered one of the most dangerous and deadly prisons in the world. During his time in captivity, Capt. Coffee developed a communication system known as tap-code where he and the other prisoners could communicate using a series of taps on their cell walls. Every night, Jerry would tap the letters ‘G.B.’ (God Bless) or ‘G.B.A’ (God Bless America) for all the other prisoners to hear. 

Capt. Coffee was released on February 12, 1973 (7 years and 9 days after his capture). He was awarded numerous medals, including the distinguished Purple Heart (he actually received two Purple Hearts) for his service. He also authored a book, ‘Beyond Survival’ in which he documents his time in captivity. We believe his story and this book are the answers to helping the world heal today. Jerry is now 86 and has battled many health issues from his time as a POW, and we are honored to have him and his wife Susan tell his incredible story!