After being knocked overboard by the booming of his own ship's guns, seaman Douglas Hedgal had the fortune of being rescued by a passing fishing vessel, followed by the misfortune of being immediately turned over to the North Vietnamese military and imprisoned in the POW camp known as the Hanoi Hilton.
His captors first insisted the soldier was a CIA agent, until they realized just how incredibly stupid he was. Of course, you'll have to listen to this week's show to get the full story.
Sources:
Douglas Hegdahl: The Incredibly Stupid One | Lowell Milken Center
