EL PASO, TX - He spent nearly two years caged and chained up as a prisoner of war, but Saturday Isaac Camacho shared his story with hundreds of people at Fort Bliss.
Camacho wrote about his experience in a book, its pages tell his tale of torture survival and escape. In 1963 he was captured by the North Vietnamese, caged and chained for more than 20 months, and at one time lined up for execution. In 1965, during a blinding rainstorm, he escaped from being a prisoner of war, and even outran search patrols trying to kill him.
"I escaped. I traveled through the jungles for 4 days before I came to friendly forces, and of course I went to the hospital, got checked out and I'm still here, I'm alive," Camacho said.
"This gentleman is a miracle, in my opinion, a hero and a miracle," Barbara Davenport said.
"I don't think there's a higher amount of service you can give then what he's given this country. He spent 20 months as a POW," Stephen Franzoni said.
Camacho told us those 20 months were hard to re-live when he was in the process of writing the book, but he says he did it for a purpose - to pass on a message.
"To the young soldier, you know, to persevere if they ever fall into enemy hands and are in the situation of becoming a prisoner of war. Don't give up, mainly keep your strength."
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