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What Readers are Saying about Beyond Survival

“This book reads like a novel. Not only is it about Captain Coffee as a POW but as a son, husband, father and a friend. His courage, faith and humor leave one feeling that they too can have all of these principles, no matter who you are or where you come from; that there’s nothing life throws at us that we can’t overcome and prevail.”

~Becky R., Concord, CA (Amazon)

“Absolutely inspiring story of courage, loyalty, brotherhood, service and dedication. Captain Coffee and his fellow POW’s story is one that needs to be shared with our young military men and women to teach them to continue fighting, never give up hope, and stick to core values to survive.”

~Gary L. (Amazon)

“This book gives people the tools to overcome any obstacles that life throws at them. A must read! Carpe diem -- Seize the day.”

~Mike B. (Amazon)

“As a three time combat veteran struggling with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, I believe that ‘Beyond Survival’ is a MUST READ!! In my darkest hours, Captain Coffee’s book has consoled me, validated my feelings, moved me to action, and made me ‘count my blessings.’ Captain Coffee takes you inside of the Vietnamese Prisons where he was held captive and tortured. Despite all odds, he managed to overcome the pain, loneliness, hunger, fear, and humiliation of being a POW for SEVEN YEARS! Captain Coffee describes every bit of his experience in painstaking detail and grips the reader with his honesty and sincerity. This book will touch your heart and humble you. Gerald Coffee is a Fighter, and has remained a true patriot, and my real-life Hero. He continues to INSPIRE others as a keynote speaker. Grateful living and humility have helped me through some of my toughest times. I’ve never been much of a ‘reader,’ but while I was going through Virtual Reality Gradual Exposure Therapy, my doctor recommended BEYOND SURVIVAL. When I picked it up, I could not put it down. Thank you, Captain Coffee, for having the bravery to serve our country, and to share your experience with us afterward. Beyond Survival didn’t only Change my life, it Saved my life”.

~Casey L., San Diego, CA (Amazon)

“Gerald Coffee really goes [into] “Beyond Survival” with his seven years of POW experience in a North Vietnamese Prison, (the infamous “Hanoi Hilton”) during the Viet-Nam War. Just when I thought things could not get any worse for Coffee, they did. Broken and beaten he continues to survive one day to the next by maintaining his faith in God and a belief that the US Government would someday come to his assistance. Father, Husband, Soldier, and Hero, his story struck deep in my heart. He is an inspiration to all of us to “make each day count”.

~Anonymous (Amazon)

“What would you do if everything you hold dear was forcibly taken away? Jerry Coffee had that happen to him in North Viet Nam. After being shot down and wounded, he spends years in torturous conditions in Hanoi prisons. One thing that moved me most was the fact that even though he was confined alone in a tiny cell, he still gave himself so many chores and educational assignments to perform (such as studying French) that on some days he was unable to finish all of his tasks. Now that is optimism!”

~Edward S., New York, N.Y. (Amazon)

“This book looks at a man with a comfortable, happy life who is forced to endure hell on earth as a Vietnam POW. The struggles he faced to the small personal victories that got him through are all applicable in our own lives. Through the book, the author also offers a keen perspective on the Vietnam Conflict.”

~B. Midwest (Amazon)

“I bought this book while I was finishing up my Associates Degree in school and had a very busy last semester in school. When the book came in, I really didn’t need to be reading it. I opened and thought, “I’ll just give it a quick glance.” The next thing I knew I had read a few chapters. It was very hard to put this book down. I walked away from reading this book with a sense that I can do anything and survive anything, because I was inspired by Captain Coffee’s attitude in such despair. He talks about all the “little” things he did to survive such torture and I ended up walking away with “tips” for the problems in life. Naturally my problems in life don’t compare to what he went through, but if his tactics worked in a prisoner of war situation, how much more in day to day life. I HIGHLY recommend this book for everyone. If nothing else, it will help to put your day to day problems into perspective.”

~The Bs, Florida (Amazon)

“I was given this book in 1998. Pulled it off the shelf in Hawaii while on vacation in the winter of 2008. Inspirational from start to finish, no wonder Jerry is one of the top 10 speakers in the country. I couldn’t put it down. I have sent this book as a gift several times. Highly recommend it.”

~Robert O., San Luis Obispo, California (Amazon)

From personal letters to Captain Coffee

“My situation is not like yours was but it’s just as difficult. For comfort I turn to the Bible and your book. They are both my soul and inspiration.”

~Joe O., Aibonito, Puerto Rico

“I was consoled by friends and family, however the most meaningful, effective message were the words in your book.”

~Ms. Nancy O., Marathon, Florida

“After reading your book I find so many small everyday things to feel joy over. And life is better, breathing is sweeter. And courage is built in, given by God. . . . God Bless you for writing Beyond Survival.”

~Ms. Kathy R., Auburn, Washington

“I loved the philosophical statements at the beginning of each chapter. Each story contained a lesson about life. Thank you for sharing with such honesty and openness. I can’t wait to read it again.”

~Annabel C., Honolulu, Hawaii

“I have just finished reading your book, Beyond Survival, and am experiencing extremes of emotion; depression over the prevalent depths of human cruelty, yet exultation for your triumph . . . both spiritually and mentally . . .”

~Barbara H., S. Bloomingville, Ohio

“I read and re-read your book during the past ten days, absorbing the words and feeling some message being spoken to my soul at a time when I have been going through a “winter of discontent,” . . . I wanted you to know that my life will surely not be the same after reading your book.”

~Mark O., Harvey Cedars, New Jersey

“The decency and compassion reflected in your book have suddenly made me view my life, indeed all life, with a grandeur and sense of purpose I did not realize my perspective lacked or needed.”

~John R., New York, N.Y.

“Your book, Beyond Survival, is the finest book I’ve ever read on the endurance and final victory of the human spirit over all that is inhuman.”

~Calvin L., Port Angeles, Washington

“You stated one for your purposes in writing was to heal some of the wounds of Vietnam, but I just tell you it has healed more than that. You have been a wonderful inspiration to me., . . .”

~Patricia S., Norton, Massachusetts

Other Vietnam POWs talk about Jerry Coffee

“Jerry and I lived in the same cell for the last 31/2 years we were in prison. We developed a pretty good kinship because Jerry was raised in Modesto, California and I was raised in Salinas just over the hill from Modesto. He was the ‘Modesto Flash’ and I was the ‘Salinas Streak.’ We actually developed these code names because someday if we had had to revert to passing messages in code again, it would be from Flash to Streak. Fortunately things never got that bad again. Jerry was a joy to live with. I never met a more even tempered individual or bigger optimist than Jerry. He was also somewhat of a visionary with a Bohemian streak. A wonderful artist, he tried to teach me how to paint in prison, which I failed at miserably. He also wrote poetry in his head and recited it. (In fact, I am a product of the Jerry Coffee international toastmasters Hanoi Chapter.) Every once in a while Jerry would sit back against the wall and come back to the same theme about the future. He’d say, “Ev, you know someday we’re going to go home and people back home aren’t going to understand what we’ve been through. It’s going to be so hard to conceive. And there’s a message here, a message we need to tell.” I didn’t grasp the full meaning of what he was saying for a long while, but it finally came. Jerry has mastered the ability to articulate the essence of the experience and those values and principles that are our legacy: honor, commitment, sacrifice, integrity, and faith. Nobody tells this story better than Jerry Coffee. I can’t tell you how many times - all over the country - I run into people who say, “Do you know this fellow Jerry Coffee?”, because they’ve just been somewhere and heard him speak. And I say, sure I know him, and they go “Wow! Boy, he blew our socks off. He’s tremendous.”

~Everett Alvarez, Commander, U.S. Navy (Ret.), longest held Vietnam POW 8-5-64 – 2-12-73, Deputy Director, Peace Corps; Deputy Director, Veterans Administration; founder, Alvarez and Associates

“My dear friend Jerry Coffee is a man I’ve become as close to as practically anyone I’ve ever known. It would be very difficult for me to describe all Jerry’s achievements from the Cuban Missile Crisis to his bravery and courage in the Vietnam conflict. I will just say that in prison after the treatment had improved rather dramatically I had the great fun and privilege of living in the same cell with him for a couple of years. I think I found his company a lot more agreeable than he found mine, given my always even-tempered, unemotional approach to things. And although Jerry is a lousy bridge player, I have never known a more kind and generous American. I am very proud that for so many years he has traveled the country giving inspirational talks to people from all walks of life and every strata of America - not only because he has a compelling story but because of his particular fashion of describing the attributes associated with duty, honor, and our country.”

~John McCain, Captain, U.S. Navy (Ret.); Vietnam POW 10/26/67 - 3/14/73; United States Senator, Arizona, 1986 – present

“I have always had this unusual fetish for movies about prisoners of war. In Stalag 17, I was fascinated by how the prisoners in Europe found ways to entertain themselves. After the Sontay raid in 1970 we were finally allowed to be assembled together. I had the privilege of getting to know Jerry Coffee in early 1972. Room 2 held a group of reprobates about 25 strong. By this time, we’d been there five, six, seven years and were pretty cynical about life. The torture had mostly stopped and we were just twiddling our thumbs waiting for the big bombing raids to happen so we could imagine going home someday in the next decade. Then Jerry, who was quite a bit more high-classed than the rest of us, was brought into our midst. There were a number of Marines in the room. John McCain was there, too. We were all groping for ways to entertain ourselves. So Jerry moved in and we discovered he had talents as an artist. After that, he spent hours teaching me and a couple of other rather dumb, uncreative people to draw things using rouge colored roof tile [like chalk] on a concrete floor. Jerry taught me how to draw eyeballs, my specialty. I haven’t pursued that career, but at least he brought some creativity into my life. Jerry Coffee is an incredible individual and eloquent speaker. I honestly believe I’ve never heard anyone say anything bad about him. He is a wonderful, wonderful man I am incredibly blessed to have as a friend.”

~Orson Swindle, Lt. Col., USMC (Ret.); Vietnam POW 11/11/66 – 3/4/73; Commissioner, Federal Trade Commission, 1997-2005