Description

***SOLD***

Offered is an exceptionally interesting medal and document group, offered for the very first time, belonging to the only British Officer who served with the US Forces in the Vietnam War. Most importantly, this group relates to Thomas Abraham, who wrote a book called ‘The Cage’, in which he stated he was a prisoner of the Vietcong – a story which was later proven to be untrue.

The group consists of Abraham’s 11 service medals, 4 being named, his miniatures awards, ribbon bar, unit patches & insignia in a wooden display case, as pictured. The awards are all complete with their respective award certificates, held in a folder, along with his Reserve Commission and other items of paperwork, including his course certificates and honourable discharge. The folio also contains large colour photographs, as well as his Silver & Bronze Stars combat report/criteria awards paperwork and confirmation of Purple Heart, Air Medal & Vietnam Cross of Gallantry.

There is also a 2 part folio of black & white and colour photographs on the campaign (approx. 50) as well as a copy of his book ‘The Cage’ – Transworld Publishers, 2002. Included also are the supposed secret letters, written in ink & lemon juice, detailing his captivity and torture ordeal. And last, but not least, a steel wire which he famously claimed was used to bind his wrists while in captivity.

Tom Abraham on the face of it would seem to be a very heroic soldier, who was captured in 1968 during the crazy days of the Tet Offensive, however, the murky truth has since emerged that he was not actually ever captured and made up the whole story as a result of an incident where he was arrested by the Surrey police for drink-driving and assault, in which he hit both police officer’s in 1999. On the day of his trial, he gave the story in court that as a result of post-traumatic events relating to his capture, imprisonment and torture by the Vietcong, he was therefore not responsible for his actions. At the courthouse was a reporter to took down the details of the story and it’s intriguing nature and passed these details onto The Daily Mail, who subsequently contacted Abraham and offered him an undisclosed sum to publish his story, which led to him also writing his book.

According to Abraham, he was captured in 1968 during the Tet offensive, while serving as a junior officer with the 7th Air Cavalry Brigade. He claims he was taken by the Vietcong to a remote area, caged in bamboo, submerged underwater for short periods, tortured with cigarette burns and physical abuse. He managed to escape from his captors and made his way back to safety…however, he failed to notify anyone at the time, including his wife, of his capture or escape.

As a result, his book and story have been widely criticised and he was taken to court as a result by The Daily Mail.
The group was bought as a result of him having to raise funds for his legal defence team and is for the first time ever available to purchase on the open market.
There are many stories relating to Abraham which can be found on the internet, and also some unbelievable ones contained in his book. As mentioned, this is one of the strangest and interesting groups to have surfaced and any prospective buyer would have this as a unique group within their collection.
Free postage worldwide.