In this powerful first episode of The Coach Courtney Podcast, host Tanner Courtney sits down with American war hero, naval aviator, and former POW Commander Henry James “Jim” Bettinger. Jim recounts his harrowing mission over Laos on November 22, 1969, the moments leading up to his capture, and the more than three years he spent in captivity at the infamous “Hanoi Hilton” during the Vietnam War.
From his daring ejection under enemy fire to enduring solitary confinement, Jim shares the faith, resilience, and leadership that sustained him—faith in God, family, country, and his fellow POWs. He opens up about moments of unexpected humor, the challenges of interrogation, and the moral compass that guided him through unimaginable adversity.
Jim also reflects on his post-military life, the lessons of integrity and service for future leaders, and the legacy he hopes to leave. This is more than a war story—it’s a testament to courage, honor, and the human spirit.
Key Themes:
Combat mission and capture over Laos
Life as a POW in the “Hanoi Hilton”
Faith, resilience, and leadership under extreme adversity
Stories with fellow POWs, including John McCain
Defining true resilience and integrity
Lessons for today’s leaders
Legacy of service and purpose
📖 Learn more in Jim’s book, “The Patriot, Prisoner, and Survivor.”
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.