By Rev. Jerry J. Pokorsky, The Catholic Thing - Tales of heroism intrigue us. The story of Jeremiah Denton – an American Navy Airman and later U.S. Senator, shot down over North Vietnam and held in the infamous Hanoi Hilton – is a gripping account of courage. In a propaganda video, his captors forced him to say the Communists were treating him humanely. Taking advantage of the bright lights to disguise his efforts, he used his eyes to blink the word “TORTURE” in Morse Code.