The Beginning of My Crime Spree Episode 196

So There I Was · Jan 29, 2026 · 2h 25m

Welcome to a sobering and powerful episode of So There I Was. This week, we explore incredible Hanoi Hilton survival stories with retired Navy Captain Mike "Masher" McGrath. Beyond the technical skill of flying an A-4 Skyhawk, Masher details the sheer mental grit required to survive six years of brutal captivity in North Vietnam. 2,102 Days of Endurance and Torture On June 30, 1967, Masher’s world changed in a heartbeat during a bomb run south of Hanoi. After a violent mid-air ejection that shattered his arm and back, he was captured and thrust into a nightmare. For the next 2,102 days, he…