I felt compelled to write what ended up being a nearly 5,000-word essay about Don Luce and his life. After I heard about Don’s passing via a LinkedIn post by Jim Laurie, I thought a lot about his life. Even though we never met in person, I feel an affinity with him.
As I wrote in the concluding paragraph,
The people Don touched and the lives he changed are his immortality and our inspiration. Thích Nhất Hạnh wrote in I Am Not Here, ‘I don’t see why we have to say, ‘I will die,’ because I can already see myself in you, in other people, and in future generations.’ Although Don’s mortal remains rest in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo, New York, I see him in myself, in other people, and in future generations.
Follow this link if you’d like to read the article in its entirety. The editor changed the name from Donald Sanders Luce (1934-2022): Celebration of a Life Well-Lived to The Man Who Exposed the Truth About the Tiger Cages: Donald Sanders Luce (1934-2022), which makes sense since many who are familiar with the “tiger cages” may not know (or may have forgotten) Don Luce and his pivotal role in the anti-war movement.
As always, comments are welcome either here or via email (markashwill[AT]hotmail.com.)
Postscript: Don’s memorial service is on Monday, 26 December 2022. It will be videotaped and uploaded to YouTube. I’ll post that information on my blog as soon as it’s available.
Shalom (שלום), MAA
An International Educator in Vietnam 
Reprinted by “Vietnam Full Disclosure” – https://www.vietnamfulldisclosure.org/truth-about-tiger-cages-don-luce/
A PDF copy of “Vietnam: The Unheard Voices,” co-authored by Don Luce and John Sommer and published in early 1969, can be downloaded here: https://www.renincorp.org/bookshelf/vietnam-the-unheard-voices_.pdf
Don’s memorial service on 26.12.22: https://youtu.be/LOC6gtZpuIE
Tưởng niệm Don Luce – nhà báo phát hiện Chuồng Cọp Côn Đảo (15.12.22) https://doanhnhansaigon.vn/di-nghi-viet/tuong-niem-don-luce-nha-bao-phat-hien-chuong-cop-con-dao-1114916.html
Here’s ChatGPT’s analysis of my essay: 1. Who Was Don Luce and What Did He Do?
The essay highlights Don Luce’s transformation from an agricultural aid worker in Vietnam to a courageous anti-war advocate. Originally arriving in 1958 with International Voluntary Services (IVS), Luce shared deep connections with the Vietnamese people, becoming fluent in the language. Over time, he became disillusioned with U.S. war policy, resigning in 1967 with colleagues and co-authoring Vietnam: The Unheard Voices in 1969 counterpunch.org+2en.wikipedia.org+2counterpunch.org+2. 2. The “Tiger Cages” Revelation
His most dramatic contribution came in 1970, when he escorted a U.S. Congressional delegation—including Tom Harkin—to a secret prison on Côn Đảo (Con Son) Island. Guided by Luce’s hand-drawn map, they found over 500 political prisoners shackled in cruelly cramped “tiger cages” under grates—sick, dehydrated, and terrified. The accompanying photos, widely published in Life magazine, sparked international outrage en.wikipedia.org. 3. Impact and Legacy
The essay credits Luce with delivering a powerful blow to the credibility of U.S. war efforts. The Life photos helped turn global opinion, exposing Vietnam’s human rights abuses. Luce himself was punished—stripped of press credentials in South Vietnam—but continued advocating long after returning to the U.S., serving as IVS director, later teaching sociology, and contributing to community welfare in Niagara Falls en.wikipedia.org. 4. Reflection on the Essay
The CounterPunch piece does a fine job humanizing Luce—not just as a whistleblower, but as a lifelong humanitarian deeply bonded to the Vietnamese people. It underscores his moral evolution: from aid worker to political dissident, educator, and community servant.
Areas where the essay might have offered more:
5. Overall Assessment
The essay is engaging, well-structured, and rooted in solid facts (e.g., dates of resignation in 1967, the congressional visit in 1970, and his death in 2022 at age 88). Its narrative strength lies in blending eyewitness courage with moral conviction. At around 900 words, it balances sufficient detail with readability. While it could be improved by deeper historical and emotional context, it succeeds in presenting Don Luce as a model of ethical integrity and impactful dissent. 6. Closing Thought
Don Luce’s story reminds us that change often begins with individuals who dare to speak truth to power. His revealing of the tiger cages remains a powerful testimonial of war’s human cost—and the moral imperative to bear witness.