Alvarez endured eight years and seven months of brutal captivity by the North Vietnamese at the Hỏa Lò Prison (sarcastically known as the "Hanoi Hilton" by fellow POWs), in which he was repeatedly beaten and tortured. Alvarez was especially esteemed by his fellow prisoners because he was for almost a year the only aviator prisoner of war.
Alvarez endured eight years and seven months of brutal captivity at the Hỏa Lò Prison, which was known as the "Hanoi Hilton" by other POWs. He was subjected to repeated beatings and torture, and he was particularly respected among his fellow prisoners because he was the only aviator prisoner of war for almost a year.