Days after U.S. forces invaded Iraq, a young Texan was among the Americans who became a prisoner of war. Now he's sharing his harrowing 21-day experience in an exclusive interview with KVUE.

His just published book is entitled Edgar Hernandez: POW - An American Hero.

"It was the 23rd of March the day I was captured," he said.

March 23, 2003 was just days into the U.S. invasion of Iraq. For Army Specialist Edgar Hernandez, "It was the day that I will never forget. For me that was the worst day of my life. That's when I saw my friends getting killed. That's where I almost died."

Hernandez lived, but at least 11 other Americans died in the enemy ambush near Nasiriyah, including his best friend. "My friend Estrella. He was my best friend. His name was Ruben Estrella. Later I found out after he passed me he crashed into an Iraqi tank and he was killed instantly."

As a way of honoring Estrella and his other fallen comrades, Hernandez wrote his book, recalling the terror of captivity. "When I was captured, I thought I was going to get killed," he said.

Hernandez managed to survive 21 days in captivity. In his book, he recalls the relief of being rescued by Marines even though a friend was almost mistaken for the enemy. "Joe Hudson he looked different. He was real dark. He had a long, long beard. His beard was long so he kind of almost looked like a Muslim or like an Iraqi so when they asked, 'Are you an American?' Joe said, 'Hell ya' I'm an American'. You know now it's funny for us. We laugh about it."

"This mean the world to all of us. Remember our fallen soldiers and God Bless America," said Joe Hudson as he addressed the crowd when the former POW's received a hero's welcome home at Fort Bliss in El Paso. A month later, Hernandez was also hailed as a hero upon his return home to Mission, Texas.

That was five years ago. Now Hernandez is married with two young sons. He's also a police officer who is proud to be an American and a veteran.