Vietnam Veteran News

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Sgt. Sammy Lee Davis receives the Medal of Honor from President Lyndon B. Johnson at the White House, November 19, 1968. (Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library)

Medal of Honor recipient and retired U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Sammy Lee Davis renders a salute to a passing U.S. flag during the Independence Day parade at Arlington Heights, Illinois, July 4, 2013. (U.S. Army/Sgt. 1st Class Anthony L. Taylor)

Episode 3369 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about how ‘the real Forrest Gump’ got his stolen Medal of Honor back. The featured story is titled: How ‘the real Forrest Gump’ got his stolen Medal of Honor back. It appeared on the We are the Mighty website and was submitted by Stephen Ruiz.

Ruiz reported that U.S. Army Sgt. Sammy Lee Davis represents the extraordinary courage, sacrifice, and heroism of America’s Vietnam Veterans. His incredible story began on November 18, 1967, in the Mekong Delta, when approximately 1,500 Viet Cong attacked a U.S. fire support base.

Despite suffering severe wounds when enemy fire destroyed a howitzer, Davis refused to quit fighting. Injured in his back and legs and briefly unconscious, he returned to the artillery weapon and continued firing at the enemy. Then he heard a wounded American soldier across the river calling for help.

Knowing that his fellow soldiers desperately needed him, Davis made the extraordinary decision to cross the river despite his injuries and intense enemy fire. Unable to swim, he used an air mattress to reach the opposite bank. There he found Jim Deister, critically wounded, along with Billy Ray Crawford and Gwendell Holloway.

Davis carried Deister on his shoulders and helped the other wounded soldiers toward safety while enemy bullets struck the water around him. After rescuing all three men, Davis returned to the fight and continued serving with a howitzer crew until the Viet Cong withdrew.

For his incredible Vietnam War heroism, President Lyndon B. Johnson presented Sammy Lee Davis with the Medal of Honor at the White House on November 19, 1968. Video from that ceremony was later incorporated into the movie Forrest Gump, leading many to call Davis the “real Forrest Gump.”

In 2005, thieves stole Davis’ Medal of Honor from his vehicle. Fortunately, his briefcase was recovered from a river several days later, and the medal was returned.

But to Davis, the Medal of Honor belonged not only to him, but to the 31 men from his unit who died in Vietnam.

The story of Sammy Lee Davis reminds us that Vietnam Veterans were courageous American heroes who displayed extraordinary bravery, loyalty, and devotion to their brothers in combat. Their service and sacrifice deserve our lasting respect, honor, and gratitude.

Listen to episode 3369 and discover more about how ‘the real Forrest Gump’ got his stolen Medal of Honor back.

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The North Vietnamese shot down Air Force pilot Kenneth Cordier’s F-4C Phantom II aircraft in early December 1966. (U.S. Air Force)

A total of 591 U.S. prisoners of war returned home as part of Operation Homecoming in 1973. (U.S. Air Force)

Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Kenneth Cordier delivers a speech at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Sept. 16, 2022. (U.S. Air Force/Senior Airman Thomas Karol)

Episode 3368 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the incredible story of Air Force POW Kenneth Cordier. The featured story is titled: How this Vietnam POW stayed strong during more than 6 years in captivity. It appeared on the We are the Mighty website and was submitted by Stephen Ruiz.

Ruiz reported that Air Force Maj. Kenneth Cordier represents the extraordinary courage, sacrifice, resilience, and patriotism of America’s Vietnam Veterans. An experienced military aviator and F-4C Phantom II fighter pilot, Cordier was flying his 176th combat mission over North Vietnam in December 1966 when a North Vietnamese surface-to-air missile (SAM) struck his aircraft at approximately 24,000 feet and 575 mph. Forced to eject, Cordier watched his burning Phantom explode as he descended by parachute into enemy territory.

Captured approximately 85 miles north of Hanoi, Cordier began a brutal six-year, three-month imprisonment as a Vietnam War POW. He endured interrogation, torture, beatings, starvation, isolation, and horrific living conditions at several prisoner-of-war camps, including the infamous Hanoi Hilton. With a broken back, he was forced to sleep on a hard wooden bed inside a tiny cell with almost no ventilation, limited food, constant lighting, and relentless enemy propaganda.

Yet Cordier and his fellow American POWs refused to surrender their spirit. Forbidden to communicate, they developed a secret tapping code to maintain contact, share information, and preserve morale. Even after severe punishment and torture, the prisoners continued communicating. Their determination demonstrated the incredible mental strength and bravery of Vietnam Veterans.

Cordier was finally released on March 4, 1973, during Operation Homecoming, when 591 American POWs were returned from North Vietnam. His first hot shower after years of captivity became a powerful symbol of freedom regained.

After recovering, Cordier returned to his U.S. Air Force career and ultimately retired as a colonel in 1985. His story is a lasting reminder that Vietnam Veterans were never defined by defeat or captivity—they were defined by courage, honor, duty, sacrifice, and an unwavering love of America. Maj. Kenneth Cordier and all of our Vietnam Veterans deserve our deepest respect and gratitude for their service and sacrifice.

Listen to episode 3368 and discover more about the Incredible story of Air Force POW Kenneth Cordier.

MACV-SOG unit in Vietnam

Stephen Gordon, Intelligence Analysis Student at James Madison University, with a Focus in Geospatial Intelligence and Interest in Special Operations and Irregular Warfare.

Episode 3367 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about intelligence acquisition in the modern battlefield. The featured story is titled: The End of Uncontested ISR: Why US Special Operations must rediscover Special Reconnaissance. It appeared on the Small Wars Journal website and was submitted by Stephen Gordon.

Gordon reported that the Vietnam War proved once again that courage, skill, and human intelligence remain essential when American forces operate in denied and contested environments. Long before today’s sophisticated ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) systems, America’s Special Operations Forces (SOF) relied on highly trained soldiers who could move deep behind enemy lines, gather critical intelligence, and make decisions under extraordinary danger.

During Vietnam, Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP) teams and MACV-SOG became legendary examples of this capability. Small teams operated deep inside Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, often with little support, observing enemy movements, identifying targets, and gathering intelligence that conventional surveillance systems could not provide. MACV-SOG teams went even further, combining special reconnaissance, intelligence collection, sabotage, and direct operational effects against North Vietnamese forces and the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

These missions required extraordinary courage, endurance, judgment, and patriotism. The men who served in LRRP and MACV-SOG—and all the Vietnam Veterans who served beside them—demonstrated a level of dedication that deserves our nation’s deepest respect. They entered some of the most dangerous places in the Vietnam War because their fellow soldiers and commanders depended upon them.

Today, modern electronic warfare, counter-drone technology, and contested airspace are challenging the assumption that America can always maintain persistent battlefield visibility. Technology can tell commanders what is happening, but trained human operators are often needed to understand why it is happening.

That lesson from Vietnam remains critically important. The Vietnam Veteran Generation demonstrated that technology can never completely replace human courage, experience, judgment, and battlefield awareness. The greatness of all our Vietnam Veterans is reflected in the sacrifices they made and the difficult missions they accomplished. Their legacy continues to influence Special Operations, military intelligence, reconnaissance, and modern warfare today.

Listen to episode 3367 and discover more about intelligence acquisition in the modern battlefield.

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Navy Lt. Vincent Capodanno.

Episode 3366 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about Medal of Honor recipient Vincent R. Capodanno. The featured story is titled: Servant of God Father Vincent R. Capodanno Remembered at Memorial Mass on 59th Anniversary of Death. It appeared on the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA website.

The story reported that the Cessna O-1A Bird Dog, also known as the L-19A, was a remarkable Vietnam War aircraft that played a vital role in the dangerous mission of Forward Air Controllers (FACs). This small, rugged observation aircraft represents the courage, skill, and determination of the Vietnam Veteran generation—men who flew and fought in aircraft that often operated directly over enemy positions.

The aircraft featured here, serial number 51-2247, was built in 1951 and later preserved by the Heritage Flight Museum at Skagit Regional Airport in Burlington, Washington. Its history carries reminders of America’s military past, including evidence that aircraft of this type had been used in Korea and Vietnam.

The Bird Dog entered military service during the Korean War, quickly proving its value as an observation and liaison aircraft. Redesignated the O-1 in 1962, it became especially important during the Vietnam War, where Air Force and Army crews performed dangerous aerial reconnaissance and forward air control missions.

Flying low and slow over hostile territory, Vietnam-era FAC pilots searched for enemy targets, marked them with smoke or marker rockets, and directed powerful F-4 Phantom II and F-105 Thunderchief attack aircraft onto their targets. Their famous radio call, “Hit my smoke,” became synonymous with the extraordinary bravery of these aircrews.

The O-1 Bird Dog also supported clandestine missions in Laos, where American pilots served as Ravens, guiding air strikes under extremely dangerous conditions. Australian pilots also flew Bird Dog FAC missions alongside American forces.

With its 213-horsepower Continental engine, excellent low-speed handling, and specialized marker systems, the Bird Dog was a true Vietnam War workhorse.

Above all, the O-1 Bird Dog stands as a tribute to the greatness of our Vietnam Veterans. Their courage, sacrifice, professionalism, and unwavering dedication helped save lives and accomplish missions under some of the most dangerous conditions imaginable. We honor every Vietnam Veteran who served our nation.

Listen to episode 3366 and discover more about Medal of Honor recipient Vincent R. Capodanno.

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O1-A Birddog

Episode 3365 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the O1-A, Birddog. The featured story is titled: Randy’s Warbird Profiles: Cessna O-1A (L-19A) Bird Dog. It appeared on the Vintage Aviation News website and was submitted by Randy Malmstrom.

Malmstrom reported that the Cessna O-1A Bird Dog, also known as the L-19A, was a remarkable Vietnam War aircraft that played a vital role in the dangerous mission of Forward Air Controllers (FACs). This small, rugged observation aircraft represents the courage, skill, and determination of the Vietnam Veteran generation—men who flew and fought in aircraft that often operated directly over enemy positions.

The aircraft featured here, serial number 51-2247, was built in 1951 and later preserved by the Heritage Flight Museum at Skagit Regional Airport in Burlington, Washington. Its history carries reminders of America’s military past, including evidence that aircraft of this type had been used in Korea and Vietnam.

The Bird Dog entered military service during the Korean War, quickly proving its value as an observation and liaison aircraft. Redesignated the O-1 in 1962, it became especially important during the Vietnam War, where Air Force and Army crews performed dangerous aerial reconnaissance and forward air control missions.

Flying low and slow over hostile territory, Vietnam-era FAC pilots searched for enemy targets, marked them with smoke or marker rockets, and directed powerful F-4 Phantom II and F-105 Thunderchief attack aircraft onto their targets. Their famous radio call, “Hit my smoke,” became synonymous with the extraordinary bravery of these aircrews.

The O-1 Bird Dog also supported clandestine missions in Laos, where American pilots served as Ravens, guiding air strikes under extremely dangerous conditions. Australian pilots also flew Bird Dog FAC missions alongside American forces.

With its 213-horsepower Continental engine, excellent low-speed handling, and specialized marker systems, the Bird Dog was a true Vietnam War workhorse.

Above all, the O-1 Bird Dog stands as a tribute to the greatness of our Vietnam Veterans. Their courage, sacrifice, professionalism, and unwavering dedication helped save lives and accomplish missions under some of the most dangerous conditions imaginable. We honor every Vietnam Veteran who served our nation.

Listen to episode 3365 and discover more about the O1-A, Birddog.

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Navy Vietnam Veteran Clide Bryan Scoggins

Episode 3364 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the Navy Vietnam Vet who was interviewed by his grandson. The featured story is titled: Clide Scoggins. It appeared on the VVMF website and was submitted by Reid Scoggins.

Reid Scoggins reported that Vietnam Veteran Clide Bryan Scoggins represents the dedication, perseverance, and greatness of the Vietnam Veteran generation. In an interview conducted in New Bern, North Carolina, New Bern High School senior Reid Scoggins, his grandson, shares the remarkable story of his grandfather’s United States Navy service during the Vietnam War.

Born in 1947 in Oxford, North Carolina, Clide Bryan Scoggins grew up in Havelock, North Carolina, a military community shaped by Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. After graduating from high school, he began working in data processing before joining the Navy in October 1966. His journey included demanding Navy boot camp, electronics training, and eventually two tours in Vietnam.

Serving at Camp Tenshaw in Da Nang and later in Chu Lai, Scoggins worked long hours supporting thousands of military personnel. From preparing meals to driving forklifts, standing watch, and managing frozen food warehouses, his service demonstrates the importance of logistics, teamwork, and behind-the-scenes military support. These were essential contributions to the Vietnam War effort.

After returning home, Scoggins continued his Navy career at duty stations across the United States, including Jacksonville, Florida, Adak, Alaska, Charleston, South Carolina, and New Orleans, Louisiana. He also helped develop the Navy Air Logistics Information System (NALIS), using his technical skills to improve the transportation of people and supplies.

Following his retirement, Scoggins remained committed to the Vietnam Veterans of America, serving as a local chapter president and supporting fellow veterans. His story is a powerful reminder that Vietnam Veterans served with courage, adapted to extraordinary challenges, and built lives of lasting achievement.

We honor Clide Bryan Scoggins and all Vietnam Veterans for their service, sacrifice, resilience, and the enduring legacy they continue to share with America.

Listen to episode 3364 and discover more about the Navy Vietnam Vet who was interviewed by his grandson.

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Larry Rhodes, Indiana Rangers

Episode 3363 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about Indiana Ranger Larry Rhodes and his Vietnam War story. The featured story is titled: Indiana Rangers receive highest military award. It appeared on the WEHT/WTVW News Live website and was submitted by Micah Noel.

Noel reported that the greatness of our Vietnam Veterans was once again honored as the 151st Infantry Regiment of the Indiana National Guard, known proudly as the Indiana Rangers, received the Presidential Unit Citation for extraordinary service during the Vietnam War. The award is considered the highest honor a military unit can receive, recognizing the courage, sacrifice, and combat excellence demonstrated by American soldiers under some of the most demanding conditions of the war.

At the National Guard Association of the United States conference, 45 veterans from the original 212-member unit gathered to receive this long-overdue recognition. Among them was Larry Rhodes, who served with the company for 11 months and experienced firsthand the dangers of combat in the Vietnamese jungle.

Rhodes recalled carrying an M-60 machine gun while operating deep in the jungle. The Indiana Rangers specialized in long-range reconnaissance patrols, jungle warfare, surveillance, and ambush missions. Small teams of approximately six soldiers would move quietly through dangerous territory, locate trails, establish concealed positions, and monitor enemy movement for days at a time. Silence, patience, courage, and teamwork were essential to survival.

After returning home, Rhodes and many other Vietnam veterans quietly resumed civilian life. Yet they never forgot the brothers with whom they served. Rhodes continues to stay connected with fellow veterans while remembering those who have passed away.

Receiving the Presidential Unit Citation decades after the Vietnam War was an emotional moment. Many veterans were nearly speechless, overwhelmed by the significance of finally being recognized for their service and sacrifice.

Rhodes has one simple message for America: “Don’t just let the public forget us.”

That message should resonate with every generation. The Vietnam Veteran generation served when America needed them, endured hardship, carried the memories of war home, and continued forward with dignity. Their service, sacrifice, courage, and patriotism must never be forgotten. The Indiana Rangers—and all Vietnam Veterans—deserve our lasting respect, gratitude, and honor.

Listen to episode 3363 and discover more about Indiana Ranger Larry Rhodes and his Vietnam War story.

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In a ceremony Aug. 29 at the National Guard Association of the United States’ General Conference and Exhibition in Indianapolis, some of the surviving members of Company D, also known as the Indiana Rangers, received the long-awaited award.

Episode 3362 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the Indiana Rangers’ award. The featured story is titled: Indiana Rangers Recognized for Vietnam Valor. It appeared on the Association of the United States Army website.

It was reported that more than 55 years after returning home from the Vietnam War, the surviving soldiers of Indiana National Guard **Company D, 151st Infantry Regiment—known as the Indiana Rangers—**have finally received one of America’s highest military honors: the Presidential Unit Citation. Presented Aug. 29 in Indianapolis, the award recognizes the extraordinary heroism, gallantry, courage, and determination displayed by these remarkable Vietnam Veterans during a yearlong combat deployment.

The Indiana Rangers mobilized in May 1968, deploying 204 soldiers for intensive training at Fort Benning, Georgia, including demanding Ranger and Pathfinder courses. After arriving in South Vietnam in late 1968, these citizen-soldiers conducted dangerous long-range reconnaissance patrols deep behind enemy lines, tracking North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong movements around War Zone D near Saigon.

During their one-year Vietnam deployment, Company D conducted an astonishing 974 combat patrols, documented 134 enemy sightings, and participated in 94 direct engagements. Six Indiana Rangers made the ultimate sacrifice—four in combat and two in a helicopter crash.

Their extraordinary record of valor speaks for itself: Company D soldiers earned 19 Silver Stars, 123 Bronze Stars, 101 Purple Hearts, 111 Air Medals, and 183 Army Commendation Medals. Eighty-eight of the Bronze Stars and 29 Army Commendation Medals were awarded with the V Device for Valor.

These achievements demonstrate the extraordinary quality of the Vietnam Veteran generation. The Indiana Rangers were not simply soldiers; they were citizen-soldiers who answered their nation’s call during one of the most difficult periods in American military history.

Their legacy of sacrifice, courage, patriotism, professionalism, and battlefield excellence continues to inspire today’s National Guard. The Presidential Unit Citation is more than an award—it is a long-overdue recognition of what these Vietnam Veterans accomplished under extraordinarily dangerous conditions.

We proudly honor all Vietnam Veterans who served, sacrificed, fought, and endured. Their courage helped write one of the most important chapters in American military history, and their legacy deserves to be remembered forever.

Listen to episode 3362 and discover more about the Indiana Rangers’ award.

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Lt. Commander John McCain in Vietnam.

Episode 3361 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the Shoot down of John McCain over Hanoi.. The featured story is titled: The Shootdown of John McCain over Hanoi. It appeared on the Aviation Geek Club website and was submitted by Dario Leone.

Leone reported that Vietnam Veterans represent one of the most courageous and resilient generations in American military history. Among them was John S. McCain III, a U.S. Navy aviator whose extraordinary service during the Vietnam War became a powerful example of sacrifice, courage, perseverance, and devotion to duty.

Born into a distinguished United States Navy family, McCain followed his father and grandfather into military service and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1958. As a Navy fighter pilot, he flew combat missions aboard aircraft carriers, including the USS Forrestal and USS Oriskany.

In 1967, McCain survived the devastating USS Forrestal fire, a tragedy that killed 134 sailors and injured 161 others. Despite his injuries, he volunteered to return to combat. On October 26, 1967, during a bombing mission over North Vietnam, his A-4 Skyhawk was struck by a Soviet-made SA-2 surface-to-air missile. McCain ejected and crashed into Trúc Bạch Lake in Hanoi, suffering severe injuries.

Captured by North Vietnamese forces, McCain became a Vietnam War POW at the infamous Hanoi Hilton. He endured more than five years of captivity, including beatings, inadequate medical treatment, and approximately three years in solitary confinement. Despite being offered early release because of his father’s position as an admiral, McCain refused unless prisoners captured before him were released first—an extraordinary demonstration of the military Code of Conduct, honor, loyalty, and selfless service.

Released in 1973, McCain returned to the United States and continued serving his country. His military decorations included the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Purple Heart, and Distinguished Flying Cross.

The story of John McCain reminds us that Vietnam Veterans are American heroes whose courage and sacrifices must never be forgotten. Their service, resilience, patriotism, and dedication deserve our deepest respect, gratitude, and honor.

Listen to episode 3361 and discover more about the Shoot down of John McCain over Hanoi.

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The deck of the USS Forrestal

Fire on the Forrestal

Episode 3360 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the Tragedy on the USS Forrestal. The featured story is titled: The sad story of the Forrestal Fire. It appeared on the Aviation Geek Club website and was submitted by Dario Leone.

Leone reported that the Vietnam War was a defining chapter in American military history, and few places demonstrated the courage, sacrifice, and dedication of our Vietnam Veterans more dramatically than the flight decks of U.S. Navy aircraft carriers operating in the Gulf of Tonkin. These enormous warships carried hundreds of men, aircraft, jet fuel, and highly explosive weapons, making aircraft carrier fires among the most terrifying dangers faced by naval aviators and sailors.

The tragedy aboard USS Oriskany (CV-34) in October 1966 killed 25 pilots and 19 sailors and removed the carrier from combat for nine months. Other devastating incidents involving Zuni rockets occurred aboard USS Coral Sea and USS Hancock, demonstrating the deadly risks surrounding Vietnam-era naval aviation.

But the most catastrophic carrier fire occurred aboard USS Forrestal (CV-59) on July 29, 1967. A Zuni rocket accidentally fired during preparations for a combat launch, striking an A-4 Skyhawk and igniting aviation fuel across the flight deck. Within moments, several aircraft were engulfed in flames.

The disaster became even more deadly when aging World War II-era M65 bombs began detonating in the intense heat. Their explosions tore massive holes through the flight deck and sent burning fuel into the ship’s lower compartments. After approximately 12 hours of firefighting, 134 men had been killed, dozens of aircraft were destroyed or severely damaged, and Forrestal required an extensive and costly reconstruction.

The Forrestal disaster stands as a powerful reminder of the extraordinary courage of American sailors, pilots, firefighters, and deck crews during the Vietnam War. These men faced unimaginable danger while carrying out their missions under combat conditions.

Above all, we must never forget the greatness of our Vietnam Veterans. Whether serving in the cockpit, on the flight deck, below decks, or fighting fires, these brave Americans demonstrated courage, duty, sacrifice, patriotism, and unwavering commitment. Their service and sacrifices remain an enduring part of Vietnam War history and American military history.

Listen to episode 3360 and discover more about the Tragedy on the USS Forrestal.