Vietnam Veteran News

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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.

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An Douglas A-3 Skywarrior delivering bombs.

An Douglas A-3 Skywarrior in level flight.

Episode 3359 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the U.S. Navy A-3 Skywarrior service in Vietnam. The featured story is titled: Did you know that even though the A-3 Skywarrior didn’t have a bombsight was the most accurate dive bomber during the Vietnam War. It appeared on the Aviation Geek Club website and was submitted by Dario Leone.

Leone reported that the Douglas A-3 Skywarrior, famously known as “The Whale,” was one of the most remarkable aircraft in U.S. Navy history and played an important role during the Vietnam War. Designed as a strategic carrier-based bomber, the A-3 entered service in the 1950s and remained in the Navy until 1991, making it one of the longest-serving carrier aircraft ever built.

During the Vietnam War, the Skywarrior demonstrated the skill, courage, and determination of the American Vietnam Veteran generation. On March 3, 1965, A-3s from VAH-2 aboard USS Coral Sea conducted one of the aircraft’s first conventional bombing missions against Bach Long Vi Island in the Gulf of Tonkin. Navy aviators soon developed an extraordinary reputation for bombing accuracy, even though their aircraft lacked a conventional gunsight or bombsight capable of accurately delivering ordnance.

The A-3 also performed radar bombing missions, including operations over North Vietnam and South Vietnam, particularly at night and during poor weather. Its enormous size and heavy payload made it a valuable weapon aboard American aircraft carriers.

One of the most dramatic missions involved an attempt to mine the approaches to Haiphong Harbor in 1967. Skywarriors were prepared to fly at extremely low altitude and drop 1,000-pound magnetic mines, but the mission was canceled after an A-3 disappeared shortly before launch.

As the war progressed, the A-6 Intruder increasingly replaced the Skywarrior in the strike role. The A-3 was simply too large and too slow to survive comfortably in North Vietnam’s increasingly dangerous air-defense environment.

Yet the legacy of the Skywarrior belongs not only to the aircraft, but to the brave Vietnam Veterans who flew, maintained, armed, supported, and operated these powerful Navy aircraft. Their courage, professionalism, sacrifice, and dedication represent the very best of the Vietnam Veteran generation. We owe these remarkable men our deepest respect, gratitude, and lasting remembrance.

Listen to episode 3359 and discover more about the U.S. Navy A-3 Skywarrior service in Vietnam.

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The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Oriskany (CVA-34) on fire, Oct. 26, 1966.

Episode 3358 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the day the USS Oriskany caught fire. The featured story is titled: The USS Oriskany fire, the first of three aircraft carrier fires that occurred during the Vietnam War. It appeared on the Aviation Geek Club website and was submitted by Dario Leone.

Leone reported that the USS Oriskany fire of October 26, 1966, remains one of the most tragic and heroic episodes of the Vietnam War and a powerful reminder of the courage displayed by Vietnam Veterans who served aboard America’s aircraft carriers. At 7:28 a.m., a magnesium flare accidentally ignited inside a locker containing hundreds of Mark 24 flares and rocket warheads, unleashing a devastating fire aboard the carrier.

With the USS Oriskany preparing to launch combat aircraft, sailors immediately sounded General Quarters and rushed to battle the flames. The danger was enormous. The ship was loaded with fully fueled aircraft, aviation fuel, bombs, rockets, and explosive ordnance. Sailors bravely moved armed aircraft away from the fire and onto the flight deck in an extraordinary effort to prevent an even greater catastrophe.

The flames and thick smoke quickly spread into the forward berthing areas where many naval aviators and Vietnam War pilots were sleeping. Tragically, 24 pilots and 20 other officers and sailors lost their lives, resulting in 44 casualties. Some men were trapped in smoke-filled passageways and staterooms, while others fought desperately to survive.

Stories of individual bravery stand out. One trapped pilot used soaked sheets and blankets to protect himself from the heat and smoke before receiving a fire hose and breathing equipment. Commander Richard “Dick” Bellinger, despite being trapped in his stateroom, forced his way through a porthole and reached the flight deck, where he helped organize firefighting teams.

The USS Oriskany was ultimately forced out of action and sent to Subic Bay before returning to the United States for extensive repairs.

The tragedy demonstrates the extraordinary courage, determination, sacrifice, and brotherhood of Vietnam Veterans. These men answered the call of duty under some of the most dangerous conditions imaginable. Their service and sacrifice deserve our deepest respect, gratitude, and remembrance. The Vietnam Veteran generation truly represents American courage and military service at its finest.

Listen to episode 3358 and discover more about the day the USS Oriskany caught fire.

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Vietnam Veteran and Army Nurse Vicki Strevey.

Episode 3357 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about how Vicki Strevey served in Vietnam and for President Eisenhower. The featured story is titled: From service during the Vietnam War to taking care of a former US President, a remarkable life for a Leander woman It appeared on the KVUE website and was submitted by Bob Buckalew.

Buckalew reported that Retired U.S. Army Captain Vicki Strevey represents the courage, dedication, and extraordinary service of the Vietnam Veteran generation. A young nursing school graduate in the 1960s, Strevey volunteered to serve as an Army nurse in Vietnam, stepping into a dangerous environment where she cared for American soldiers facing not only combat injuries but also the deadly tropical diseases of Southeast Asia.

At just 21 years old, Strevey arrived in Vietnam as a newly graduated nurse and was assigned to a tropical disease unit. She treated soldiers suffering from malaria and other tropical diseases, confronting an invisible enemy of mosquitoes, parasites, contaminated water, and dangerous bacteria. Her story demonstrates the incredible professionalism and compassion of the Vietnam War nurses and medical personnel who served alongside America’s fighting men and women.

After returning from Vietnam, Strevey continued her distinguished military medical career at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. There, she was given the remarkable responsibility of caring for former President Dwight D. Eisenhower during the final year of his life. Her memories of Eisenhower reveal not only his historic stature but also his warmth and sense of humor.

Today, Captain Strevey continues to represent the strength and greatness of Vietnam Veterans and the women who served during the Vietnam War. Through Honor Flight Austin, she will join fellow veterans on an expense-paid journey to Washington, D.C., where they will visit the nation’s memorials honoring their service.

Among the most meaningful stops will be the Vietnam Women’s Memorial, which honors approximately 11,000 women who served in Vietnam, many of them nurses.

Captain Vicki Strevey’s remarkable journey is a powerful reminder that the Vietnam Veteran generation deserves our deepest respect, gratitude, and honor. Their courage, sacrifice, compassion, and unwavering commitment to duty helped write an important chapter in American military history that should never be forgotten.

Listen to episode 3357 and discover more about how Vicki Strevey served in Vietnam and for President Eisenhower.

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Australian Vietnam Forces National Memorial, Canberra, ACT, Australia

Episode 3356 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about Battle of Long Tan Expose. The featured story is titled: The lessons of Long Tan It appeared on the Pearls and Irritations website and was submitted by Andrew Fraser.

Fraser reported that sixty years after the Battle of Long Tan, Vietnam Veterans Day 2026 provided an opportunity to remember one of the most significant battles involving Australian forces during the Vietnam War. The 60th anniversary commemoration in Canberra honored the 18 young Australians who gave their lives at Long Tan, while also recognizing the enormous human cost suffered by the Vietnamese people and soldiers on all sides.

The service highlighted the courage, mateship, selfless sacrifice, and extraordinary service of Vietnam Veterans. These men answered their nations’ call during a difficult and controversial period in history. Whatever the political debates surrounding the Vietnam War, the greatness of the Vietnam Veteran generation can never be measured simply by battlefield statistics or political outcomes. Their service, sacrifice, and willingness to face danger deserve lasting respect and remembrance.

The Canberra ceremony also encouraged a deeper examination of the myths and realities of the Battle of Long Tan. Brigadier Kevin O’Brien’s research challenges long-repeated claims about enemy numbers and casualties, demonstrating why historical events must be examined carefully and honestly. His work does not diminish the intensity or courage displayed by Australian troops; instead, it provides a clearer understanding of what actually happened.

Long Tan also raises important questions about the broader Australian involvement in Vietnam from 1962 to 1973. The battle may have been considered a military victory, but the larger war demonstrated that military strength alone could not determine the ultimate outcome.

Most importantly, the 60th anniversary remembrance emphasized that Vietnam Veterans Day is about remembering people—not simply battles or victories. It is about honoring the fallen, respecting veterans, remembering civilians who suffered, and learning from history.

As conflicts continue around the world, the message from Canberra remains powerful: remember our Vietnam Veterans, honor their sacrifice, cherish their service, and work toward peace. The legacy of the Vietnam Veteran generation deserves our enduring gratitude and respect.

Listen to episode 3356 and discover more about the Battle of Long Tan Expose.

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South Vietnamese soldiers in Saigon during the Tet Offensive, 1968
[via Wikimedia Commons]

Episode 3355 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the Tet Offensive. The featured story is titled: The Tet Offensive: What Were They Thinking?. It appeared on the JSTOR website and was submitted by Matthew Wills.

Wills reported that the Tet Offensive of 1968 stands as one of the most dramatic and consequential events of the Vietnam War, forever changing the course of the conflict and the way Americans understood the war in Vietnam. Beginning on January 30, 1968, North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong forces launched a massive, coordinated assault across South Vietnam, striking provincial capitals, villages, military installations, and even the U.S. Embassy in Saigon.

Some of the fiercest fighting occurred in Hue, where weeks of brutal combat devastated much of the city. At Khe Sanh, U.S. Marines and other American forces endured a prolonged siege. Throughout these battles, American and South Vietnamese forces fought with extraordinary courage, determination, and sacrifice.

Militarily, the Communist forces suffered enormous casualties, and the hoped-for popular uprising in South Vietnam never occurred. Yet Tet became a major political and psychological turning point in America. The offensive challenged the belief that victory was close and profoundly influenced American public opinion and U.S. political leadership.

Historian Liên-Hang T. Nguyen has examined the offensive from the perspective of North Vietnam, revealing deep political debates within the Vietnam Workers’ Party. Moderates favored strengthening North Vietnam and negotiations, while more militant leaders pushed for an intensified armed struggle in the South. The Sino-Soviet split further complicated North Vietnam’s strategy.

Ultimately, Tet demonstrated that the Vietnam War could not be measured solely by battlefield victories. Most importantly, the story of Tet must never overshadow the greatness, courage, sacrifice, and service of our Vietnam Veterans. American veterans faced some of the most difficult combat conditions imaginable and served their country with honor, bravery, and dedication. Their legacy remains an essential part of Vietnam War history and American history, and their service deserves our enduring respect and gratitude.

Listen to episode 3355 and discover more about the Tet Offensive.

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Parked fighter planes with their wings folded on the deck of US aircraft carrier USS Constellation while on patrol in the Gulf of Tonkin during the Vietnam War, November 26th 1968.
Getty

Episode 3354 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about Vietnam War logistics. The featured story is titled: The Logistics That Powered the Vietnam War. It appeared on the JSTOR website and was submitted by Matthew Wills.

Wills reported that the Vietnam War was far more than a battlefield conflict. It was also an extraordinary demonstration of military logistics, transportation, infrastructure, engineering, and human endurance. Behind every American soldier, Marine, sailor, and airman stood an enormous logistical system moving troops, equipment, supplies, food, fuel, and countless other necessities thousands of miles across the Pacific.

When combat troops arrived in Vietnam in 1965, the American military presence expanded at an astonishing pace. Within months, the force grew from approximately 3,500 Marines to 125,000 combat troops. By 1968, more than 536,000 American service members were serving in Vietnam. One general compared the buildup to transporting an entire American city across 10,000 miles.

Massive airfields, deep-water ports, warehouses, roads, and distribution centers were constructed to support the war effort. Private contractors and thousands of workers from Vietnam, South Korea, the Philippines, and other countries became part of this enormous logistical machine. Yet these workers often faced difficult conditions, discrimination, and labor conflicts, leading to strikes, protests, walkouts, and resistance.

Through it all stood the great Vietnam Veterans—men and women who served their country during one of the most challenging and controversial periods in American history. Whether serving in combat, flying missions, maintaining aircraft, driving convoys, loading ships, treating wounded troops, or supporting military operations, Vietnam Veterans carried an enormous burden with courage, sacrifice, and dedication.

Their service deserves our deepest respect, gratitude, and honor. The Vietnam Veteran generation answered America’s call and endured hardships that many Americans could never fully understand.

Today, remembering the Vietnam War means remembering not only the battles and politics, but also the extraordinary people who served. Our Vietnam Veterans are heroes of American history, and their sacrifice and service must never be forgotten.

Listen to episode 3354 and discover more about Vietnam War logistics.

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A memorial at Sunset Veterans Memorial Park to victims of Agent Orange during the Vietnam War is partially complete and should be done in a matter of weeks. The July 8, 2025, photo shows Larry Kerr, who’s pushed the initiative, with a model of the memorial at his home in Syracuse. (Photo: Tim Vandenack, KSL.com)

The memorial at Sunset Veterans Memorial Park to victims of Agent Orange during the Vietnam War is partially complete and should be done in a matter of weeks. It’s pictured Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026. (Tim Vandenack, KSL.com)

Episode 3353 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the new Agent Orange Memorial coming to Utah. The featured story is titled: Sunset memorial coming together to honor Vietnam War victims of Agent Orange. It appeared on the KSL-TV website and was submitted by Tim Vandenack.

Vandenack reported that plans are moving forward for a powerful Agent Orange Memorial at Sunset City Veterans Memorial Park, creating what could become one of the largest memorials of its kind in the United States. At the heart of the project is Vietnam Veteran Don Kerr, 78, a former U.S. Air Force veteran who continues to battle the effects of Agent Orange exposure from his service in Vietnam.

Kerr launched the memorial effort with the Utah Agent Orange Veterans Foundation to honor the thousands of American service members whose lives were forever changed by toxic exposure during the Vietnam War. Much of the memorial is already taking shape, including a large orange structure designed to hold black granite informational panels describing the history and devastating legacy of Agent Orange.

During Operation Ranch Hand, the U.S. military sprayed millions of gallons of Agent Orange in Vietnam between 1962 and 1971 to destroy vegetation and enemy crops. In the years following the war, many Vietnam Veterans began suffering from serious illnesses they believed were connected to their exposure. Their courage, perseverance and determination helped bring national attention to the long-term consequences of toxic military service.

This memorial stands as a lasting tribute to Vietnam Veterans, including those who suffered silently from what are often called the invisible wounds of war. It also recognizes veterans exposed to toxic substances during later conflicts, including the Persian Gulf War and Afghanistan War.

Sunset Mayor Scott Wiggill praised Kerr and everyone involved, calling the project marvelous and expressing excitement about its future. The goal is to have the memorial completed in time for a possible Veterans Day dedication on November 11.

The Agent Orange Memorial will serve as a powerful reminder of the sacrifice, courage, patriotism and greatness of America’s Vietnam Veteran generation. Their service must never be forgotten, their stories must never be silenced, and their sacrifices must always be honored. Vietnam Veterans deserve our deepest respect, gratitude and remembrance.

Listen to episode 3353 and discover more about the new Agent Orange Memorial coming to Utah.