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Episode 3145 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature an interview led by Andy Pham, a good friend of this podcast, with Daniel Hart and Michael Shevchenko where they will share their reviews of the book Hollywood’s Imperial Wars.

Daniel Hart is the Commissioning Editor (H-Diplo|RJISSF), MA (Harvard, ’21), forthcoming book on JFK/Cabot Lodge in VN War (’26).  Hart created a tremendous review of the book.

Michael Shevchenko is a Marine vet (Afghanistan era), and a current MA student (American Lit., TTU), presenter at ’25 50th anniversary VN War TTU Comp. Lit. meeting.

The Publisher provided this about the book “The history of Hollywood depictions, and the historical context in which they were created, of US military involvement with racial ‘others’ from the Indian Wars through Vietnam to the War on Terror”– Provided by publisher.”When the Vietnam War punctured the myth of American military invincibility, Hollywood needed a new kind of war movie. The familiar triumphal narrative was relegated to history and, with it, the heroic legacy that had passed from one generation to the next for more than two hundred years.

How Hollywood helped create and instill the American myth of heroic continuity, and how films revised that myth after the Vietnam War, is what Armando José Prats explores in Hollywood’s Imperial Wars. The book offers a new way of understanding the cultural and historical significance of Vietnam in relation to Hollywood’s earlier representations of Americans at war, from the mythic heroism of a film like Sands of Iwo Jima to the rupture of that myth in films such as The Deer Hunter, Apocalypse Now, and Platoon.

As early as the mid-1940s, Prats suggests, fears aroused by the Cold War were stirring anxieties about sustaining the heroic myth-anxieties reflected in the insistent, aggressive patriotism in films of the period. In this context, Prats considers the immeasurable cultural importance of John Wayne, the cinematic apotheosis of wartime valor and righteousness, whose patriotism was nonetheless deeply compromised by his not having served in World War II. Prats reveals how historical and cultural anxieties emerge in well-known Vietnam movies, in which characters inspired by the heroes of the Second World War are denied the heroic legacy of their fathers.

American war movies, in Prats’s analysis, were forever altered by the loss in Vietnam. Even movies like American Sniper that exalt war heroes are marked as much by the failure of the heroic tropes of old Hollywood war movies as by the tragic turn of actual historical events. Tracing what Prats calls the “anxiety of legacy” through the films of the World War II and post-Vietnam War periods, this book offers a new way of looking at both the Hollywood war movie and the profound cultural shifts it reflects and refracts. “.

Listen to Episode 3145 and discover more about the book Hollywood’s Imperial Wars.

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  Sofya Aptekar, an Associate Professor of Urban Studies at the City University of New York School of Labor and Urban Studies.

• Episode 3144 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature an interview with Sofya Aptekar where she will talk about her book Green Card Soldier and her review of the book Building Little Saigon. Leading the interview will be Andy Pham, a good friend of this podcast.Sofya Aptekar is an Associate Professor of Urban Studies at the City University of New York School of Labor and Urban Studies. She is the author of Green Card Soldier: Between Model Immigrant and Security Threat (MIT Press) and The Road to Citizenship: What Naturalization Means for Immigrants and the United States (Rutgers University Press), and co-author of Lend and Rule: Fighting The Shadow Financialization of Public Universities. Sofya researches and writes about the immigration system, US military and empire, urban diversity, and workforce inequities. She is a proud union member and worker organizer.
• At CUNY SLU, Sofya teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in urban studies, policy, and research methods. Prior to her current position, she worked as an Assistant Professor of Sociology and Core Faculty in Critical Ethnic and Community Studies program at UMass Boston. She has been a Visiting Fellow at the Russell Sage Foundation, a Research Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Religious and Ethnic Diversity, and a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Office of Population Research at Princeton University. Sofya has taught undergraduate courses at Rutgers University, Queens College, Brooklyn College, and Hunter College.
• The two books described in this episode of the podcast have been added to the Vietnam Veteran News Recommended Reading List. You are invited to use the convenient likes below to order your copy of the books while taking advantage of the super discounts offered on the book purchases.
• Listen to Episode 3144 and discover more about Sofya Aptekar and her book Green Card Soldier and more.

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Despite growing up in a military family, Greg Dunlap never imagined he’d follow the same path, let alone serve as a dog handler in the Vietnam War. (Courtesy photo: Greg Dunlap)

Greg Dunlap and his K-9 Blackie, who loved hearing their echoing bark. (Courtesy photo: Greg Dunlap)

Episode 3143 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about Air Force Vietnam Vet Greg Dunlap and his dog Blackie. The featured story is titled: ‘I saw the handwriting on the wall’: Drafted Vietnam War Vet reflects on bond with K-9. It appeared on the Portland Tribune website and was submitted by Hannah Seibold.

Siebold reported that Greg Dunlap’s story is a testament to the grit, humor, and resilience that define the Vietnam Veteran generation. Born into a military family, Dunlap grew up moving from Guam to the Philippines before settling in Santa Barbara. Though he never envisioned a military career, the Vietnam War made that choice for him when he was drafted into the Air Force just shy of his 20th birthday. Thanks to his hunting experience, he was placed in the military police and assigned as a dog handler—a dangerous but deeply meaningful role.

Working twelve-hour nights with only his K-9 partner, Blackie, Dunlap found an unbreakable bond that carried him through the harshness of war. Blackie’s playful spirit—flipping buckets to bark into them or proudly carrying Dunlap’s steel helmet—provided both comfort and companionship amid the chaos. When Dunlap’s service ended, he returned home to a nation divided, facing the painful reality of ridicule rather than gratitude.

Despite the difficult transition, Dunlap embodied the strength and perseverance of his generation. He built a stable life after the war, working for decades in postal service, sales, and winery equipment before retiring near his family. His story underscores the quiet greatness of Vietnam Veterans—men and women who faced a hostile world at home but met it with courage, humility, and unwavering dedication to duty and country.

Listen to Episode 3143 and discover more about Air Force Vietnam Vet Greg Dunlap and his dog Blackie.

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Vietnam veteran Joe Salzer holds three hand-carved canes he made for other veterans at the St. Cloud StandDown Resource Fair on Friday, Oct. 24, at the St. Cloud Armory. The one in his left hand has an elephant head carved on both sides of the handle.Lauren Breunig / St. Cloud LIVE

Episode 3142 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about how Minnesota Vietnam Veteran Joe Salzar helps prove the greatness of his generation. The featured story is titled: Veterans share stories of resilience and community in St. Cloud It appeared on the St Cloud Live website and was submitted by Lauren Breunig. She is a news reporter for St. Cloud LIVE. She can be contacted at lauren@stcloudlive.com.

Breunig reported that Joe Salzer embodies the spirit, strength, and selflessness of America’s Vietnam veterans. At 78, this remarkable man from central Minnesota continues to serve others through a deeply personal mission: hand-carving and gifting canes to fellow veterans. Each cane, made from diamond willow wood, is a unique creation — often adorned with intricate designs and carved with care in Salzer’s workshop north of Avon. But these canes represent far more than craftsmanship. When Salzer places one in a veteran’s hands, he says, “As one veteran to another, I’ll walk with you to the end until you can’t anymore.”

A Vietnam veteran himself, Salzer was drafted in 1966 after graduating from St. Boniface High School in Cold Spring. He served with transportation and support units for the Ninth and 25th Infantry divisions, operating between Saigon and the Cambodian border during the intense years of 1967–68 — including the Tet Offensive. Like many who served, he carries the weight of loss and the scars of PTSD. Yet, rather than turning inward, Salzer transforms his pain into purpose, creating around 125 canes each year in memory of the friends he lost and in honor of all who served.

Salzer’s compassion reflects the resilience of all Vietnam veterans — men and women who endured the unimaginable, returned home to rebuild, and continue to lift one another up. His generosity and humility remind us that greatness lies not just in surviving hardship, but in dedicating one’s life to helping others do the same.

Listen to Episode 3142 and discover more about how Minnesota Vietnam Veteran Joe Salzar helps prove the greatness of his generation.

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General Phan Van Giang, Minister of National Defence of Vietnam (right), and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth at their talks in Hanoi on November 2 (Photo: VNA)

Episode 3141 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s visit to Hanoi where he hopes to fire up efforts to find MIA’s from the Vietnam War. The featured story is titled: Hegseth in Hanoi: Pursuit of lost Americans from the Vietnam War a top Pentagon priority – Defense secretary visits military unit in Vietnam working to resolve cases of missing warfighters. It appeared on the Washington Times website and was submitted by Bill Gertz, a national security correspondent for The Washington Times. He has been with The Times since 1985..

Gertz reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reaffirmed that resolving cases of Americans missing from the Vietnam War remains a top priority for the Trump administration. During his visit to Hanoi,

Hegseth and Vietnamese Defense Minister Gen. Phan Van Giang exchanged wartime artifacts — an American veteran’s Vietnam War souvenirs were returned to Vietnam, while Hegseth received identification cards of missing U.S. pilots. The exchange symbolized deepening military cooperation and humanitarian reconciliation between the former adversaries.

Hegseth praised the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) team in Hanoi for its ongoing recovery efforts, despite criticism that the agency has paid Vietnam millions for limited progress. A recent report accused Hanoi of overcharging the Pentagon, claiming the Vietnamese government turned the MIA accounting process into a revenue-generating venture. Both sides have since agreed to reduce costs, though implementation is delayed by the U.S. government shutdown.

Hegseth emphasized that finding missing personnel is central to U.S.-Vietnam defense ties, marking 30 years of diplomatic relations and a growing “comprehensive strategic partnership.”

The two nations also signed a memorandum to expand cooperation on recovering remains, ordnance clearance, and environmental cleanup. Hegseth’s visit was part of a broader Asia tour aimed at strengthening regional alliances amid rising Chinese aggression.

Listen to Episode 3141 and discover more about Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s visit to Hanoi to fire up efforts to find MIA’s from the Vietnam War.

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Roger Kneeland

Episode 3140 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about Air Force Vietnam Vet Roger Kneeland and his service to his country both in Vietnam and back home in America. The featured story is titled: Veteran Spotlight: Roger Kneeland. It appeared on the WSBT Veteran Spotlight Series and was submitted by Claire Kenney.

Kenny reported that Roger Kneeland’s story stands as a shining example of the greatness and enduring spirit of the Vietnam Veteran generation — men and women who served with courage, humility, and an unwavering sense of duty.

After graduating from his college’s Air Force ROTC program in 1968, Kneeland began his military career as a pilot in the United States Air Force. His first assignment was flying the C7A aircraft in Vietnam, a demanding and dangerous mission that required extensive local and tactical training. Serving as part of a two-pilot crew, Kneeland adapted quickly to the challenges of Vietnam’s terrain and the intensity of combat operations. His year in Vietnam forged strong bonds among his unit members — friendships built on trust, shared sacrifice, and courage under fire.

Following his return home, Kneeland completed his six years of Air Force service by flying the iconic B-52 bomber. While stationed in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, he met his future wife, Gail, marking the beginning of a lifelong partnership. Transitioning from military to civilian life, he continued his aviation career in corporate and charter flying, spending two decades with Inland Steel and another fifteen years with NiSource before retiring.

Today, Kneeland enjoys family life with Gail, their two sons, and two granddaughters, dedicating his time to volunteering and community involvement. His journey reflects the hallmark of the Vietnam Veteran generation — resilience, professionalism, and the quiet pride of having served a nation in need. These veterans, like Kneeland, returned home to build families, careers, and communities, embodying the courage, integrity, and strength that continue to inspire future generations.

Listen to Episode 3140 and discover more about Air Force Vietnam Vet Roger Kneeland and his service to his country both in Vietnam and back home in America.

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Historian Anthony McAleer OAM (center) is looking to interview Vietnam veterans like Amat Binnoore (left) and Doug Hill (right) for his next book. (Mikayla van Loon: 514632)

Episode 3139 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the Australian historian who is writing a book about local Vietnam Vets. The featured story is titled: Local Vietnam vets encouraged to share stories for new history book. It appeared on the Star Mail website and was submitted by Mikayla van Loon.

van Loon reported that Historian Anthony McAleer OAM has dedicated many years to documenting the military history of the Shire of Lillydale, culminating in the fifth and final volume of his series. This latest installment focuses on the period 1945 to 1995, with a particular emphasis on the Vietnam War (1962–1975) and the experiences of local men and women who served overseas or supported efforts on the home front.

Through extensive research from multiple sources, McAleer compiled a nominal roll of 130 residents from the Shire of Lillydale who served in Vietnam across the Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army, and Royal Australian Air Force, five of whom died in active service. Among them were Doug Hill of Montrose and Amat Binnoore of Mount Evelyn, who served at opposite ends of the conflict yet later became friends—unaware of their shared connection until McAleer’s research revealed it.

Hill, the district’s first Vietnam veteran, served in 1964 with the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam, later training soldiers in jungle warfare at Canungra before returning to Vietnam in 1968. His decorated service includes receiving the American Bronze Star for rescuing an American Marine under fire. Binnoore, the last local to leave Vietnam, served as a load master and later as a transport sergeant to Major General Donald Dunstan, facing daily dangers in Saigon.

McAleer continues to seek stories from Vietnam veterans and nurses from towns including Lilydale, Wandin, Seville, and Mount Evelyn, such as Sister Julia Seymour, the first Australian nurse to serve in Vietnam.

To share information or personal accounts, contact Anthony McAleer at antmca@bigpond.com

Listen to Episode 3139 and discover more about the Australian historian who is writing a book about local Vietnam Vets.

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Donovan Cumpston laughs at a joke his wife Jamie Moran said in the dining room of their West Union home.
[Staff photo by Faithlyn Graham]

Donovan and his wife, Jamie Moran dressed up to match North Bend State Park car show theme. Cumpston went as the Cowardly Lion while his wife dressed as Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz.
[Staff photo by Faithlyn Graham]

Episode 3138 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about Vietnam Vet Dovonan Cumpston and life of service to his country. The featured story is titled: ‘The land was a lot like West Virginia’: 81-year-old Vietnam War veteran reflects on his time at war. It appeared on the WV News website and was submitted by Faithlyn Graham,  Staff Writer.

Graham reported that Doddridge County native Donovan Cumpston exemplifies the quiet strength and enduring pride of America’s Vietnam veterans. Drafted into the U.S. Army, Cumpston served from 1965 to 1968, spending eight months in Vietnam at Camp Radcliffe in the Central Highlands. There, he handled finance duties—managing payroll and travel for fellow soldiers—with the same dedication he brought to every part of his life. He earned the Purple Heart for wounds sustained during the Tet Offensive, one of the war’s most pivotal and dangerous campaigns.

Cumpston recalls Vietnam’s hills and warmth as reminiscent of West Virginia, and he remembers the kindness of local villagers. Yet his homecoming was harsh—he, like many Vietnam veterans, was met with silence and disapproval from a divided nation. Over time, however, public attitudes shifted, and today he’s proud to see Americans offering the respect that Vietnam veterans long deserved.

After the war, Cumpston built a career in government finance with the Bureau of Public Debt and later found camaraderie in the Veterans of Foreign Wars, honoring his service and that of his brothers in arms. In retirement, he and his wife, Jamie Moran, share a love for classic cars, traveling to shows around the state and celebrating life with humor and creativity.

At 81, Cumpston reflects on his journey with humility and gratitude. His story is a testament to the resilience, integrity, and quiet heroism of Vietnam veterans—men and women who served their country faithfully, even when recognition was slow to come.

Listen to Episode 3138 and discover more about Vietnam Vet Dovonan Cumpston and life of service to his country.

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Stanley Ross, the company’s tallest soldier, with the company’s shortest in Vietnam. (Photo courtesy of the author)

Episode 3137 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about Vietnam Vet Stanley Ross and his Friday 13^th experience in Vietnam. The featured story is titled: Vietnam Was Scary Enough. Friday the 13th Added To Our Fear. It appeared on the War Horse website and was submitted by Stanley Ross himself.

Stanley remembered that On December 13, 1968—an ominous Friday the 13th—Stanley Ross and his fellow soldiers prepared for a dangerous mission on Vietnam’s Monkey Mountain. Intelligence warned of increased Viet Cong activity, and as Ross’s company ascended the fog-covered trail, an uneasy sense of dread hung in the air. The men, weighed down by gear and fear alike, faced swarms of mosquitoes, venomous snakes, and the constant threat of hidden ambushes. Every rustle in the jungle could have been a monkey—or an enemy scout.

Ross, serving as a forward observer, carried the responsibility of coordinating artillery and air support. His role demanded courage under pressure, and he performed it with steady resolve. When his platoon encountered a fortified Viet Cong position, chaos erupted. Enemy AK-47 fire tore through the jungle as Ross moved forward under fire, calmly directing artillery strikes to neutralize the threat. A grenade exploded dangerously close, burning through his shirt, yet he stayed focused, ensuring the bombardment was accurate. His actions helped silence the enemy and save lives.

That day, several Americans were wounded, but none were lost—a small miracle on a day marked by superstition and danger. For Ross and his comrades, survival came through bravery, teamwork, and unwavering commitment.

Vietnam veterans like Stanley Ross embody the very best of American valor—ordinary men who faced extraordinary challenges with courage and resolve. After returning home, Ross built a remarkable civilian life as a businessman, educator, and author. His story stands as a testament not only to his own heroism but also to the enduring greatness of all Vietnam veterans who answered their country’s call and carried its honor through hardship and sacrifice.

Listen to Episode 3137 and discover more about Vietnam Vet Stanley Ross and his Friday 13^th experience in Vietnam.

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Vietnam veterans, Roger Edmunds (left) and David Langdon (right), with Vietnam War widow, Mary Richardson at the commemoration luncheon.
[Photo courtesy the Murray Pioneer]

Episode 3136 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about Australian Vietnam Veterans honoring their Vietnam Vet widows. The featured story is titled: Australian War Widows feted by Riverland Vietnam Veterans on their National Day of Recognition. It appeared in the Australian Rural and Regional News and was submitted David Langdon, Riverland Vietnam Veteran.

Langdon reported that on Sunday, 19 October, National War Widows Day was commemorated for the first time in South Australia with a special luncheon organized by the Riverland Vietnam Veterans (SA) Association. This event, held at Nanya Bistro in Renmark, marked a significant moment in honoring war widows, who have shown immense courage and resilience, standing by their veteran husbands during and after their service.

Vietnam War veterans Roger Edmonds and David Langdon spearheaded the event, which was met with heartfelt participation from local war widows, their families, and representatives from organizations like Legacy and the Renmark RSL. The event not only launched the War Widows Day in the Riverland but also established it as a significant annual observance alongside ANZAC Day, Remembrance Day, and Vietnam Veterans Day.

Langdon spoke movingly about the deep admiration Vietnam veterans hold for the widows, who were integral to supporting their husbands through both war and grief. He emphasized the role of war widows as “unsung heroes” who, after their husbands’ passing, continued to hold their families and communities together. Edmunds echoed this sentiment, thanking organizations like the RSL and Legacy for their vital support in preserving the memory of veterans and their sacrifices.

A poignant moment of the luncheon was the reading of the Honor Roll, remembering six Riverland war widows who had passed away. Their absence was a reminder of the preciousness of time and the importance of expressing gratitude for the sacrifices of these remarkable women. National War Widows Day now serves as a powerful tribute to the enduring strength of these women, whose sacrifices have shaped the freedoms Australians enjoy today.

Listen to Episode 3136 and discover more about Australian Vietnam Veterans honoring their Vietnam Vet widows.