Vietnam Veteran News

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Laos map

Images from Vantor show how a new joint China-Laos airfield in Ban Keun, Laos, has progressed since December 2025.
Vantor

Images from Vantor show how a new joint China-Laos airfield in Ban Keun, Laos, has progressed since December 2025.

Episode 3385 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the new Chinese air base in Laos. The featured story is titled; This old CIA airfield is now a Chinese base. It appeared on the CNN website and was submitted by Brad Lendon and Isaac Yee.

It was reported that a former CIA airfield used during the Vietnam War has become the site of a new Chinese military outpost in northwestern Laos, connecting the history of America’s secret wartime operations with today’s growing strategic competition in Southeast Asia. For those interested in Vietnam War history, American military operations, CIA covert missions, and the legacy of our Vietnam veterans, this development offers a remarkable look at how the past continues to shape the present.

The new installation, located at Ban Keun Airport in Laos, includes the China-Laos Joint Support and Training Center and the China-Laos Friendship Aviation Academy. China’s Defense Ministry announced that the facilities began operating on September 29. Satellite imagery shows a completed 6,500-foot runway, taxiways, aircraft parking areas, and eight aircraft that may be Hongdu JL-8 jet trainers.

During the Vietnam War, the airfield served as a logistics and support hub for Air America, the CIA-operated airline that supported secret operations throughout the region. These missions formed part of a complicated chapter in the broader Vietnam War, involving intelligence gathering, transportation, supply operations, and military support across Southeast Asia.

This history reminds us of the extraordinary dedication, courage, and professionalism demonstrated by American Vietnam veterans, including military aviators, helicopter crews, intelligence personnel, ground troops, and support specialists. These men and women served under demanding conditions, often in dangerous and little-understood operations. Their contributions deserve recognition and remembrance.

Today, China describes the new base as a joint training facility intended to strengthen Laos’s air force and promote regional stability. However, the development comes amid wider Chinese military expansion, including infrastructure investments at Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base. Analysts caution that the Laos installation does not necessarily represent a major shift in the military balance or a direct threat to American forces.

Vietnam War history is not merely a story about the past. Former wartime locations continue to influence international relations, military strategy, and the balance of power in Southeast Asia.

Through Vietnam Veteran News, we honor the greatness, sacrifice, service, and enduring legacy of all our Vietnam veterans, ensuring their experiences and contributions are never forgotten.

Listen to episode 3385 and discover more about China rehabbing a former Air America base in Laos.

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The first group of prisoners waits for their names to be called at Gia Lam Airport before boarding a C-141A. Everett Alvarez Jr., one of the longest-held American prisoners of the war, heads the line. U.S. Air Force photo

Episode 3384 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about Operation Homecoming. The featured story is titled; Operation Homecoming 1973: The Hanoi Taxi Flies the POWs Home. It appeared on the Migflug website and was submitted by Tamika Johnson.

Johnson reported that on February 12, 1973, one of the most emotional chapters in Vietnam War history began when the Hanoi Taxi, a U.S. Air Force C-141A Starlifter, arrived at Gia Lam Airport in Hanoi, North Vietnam. Its mission was extraordinary: bring home America’s courageous Vietnam War prisoners of war (POWs) after years of captivity, torture, starvation, and uncertainty.

The first flight carried 116 American POWs as part of Operation Homecoming, the historic airlift that ultimately returned 591 American prisoners from captivity in Vietnam, Laos, and China. These brave servicemen had endured unimaginable hardships while demonstrating the extraordinary courage, determination, and patriotism that define America’s Vietnam veteran generation.

Leading the first group was Navy pilot Everett Alvarez Jr., who had been shot down on August 5, 1964, and endured more than eight years of imprisonment. Other returning heroes included Navy officer Jeremiah Denton, who famously blinked the word TORTURE in Morse code during a propaganda interview, and Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Robinson Risner, a respected leader among the POWs.

After taking off from Hanoi, the aircraft erupted with cheers, laughter, tears, and embraces. For these American heroes, the sound of freedom was finally real. Their journey continued to Clark Air Base in the Philippines, Travis Air Force Base in California, and military hospitals closer to their families.

The Paris Peace Accords, signed January 27, 1973, established the framework for the prisoner releases. Operation Homecoming continued through early April, bringing long-awaited reunions to families across America.

Yet these men’s greatness extends far beyond their return. The Vietnam veteran POWs demonstrated remarkable resilience, loyalty to fellow prisoners, and unwavering devotion to their country under the most brutal conditions. Their sacrifices deserve lasting recognition and respect.

Today, the legendary Hanoi Taxi is displayed at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio, preserving a powerful reminder of Operation Homecoming 1973.

God bless America and all our Vietnam veteran POWs. Their courage, sacrifice, and perseverance will forever stand as a testament to the greatness of the American military generation that served during the Vietnam War.

 Listen to episode 3384 and discover more about Operation Homecoming.

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Col. Robin Olds with his F-4C SCAT XXVII. Olds named all his aircraft after his West Point roommate Scat Davis, who could not become a military pilot due to poor eyesight.

Episode 3383 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about how Robin Olds became an Air Force general. The featured story is titled; When legendary ace Robin Olds put on a Thunderbirds-style show with four F-101s to get off of the promotion list for brigadier general to become a combat wing commander in Vietnam. It appeared on the Aviation Geek Club website and was submitted by Dario Leone.

Leone reported that the story of General Robin Olds, the legendary American fighter pilot, is a powerful chapter in U.S. Air Force history, the Vietnam War, and the enduring greatness of America’s military veterans. Based on Ronald Easley’s book The F-101 Voodoo: An Illustrated History of McDonnell’s Heavyweight Fighter, this story reveals the leadership, courage, and determination that helped shape American airpower during a critical period in military history.

In 1963, Colonel Robin Olds, a World War II flying ace, assumed command of the 81st Tactical Fighter Wing in Europe. Recognizing that the Air Force had neglected traditional dogfighting and conventional combat skills while emphasizing nuclear missions, Olds began rebuilding his pilots’ readiness. Working alongside Lieutenant Colonel Daniel “Chappie” James, he strengthened training in aerial gunnery, conventional weapons delivery, and close air support. The transition from the F-101 Voodoo to the powerful F-4C Phantom II promised even greater versatility for future combat missions.

But Olds wanted more than a distinguished career and a promotion to general. As the Vietnam War intensified, he wanted to lead American airmen into combat. In a daring career gamble, he organized an aerial demonstration team featuring four F-101 Voodoo fighters. Their spectacular performance, including a formation barrel roll and a dramatic bomb-burst maneuver, angered senior leadership and ultimately helped remove Olds from the brigadier general promotion list—exactly what he wanted.

In 1966, Olds finally received his opportunity to fight when he took command of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing in Thailand. He brought Chappie James with him, and together they worked to restore morale, discipline, and combat effectiveness. Their leadership would become legendary in Vietnam War aviation history, culminating in Olds’ famous role in Operation Bolo in January 1967.

The story of Robin Olds honors the courage, patriotism, leadership, and fighting spirit of all our Vietnam veterans. These American servicemen answered their country’s call with extraordinary dedication. Their achievements deserve recognition, respect, and a lasting place in our nation’s history.

Listen to episode 3383 and discover more about how Robin Olds became an Air Force general.

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the Wall That Heals

Episode 3382 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the Wall that Heals and the Vietnam War. The featured story is titled; A Visit To The Wall That Heals. It appeared on the Wetzel Chronicle website and was submitted by Chuck Clegg.

Clegg reported that the Wall That Heals is more than a traveling memorial—it is a powerful reminder of the sacrifice, courage, and greatness of America’s Vietnam Veterans. With more than 58,281 names inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, each name represents a life, a family, and a story forever connected to the Vietnam War.

Contrary to the common perception that most Vietnam veterans were drafted, nearly two-thirds of those who served volunteered. These young Americans stepped forward to serve their country when called upon. Whether they served in the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, or Air Force, their dedication and courage deserve our deepest respect. The Army suffered the greatest number of casualties, but every fallen service member left behind families who experienced the same devastating loss.

The Wall also reminds us of the extraordinary range of those who served, from the youngest known casualty, Marine Dan Bullock, to the oldest recorded on the Wall. The average age of those whose names appear is only 23 years old. Among the names are brothers, fathers and sons, forever linked by their service and sacrifice.

But the Vietnam War’s cost did not end when American troops came home. Agent Orange, PTSD, combat injuries, and other hidden wounds continued affecting Vietnam veterans for decades. Many paid a price long after their service ended.

Since its creation, The Wall That Heals has carried the Vietnam Veterans Memorial experience to communities across America. This traveling replica gives veterans, families, students, and younger generations an opportunity to understand the true cost of war.

The Vietnam Veteran generation deserves honor, respect, and gratitude. These men and women answered their nation’s call and served with courage. Their stories must never be forgotten. If you have the opportunity to visit The Wall That Heals, take your children and grandchildren. Let them see the names, hear the stories, and understand the incredible greatness and sacrifice of our Vietnam Veterans.

Listen to episode 3382 and discover more about the Wall that Heals and the Vietnam War.

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Lieutenant Commander Ted “T.R.” Swartz

Episode 3381 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about Ted Schwartz, the only Navy Pilot who shot down a Mig-17 with an A-4 Skyhawk. The featured story is titled; The only US Navy A-4 Skyhawk pilot to shoot down a MiG-17. It appeared on the Aviation Geek Club website and was submitted by Dario Leone.

Leone reported that During the Vietnam War, few American military stories demonstrate courage and determination better than the extraordinary combat experience of Lieutenant Commander Ted “T.R.” Swartz, a U.S. Navy Vietnam veteran who crossed from the fighter community into attack aviation because he wanted to be where the action was. His story is a powerful reminder of the greatness of all Vietnam Veterans who answered their nation’s call and faced extraordinary danger in combat.

Naval aviation during Vietnam was divided into specialized communities, including the F-8 Crusader, F-4 Phantom, A-1 Skyraider, and A-4 Skyhawk. Swartz transferred to attack aviation and joined VA-76 “Spirits”, part of Carrier Air Wing 21 aboard the USS Bon Homme Richard. Arriving in Southeast Asia in January 1967, these Navy aviators participated in increasingly intense strikes against targets in North Vietnam, including Hanoi and Haiphong.

On May 1, 1967, Swartz flew a dangerous combat mission against Kep Airfield, where his assignment was to suppress enemy anti-aircraft defenses. During the attack, two MiG-17 fighters appeared. With the strike group restricting his maneuvering options, Swartz engaged the MiGs while flying at approximately 425 knots.

In an extraordinary display of Vietnam War aerial combat, Swartz fired three Zuni rockets at the enemy aircraft. One struck a MiG-17, making him the only A-4 Skyhawk pilot credited with shooting down a MiG-17. He then used his 20mm cannon before breaking away from the dangerous engagement.

Although his decision to save some Zuni rockets was criticized by fellow aviators and nearly resulted in disciplinary action, Swartz’s combat achievement earned him the Silver Star.

The story of T.R. Swartz represents the skill, courage, sacrifice, and determination of Vietnam Veterans. From Navy pilots and Army soldiers to Marines, Air Force personnel, and Coast Guard members, these remarkable Americans served under fire and demonstrated the greatness of the Vietnam Veteran generation.

Listen to episode 3381 and discover more about Ted Schwartz, the only Navy Pilot who shot down a Mig-17 with an A-4 Skyhawk..

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Huey in Vietnam

Huey in Vietnam

LOH-6 in Vietnam

Episode 3380 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story why Huey doors were kept open during the Vietnam War. The featured story is titled; Huey crew members tell why UH-1s (almost) always flew with doors open during the Vietnam War. It appeared on the Aviation Geek Club website and was submitted by Dario Leone.

Leone reported that the Bell UH-1 Iroquois Huey helicopter became one of the most recognizable symbols of the Vietnam War, representing the courage, skill, sacrifice, and determination of the American Vietnam Veterans who flew in them, maintained them, and depended upon them in combat. More than 7,000 Hueys served in Vietnam, performing missions ranging from troop transport and supply operations to combat assaults, gunship missions, and medical evacuation (Medevac).

The Huey was built to be extraordinarily versatile. Soldiers famously described it as capable of doing almost anything a horse could do. In Vietnam, these helicopters became essential to air mobility, rapidly moving troops and supplies into dangerous areas and evacuating wounded soldiers from the battlefield.

One fascinating question concerns whether Huey helicopters really flew with their doors open, as frequently portrayed in Vietnam War movies. Accounts from former U.S. Army Huey pilots, crew chiefs, door gunners, and veterans confirm that open doors were indeed common. The reasons were practical and sometimes essential to combat operations. Door gunners needed unobstructed access to their weapons, troops could be loaded and unloaded more quickly, and the open doors provided some relief from the tremendous heat inside the helicopter.

Veterans also remember the miserable conditions inside combat Hueys—heat, mud, blood, sweat, smoke, and the smell of unwashed bodies. Yet these extraordinary men continued flying into dangerous combat zones.

Some veterans recalled closing the doors at higher altitudes when temperatures became cold, while Loach helicopters often operated with their doors open or removed.

The Huey helicopter and Vietnam War veterans remain permanently connected in American military history. Every flight represented courage under fire. Every crew member understood the risks. The men who flew, maintained, loaded, guarded, and rode aboard these legendary helicopters demonstrated the greatness of the Vietnam Veteran generation and their unwavering commitment to their fellow Americans.

Listen to episode 3380 and discover more about why Huey doors were kept open during the Vietnam War..

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USAF EOD personnel at work in Vietnam

Episode 3379 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the two USAF EOD techs who reunited in Vietnam. The featured story is titled; From Student to Teammate: EOD Airmen Reunite in Vietnam. It appeared on the DPAA website and was submitted by Staff Sgt. Keion Jackson.

SSG Jackson reported that the legacy of Vietnam Veterans continues to inspire generations of American service members. Their courage, sacrifice, dedication, and commitment to duty remain powerful examples of what it means to serve the United States of America.

This story follows U.S. Air Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technicians Tech. Sgt. Dan Green and Master Sgt. Seth Reinhart, whose military careers came together years after Reinhart once served as Green’s instructor. During a Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) recovery mission in Vietnam, the former teacher and student reunited—not as instructor and trainee, but as experienced EOD teammates protecting a recovery team searching for a missing American service member.

Their mission demonstrates that the responsibilities of American military service do not end when a war is over. Unexploded ordnance (UXO) remains dangerous decades after the Vietnam War, requiring highly trained professionals to protect recovery personnel as they search for evidence and human remains.

Green and Reinhart represent the continuing tradition of military professionalism, teamwork, courage, and selfless service that has defined generations of American veterans. Their work also reflects a promise made to those who served in Vietnam: we will not forget you, and we will continue searching for those who never came home.

For those who served during the Vietnam War, this mission carries special meaning. The Vietnam Veteran generation endured extraordinary challenges and demonstrated remarkable courage under difficult circumstances. Their service and sacrifice deserve the highest respect and gratitude of a nation.

The reunion of Reinhart and Green is more than a story about two EOD technicians. It is a story about leadership, mentorship, military service, Vietnam veterans, POW/MIA recovery, American heroes, and the enduring commitment to bring our missing service members home.

The greatness of America’s Vietnam Veterans continues to live through those who serve today.

Listen to episode 3379 and discover more about the two USAF EOD techs who reunited in Vietnam.

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Photo/GAGE VOTA Army Maricopa Division,1966 Infantry Vietnam veteran Carl “Tony” Ramella Jr. with the Zippo lighter he found in the pocket of a dead Vietcong sniper during the Vietnam War reunited at the Wall That Heals at the Belmont County Fairgrounds.

Episode 3378 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the wandering Zippo lighter. The featured story is titled; Zippo lighter from Wheeling found in Vietnam War reunited with veteran who found it. It appeared in The Times Leader and was submitted by Gage Vota.

Vota reported that The Wall That Heals brought a powerful and emotional Vietnam War story to the Belmont County Fairgrounds, where veterans, families, and communities gathered to remember those who served and sacrificed during the Vietnam War. Among them was U.S. Army Vietnam veteran Carl “Tony” Ramella Jr., a 1966 infantry veteran whose personal connection to the Ohio Valley created an extraordinary link between Vietnam and home.

During his service in Vietnam, Ramella recovered a Zippo lighter from a deceased Viet Cong sniper. What made the discovery remarkable was the engraving: Tri-State Amusement Co. Inc., Wheeling, West Virginia, along with the initials L.W.Y. Ramella sent the lighter home to his father, hoping its owner could be identified.

Decades later, journalist John S. Marshall had the opportunity to write about the unusual discovery for the Wheeling News-Register. The story appeared on May 14, 1970. Remarkably, Marshall still remembered the lighter more than five decades later.

As preparations were being made for The Wall That Heals, Marshall, Curtis Kyer, and other committee members began searching for Ramella. Their efforts eventually succeeded, leading to an emotional reunion between a Vietnam veteran and the Zippo lighter he had carried home from Vietnam nearly 60 years earlier.

The story also highlights the enduring significance of the Zippo lighter during the Vietnam War. For American soldiers, Zippos became iconic symbols of military life, toughness, and personal expression.

For Ramella, however, the visit to The Wall That Heals carried a much deeper meaning. Seeing the names of the Vietnam veterans and fallen soldiers he served alongside brought back powerful memories and emotions.

This remarkable story reminds us that Vietnam Veterans never forgot their comrades. Their courage, sacrifice, service, and brotherhood continue to inspire generations. The Wall That Heals ensures that their names—and the stories behind them—will never be forgotten.

Listen to episode 3378 and discover more about the wandering Zippo lighter.

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USARV-SOG operating in Cambodia.

Episode 3377 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story by Mack Payne about Project Gamma and the long gone spy.

Payne reported that Project GAMMA and the Long-Gone Spy is one of the most secretive and controversial stories of the Vietnam War, involving the legendary U.S. Army Special Forces Green Berets, MACV-SOG, and a South Vietnamese intelligence agent named Thai Khac Chuyen.

Operating in the shadows of the Vietnam War, Project GAMMA was a highly classified intelligence operation focused on gathering information about North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong activity, particularly Communist operations connected to Cambodia. The mission demanded extraordinary courage, secrecy, intelligence gathering, and unconventional-warfare skills.

The Green Berets of the 5th Special Forces Group were uniquely prepared for this dangerous environment. These highly trained Vietnam veterans served as intelligence specialists, advisers, reconnaissance experts, guerrilla fighters, and unconventional-warfare professionals. Working alongside Vietnamese personnel and indigenous forces, they developed intelligence networks and gathered information deep inside enemy territory.

The case surrounding Thai Khac Chuyen, who became known as the “long-gone spy,” eventually led to a major military controversy. Concerns about double agents, disappearing intelligence sources, and the security of the GAMMA network resulted in the arrest of Colonel Robert Rheault and seven other Special Forces officers. The case ultimately collapsed after the CIA declined to testify, and the charges were dropped in September 1969.

But the controversy does not erase the remarkable service of the men who served in U.S. Army Special Forces, 5th Special Forces Group, and MACV-SOG.

These Vietnam Green Berets fought a different kind of war—one where intelligence could be as important as firepower and where trusting the wrong person could cost American lives. Their missions required courage, discipline, sacrifice, intelligence, and extraordinary resourcefulness.

The story of Project GAMMA and Thai Khac Chuyen provides a rare glimpse into the secret war in Vietnam and the incredible men who served in America’s Special Forces. Their service and sacrifice deserve to be remembered and honored.

Listen to episode 3377 and discover more about Project Gamma and the long gone spy.

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Stolen Valor (AI image)

Episode 3376 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the person who stole valor and VA funds. The featured story is titled: DOJ: Man pleads guilty to stolen valor and defrauding VA out of $124K in benefits. It appeared on the Fox News website and was submitted by Mark Richardson.

Richardson reported that The Vietnam War produced generations of courageous American heroes who served their country under extraordinarily difficult circumstances. Our Vietnam Veterans deserve lasting respect and recognition for their military service, sacrifice, courage, and dedication. This story, however, concerns a Missouri man accused of falsely claiming that he was one of them.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, James Lyon, 80, of Independence, Missouri, pleaded guilty to charges involving stolen valor and fraudulently obtaining VA disability benefits. Federal prosecutors say Lyon admitted that he refused Marine Corps training in 1966 as a conscientious objector, but later falsely claimed that he had completed three separate periods of Marine Corps service, including combat service during the Vietnam War.

The DOJ says Lyon also falsely claimed that he had earned prestigious military decorations, including the Bronze Star and Silver Star, despite never having served in combat. These allegations are particularly significant because such medals represent the extraordinary courage and sacrifice of American servicemen and women who actually served in Vietnam.

According to prosecutors, Lyon also admitted falsely telling the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that he had been diagnosed with ALS, while using fabricated medical records to support his claim for disability compensation. The DOJ says those fraudulent claims resulted in Lyon receiving more than $124,262 in VA disability-related payments to which he was not entitled.

For the millions of Americans who served during the Vietnam War, stories involving stolen military service can be deeply troubling because they can diminish the accomplishments and sacrifices of genuine Vietnam Veterans. Their service, whether in combat, support, aviation, logistics, medical units, or other military roles, remains an important part of American military history.

The DOJ says Lyon faces up to 10 years in federal prison without parole. His sentencing will follow a federal pre-sentence investigation.

The greatness of our Vietnam Veterans is found in those who truly served, sacrificed, and carried out their duty with honor.

Listen to episode 3376 and discover more about the person that stole valor and VA funds.