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Vietnam veterans gather to talk about their experiences during and after the war on Monday, Oct. 19 at American Legion Post 119 in Estes Park. (Jeffrey Bear / Trail-Gazette)
Episode 3394 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about Vietnam Veteran memories from Colorado. The featured story is titled: From heat and war to coming home, Vietnam veterans remember at Estes Park event. It was in the Trail Gazette of Estes Park, CO. It was submitted by Jeffrey Bear
Bear reported that at American Legion Post 119 in Estes Park, Colorado, three Vietnam War veterans shared unforgettable stories of military service, sacrifice, and resilience during the nation’s 250th anniversary and Colorado’s 150th anniversary celebration speaker series on October 19.
Steve Irish, a U.S. Air Force veteran, served at Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Saigon beginning in 1968. As a photo interpreter with the 460th Reconnaissance Technical Squadron, he analyzed aerial reconnaissance photographs to identify enemy positions, transportation routes, and supply movements. His work supported Operation Commando Hunt, an effort to disrupt North Vietnamese supplies moving along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Irish described the extraordinary challenges American forces faced fighting an enemy that relied on jungle trails, mountains, caves, and bicycles carrying hundreds of pounds of supplies.
Terry Rizzuti, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, arrived in Vietnam in October 1966 and spent much of his 13-month tour conducting dangerous infantry patrols through jungles and rice paddies. Wounded in combat, he returned to duty and eventually came home to a nation that often failed to welcome its Vietnam veterans with the respect they deserved. He recalled painful encounters with protesters and people who rejected him because of his military service.
Anya Kirvan, an Army nurse who cared for wounded American servicemen near the Demilitarized Zone, witnessed the terrible physical and emotional consequences of the Vietnam War. Many of her patients were only 18 or 19 years old. After returning to Colorado, she helped establish an innovative amputee ski program that gave wounded veterans opportunities to rebuild their strength, confidence, and hope.
Together, these powerful accounts reveal the courage, patriotism, dedication, and humanity of our Vietnam veteran generation. Their experiences remind Americans that military service involves tremendous sacrifice, both on the battlefield and after returning home.
By sharing their stories publicly, these remarkable veterans help preserve Vietnam War history, honor those who served, and ensure future generations understand the greatness of all our Vietnam veterans. Their legacy deserves lasting gratitude, recognition, and respect.
Listen to episode 3394 and discover more about Vietnam Veteran memories from Colorado.
