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Kit Carson Scouts like the ones John J. Ruszkiewicz worked with in Vietnam.
Episode 3082 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about Vietnam Vet John J. Ruszkiewicz. The featured story appeared in the Pike County Courier. It was titled: ‘I served my country’. Fifty years after the end of the Vietnam War, local veterans tell of their experiences over there and when they came home.
John J. Ruszkiewicz of Warwick, N.Y., served his country during the Vietnam War as an intelligence officer, a role that required quiet precision and unwavering dedication. While others have written about harrowing combat, Ruszkiewicz’s mission was different—less visible but equally vital to the war effort. His work demanded sharp observation, sound judgment, and the ability to process critical information that could save lives.
He approached his duty with professionalism, completing his assignment to the best of his ability while carrying the emotional weight that comes with service in a war zone. Like many veterans, he learned to compartmentalize his memories—some best left in the past, others bringing a faint smile when recalled.
Years later, during a trip to Washington, D.C., for his daughter’s wedding, Ruszkiewicz visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Against advice to stay away, he sought out the names of men he had known. He felt immense relief upon discovering that a helicopter pilot friend had survived. But grief struck hard when he found the name of “Shotgun,” a Green Beret he had known at Fort Bragg who was among the war’s early casualties. The loss, long buried, hit with the force of a “ton of bricks,” bringing tears he had suppressed for decades.
For Ruszkiewicz, the memorial was both a place of remembrance and a painful reminder of the human cost of war. His story is one of quiet service, deep loyalty, and the lasting bonds forged in the line of duty.
Listen to Episode 3082 and discover more about Vietnam Vet John J. Ruszkiewicz.
