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Vietnam Vet and Author, Steven Hyde
Episode 3242 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about Vietnam Vet Steven Hyde and his new book Blood, Sweat and Mothballs. The featured story is titled: Marshalltown veteran Steven Hyde details journey from enlistment to Vietnam in ‘Blood Sweat and Mothballs’. It appeared on the Times-Republican website and was submitted by Robert Maharry.
Maharry reported that Steven Hyde’s story stands as a powerful testament to the courage, resilience, and enduring greatness of the Vietnam Veteran generation. Enlisting in the U.S. Army as a teenager in the mid-1960s with little understanding of the political forces at play, Hyde answered his country’s call with quiet determination. What followed was a remarkable military journey that spanned decades, beginning in the jungles of Vietnam where he served as a helicopter mechanic and endured the brutal realities of war.
During his 15-month deployment, Hyde survived three helicopter crashes—two caused by enemy fire—and was wounded twice, ultimately earning the Purple Heart. Despite injury, infection, and the ever-present danger of combat, he returned to duty time and again, embodying the grit and selflessness that defined so many who served in Vietnam. These young men, often barely out of high school, carried immense responsibility under unimaginable conditions, asking little in return.
Hyde’s memoir, Blood Sweat and Mothballs, captures not only the physical hardships of war but also the emotional journey of a soldier coming of age in a divided era. Unlike many veterans, he was spared the hostility that greeted others upon returning home, but he never forgot the struggles faced by his fellow servicemen.
His continued service—over 30 additional years, including deployment to Afghanistan—reflects a lifelong commitment to duty. Like countless Vietnam veterans, Hyde represents a generation that served honorably despite controversy at home. Their legacy is one of sacrifice, brotherhood, and unwavering dedication—an enduring reminder of what it means to serve something greater than oneself.
Listen to Episode 3242 and discover more about Vietnam Vet Steven Hyde and his new book Blood, Sweat and Mothballs.
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