Vietnam Veteran News

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Medal of Honor recipient Army SFC Lawrence Joel.

Episode 3208 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about Vietnam MoH recipient SFC Lawrence Joel. The featured story is titled Medic’s heroism earns nation’s highest honor and it appeared on the Bonner County Daily Bee website. The Story was submitted by Roger Gregory. He served as captain in the 1st Infantry Division in Vietnam. He is a Priest River businessman.

Gregory reported that Lawrence Joel was a U.S. Army sergeant first class who served in both the Korean War and the Vietnam War, distinguishing himself through extraordinary courage as a combat medic. During the Vietnam War, he was assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade and took part in intense combat operations.

On November 8, 1965, while on patrol near Bien Hoa in War Zone D, Joel’s unit was ambushed by a large Viet Cong force that outnumbered them roughly eight to one. Despite heavy enemy fire, he focused on treating wounded soldiers. Ignoring orders to remain under cover, he repeatedly exposed himself to hostile fire to reach injured men. Nearly every soldier in the lead squad was killed or wounded. Even after being shot in the right thigh and calf, Joel refused evacuation and continued administering medical aid. Under relentless fire, with bullets striking the ground around him, he treated 13 wounded soldiers during the initial assault.

After the first wave of fighting subsided, the company moved out but was struck again. Joel once more tended to the wounded as the battle stretched on for 24 grueling hours. When it ended, 419 Viet Cong soldiers were reported dead. Only then was Joel evacuated for treatment of his injuries.

For his conspicuous gallantry and selfless devotion to his fellow soldiers, Joel received both the Silver Star and the Medal of Honor. He was the first medic awarded the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War and the first African American recipient since 1898. He retired in 1973, died in 1984, and was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery.

His heroism reflects the strength, sacrifice, and resilience of the Vietnam Veteran generation — men and women who endured extraordinary hardship, fought with honor under difficult and often controversial circumstances, and whose courage and commitment continue to stand as a testament to their greatness.

Listen to Episode 3208 and discover more about Vietnam MoH recipient SFC Lawrence Joel.

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Dr. Linda Spoonster Schwartz

Episode 3207 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about Vietnam Era Vet Dr. Linda Schwartz and her service to our country. The featured story is titled: From Flight Nurse to Champion of Women Veterans: Dr. Linda Spoonster Schwartz.  It appeared on the Nurse One Stop website.

It was reported that Dr. Linda Spoonster Schwartz’s extraordinary life of service stands as a powerful tribute to the courage, resilience, and greatness of all Vietnam veterans. A retired U.S. Air Force flight nurse and Vietnam-era veteran, Schwartz devoted nearly six decades to caring for others and fighting for those who served. Inspired by her Navy veteran father and a magazine article about flight nursing, she enlisted in 1967, beginning a journey that would take her from war zones to the halls of Congress.

During the Vietnam War, Schwartz was stationed at Tachikawa Air Base in Japan, where she faced the overwhelming aftermath of the Battle of Hamburger Hill. With hundreds of wounded arriving overnight, limited supplies, and exhausted staff, she witnessed firsthand the unbreakable bond among service members. Even gravely injured soldiers helped one another, embodying the selflessness and valor that define Vietnam veterans. Like so many who served, Schwartz met chaos with courage and compassion.

Her service continued in high-pressure aeromedical missions over Europe and the Middle East, where flight nurses relied on skill and critical thinking at 30,000 feet. After a devastating in-flight accident ended her flying career, Schwartz encountered a VA system unprepared for women veterans. Rather than retreat, she became a relentless advocate, testifying before Congress and demanding honor and equity for women who served.

From creating lasting policy changes to leading veterans’ initiatives in Connecticut and nationally, Schwartz’s legacy reflects the enduring strength of Vietnam veterans—men and women whose sacrifice, integrity, and determination continue to shape and strengthen our nation.

Listen to Episode 3207 and discover more about Vietnam Era Vet Dr. Linda Schwartz and her service to our country.

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Episode 3206 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the man who visited the sites of the death of his father and uncle in Vietnam. The featured story is titled: A father and uncle were killed in Vietnam. This family returned to remember them. It appeared on the Task and Purpose website and was submitted by Matt White on President’s Day, 2026.

White reported that Jeff Evans traveled to Vietnam in late 2024 on a deeply personal mission: to stand where his father and uncle died during the war more than five decades earlier. Inspired by a “60 Minutes” segment about veterans revisiting former battlefields, Evans wondered why a Gold Star child couldn’t do the same. After nearly two years of research, collecting personnel files, maps, and military reports with help from a Vietnam veteran and the National Archives, he set out with his wife, Dena, and sons, Jake and Austin.

Finding the exact locations proved challenging. Village names had changed, rivers shifted, and modern development obscured old landmarks. Still, Evans pieced together clues and began his journey at the crash site of his uncle, David Lynn Evans, a 19-year-old gunner with the 117th Assault Helicopter Company. In 1968, David’s helicopter was shot down in Long An province. He reportedly stayed on his gun to protect fellow soldiers as they escaped, sacrificing his life. After trekking through jungle paths near a remote farmhouse, Evans recognized the terrain from satellite images. A local woman led them to a hidden memorial honoring 12 Vietnamese soldiers and one American — his uncle — killed in the firefight.

Days later, Evans visited Can Tho, where his father, Norman Francis Evans, died in 1970 when his reconnaissance plane collided with a helicopter. Standing near the river crash site, Evans felt not closure but connection. The journey ended quietly at a beachside bar, where he reflected on shared sacrifice and imagined his father and uncle once doing the same.

Listen to Episode 3206 and discover more about the man who visited the sites of the death of his father and uncle in Vietnam.

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Vietnam War Medal of Honor Recipient James H. Monroe.

Episode 3205 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipient James H. Monroe with a story by Tara Ross. The featured story is titled: This Day in History: James H. Monroe’s bravery in Vietnam, it appeared on the Tara Ross website.  It was submitted by Tara Ross.

Ross reported that on this day in 1967, James H. Monroe performed an act of heroism in Vietnam that would earn him the Medal of Honor. Those who knew him were not surprised. Former teachers described him as an “ideal American boy” and one of the finest students they had taught. A graduate of Washington and Lee University, Monroe had been drafted into the Army but embraced his duty with enthusiasm. Friends remembered him as “gung ho” and upbeat about serving his country.

After only four months in Vietnam, Monroe’s platoon was ambushed at night by grenade and small-arms fire. As the unit’s medic, he crawled through intense enemy fire to aid wounded soldiers. The first foxhole he reached had been destroyed, its occupants killed. Pressing on, he found his platoon sergeant and a severely wounded radio operator. While administering aid, Monroe saw a live grenade land nearby. Shouting a warning, he pushed the wounded men aside and threw himself onto the grenade, absorbing the blast. He was killed instantly but saved at least two lives and spared others serious injury. He was just 22 years old.

A middle school in Wheaton bears his name, carefully distinguishing him from James Monroe, the fifth U.S. president, who also nearly died as a young soldier in the Revolutionary War. Though history books spotlight the president, both men answered their country’s call with extraordinary courage.

Listen to Episode 3205 and discover more about Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipient James H. Monroe with a story by Tara Ross.

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Vietnam Vet George Kalergis

105 mm artillery battery in action in Vietnam

Vietnam Vet George Kalergis

Episode 3204 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about speed, accuracy, and the discipline of leadership. The featured story is titled: Best Battalion in the Army, it appeared on the Modern War Institute website.  It was submitted by George Kalergis.

In this reflective memoir excerpt, retired U.S. Army officer George Kalergis recounts the defining lessons of his military career, beginning with his unlikely path from drafted enlisted soldier to artillery officer during the Vietnam War. Thrust into combat in 1967 as an aerial forward observer with the 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry, Kalergis quickly discovered a truth never fully taught in training: in artillery, speed saves lives.

While coordinating fire missions from a helicopter, he noticed wide differences in response times between artillery units. Most took minutes to fire after a request. One unit fired in forty seconds. That moment reshaped his understanding of leadership and performance. There was no secret advantage—only discipline, clarity of expectation, and a relentlessly enforced standard. From then on, Kalergis built his leadership philosophy around measurable excellence: if a standard can be achieved once, it can become the norm.

Later, as a battery commander in Korea and eventually as S-3 under Lieutenant Colonel Dave Meade, he applied combat-proven standards to peacetime training, emphasizing stopwatch-ready speed and accuracy. He found that when soldiers master their core mission, pride spreads across every aspect of a unit’s performance.

The essay closes with hard-earned reflections on attention—what leaders choose to notice or ignore. Institutions decline quietly, he argues, when standards soften and truth becomes inconvenient. Time matters in combat; attention matters in life. Together, they define excellence.

 Listen to Episode 3204 and discover more about speed, accuracy, and the discipline of leadership.

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VVMF

Episode 3203 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about how the VVMF is adapting to the future for continued service to Vietnam Veterans. The featured story is titled: How the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund transformed fundraising efficiency and it appeared on the Bonterratech website.

It was reported the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) was founded by Vietnam veterans to honor fallen service members and has grown into a leading organization dedicated to remembrance, education, and legacy preservation. As it manages the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, The Wall of Faces, and various educational initiatives, VVMF faces a critical transition: with nearly 500 Vietnam veterans passing away daily, its longtime donor base is rapidly changing. The organization must now engage the next generation—children and grandchildren of those who served—while sustaining strong fundraising performance.

VVMF’s fundraising operations were hindered by fragmented systems. Digital and direct mail efforts operated separately, donor data was often duplicated, and manual processes consumed significant staff time. Limited database functionality and poor data hygiene made donor segmentation, campaign selection, and reporting inefficient and unsustainable.

To address these challenges, VVMF implemented Bonterra EveryAction, creating a unified fundraising ecosystem. With support from Bonterra’s team, VVMF migrated over one million donor accounts and integrated digital and offline data into a single platform. Automated segmentation, advanced reporting, and workflow tools streamlined operations, improved direct mail targeting, and enabled highly personalized outreach at scale. Insights into donor behavior also reduced costs by refining retargeting strategies.

The results were transformative: average online gifts nearly doubled, the number of recurring donors doubled, and donor portfolio management expanded significantly. Automation eliminated manual administrative tasks and enhanced stewardship efforts, including expanded communications for the In Memory program. Today, VVMF operates with greater efficiency, deeper donor insight, and a stronger foundation for engaging future generations.

 Listen to Episode 3203 and discover more about how the VVMF is adapting to the future for continued service to Vietnam Veterans.

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The Wall That Heals

Episode 3202 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the Vietnam War educational event coming to Bridgeport, WV. The featured story is titled: Educators urged to bring students to Wall That Heals in Belmont County and it appeared on the WTFR website. It was submitted by Amber Baker.

Baker reported that Local educators in Belmont County are preparing to turn the upcoming visit of The Wall That Heals into a powerful hands-on learning experience for students. The three-quarter-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial will be displayed at the Belmont County Fairgrounds from Oct. 1-4, marking the first time the traveling memorial has visited the county. Belmont County was chosen as one of only 31 host sites nationwide out of 150 applicants.

The exhibit will be free and open to the public 24 hours a day. An opening ceremony is scheduled for noon on Oct. 1, followed by a Light the Night ceremony on Oct. 2 to honor veterans affected by Agent Orange. A closing ceremony will take place Oct. 4, and Taps will be played at sunset each evening.

Bridgeport Middle School Principal Anne Haverty Lawson and committee co-chair Roberta Raymond are coordinating efforts to ensure students across the county can attend. Educators plan to prepare age-appropriate lessons in advance so students better understand the Vietnam War and the memorial’s significance. Lawson emphasized the importance of giving veterans the welcome many never received upon returning home.

Both women have personal connections to military service, deepening their commitment to the project. The Wall includes the names of 26 Belmont County service members, and organizers are encouraging families to reach out. Volunteers are also needed for the event, which is expected to draw visitors from across the region.

Listen to Episode 3202 and discover more about the Vietnam War educational event coming to Bridgeport, WV.

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Dorner Carmichael, shown here at age 20, volunteers in Vietnam as a Red Cross “Donut Dolly.” Now 76, Carmichael recently completed a new tour as a volunteer supporting deployed U.S. military personnel in Powidz, Poland. (Sarah Williams/U.S. Army)

U.S. soldiers attend a farewell for American Red Cross volunteer Dorner Carmichael in Powidz, Poland. After volunteering more than five decades ago during the Vietnam War, Carmichael signed up for another stint in a Red Cross program that supports overseas U.S. personnel. (Dorner Carmichael)

Episode 3201 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the Vietnam War Donut Dolly who served in Vietnam and 5 decades later in Poland. The featured story is titled Red Cross volunteer draws on ‘Donut Dolly’ days in Vietnam for Poland tour 5 decades later and it appeared on the Stars and Stripes website. It was submitted by ShaTyra Cox.

Cox reported that Dorner Carmichael’s life of service came full circle more than five decades after it began. In 1970, fresh out of college and uncertain about her future, the 20-year-old left her Georgia hometown to volunteer with the American Red Cross during the Vietnam War as part of the Supplemental Recreation Overseas Program. Known as “Donut Dollies,” volunteers like Carmichael provided comfort, conversation, and morale to troops, often traveling by helicopter to remote firebases. Though untrained for the emotional weight soldiers carried, she listened with empathy, reminding them that the horrors of war did not define who they were.

That experience shaped Carmichael’s life. After returning home, she became a physician assistant, inspired by the medical personnel she worked alongside and empowered by the community of women pursuing meaningful paths. More than 50 years later, at age 76, she returned to the Red Cross for a six-month deployment to Powidz, Poland, supporting U.S. troops stationed there as part of NATO operations.

While the setting differed greatly from Vietnam, Carmichael saw the mission as essentially the same: offering presence, comfort, and a reminder that service members are not alone. In Poland, she organized therapeutic and morale-boosting activities such as art, music, crochet, and origami, helping troops decompress during demanding deployments. Her role evolved into that of a trusted listener and steady figure—someone she described as “the grandmother here.”

Carmichael’s return to service bridged generations, offering younger troops perspective and compassion rooted in lived experience. As she concluded her tour, she left behind more than programs; she left a legacy of empathy, connection, and lifelong dedication to serving others.

Listen to Episode 3201 and discover more about the Vietnam War Donut Dolly who served in Vietnam and 5 decades later in Poland.

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John Fogerty, Creedence Clearwater Revival lead singer

Bob Dylan

Episode 3200 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about whether Bob Dylan ended the Vietnam War. The featured story is titled whether Bob Dylan ended the Vietnam War and it appeared on the Far Out Magazine website. It was submitted by Ben Forrest.

Forrest reported that stripped of the clichés that often define the hippie era—psychedelics, excess, and chaos—the counterculture of the 1960s was driven by a sincere belief that music could reshape society and politics. Few figures embody that conviction more clearly than John Fogerty. Performing one of Woodstock’s standout sets in 1969, Fogerty witnessed the movement from the inside while avoiding the drugs and alcohol that clouded many memories of the time. Though Creedence Clearwater Revival were less psychedelic than Jefferson Airplane and less overtly political than Country Joe and the Fish, they were deeply embedded in the era’s cultural revolt.

That role was cemented by “Fortunate Son,” released in 1969 and quickly embraced as a defining anti-war anthem. The song attacked class inequality and the injustice of the draft, becoming a powerful critique of the Vietnam War. Fogerty has always acknowledged, however, that CCR were not alone in opposing the conflict. In his view, one artist towered above all others: Bob Dylan.

By the time Woodstock took place, Dylan had evolved from a folk traditionalist inspired by Woody Guthrie into one of America’s most influential songwriters. Fogerty has repeatedly praised Dylan’s cultural reach, even claiming that no exaggeration could fully capture his importance. Going further, Fogerty suggested Dylan may have been the single most important figure in ending the Vietnam War, arguing that millions of young people shaped their political consciousness through Dylan’s lyrics.

While Dylan undeniably helped galvanize anti-war sentiment, the war’s end in 1975 resulted from a complex mix of military realities, political negotiations, and economic pressures. Fogerty’s claim, then, reflects both the idealism of the era and its enduring faith in music as an engine of change.

Listen to Episode 3200 and discover more about whether Bob Dylan ended the Vietnam War.

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Fans say it’s among the best films about the Vietnam War. (Image: Paramount Pictures)

Episode 3199 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the ratings of the movie Hamburger Hill in the UK. The featured story is titled ‘Forgotten’ Vietnam War film that’s ‘more realistic’ than Platoon and Full Metal Jacket and it appeared on the Express.uk website. It was submitted by Chris Samuel.

Samuel reported that Hamburger Hill (1987) is a lesser-known Vietnam War film that has earned a strong reputation among fans for its gritty realism, often being compared favorably to more famous titles like Platoon and Full Metal Jacket. Set during the real-life Battle of Hamburger Hill in May 1969, the film follows the U.S. Army’s 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division as they attempt to seize Hill 937, a strategic ridge in Vietnam’s Dong Ap Bia mountain range. What unfolds is a brutal, ten-day conflict marked by relentless combat and heavy casualties against the People’s Army of Vietnam.

Directed by John Irvin and written by James Carabatsos, the film focuses less on spectacle and more on the physical and emotional toll of war. Its ensemble cast includes Michael Boatman, Dylan McDermott, Courtney B. Vance, Steven Weber, Tim Quill, and Don Cheadle in one of his earliest standout roles. Fans and critics alike have praised the performances and the film’s grounded approach, highlighting its balance of intense action and character-driven dialogue.

Over the years, Hamburger Hill has been described as an overlooked gem of late-1980s Vietnam cinema. Viewers on platforms like IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, and Letterboxd frequently call it one of the most authentic portrayals of the conflict, with some ranking it alongside or even above better-known war films. The movie holds a rare 100% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, alongside a strong audience rating, reflecting its lasting impact.

Rated 18 for strong bloody violence, the film is not an easy watch, but many consider it a powerful and essential depiction of the Vietnam War. It is currently streaming free with ads on Plex in the UK, with additional viewing options available across major platforms.

Listen to Episode 3199 and discover more about the ratings of the movie Hamburger Hill in the UK.