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Kenneth Barber, center, is shown in a photo with Bayview Rehabilitation Center chaplain Rev. Robert B. Lancia, left, and Rep. Seth Magaziner after receiving a number of metals recognizing his service in the Army during the Vietnam War. The awards were delivered by Magaziner after Barber shared his story with Lancia during an event at the Center.
Photo Courtesy: U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner

Bayview Rehabilitation Center in North Kingstown

Episode 3198 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about Vietnam Vet Kenneth Barber receiving his Vietnam War medals 50 years later. The featured story is titled Decades after war, Vietnam veteran finally honored for heroism and it appeared on the Independent website. It was submitted by Allison Shinskey, staff writer

Shinskey reported that In 2025, America marked the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, a conflict that left many veterans returning home in 1975 to confusion rather than celebration. For the Vietnam Veteran generation, service often meant sacrifice without recognition, courage without applause. Although the war itself remained controversial and the U.S. did not claim victory, the character and heroism of those who served never diminished. Their greatness lies not in political outcomes, but in duty, resilience, and loyalty to one another.

For decades, many of these veterans carried their stories quietly, including U.S. Army Specialist 4th Class Kenneth Barber. A UH-1-H helicopter crew chief who enlisted in 1970, Barber played a critical role in a daring rescue mission on Dec. 4, 1971, helping save a downed Air Force helicopter and its crew. Like so many of his generation, he treated his responsibility as personal, keeping his aircraft mission-ready every day in a hostile environment.

Only recently, through conversations at Bayview Rehabilitation Center in North Kingstown, did Barber’s story come to light. A simple coffee hour led to long-overdue recognition, reminding the community that Vietnam veterans are filled with untold stories of bravery. With help from Congressman Seth Magaziner’s office, Barber was finally awarded the medals he earned more than 50 years ago.

The ceremony was more than a personal honor—it was a tribute to an entire generation. Vietnam veterans served under extraordinary pressure, often returned home unrecognized, yet continued to live with quiet pride. Their greatness endures in their humility, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to service above self.

Listen to Episode 3198 and discover more about Vietnam Vet Kenneth Barber receiving his Vietnam War medals 50 years later.

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Vietnam vacation site

Episode 3197 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about what Australian vacationers have discovered in Vietnam. The featured story is titled Why Vietnam is Australia’s rising star destination and it appeared on the Bugle App website. It was submitted by John Stapleton.

Stapleton reported that Australian travel media have spent the past year spotlighting Vietnam’s rapid rise as a favorite destination, and the enthusiasm is backed by striking numbers. While Bali remains popular, Vietnam attracts near-universal praise from visitors. Australian arrivals surged 54% in the first quarter of 2025 compared with 2019, with more than 276,000 Australians visiting in the first half of 2025 alone. Booking platforms report explosive growth, including a 250% increase in hotel bookings between March and June 2025.

Vietnam’s appeal lies in a rare combination of affordability, quality infrastructure, safety, friendly locals, dramatic landscapes, rich history, distinctive culture, favorable climate, and world-class food. For Australians grappling with rising living costs at home, value for money is the decisive factor. Outside major tourist zones, everyday expenses are remarkably low: dollar coffees and beers, $3 bowls of pho, and long taxi rides for around $10. Travel writers consistently highlight this affordability, amplified by a strong Australian dollar against the Vietnamese dong.

Beyond price, Vietnam offers a glimpse of a thriving, socially cohesive society. Streets buzz with informal commerce, from time-specific food stalls to home-based shops, reflecting an industrious culture unburdened by excessive regulation. Families and community life are central, with children appearing well cared for, disciplined, and joyful across all economic levels.

Vietnam’s social conservatism also distinguishes it from regional competitors. Unlike Thailand’s overt party tourism, excesses are contained, contributing to a more orderly atmosphere. Combined with deep national pride and a remarkable transformation from post-war poverty to modern prosperity, Vietnam increasingly captivates Australians seeking both value and meaning in their travels.

Listen to Episode 3197 and discover more about what Australian vacationers have discovered in Vietnam.

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Shaw Air and Space Expo returns this spring [MICAH GREEN / THE SUMTER ITEM]

Episode 3196 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the Shaw Air and Space Expo. The featured story is titled: Shaw Air and Space Expo returns this spring. It appeared on the Sumpter Item website and was submitted by Kayla Green.

Green reported that the Shaw Air and Space Expo is set to return to Shaw Air Force Base on March 28–29, marking the end of another long wait for one of the region’s largest public events. After a pandemic stretched the previous gap to six years, organizers are encouraging the community to start the countdown now for a weekend packed with aerial excitement, military heritage, and meaningful tributes.

This year’s show will feature headline performances by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and the U.S. Army Golden Knights, along with demonstrations from the F-16 Viper Demonstration Team and a Heritage Flight. Attendees can also expect a dramatic joint airpower mission demo that includes pyrotechnics, rocket trucks, aerobatic flying, and a wide array of static aircraft displays and ground demonstrations. Portions of the show will highlight 60 years of the Wild Weasel mission and tie into celebrations of the nation’s upcoming 250th birthday.

A central and especially significant focus of the weekend will be the recognition of Vietnam War veterans. In observance of National Vietnam War Veterans Day, a special ceremony will be held on Sunday, March 29, honoring South Carolina–based Vietnam veterans and Purple Heart recipients as invited guests. This tribute underscores the base’s commitment to remembering and honoring those who served during the Vietnam War and recognizing their sacrifices in front of a large public audience.

The expo runs from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. both days, with gates opening at 9 a.m. Organizers anticipate crowds similar to 2022’s 80,000 attendees, and guests are encouraged to bring chairs, blankets, and spend the day along the flight line enjoying food, merchandise, and nonstop action.

Listen to Episode 3196 and discover more about the Shaw Air and Space Expo.

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Cao sitting with Pete Joyce. 1st platoon, Delta/2nd/ 28th/ Black Lions.

Episode 3195 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about Vietnam Vet Doug Miller and his Kit Carson Scout buddy. The featured story is titled: This Day in History: Remembering the Kit Carson Scouts — A Vietnam Veteran Reflects. . It appeared on the ACP website and was submitted by Joe Lyons.

Lyons reported that Vietnam Vet Doug Miller’s reflection highlights one of the Vietnam War’s most vital yet overlooked contributions: the Kit Carson Scouts. These men—former Viet Cong or North Vietnamese soldiers who defected through the Chieu Hoi (“Open Arms”) program—played an extraordinary role in saving lives and shaping battlefield outcomes. Choosing to rally was an act of immense courage. Scouts risked execution by their former comrades and suspicion from their new allies, yet many stepped forward, driven by hope for a different future.

Highly valued by U.S. units, effective Kit Carson Scouts brought something no amount of technology could replace: intimate knowledge of the terrain, enemy habits, base camps, booby traps, and weapons caches. As Miller recalled, “Good Kit Carson Scouts were highly prized,” because their insight often meant the difference between life and death. Their work was among the most dangerous in the war, frequently placing them at the point of contact. Many paid the ultimate price while protecting American and South Vietnamese soldiers.

Miller’s own platoon was assigned Cao Van Huong, a 20-year-old former Viet Cong soldier whose bravery defined the program’s importance. Shot while attempting to defect, Cao reached friendly forces clutching a Chieu Hoi leaflet, survived his wounds, completed training, and became indispensable. He repeatedly identified booby traps, enemy camps, and subtle signs of activity others would have missed—quiet acts that saved lives.

Years later, Miller still wonders about Cao’s fate after the Communist victory, a reminder of the personal cost borne by those who stood in the shadows. Remembering the Kit Carson Scouts is not just history—it is honoring exceptional courage, loyalty, and the profound impact of warriors who chose hope and humanity amid war.

Listen to Episode 3195 and discover more about Vietnam Vet Doug Miller and his Kit Carson Scout buddy.

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Vietnam Vet Kenneth Millman enjoying retirement at Micco, FL.

Episode 3194 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about Vietnam Vet Kenneth Millman and his new book “Memoirs of an Old Fart”. The featured story is titled: Florida veteran, retired editor publishes memoir of life’s adventures. It appeared on the Sebastian Daily website and was submitted by Andy Hodges.

Hodges reported that Kenneth A. Millman’s newly released memoir, Memoirs of an Old Fart: Tales I’ve Told So Often I’m Beginning to Believe Them Myself, is a spirited reflection on a life shaped by service, storytelling, and an unshakable sense of grit. Drawing from more than seven decades of experiences, Millman blends humor and nostalgia with hard-earned wisdom, tracing a journey that spans military service, journalism, family life, and adventure. Now available through major retailers, the book captures the texture of an American life fully lived.

A Vietnam War–era U.S. Navy veteran, Millman served as a submarine diver, part of a generation that answered the call in a complex and often thankless war. The memoir quietly but powerfully honors the Vietnam Veteran Generation—men and women who carried their duty with resilience, adaptability, and perseverance, then returned home to help build modern America. That same toughness and sense of responsibility carried Millman into civilian life.

After earning a degree from the University of Colorado, Millman began his journalism career at The Denver Post, eventually working at nine major publications. His career culminated at The Miami Herald, where he served as editor of special publications until retiring in 2001. He later led Wave and Worldwide Angler magazines, continuing his lifelong commitment to clear, honest storytelling.

Never content to stand still, Millman spent a decade as a sailing charter captain in the Bahamas before settling in Micco, Florida, where he now volunteers as a high school wrestling coach. Along the way, he pays heartfelt tribute to his father, a World War II veteran, and reflects on family life as a father of four and grandfather of ten. Ultimately, the memoir underscores Millman’s belief that stories—especially those shaped by service and sacrifice—are how one generation speaks to the next and endures long after the final page.

Listen to Episode 3194 and discover more about Vietnam Vet Kenneth Millman and his new book “Memoirs of an Old Fart”.

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Robert S. McNamara in The Fog of War (2003) Documentary

Episode 3193 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about Robert S. McNamara and the Fog of War. The featured story is titled: The Fog of War (2003) Documentary Review: A Sobering Study of Intelligence, Guilt, and the Limits of Moral Clarity. It appeared on the High on Films website and was submitted by Ben Brewster.

Brewster reported that Errol Morris’s The Fog of War (2003) opens in an unconventional way: with former U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara restarting a sentence he was cut off from, immediately foregrounding the film’s themes of memory, control, and moral reckoning. Rather than offering a clean historical account, Morris frames the documentary around McNamara’s reflections at age 85, as he attempts to extract “lessons” from a career defined by immense power and devastating consequences. The result is less a tidy list of insights than an intimate portrait of a brilliant, analytical man grappling—often incompletely—with the human cost of his decisions.

Structured around eleven lessons, the film revisits key moments of Cold War history, including the Cuban Missile Crisis and, most extensively, the Vietnam War. McNamara recounts how miscommunication and flawed assumptions nearly led to nuclear catastrophe and later fueled America’s tragic entanglement in Vietnam. His emotional loyalty to John F. Kennedy contrasts sharply with Morris’s visual critiques, such as animated casualty statistics raining down like bombs, emphasizing the abstraction of war planning versus its lived reality.

Three haunting images anchor the film: a Buddhist monk’s self-immolation in Saigon, an American protester burning himself beneath the Pentagon, and McNamara’s tense 1995 encounter with Vietnamese official Nguyen Co Thach. Together, they underscore the film’s central argument—that war is fought through numbers and strategy but endured by real people with deeply misunderstood motivations.

Ultimately, The Fog of War confronts the moral ambiguity of American power. McNamara admits, “We were wrong, terribly wrong,” yet still frames the war as a grim necessity. His reflections culminate in the idea that war’s complexity—the “fog”—exceeds human understanding, making empathy not just moral, but essential.

Listen to Episode 3193 and discover more about how Robert S. McNamara and the Fog of War.

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Garfield M. Langhorn Jr., Riverhead High School, 1967 yearbook photo

Vietnam Veterans of America, Suffolk County Chapter Vice President Clarence Simpson on stage with members of the Riverhead High School NJROTC just before the screening of a documentary film produced by the Suffolk County Chapter, which is named for Langhorn, at The Suffolk on Jan. 29. RiverheadLOCAL/Denise Civiletti

Episode 3192 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about how Vietnam MoH recipient Garfield Langford was honored in his home town. The featured story is titled: Film about Riverhead Medal of Honor recipient Garfield Langhorn Jr. premieres at the Suffolk. It appeared on the Riverhead Local website and was submitted by Denise Civiletti.

Civiletti reported that sixth grade students at Pulaski Street Intermediate School took part in a powerful and emotional learning experience with the first-ever screening of a documentary honoring PFC Garfield M. Langhorn Jr., Riverhead’s only Medal of Honor recipient and Suffolk County’s sole Vietnam War Medal of Honor honoree. The Suffolk Theater was filled to capacity with students, educators, and more than 30 members of the Vietnam Veterans of America, whose presence underscored the enduring bravery and sacrifice of those who served in Vietnam.

The documentary, produced by the Suffolk County chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America, traces Langhorn’s life, character, and ultimate act of heroism. Vietnam veteran Clarence Simpson narrated portions of the film, reading from official Department of Defense records and Langhorn’s Medal of Honor citation, bringing firsthand gravity and respect to the story. The film includes a haunting real audio transmission recorded moments before Langhorn sacrificed his life during a fierce ambush in Vietnam in January 1969, when he jumped on a live grenade to save wounded comrades.

Langhorn’s bravery reflects the courage shared by countless Vietnam Veterans, many of whom fought under brutal conditions, endured profound loss, and returned home without the recognition they deserved. The film also features interviews with Langhorn’s family, friends, and community members who remembered him as kind, selfless, and deeply committed to others.

For Pulaski Street students—who attend school in Langhorn’s former high school and participate annually in an essay contest on heroism—the screening reinforced the message that bravery comes in many forms. Above all, the documentary honored not only Langhorn’s sacrifice, but the enduring valor of Vietnam Veterans whose service and courage continue to inspire future generations.

Listen to Episode 3192 and discover more about how Vietnam MoH recipient Garfield Langford was honored in his home town.

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The Black Orions, the P-3 Aircraft operated by CIA for Black Flights over China and North Vietnam

Dario Leone, Aviation Geek Club

Episode 3191 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about The Black Orion P-3 role in Vietnam. The featured story is titled: The Black Orions, the P-3 Aircraft operated by CIA for Black Flights over China and North Vietnam (one is believed to have Shot Down a MiG by means of a Sidewinder Missile). It appeared on the Aviation Geek Club website and was submitted by Dario Leone.

Leone reported that The Lockheed P-3 Orion is best known as a maritime patrol legend, but one of the most consequential chapters of its history unfolded in deep secrecy under CIA control. Developed from the L-188 Electra and entering service in the early 1960s, the P-3 quickly proved adaptable beyond anti-submarine warfare. Three early P-3A aircraft were quietly diverted to the CIA and transformed into highly classified “Black Orions,” aircraft that would pioneer multi-mission intelligence operations across Asia.

Extensively modified with advanced electronics, these CIA P-3s carried side-looking radar, communications intercept systems, infrared sensors, acoustic surveillance devices, and sophisticated photographic equipment. They were capable of leaflet drops, agent and equipment paradrops, and even nuclear air sampling. Designed for survival in hostile airspace, the Black Orions featured reduced-signature exhausts, black paint schemes, deceptive markings, and—uniquely—Sidewinder missiles for self-defense. One aircraft is believed to have downed a Chinese MiG, underscoring how far beyond reconnaissance these missions extended.

While much attention has focused on CIA overflights of China, the Black Orions played a critical and often overlooked role in the Vietnam War. In 1966, one aircraft was reassigned to support the BENT AXLE program, conducting some of the earliest electronic intelligence missions over Vietnam. Flying at night from Okinawa, it helped locate NVA troop concentrations and guerrilla bases along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. This work directly influenced later, large-scale electronic surveillance efforts such as IGLOO WHITE, which became central to U.S. strategy in Southeast Asia.

Though short-lived, the CIA’s Black Orion program helped electrify modern warfare. Its Vietnam missions demonstrated the decisive value of integrated airborne intelligence, shaping both the conflict and the future of reconnaissance aviation.

 Listen to Episode 3191 and discover more about the The Black Orion P-3 role in Vietnam.

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The fierce aerial battles that became synonymous with the 1972-73 Linebacker offensive over North Vietnam saw the USAF’s F-4 Phantom II crews claim 48 MiG-19s and MiG-21s destroyed.

Episode 3190 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the final MIG kill in Vietnam – ‘ a comedy of errors’. The featured story is titled: F-4 pilot who scored the final USAF Vietnam MiG Kill explains why scoring the kill was ‘a comedy of errors’. It appeared on the Aviation Geek Club website and was submitted by Dario Leone.

Leone reported that after Rolling Thunder ended, the USAF made only limited improvements to the F-4 Phantom II’s air-to-air capability. While missile reliability and rigid tactics still hampered effectiveness, the introduction of the gun-armed F-4E brought some success, with its 20mm cannon accounting for seven MiG kills. Electronic upgrades such as the APX-80 Combat Tree IFF interrogator also improved the employment of the AIM-7 Sparrow missile. Despite these changes, when air combat resumed over North Vietnam in early 1972, MiG kill totals remained modest. Most successes came from mass missile launches at individual targets, particularly by the 432nd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, limiting the number of pilots achieving multiple victories.

According to historian Peter E. Davies, the final USAF MiG kill of the Vietnam War occurred after Operation Linebacker II had ended. On January 8, 1973, Capt Paul Howman and 1Lt Lawrence Kullman flew an early-morning MiGCAP mission south-west of Hanoi. What followed, Howman later described as a “comedy of errors,” included aborted launches, malfunctioning radar, and a centreline fuel tank that failed to jettison without his knowledge.

Guided by Red Crown radar controllers, Howman eventually visually acquired a MiG-21 and fired two AIM-7E-2 Sparrows. Both missiles struck the still-attached centreline tank on launch, narrowly avoiding catastrophe, yet continued toward the target. One detonated near the MiG, and the second struck its belly, destroying the aircraft in mid-air. The wreckage fell through cloud cover in view of other strike aircraft.

Afterward, confusion with his wingman and additional escort duties capped an unpredictable mission, which fittingly ended with Howman unknowingly landing on the wrong runway—closing the book on the USAF’s final Vietnam MiG kill.

 Listen to Episode 3190 and discover more about the final MIG kill in Vietnam – ‘ a comedy of errors’.

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The U.S. Air Force launched hundreds of B-52s toward Hanoi during Christmas in 1972. Two of them made history. (U.S. Air Force)

Inside the gunner’s station on a B-52D. (U.S. Air Force)

The tail gunner position and four .50 caliber guns on the B-52D Diamond Lil. (U.S. Air Force)

Episode 3189 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the B-52 tail gunners who scored two kills in the Vietnam War. The featured story is titled: B-52 tail gunners scored two kills in the last bombing campaign of the Vietnam War.  It appeared on the We Are The Mighty website and was submitted by Friedrich Seiltgen.

Seiltgen reported that the passage highlights one of the most unlikely and courageous chapters of aerial combat in the Vietnam War: the last air-to-air victories scored by bomber gunners, achieved by two B-52 tail gunners during Operation Linebacker II in December 1972. At a time when jet fighters and guided missiles dominated the skies, the idea that a massive strategic bomber armed with machine guns could shoot down enemy fighters seemed obsolete. Yet the B-52 Stratofortress—America’s aging but formidable “BUFF”—proved otherwise.

During the Christmas Bombings over North Vietnam, B-52 crews faced intense danger from surface-to-air missiles and intercepting MiG-21 fighters. In this environment, tail gunners occupied one of the most exposed and isolated positions on the aircraft, relying on radar, skill, and nerve to defend their crews. Their bravery was tested when MiG-21s closed in to attack.

On December 18, 1972, Staff Sgt. Samuel Turner, manning the tail guns of a B-52D returning from a strike near Hanoi, detected an incoming MiG preparing to fire. With calm precision, Turner locked on and opened fire, destroying the jet in a fiery explosion. It was the first bomber air-to-air kill since the Korean War and the first ever by a B-52 tail gunner.

Six days later, on Christmas Eve, 18-year-old Airman First Class Albert Moore demonstrated similar courage aboard the B-52D Diamond Lil. Under attack during a bombing run, Moore tracked a MiG-21 on radar, coordinated evasive maneuvers, and fired until the enemy aircraft disintegrated. His actions saved his crew and earned him the Silver Star.

These two men exemplified extraordinary bravery—standing their ground in outdated gun turrets against supersonic fighters—and wrote the final chapter in the history of machine-gun air combat from strategic bombers.

Listen to Episode 3189 and discover more about the B-52 tail gunners who scored two kills in the Vietnam War.