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Ron Mosbaugh

Episode 3259 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature combat experience in Vietnam with

This powerful firsthand account captures the brutal transformation of a young American thrust into the chaos of the Vietnam War. Arriving in 1966 as a naïve nineteen-year-old, the narrator is rapidly stripped of innocence by the harsh realities of combat. What follows is not just a story of battle, but a lifelong testament to the extraordinary courage and sacrifice of Vietnam veterans.

During a harrowing mission near Da Nang, his Marine unit walks into a deadly Vietcong ambush in a graveyard at Vinh Hoa. Amid point-blank gunfire, explosions, and hand-to-hand combat, he risks his life repeatedly as a corpsman, running through open rice paddies under heavy fire to reach wounded Marines. Despite exhaustion, terror, and dwindling supplies, he continues treating the injured, embodying selflessness under unimaginable pressure.

In one surreal moment, he locks eyes with a Vietcong soldier who could kill him instantly. Instead, a silent understanding passes between them, and the enemy spares his life. This encounter reveals the shared humanity even between enemies and becomes one of the most profound memories of his service.

The emotional toll of that day—and many others—never fades. For over fifty years, he has endured PTSD, reliving the trauma through relentless nightmares. Yet through it all, his faith in God and belief in divine protection sustain him.

This story underscores the greatness of Vietnam veterans—ordinary young men who performed extraordinary acts of bravery, compassion, and sacrifice. They faced unimaginable horrors, yet upheld duty, brotherhood, and love for one another in the darkest of circumstances.

Listen to Episode 3260 and discover more about the combat experience in Vietnam with Ron Mosbaugh’s story Nightmares in the Rice Paddy

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Episode 3259 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature Andy Pham interviewing Professor Pamela McElwee about the damage done to the environment of Vietnam during the War and the steps being taken to repair the damage.

The Bible presents stewardship as a sacred duty: humans are caretakers of God’s creation – Earth, called to manage it wisely, protect it, and remain accountable for how they treat it.

“Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.”  1 Corinthians 4:2 → Reinforces accountability in stewardship.

When the Vietnam War ended on April 30, 1975, it left behind a landscape scarred with environmental damage. Vast stretches of coastal mangroves, once housing rich stocks of fish and birds, lay in ruins. Forests that had boasted hundreds of species were reduced to dried-out fragments, overgrown with invasive grasses. The term “ecocide” had been coined in the late 1960s to describe.

Pamela McElwee is an associate professor in the Department of Human Ecology at Rutgers. She received her Ph.D. in Forestry & Environmental Studies and Anthropology at Yale.

Read her article that appeared in the Conversation:

50 years later, Vietnam’s environment still bears the scars of war – and signals a dark future for Gaza and Ukraine

Andy Pham met Professor McElwee at the recent American Association of Geographers meeting at San Francisco. 

Listen to Episode 3259 and discover more about Professor McElwee’s findings about the damage done to the environment of Vietnam during the American Vietnam War.

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Sino – Vietnamese War

Episode 3258 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the Sino – Vietnamese War. The featured story is titled: The 1979 Sino-Vietnamese War and Its Consequences. It appeared on the Hoover  website and was submitted by Miles Maochun Yu.

Yu reported that the 1979 Sino-Vietnamese War emerged from a volatile mix of geopolitical rivalry, ideological conflict, and internal Chinese power struggles. In February 1979, China launched a large-scale हमला along its border with Vietnam, deploying over 200,000 troops in what it called a “self-defensive counterstrike.” The assault was driven by Vietnam’s alignment with the Soviet Union and its recent overthrow of China’s ally, the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. At the same time, Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping sought to consolidate authority within the Chinese Communist Party and assert control over the military.

The war lasted just one month, ending in mid-March 1979, with both sides suffering heavy casualties and little territorial change. Despite numerical superiority, China’s People’s Liberation Army performed poorly against experienced Vietnamese forces, exposing serious weaknesses in leadership, tactics, and communications. These failures later fueled major military reforms in China.

A key factor limiting the conflict was China’s fear of provoking a larger war with the Soviet Union, which had a defense treaty with Vietnam. To avoid a dangerous two-front war, China kept the अभियान brief and concentrated significant forces along its northern border as a deterrent. Diplomatically, Deng strengthened ties with the United States, highlighted by his visit to President Jimmy Carter shortly before the युद्ध, effectively discouraging Soviet intervention.

Although China failed to force Vietnam out of Cambodia, the conflict reshaped regional dynamics, deepened hostility between the two communist nations, and marked a turning point in China’s military modernization and global strategy.

Listen to Episode 3258 and discover more about the Sino – Vietnamese War.

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The Wall That Heals ready to roll.

College officials and Instructors and students with the Transportation Training Services program at Del Mar College lined up for a photo with The Wall That Heals.

Episode 3257 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the people who ship the Wall That Heals around the country. The featured story is titled: Twice the charm … DMC Transportation Training Services delivered The Wall That Heals from Corpus Christi to next tour stop for second year in a row. It appeared on the Del Mar College website and was submitted by Richard Guerrero, Jr.

Guerrero reported that The experience of visiting the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is deeply emotional, as visitors reflect on sacrifice through personal gestures like tracing names or quietly mourning loved ones. Recognizing that not everyone can make the journey, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund created The Wall That Heals in 1996—a traveling, three-quarter-scale replica that brings the memorial’s healing presence to communities nationwide.

The exhibit honors more than three million Americans who served during the Vietnam War and bears the names of 58,281 service members who were killed or remain missing. Accompanied by a mobile Education Center, it serves as both a tribute and an educational experience. In 2026, the tour includes 31 stops, with Texas hosting visits in Del Rio and Ranger.

A key part of making this journey possible is the support of transportation partners like Del Mar College. For the second consecutive year, the college’s Transportation Training Services program assisted in hauling the exhibit—this time from Del Rio to Ranger. Despite rainy conditions limiting a full send-off, instructors Alvin Amador and Ralph Guerra completed the 385-mile trip, arriving to a warm greeting and participating in a local parade before the exhibit opened.

Since its debut, The Wall That Heals has reached over 800 communities across 49 states and three countries. Its continued success depends on dedicated volunteers who understand that transporting the exhibit is more than logistics—it is a mission of remembrance, reflection, and national connection.

The Wall that Heals schedule.

Listen to Episode 3257 and discover more about the people who ship the Wall That Heals around the country.

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Retired Lt. Col. Fred Dunaway, former commander of the 135th Assault Helicopter Company, Australian Capt. Luke Gadd, and Australian Capt. Peter Oliver pay their respects during the 2026 ANZAC Day Dawn Service at Fort Rucker on April 25, 2026. (Leslie Herlick)

Episode 3256 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the celebration of ANZAC Day at Fort Rucker, Alabama. The featured story is titled: Lest we forget: ANZAC Day at Fort Rucker. It appeared on the U.S. Army website and was submitted by Leslie Herlick.

Herlick reported that at dawn on April 25, 2026 Veterans Park at Fort Rucker became a place of solemn unity as Soldiers, families, veterans, and international partners gathered for the 2026 ANZAC Day Dawn Service. The ceremony, deeply rooted in the legacy of the ANZAC Day, honored more than a century of sacrifice and shared history between allied nations.

Australian Capt. Sophie Agathangelidis opened the service, welcoming attendees and emphasizing the significance of remembrance among close allies. Lt. Col. Jeremy Mierendorff followed with a powerful keynote, recalling the courage and loss of the Gallipoli Campaign, where thousands of Australian and New Zealand troops gave their lives. He highlighted the enduring values born from that battle—courage, endurance, and mateship—which continue to define military service today.

The ceremony also paid tribute to the historic partnership between U.S. and Australian forces in Vietnam, particularly the 135th Assault Helicopter Company and its Experimental Military Unit (EMU). Their legacy of bravery in some of the war’s fiercest combat remains a benchmark of excellence. Yet, standing alongside that proud history is the equally formidable 134th Assault Helicopter Company—a unit whose courage, relentless operational tempo, and unwavering commitment to mission success exemplified the very best of Army aviation in Vietnam. The 134th’s pilots and crews repeatedly flew into danger, delivering troops, extracting the wounded, and turning the tide in critical ბრძოლ zones, earning a reputation for skill, resilience, and sheer determination that still commands respect today.

The service continued with a reading of In Flanders Fields, wreath-laying, and the emotional roll call of 36 fallen members of the 135th. As the Ode of Remembrance was recited, the weight of sacrifice was deeply felt. The ceremony concluded with a tribute not only to those who served, but to their families, and with the enduring words that bind generations: Lest we forget.

Listen to Episode 3256 and discover more about the celebration of ANZAC Day at Fort Rucker, Alabama.

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Students at the Army’s Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape course at Fort Rucker complete their culminating exercise, and gather to salute the American flag as they begin the repatriation process during the recent large-scale reintegration exercise, March 14-18, 2026. Courtesy of the U.S. Army

Episode 3255 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the large SERE exercise held at Fort Rucker. The featured story is titled: Fort Rucker hosts historic POW reintegration exercise, largest since Vietnam War era. It appeared on the WHDN website and was submitted by Jordan Renfro.

Renfro reported that the U.S. Army’s Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) school at Fort Rucker conducted a landmark large-scale exercise simulating the return of prisoners of war after a major conflict. Held from March 14–18, 2026 in partnership with U.S. Army South, the operation processed nearly 50 participants acting as returning POWs. It marked the largest reintegration effort since Operation Homecoming, when 591 American prisoners were released from North Vietnam.

The exercise was notable for being the first realistic test of a mass Phase I medical triage and rapid debriefing system, transforming reintegration planning from theory into a practical, field-tested process. Led by SERE psychologist Maj. Tracy Beegen, who was recognized as “Hero of the Battlefield,” the initiative brought together personnel from the Army, Navy, and Air Force to build a comprehensive reintegration framework from scratch.

The simulation stressed the military’s ability to manage large numbers of returning POWs, exposing challenges and refining tactics, techniques, and procedures—especially in intelligence gathering through group interviews. Additional support came from Joint Personnel Recovery Agency and U.S. Army Special Operations Command, while SERE specialists and psychologists across branches trained collaboratively.

As a result, the Army’s Western Hemisphere Command Reintegration Team is now considered mission-ready for large-scale operations within the U.S. Southern Command and beyond. Officials emphasized that the exercise significantly improved readiness, ensuring a coordinated joint process to bring captured personnel home, reunite them with families, and restore them to duty when possible.

Listen to Episode 3255 and discover more about the large SERE exercise held at Fort Rucker.

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Sergeant Garry John Chad served in the Vietnam War from 1962 to 1975. (ABC News: Emily Dobson)

Sergeant Garry Chad pictured second from left in the back row in this photograph from February 17, 1967, in Vietnam’s Phuoc Tuy Province. (Supplied: Australian War Memorial archive)

Episode 3254 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the Aussie Vietnam Vet who received an award for Gallantry. The featured story is titled: Vietnam War veteran Garry Chad joins exclusive list of Medal for Gallantry recipients. It appeared on the Australian Broadcasting Company website and was submitted by Heloise Vyas.

Vyas reported that in a moving ceremony at Currumbin RSL on the Gold Coast, Vietnam War veteran Garry Chad was awarded the Medal for Gallantry—one of Australia’s highest honors for bravery. The award recognizes his extraordinary actions on July 29, 1971, in Long Khánh Province, where then-Sergeant Chad displayed remarkable courage under intense enemy fire. When his platoon encountered a heavily fortified bunker system, Chad advanced to the front, taking decisive control in a moment of chaos. Despite sustaining wounds, he pressed the attack, throwing grenades and delivering precise, relentless fire that suppressed the enemy and allowed his fellow soldiers to withdraw with minimal casualties. He was the last to leave the battlefield, embodying the selflessness and resolve that define the finest traditions of military service.

Chad’s recognition places him among a select group of just over 70 Australian Defence Force personnel to receive the Medal for Gallantry since its introduction in 1991. Yet his heroism is not his alone—it reflects the shared spirit of all Australian Vietnam veterans. Roughly 60,000 Australians served in that conflict, with more than 500 making the ultimate sacrifice. Their legacy is one of courage, endurance, and unwavering mateship.

Sergeant Chad himself humbly credited the bond between soldiers as the source of his strength, describing it as the closest connection he has ever known. His story stands as a powerful reminder that the greatness of Australian Vietnam veterans lies not only in acts of individual gallantry, but in their collective character, loyalty, and enduring commitment to one another and their nation.

Listen to Episode 3254 and discover more about the Aussie Vietnam Vet who received an award for Gallantry.

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Vietnam Veterans in action.

Episode 3253 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the benefits of Vietnam Veterans’ reunions. The featured story is titled: Maryville veteran reunites with soldier whose life he saved in Vietnam. It appeared on the Knox News website and was submitted by Hayden Dunbar.

Dunbar reported that Carl Gable was just 21 when he went to Vietnam in 1968 as a conscientious objector serving as a combat medic. During the war, he saved the life of Lieutenant Lou Panizzon, who had been critically wounded by friendly fire. Acting quickly, Gable stabilized Panizzon by starting an IV while others kept him conscious, a decision doctors later credited with saving his life. After Panizzon was evacuated, the two exchanged letters confirming his recovery, but over time, they lost contact.

More than five decades later, a move to Maryville led Gable to reconnect with Panizzon through the Military Order of the Purple Heart. What followed was an emotional reunion through phone calls and FaceTime. Gable described the experience as one of the happiest moments of his life. Panizzon revealed that his family had always known about Gable and even celebrates a “second birthday” each year—the day Gable saved him.

Their story highlights the profound, lifelong bonds formed during wartime and underscores the importance of Vietnam veteran reunions. For many veterans, these reunions offer long-awaited closure, healing, and a chance to reconnect with people who shared life-altering experiences. Decades after the war, such moments can bring peace, validation, and joy that had been missing for years.

Gable and Panizzon now hope to meet in person, turning their long-delayed reunion into a full-circle moment. Their story serves as a powerful reminder that reconnecting veterans is not just meaningful—it is essential for honoring their shared history and sacrifices.

Listen to Episode 3253 and discover more about the benefits of Vietnam Veterans’ reunions.

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Rockport woman’s handmade tribute honors 58 fallen Vietnam sailors

Swift Boat in Vietnam

Episode 3252 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about how a wonderful lady in Rockport , Texas honored Vietnam Swift boat veterans. The featured story is titled: Rockport woman’s handmade tribute honors 58 fallen Vietnam sailors. It appeared on the KRIS website and was submitted by Michelle Hofmann.

Hofmann reported that in Rockport, Ingrid Little has transformed fabric into a powerful tribute honoring the extraordinary courage and sacrifice of Vietnam Swift Boat veterans—men whose service has too often gone unrecognized. Inspired by her longtime friendship with veteran Bud Kittle, Little began quilting as a personal gesture, but her work quickly grew into something far more meaningful: a lasting memorial to a remarkable group of sailors who served in some of the most dangerous conditions of the Vietnam War.

Swift Boat veterans, part of the Navy’s “Brown Water Navy,” operated small, heavily armed vessels deep in Vietnam’s rivers and coastal waters. Despite their boats’ thin aluminum hulls, these crews carried out high-risk missions with relentless determination, intercepting enemy supplies, supporting special operations, and transporting allied forces. They faced ambushes, mines, and constant attacks in perilous areas like “Rocket Alley,” yet continued their missions with unwavering bravery. Their resilience and grit stand as a testament to their greatness.

Little’s quilt specifically honors 58 sailors still “on patrol”—those who never returned home. By stitching their names into the fabric, she ensures their legacy endures. What began as a raffle item will now be preserved in a museum, reflecting the deep emotional impact it has had on veterans and viewers alike.

Beyond its beauty, the quilt represents long-overdue recognition for these heroes, whose sacrifices—and the hardships they endured upon returning home—deserve remembrance, respect, and lasting gratitude.

Listen to Episode 3252 and discover more about how a wonderful lady in Rockport , Texas honored Vietnam Swift boat veterans.

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USAF SR-71

Episode 3251 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about how a crippled SR-71 faked out North Vietnamese SAM operators. The featured story is titled: When a Crippled SR-71 Overflew Hanoi at 41k feet under Mach 1 North Vietnamese didn’t shoot it down because they thought it was booby trapped with a nuclear weapon It appeared on the Aviation Geek Club Online website and was submitted by Linda Sheffield Miller.

Miller reported that on May 15, 1972, during the Vietnam War, Major Tom Pugh and Major Ronnie Rice were flying an SR-71 Blackbird (#978), nicknamed the “Rapid Rabbit,” on what began as a routine high-speed reconnaissance mission. Cruising at Mach 3.2 and nearly 80,000 feet, the flight quickly turned into a life-threatening emergency. A strange hum in the interphone system foreshadowed a cascade of failures: first one generator went out, then the second failed just over a minute later. Without electrical power, the aircraft’s fuel pumps stopped, starving both engines and causing a complete flameout.

As the aircraft destabilized—its inlet spikes shifting forward and the jet pitching and rolling uncontrollably—Pugh prepared to order an ejection. However, the intercom failed, cutting communication with Rice. In a critical moment, Pugh carefully maintained control while reaching for a standby electrical switch. By successfully restoring partial power, he managed to relight the engines after descending to 41,000 feet and slowing to near Mach 1.

Unbeknownst to the crew at the time, they had drifted over heavily defended Hanoi, a city bristling with surface-to-air missiles. Remarkably, no attempt was made to shoot them down. Years later, a North Vietnamese general revealed the reason: they suspected the aircraft was bait, possibly carrying a nuclear weapon that would detonate if hit.

Pugh and Rice safely landed in Thailand and were awarded Air Medals for their extraordinary airmanship. Despite surviving this harrowing emergency.  the “Rapid Rabbit” was lost just months later in a landing accident, ending its remarkable story.

Listen to Episode 3251 and discover more about how a crippled SR-71 faked out North Vietnamese SAM operators.