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Vietnam Vet and POW Doug Hegdahl of Clark, SD

Episode 3089 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will continue the incredible story of Navy Vietnam Vet Doug Hegdahl and how he outfoxed his North Vietnamese captors.

Doug Hegdahl, a young sailor from South Dakota, wasn’t what the North Vietnamese expected in a prisoner of war. Captured in 1967 after being blown overboard from the USS Canberra, Hegdahl was scooped from the sea by fishermen and sent to the infamous “Hanoi Hilton.” His captors underestimated him from the start.

Doug played the fool. He pretended to be illiterate, simple-minded, and harmless—so convincingly that the guards nicknamed him “The Incredibly Stupid One.” They eventually stopped watching him closely. But behind the act, Hegdahl was gathering priceless intelligence.

While sweeping the prison yard, he memorized the names, capture dates, and personal information of over 250 fellow American POWs using a rhyming system. This list would later become the most comprehensive record of POWs held in North Vietnam. He also sabotaged five trucks by putting dirt in their gas tanks—completely unnoticed.

The North Vietnamese tried to use him for propaganda. When they ordered him to write a statement condemning the U.S., Doug pretended he couldn’t read or write. Frustrated, they decided to release him in 1969—expecting little gain. Instead, Doug carried out the vital intelligence he’d memorized and gave the U.S. military and families back home crucial confirmation about POWs’ identities and conditions.

Doug Hegdahl’s simple demeanor was a mask for incredible bravery and cunning. By playing dumb, he outwitted his captors, supported his fellow prisoners, and became one of the unsung heroes of the Vietnam War.

Listen to Episode 3089 and discover more the incredible story of Navy Vietnam Vet Doug Hegdahl and how he outfoxed his North Vietnamese captors.

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President Lyndon B. Johnson confers with the National Security Council following the North Vietnamese torpedo boat attack on the USS Destroyer Maddox.

Norman Morrison set himself on fire in front of Pentagon to protest the Vietnam War

The second wave of combat helicopters of the First Cavalry Division flies over a radio telephone operator and his commander on an isolated landing zone during Operation Pershing.

Episode 3088 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will continue a story about 46 facts about the Vietnam War you may not know. The featured story appeared on the MSN website and was aptly titled: 46 facts about the Vietnam War you may not know. The story was submitted by Elias Sorich.

The Vietnam War, often remembered for its scale and controversy, was shaped by a series of lesser-known turning points in the early and mid-1960s. These events escalated U.S. involvement and hardened the conflict into a prolonged and bloody struggle.

In November 1963, the U.S. tacitly supported a coup that toppled South Vietnam’s president, Ngo Dinh Diem. The Kennedy administration’s directive, known as “Cable 243,” signaled approval of military action against Diem’s repressive regime. His assassination plunged South Vietnam into political chaos, with twelve coups unfolding over the next two years, undermining stability before the U.S. fully escalated its role.

The Gulf of Tonkin incident in August 1964 further deepened American involvement. Following an initial skirmish between the destroyer USS Maddox and North Vietnamese patrol boats, the Johnson administration claimed—falsely, as declassified documents later revealed—that a second attack had occurred. This deception paved the way for the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, granting President Johnson sweeping war powers. At the time, U.S. forces already numbered 23,000, with hundreds of casualties recorded.

As the war widened, North Vietnam gained crucial aid. In late 1964, the Soviet Union increased arms and supplies while China contributed engineering units to bolster defenses. Around the same time, attacks on U.S. bases, such as the shelling of Bien Hoa, intensified.

By March 1965, U.S. Marines landed at Da Nang, marking the first large-scale ground deployment. Just months later, Operation Starlite—the Marines’ first major offensive—demonstrated America’s shift from defense to aggressive combat. The brutal Battle of Ia Drang in November 1965 solidified the war’s attritional nature, costing thousands of lives.

By the end of 1966, U.S. troop levels had surged to 400,000. Mounting casualties, reports of POW mistreatment, and growing antiwar protests at home foreshadowed the deep divisions the war would bring to American society.

Listen to Episode 3088 and discover more about 46 facts about the Vietnam War you may not know

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party secretary-general to Lê Duẩn

Episode 3087 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will continue a story about 46 facts about the Vietnam War you may not know. The featured story appeared on the MSN website and was aptly titled: 46 facts about the Vietnam War you may not know. The story was submitted by Elias Sorich.

In July 1954, in a quiet room in Geneva, the future of Vietnam was decided by foreign hands. The country, long scarred by colonial rule and war, was now split at the 17th parallel. Hồ Chí Minh, revolutionary leader of the north, reluctantly agreed. Pressured by Soviet and Chinese allies seeking peace with the West, he accepted the partition as a temporary measure. A national election, promised for 1956, would reunify the country—or so the world was told.

But in the south, a different vision took root. With American backing, Ngô Đình Diệm, a staunch Catholic nationalist, seized power. Diệm rejected the elections, fearing Hồ Chí Minh’s popularity. The promised unity dissolved into suspicion. The Cold War’s shadow crept in.

By 1959, the North laid the foundations of resistance. Deep in the jungles, the Ho Chi Minh Trail emerged—an artery of rebellion, winding through Laos and Cambodia, feeding the southern insurgency. Weapons, soldiers, and hope flowed southward.

Then, in 1960, change came quietly in Hanoi. Hồ Chí Minh stepped back, passing party leadership to Lê Duẩn. More militant, Duẩn intensified efforts to undermine Diệm. The National Liberation Front, or Viet Cong as the South called them, began their campaign. Vietnam’s war for unity was now a war for control.

In May 1961, America stepped in. Under President Kennedy, helicopters and 400 Green Berets arrived in South Vietnam. The U.S. framed it as defense against communism—but the battle lines were drawn.

What had begun as a colonial liberation became a chessboard of global ideologies. The dream of reunification faded into the jungle mist, replaced by fire, steel, and years of war.

Vietnam, once whole, now marched down two roads—toward destiny, or destruction.

Listen to Episode 3087 and discover more about 46 facts about the Vietnam War you may not know

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1954 Geneva Conference

Episode 3086 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about 46 facts about the Vietnam War you may not know. The featured story appeared on the MSN website and was aptly titled: 46 facts about the Vietnam War you may not know. The story was submitted by Elias Sorich.

“46 Facts About the Vietnam War You May Not Know” is a powerful and sobering walk through of one of the most consequential and controversial conflicts of the 20th century. By combining hard historical data with human-centered storytelling, this piece manages to be both informative and emotionally resonant.

Beginning with Vietnam’s colonial past, the article provides essential context, revealing how decades of French exploitation set the stage for resistance movements led by figures like Hồ Chí Minh. It’s particularly effective in illustrating the long shadow of imperialism, such as the stark drop in literacy and widespread landlessness under French rule. These early facts are more than background—they explain the ideological roots of the coming war and highlight the resilience of the Vietnamese people.

The timeline moves fluidly into the First Indochina War and the U.S.’s eventual deepening involvement, placing key events like Operation Starlite and the Battle of Dien Bien Phu into a broader geopolitical narrative. One of the article’s strongest points is its emphasis on the staggering human toll: from the millions of Vietnamese civilians and soldiers lost to the enduring trauma of over 2.7 million American service members.

The inclusion of up-to-date facts—such as the June 2025 identification of a long-missing U.S. airman—underscores the war’s ongoing relevance and emotional weight.
Overall, this list goes beyond trivia; it’s a concise but impactful historical resource that challenges readers to reckon with the legacy of a war that still shapes global politics and personal lives today.

Listen to Episode 3086 and discover more about 46 facts about the Vietnam War you may not know

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Vietnam Vet Bill Lemanski in Vietnam

Episode 3085 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about Vietnam Vet Bill Lemanski. 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.

Bill Lemanski of Tuxedo, N.Y., answered his nation’s call in December 1965 at just 18 years old, leaving his job as a junior draftsman in New York City to serve in the U.S. Army. Assigned to the infantry, he completed two tours in Vietnam’s rugged Central Highlands of Pleiku Province, where harsh conditions and constant danger forged bonds of brotherhood among soldiers.

After returning home, Lemanski transitioned to civilian life, working as an engineer designing cabling and control systems for a nuclear power plant. But one memory from his homecoming would remain etched in his mind far longer than the technical drawings of his career.

Passing through La Guardia Airport in uniform alongside a fellow soldier, Lemanski encountered a group of disheveled young protesters wielding anti-war signs. They cursed at the two veterans and even tried to spit on them. It was a moment that encapsulated the hostility many returning servicemen faced—an experience as jarring as any firefight.

For Lemanski, the incident was a painful reminder that while he had fought for his country, his country’s welcome could be cold. Over the years, he watched attitudes shift, with most Americans now honoring those who wear the uniform.

Retired since 2003, Lemanski has embraced a new mission—writing. From the jungles of Vietnam to the drafting tables of engineering, his life’s journey carries the mark of service, resilience, and the enduring hope that the sacrifices of soldiers will never again be met with scorn.

Listen to Episode 3085 and discover more about Vietnam Vet Bill Lemanski.

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US Navy Vietnam Vet Jack Crowley,

Episode 3084 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about Vietnam Vet Jack Crowley. 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.

Jack Crowley’s life is a testament to dedication, sacrifice, and love of country. In 1966, at just 22, the young teacher and gymnastics coach from Toms River High School left the classroom and enlisted in the Navy. Inspired by colleagues who had served with distinction and motivated by a desire to build a stronger future for his young family, Crowley committed himself to the rigors of military life.

Over the course of 15 years of active duty, Crowley served an extraordinary 77 months at sea—five and a half years in the Vietnam Combat Zone aboard the carriers Kearsarge and Ranger, and the cruiser Biddle. Rising from Temporary E-5 to Naval Commander by 1981, he completed three combat tours, four Pacific deployments, and key roles as Radio and Communications Department Head. His leadership extended into the Navy Reserve’s Training and Administration of Reserves program, where he commanded Reserve Centers and shaped the next generation of sailors.

Crowley’s service was not just professional—it was personal. On a flight to Boston, he met Diane, a Navy Nurse Commander, who would become his wife and lifelong partner. Together they built a family of four sons and a home in Sparta, New Jersey.

Jack Crowley’s journey shows that military service offers more than duty—it provides skills, friendships, and opportunities that shape a lifetime. His legacy is one of unwavering commitment to his country, his shipmates, and his family.

Listen to Episode 3084 and discover more about Vietnam Vet Jack Crowley.

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PTSD, A Vietnam War heavy hangover

Episode 3083 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about Vietnam Vet Everett Cox. 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.

Everett Cox’s war didn’t end when he left Vietnam in 1969. Serving with the 245th Surveillance Airplane Company at Marble Mountain Airbase, he survived rocket attacks, but the damage ran deep. A year after returning home, he was diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenic and told he would never recover. For the next four decades, Everett battled crushing depression, isolation, and suicidal thoughts—waging a silent, relentless war within.

In 2010, everything began to shift. At a veterans’ retreat led by Buddhist monk and fellow Vietnam vet Claude AnShin Thomas, Everett spoke openly about his experiences for the first time. That moment marked his transformation from simply being a veteran of war to becoming a vet—someone who owned and understood his story.

He immersed himself in what he calls “Survival Arts”—writing, theater, dance workshops, and veteran dialogues. The work was raw, often painful, but it forged connection and purpose. By 2012, with the help of counselors and peers, Everett sought professional help again and received a new diagnosis: PTS, a natural response to unnatural violence.

Hard labor, art, and service became his medicine. From working in gardens and painting houses to mentoring homeless youth and serving in the New York State Joseph P. Dwyer Veteran Peer Program, Everett rebuilt his life one step at a time.

Today, he’s no longer in the high suicide-risk category. His journey stands as proof that even after decades of pain, healing is possible—and that Survival Arts can turn scars into strength.

Listen to Episode 3083 and discover more about Vietnam Vet Everett Cox.

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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.

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Navy Field Corpsman in action in Vietnam.

Episode 3081 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about Vietnam Vet Albert Bull. 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.

Albert Bull of Blooming Grove, N.Y., carried a legacy of service shaped by his father’s heroism in World War II. His father fought in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy, surviving when only four of his 160-man company remained. As a boy, Albert often asked his father what combat was like—but never received an answer.

That answer came years later, in the jungles of Vietnam. Choosing the path of a Navy hospital corpsman, Bull’s mission was to save lives, not take them. Serving alongside the Marines during the Tet Offensive of 1968, he faced the brutal realities of war—patching wounds under fire, working with doctors to perform procedures far beyond his training, and witnessing life and death side by side.

In Khe Sanh, amidst exploding ammunition dumps and deadly exchanges of fire, Bull realized what his father could never put into words: combat is an experience only those who have been there can truly understand. In the moments when death was inches away, Bull felt a guiding presence—his earthly father or his Heavenly Father—shielding him.

Returning home, Bull carried the lessons of service, faith, and resilience. He became a fatalist, accepting that life is lived one day at a time, doing the best you can. Though war cost him his marriage, it strengthened his bond with his son—a man who now mirrors his grandfather’s integrity, reliability, and strength.

Albert Bull’s story embodies the spirit of the Vietnam Veteran Generation—men and women who served with courage, skill, and compassion, often carrying unspoken memories, but always honoring their duty to their country and to one another.

Listen to Episode 3081 and discover more about Vietnam Vet Albert Bull.

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Patrick Shea, a Monroe-Woodbury graduate, went from college to the hot zone. (Photo provided)

Episode 3080 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about Vietnam Vet Patrick Shea. 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.

Patrick Shea’s life took a dramatic turn in 1970 when a dropped college course reclassified him as draft-eligible. Determined to choose his own path, he entered the Army’s Warrant Officer Aviation program, earning his wings as a commercial helicopter pilot qualified on the Huey and Kiowa. In April 1972, at just 20 years old, he arrived in Vietnam during the fierce North Vietnamese Spring Offensive — the most intense combat since Tet in 1968.

Assigned to the 129th Assault Helicopter Company in Binh Dinh Province, Shea flew dangerous missions from the central coast to the highlands, often under enemy fire. His unit suffered heavy losses in its first six months, a sacrifice later chronicled in Mission of Honor by fellow pilot Jim Crigler. Days of routine boredom could turn in seconds to moments of sheer terror — emergency landings, hot-zone troop insertions, and life-or-death decisions.

When the war ended in 1973, Shea received an early release and returned to college with a renewed appreciation for life’s simple freedoms. Like many Vietnam veterans, he came home to a divided nation, often changing into civilian clothes to avoid hostility. Yet he carried himself with quiet pride, shaped by service, sacrifice, and resilience.

Today, Shea calls Monroe, N.Y., home, cherishing its mountains and valleys while reflecting on a life forever marked by duty and honor. His journey embodies the spirit of the Vietnam Veteran Generation — young Americans who answered their nation’s call, faced unimaginable challenges, and returned with a deeper love for freedom and home.

Listen to Episode 3080 and discover more about Vietnam Vet Patrick Shea

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