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Member of the Joint Services Honor Guard reflected on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial prior to a wreath-laying ceremony to commemorate the anniversary of the Vietnam War, March 2016. (Photo Credit: Drew Angerer / Getty Images)

Episode 3125 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the real Vietnam War start date. Information featured in this episode comes from a story titled: Because of the uncertainty surrounding the Vietnam War’s exact start date, fallen soldiers like Richard Fitzgibbon Jr. weren’t recognized as official war fatalities. The featured story appeared in the War History Online website and was submitted by Jesse Beckett.

Beckett reported that the Vietnam War’s official start date has long been debated, with proposed beginnings ranging from French colonization in 1887 to Ho Chi Minh’s 1946 insurgency, and U.S. military aid starting in 1950. For decades, the U.S. government recognized 1961 as the war’s start, excluding earlier casualties like Air Force Tech. Sgt. Richard Fitzgibbon Jr., who was killed in 1956. After years of advocacy by his family, the Department of Defense revised the official start date to November 1, 1955, acknowledging those early sacrifices.

Born in 1920 in Massachusetts, Fitzgibbon served in both the Navy and Air Force. He was stationed in Vietnam as part of the Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG), where he trained South Vietnamese pilots. On June 8, 1956, following a confrontation with fellow serviceman Staff Sgt. Edward C. Clarke, Fitzgibbon was fatally shot by Clarke, who later died while attempting to flee.

Though Fitzgibbon’s death occurred during U.S. involvement in Vietnam, it wasn’t officially recognized as a war casualty at the time. His son, Richard Fitzgibbon III, later died in combat in 1965, making them one of only three father-son pairs killed in the Vietnam War.

In 1988, a family member discovered Fitzgibbon Jr.’s name missing from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The family petitioned for its inclusion, but progress was slow until 1997, when they gained support from Rep. Ed Markey. His advocacy led to the 1999 addition of Fitzgibbon Jr.’s name to the memorial and the revised war start date—bringing long-overdue recognition to the family’s sacrifice.

Listen to Episode 3125 and discover more about the real Vietnam War start date.

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Episode 3124 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about two Vietnam Veteran news items from North Dakota and Kansas. Information featured in this episode comes from the Minot Daily News and the EIN Presswire

It was reported that the 14th annual North Central Veterans Stand Down will take place on Thursday, October 16, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Armed Forces Reserve Center, 3420 2nd St. NE, north of Minot International Airport. The event is designed to support veterans from north central North Dakota, offering a variety of services such as veterans’ benefits, health care, legal assistance, counseling, housing support, hygiene items, flu shots, and employment help. Veterans should bring their DD214, VA card, or driver’s license with a “V” designation for proof of veteran status. A free lunch will also be provided.

The Stand Down event is inspired by the original concept from the Vietnam War, where troops returning from combat could retreat to a safe base camp for rest, hygiene, meals, medical care, and emotional recovery. This event aims to help veterans regain their health and well-being.

For more information, contact Kelli Weiand, N.D. Military Outreach Program, at 420-5846, 340-2779, or by email at Colleen.y.weiand.nfg@army.mil

Additionally, U.S. Army veteran and retired educator Ken Embers has released his memoir, The Amazing Adventures of Captain Embers & Chief Zogleman: Whop! Whop! Whop! The book chronicles Embers’ journey from flying UH-1 Hueys in Vietnam to his post-war work in education and cross-cultural service. It also covers his efforts to establish the Bong Son Lucky Star Blazer Library Learning Center in Vietnam, a space dedicated to English education and reconciliation. Embers, based in Manhattan, Kansas, is still active in teaching English online and involved in educational projects in Vietnam.

Listen to Episode 3124 and discover more about the two Vietnam Veteran news items from North Dakota and Kansas.

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People ride their motorbikes duing rush hour at Hanoi’s Old Quarter, in Hanoi, Vietnam, August 30, 2025. [REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha Purchase Licensing Rights]

Episode 3123 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about Honda’s hold on the Vietnamese motor bike market. The featured story come from Reuters and is titled: Honda’s grip on Vietnam motorbike market looks shaky on EV switch. The story was submitted by Francesco Guarascio and Phuong Nguyen.

It was reported that Vietnam’s motorbike market, long dominated by Honda, is entering a pivotal transition driven by strong government support for electric vehicles (EVs), positioning it as one of the most dynamic mobility markets in the world. With a projected market value rising from $4.6 billion in 2025 to $6 billion by 2030, Vietnam’s two-wheeler sector is not only vast but rapidly evolving.

A key turning point came in July when Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh announced that fossil-fuel-powered motorbikes will be banned from Hanoi’s city center within 12 months, with a wider ban set for 2028. This aggressive push aims to combat Hanoi’s severe air pollution and accelerate the shift to electric mobility.

While Honda currently holds over 80% of the market—selling 2.6 million petrol-powered motorbikes last year—Vietnamese EV maker VinFast is emerging as a serious contender. VinFast delivered 71,000 electric bikes last year and stands to benefit directly from new regulations and shifting consumer sentiment.

A recent survey revealed that 54% of respondents nationwide—and 60% in Hanoi—would choose an electric motorbike for their next purchase, primarily due to supportive government policies. While Honda still leads in brand loyalty, VinFast is gaining ground, with 32% of respondents naming it as their next potential choice.

Vietnam’s decisive policy framework and strong market fundamentals are driving a profound transformation. As EV adoption accelerates, the Vietnamese motorbike market is not only adapting—it’s setting the pace for electrification in Southeast Asia.

Listen to Episode 3123 and discover more about Honda’s hold on the Vietnamese motor bike market.

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China Lake in Ho Chi Mhn City, Vietnam. [By Lynndon Schooler.]

Episode 3122 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the the Vietnam War secret grenade launcher. The featured story is titled: China Lake: The Secret Grenade Launcher of the Vietnam War.  It comes from the Fire Arm Blog and was submitted by Lynndon Schooler.

Schooler reported that the China Lake grenade launcher, a rare pump-action 40mm multi-shot weapon built for Navy SEALs in Vietnam, was hand‑made at the Naval Air Weapons Station in China Lake, California. Conceived in the late 1960s by Alfred Kermode to overcome the single-shot limitation of the ubiquitous M79, it used a tubular magazine holding three rounds plus one in the chamber for four shots. Constructed from aluminum, steel and wood, it weighed about 8.5 lb unloaded and adopted a shotgun‑style pump action that allowed successive grenades to be fired in under a second per cycle.

Issued in very small numbers—roughly two dozen built and mainly distributed to SEALs, MACV‑SOG and Marine Force Recon—the launcher earned praise for reliability, ruggedness and devastating close‑quarters firepower in jungles, swamps and covert cross‑border operations. For small, mobile teams operating behind enemy lines the China Lake’s rapid multi‑shot capability could overwhelm ambushers, neutralize bunkers or stop counterattacks before defenders recovered, offering four times the immediate firepower of an M79.

Despite combat success, the China Lake never entered mass production. Shrinking Vietnam budgets, the winding down of U.S. operations, and development of lighter systems like the under‑barrel M203 limited its prospects. After the war surviving examples were retired or stored; today only a handful exist in museums, making them among the rarest U.S. firearms from that era.

The China Lake remains an example of special‑operations driven innovation: a purpose‑built, compact solution that briefly changed how small units delivered explosive firepower, leaving a lasting, cultlike reputation among those who used it. Collectors and historians continue to study its design, and surviving examples are prized artifacts that illuminate unconventional warfare and improvisational engineering worldwide today.

Listen to Episode 3122 and discover more about the Vietnam War secret grenade launcher.

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XM148 in the Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City. By Lynndon Schooler.

XM148 in Vietnam. Photo credit unknown.

Episode 3121 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the XM148 Grenade Launcher and its contributions to the American Military during the Vietnam War. The featured story is titled: The XM148 – America’s Early Under-Barrel Grenade Launchers in Vietnam. It comes from the Fire Arm Blog and was submitted by Lynndon Schooler.

Schooler reported that during the Vietnam War, U.S. troops faced intense close-quarters combat in dense jungles, exposing the limits of traditional small arms. While the M16 rifle was lightweight and modern, soldiers needed more integrated firepower. Enter the XM148 — America’s first serious attempt to combine a rifle with a grenade launcher.

Developed by Colt in the mid-1960s, the XM148 was designed to attach directly beneath the M16, allowing infantry to launch 40mm grenades without carrying a standalone weapon like the M79. Although about 28,000 units were produced, the XM148 was more of a stepping stone than a long-term solution.

The XM148 had promise: it was compact, fired the same rounds as the M79, and featured a basic sighting system. However, its design flaws quickly surfaced. The most dangerous was its exposed trigger linkage — an external bar that could catch on jungle foliage, risking accidental discharge of explosive rounds. Reloading was also clunky compared to the M79, and the mechanism to charge the weapon proved overly complicated.

Despite these issues, it saw combat use among Army units and Special Forces beginning in 1966. Feedback confirmed the concept was viable, but the XM148 itself wasn’t ideal. By 1967, the U.S. shifted to the more refined M203, which resolved many of the XM148’s shortcomings.

Ultimately, the XM148 played a crucial role in advancing infantry weapon design. Though flawed, it proved the feasibility of rifle-mounted grenade launchers and directly influenced future developments. It may not be well-known, but its contribution to modern small arms during a pivotal era earns it a lasting place in military history.

Listen to Episode 3121 and discover more about the XM148 Grenade Launcher and its contributions to the American Military during the Vietnam War.

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Vietnam Vet and POW Doug Hegdahl of Clark, SD

Episode 3120 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the amazing feats of Navy Vietnam Vet Doug Hegdahl. The featured story is titled: Doug Hegdahl’s Courageous Vietnam War POW Story and Prison Intelligence.

The story reports that Doug Hegdahl, a Vietnam War hero from South Dakota, remains one of the most remarkable yet under recognized figures of the conflict. In 1967, after falling overboard from the USS Canberra, Hegdahl was captured by North Vietnamese forces and sent to the infamous Hỏa Lò Prison, also known as the “Hanoi Hilton.” Rather than resist or act defiantly, Hegdahl adopted an ingenious strategy: he pretended to be illiterate and simple-minded. This clever deception convinced his captors that he posed no threat, earning him the nickname “the incredibly stupid one.”

But behind this humble disguise, Hegdahl was executing acts of quiet heroism. Assigned to sweep prison grounds, he secretly passed messages between prisoners, sabotaged five enemy trucks by contaminating their fuel tanks, and, most astonishingly, memorized the names and details of 256 fellow POWs—setting the information to the tune of “Old McDonald.” His photographic memory and courage ensured their identities were preserved and ultimately reported to U.S. authorities.

In 1969, Hegdahl was urged to accept early release so he could share the intelligence he had gathered. Upon returning home, his testimony not only confirmed the status of 63 missing service members, but also exposed the harsh realities of life in captivity, leading to increased international pressure on North Vietnam.

After his service, Hegdahl taught at the U.S. military’s SERE school, quietly passing on lessons of resilience and subterfuge. His story is a testament to how intelligence, bravery, and an unassuming demeanor can defy enemy forces and save lives. Doug Hegdahl is a true American hero—South Dakota’s own quiet warrior who changed history with wit, grit, and heart.

Listen to Episode 3120 and discover more about the amazing feats of Navy Vietnam Vet Doug Hegdahl.

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Roger Lockshier, Vietnam Vet and author.

Episode 3119 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature Roger Lockshiers’s exciting description of his riveting book We Saved SOG Souls.

This is Roger’s second appearance on this podcast. He was featured on Episode 3099 where he told about his book Saving Infantry and SOG Souls. In this episode he will be talking about another book he wrote about his exciting times in Vietnam.

The book We Saved SOG Souls is filled with exciting and miraculous events. The book description reads as follows:

“Finally, a book by a 101st Airborne aviator on his heroic role in the eight-year secret war conducted during the Vietnam War by SOG Green Berets. Over the last decade there have been compelling books printed by SOG Green Berets who ran missions across the fence into Laos, Cambodia and N. Vietnam, often understating in general terms the critical role of helicopter units and aviators like Roger Lockshier.

Now, Roger flies readers into the secret war, jutting through ack-ack anti-aircraft gunfire and the horror of being shot down in Laos, providing a well-written account that grabs readers’ attention. Thank you Roger.” —John Stryker Meyer, author of On the Ground, Across the Fence, and SOG Chronicles

Listen to Episode 3119 and discover more about Roger Lockshiers’s exciting description of his riveting book We Saved SOG Souls.

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Artist’s rendering of memorial for victims of Agent Orange exposure to be unveiled next month at Lake Park in Des Plaines.

Episode 3118 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about  the the unveiling of an Agent Orange memorial in Des Plaines, IL. The featured story appeared on The Journal & Topics Media Group website. It is titled: Unveil Memorial To Victims Of Agent Orange During Vietnam War on Oct. 11.  It was submitted by Todd Wessell.

Wessell reported that after undergoing heart surgery in 2022, Vietnam veteran Craig Jacobs had a powerful realization: the suffering caused by Agent Orange needed to be honored and remembered. Jacobs, a member of Des Plaines American Legion Post 36 and the local Vietnam Veterans Association, was inspired to create a memorial for those affected by the deadly chemical. His own exposure occurred in 1971 while serving at Da Nang Air Base in Vietnam with the U.S. Navy.

Agent Orange, a toxic defoliant used during the Vietnam War, contained TCDD, a highly dangerous dioxin. Its purpose was to strip vegetation and crops, but it left a devastating human toll. An estimated 300,000 American veterans have died from Agent Orange-related illnesses, including cancers, heart disease, and other severe health conditions. In Vietnam, the chemical is believed to have caused another 400,000 deaths. Countless others—veterans and Vietnamese civilians alike—continue to suffer from its long-term effects.

For Jacobs, the pain is personal. He later discovered that two friends he served with had died from Agent Orange exposure—he only learned of their deaths after attempting to reconnect with them post-war.

Now, his vision will be realized on October 11, when an Agent Orange Memorial will be unveiled at the Lake Park Memorial Pavilion in Des Plaines. The monument honors all who died because of the chemical, and acknowledges those still battling its effects. A portion of the inscription reads: “In memory of all those who died because of this chemical. Pray for those still suffering.”

The public is invited to attend the ceremony, which will take place on the west side of the band shell, as a solemn tribute to the immense suffering endured by Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange.

Listen to Episode 3118 and discover more about the unveiling of an Agent Orange memorial in Des Plaines, IL

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Retired Staff Agt. Arthur Bryan, a Killeen resident and lifelong musician who served in the National Guard and spent 20 years on active duty playing trumpet in Army bands, performed “Amazing Grace” on trumpet during POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremony in Killeen.[John Clark – Herald]

Episode 3117 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about  the Ceremony for National POW/MIA Recognition Day Held at Killeen, Texas.   The featured story appeared in The Killeen Daily Herald. It is titled: Local veterans group hosts ceremony for National POW/MIA Recognition Day.  It was submitted by John Clark, a Herald correspondent.

Clark reported that on a recent Friday morning, veterans, officials, and community members gathered outside the Killeen Civic and Conference Center to honor National POW/MIA Recognition Day, a solemn event dedicated to remembering prisoners of war and those still missing in action. Hosted by Star Group-Veterans Helping Veterans of Copperas Cove, the ceremony took place near the Korean War Memorial and featured the posting of colors, the national anthem, scripture, prayer, and wreath-laying by numerous local veterans’ organizations.

National POW/MIA Recognition Day, established in 1979, is observed nationwide on the third Friday of September to honor those who endured captivity and those whose fates remain unknown. The Killeen event brought together representatives from Killeen, Harker Heights, and Copperas Cove to affirm their commitment to never forgetting these heroes.

Retired U.S. Army officer and Vietnam veteran Ed Mullins shared a powerful personal story about a failed mission to rescue American POWs during the Vietnam War. Though his unit narrowly missed saving them, Mullins reflected on the lasting weight of that mission. “We owe them the honor of remembering,” he said, emphasizing the moral duty to recognize those left behind.

A symbolic “Missing Man Table” was unveiled, featuring items representing loss, hope, and remembrance. Killeen City Council member Anthony Kendrick summed up the spirit of the day: “We must not forget those that did not come home.”

The ceremony in Killeen was more than a tribute—it was a reminder that the sacrifices of POWs and MIAs are not forgotten. As communities across the country continue to honor them, events like this ensure their legacy endures.

Listen to Episode 3117 and discover more about the Ceremony for National POW/MIA Recognition Day Held at Killeen, Texas.

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Little-known retired Vietnam era UH-1B Huey helicopter keeps vigil over the VA’s Veteran Museum, the VA FARMS gardens and both the Korea and Vietnam War memorials on the VA Portland’s Vancouver campus. Photo by Nick Choy.

Lady Bell, a UH-1B Iroquois helicopter, sits on a pedestal with a fresh coat of paint Thursday during a rededication ceremony at the Vancouver VA Medical Center campus. (Taylor Balkom/The Columbian)

Episode 3116 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about how the UH-1B on display at the Vancouver VA Medical Center was restored.   The featured story appeared in The Columbian. It is titled: VA rededicates Vietnam War-era helicopter as tribute to veterans.  It was submitted by Doug Flanagan, a Columbian staff writer.

Flanagan reported that the Lady Bell, a Vietnam War-era UH-1B Iroquois “Huey” helicopter, has stood as a solemn tribute to veterans at the Vancouver VA Medical Center since 2008. Over time, weather left the aircraft in a deteriorated state—until James Donnelly stepped in. An architect and health care engineer for the VA Portland Health Care System, Donnelly led a remarkable month long refurbishment effort this summer, showcasing exceptional skill and dedication.

Donnelly brought a unique background to the project, having served as an aviation structural mechanic and corrosion-control specialist in the U.S. Navy. When he saw the Lady Bell’s condition, he didn’t hesitate to volunteer, believing he was “uniquely suited” for the job. Under his leadership from early July to August, the team power-washed, sanded, patched, and repainted the aircraft atop its 25-foot pedestal—even braving intense heat and wind. Donnelly also added a new insignia to reflect the helicopter’s medevac mission.

His work culminated in a re dedication ceremony that highlighted the Huey’s renewed purpose: to inspire, educate, and honor veterans’ sacrifices. Interim VA Director Karla Azcuy praised the restoration, calling the Lady Bell “a powerful symbol of service, sacrifice, and the enduring spirit of our veterans.”

This marks the second major restoration for the helicopter, originally saved by a veteran-led volunteer team in the 2000s. Thanks to Donnelly’s outstanding leadership and heartfelt commitment, the Lady Bell stands proudly once again—her iconic silhouette reminding all who see her of the bravery and hope she once carried into battle.

Listen to Episode 3116 and discover more about how the UH-1B on display at the Vancouver VA Medical Center was restored.