Vietnam Veteran News

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Vietnam Medal of Honor recipient U.S. Air Force Pararescueman SSG William H. Pitsenbarger.

Medal of Honor

Episode 2970 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature Medal of Honor recipient U.S. Air Force Pararescueman SSG William H. Pitsenbarger. Information featured in this episode comes from Wikipedia and The Air and Space Forces Magazine.      

Staff Sergeant William H. Pitsenbarger had a choice. He could have stayed safe aboard the HH-43 Huskie, circling high above the jungle. Instead, he chose to descend into hell.

It was April 11, 1966. In the dense Vietnamese jungle near Cam My, soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division were pinned down by a relentless Viet Cong assault. Their wounded lay scattered, dying. Pitsenbarger, a U.S. Air Force Pararescueman, volunteered to lower himself into the chaos.

Under a rain of gunfire, he moved from man to man, treating wounds, offering reassurance, dragging the fallen to safety. When the evacuation order came, he refused to leave. He chose to stay behind, knowing the next helicopter might not return.

With ammunition running low, he picked up a rifle and fought. He manned a wounded soldier’s M16, fired at the advancing enemy, and redistributed ammunition to his brothers in arms. Despite wounds of his own, he never stopped. A sniper’s bullet finally felled him, but his courage lived on in those he saved.

For his heroism, William H. Pitsenbarger was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. His legacy endures, a testament to the selflessness of a man who chose to stay, to fight, to save. His sacrifice is etched in history, not just in medals, but in the lives he touched.

He was more than an airman. He was a guardian angel, descending from the skies, giving everything for his brothers.

The United States Navy Container Ship MV A1C William H. Pitsenbarger (T-AK-4638) was christened in his honor, but was decommissioned and returned to its original owner in 2008 with the new name Black Eagle.

In addition several buildings have been named in his honor including William H. Pitsenbarger Dining Hall, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio; William H. Pitsenbarger Professional Military Education Center, Beale Air Force Base, California; William H. Pitsenbarger Airman Leadership School, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany; Pitsenbarger Hall, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas and Pitsenbarger Fitness Center, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas.

The 2019 film The Last Full Measure depicting Pitsenbarger’s life stars Jeremy Irvine as Pitsenbarger.

Listen to Episode 2970 and discover more about Medal of Honor recipient U.S. Air Force Pararescueman SSG William H. Pitsenbarger.

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Vietnam Medal of Honor recipient Army SSG Larry S. Pierce.

Medal of Honor

Episode 2969 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature Medal of Honor recipient Army SSG Larry S. Pierce. Information featured in this episode comes from Wikipedia and The Hawaii Reporter.    

Army Staff Sergeant Larry Stanley Pierce was a true American hero. Born on July 6, 1941, in Wewoka, Oklahoma, he answered the call to serve his country by enlisting in the U.S. Army. As a member of the 1st Battalion, 1^st of the 503^rd Inf, 173 Airborne Brigade, he fought with courage and dedication during the Vietnam War.

On September 20, 1965, near Ben Cat, South Vietnam, SSG Pierce displayed extraordinary bravery that earned him the Medal of Honor. While leading a reconnaissance platoon, he encountered an enemy ambush. Under heavy fire, he skillfully maneuvered his men into defensive positions, suppressing enemy attacks. As his unit advanced, they came upon a deadly minefield. Suddenly, SSG Pierce spotted a concealed mine directly in their path. Without hesitation, he lunged forward, using his own body to shield his fellow soldiers from the blast. The explosion took his life instantly, but his selfless sacrifice saved countless others.

For his gallantry and unwavering heroism, SSG Pierce was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. His name is forever etched in history as a symbol of courage, selflessness, and duty. His bravery exemplifies the highest ideals of the U.S. Army and the Vietnam War’s unsung heroes.

Today, his legacy lives on. On February 6, 2008, the post office in Taft was renamed the “Larry S. Pierce Post Office” in his honor. A portion of California State Route 46 which runs through Wasco was designated the “Staff Sgt. Larry S. Pierce Memorial Highway” in 2009.^[SSG Larry S. Pierce gave everything for his brothers-in-arms and his country—his story is one of ultimate sacrifice and true patriotism.

SSG Larry S. Pierce gave everything for his brothers-in-arms and his country—his story is one of ultimate sacrifice and true patriotism.

Listen to Episode 2969 and discover more about Medal of Honor recipient Army SSG Larry S. Pierce.

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Vietnam Medal of Honor recipient Marine PFC Jimmy W. Phipps.

Medal of Honor

Episode 2968 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature Medal of Honor recipient Marine PFC Jimmy W. Phipps. Information featured in this episode comes from Wikipedia and The Hawaii Reporter.      

Marine Private First Class Jimmy W. Phipps was a fearless combat engineer who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Vietnam War. Born in 1950, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and was deployed to Quảng Nam Province with 1st Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division. On May 27, 1969, while supporting Company B, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines,

He was a member of a two-man combat engineer demolition team assigned to locate and destroy enemy artillery ordnance and concealed firing devices. After he had expended all of his explosives and blasting caps, Private First Class Phipps discovered a 175mm high explosive artillery round in a rice paddy.

Suspecting that the enemy had attached at the artillery round to a secondary explosive device, he warned other Marines in the area to move to covered positions and prepared to destroy the round with a hand grenade. As he was attaching the hand grenade to a stake beside the artillery round, the fuse of the enemy’s secondary explosive device ignited. Realizing that his assistant and the platoon commander were both with a few meters of him and that the imminent explosion could kill all three men,

Private First Class Phipps grasped the hand grenade to his chest and dived forward to cover the enemy’s explosive and the artillery round with his body, thereby shielding his companions from the detonation while absorbing the full and tremendous impact with his own body.

Phipps’ citation commends his gallantry, selflessness, and heroism in the face of overwhelming danger. His actions embody the Marine Corps’ core values of honor, courage, and commitment. Today, his legacy endures, with his name enshrined on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall and in the hearts of all who honor fallen heroes.

PFC Jimmy W. Phipps’ valor serves as a timeless inspiration, reminding us of the sacrifices made by Vietnam War heroes who fought for freedom.

Listen to Episode 2968 and discover more about Medal of Honor recipient Marine PFC Jimmy W. Phipps.

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Vietnam Medal of Honor recipient Army Sp4 Danny J. Petersen.

Medal of Honor

Episode 2967 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature Medal of Honor recipient Army Sp4 Danny J. Petersen. Information featured in this episode comes from Wikipedia and Tara Ross.

Army Specialist Four (Sp4) Danny J. Petersen was a true American hero, earning the Medal of Honor for his extraordinary bravery during the Vietnam War. Serving with B Company, 4^th Bn, 23^rd Inf, 25th Infantry Division, Petersen’s selfless actions on January 9, 1970, in Tay Ninh Province, Vietnam, exemplified the highest standards of valor.

While his unit conducted a combat operation, Petersen’s armored personnel carrier came under intense enemy fire from well-fortified North Vietnamese forces. With bullets and rockets hammering their position, Petersen courageously manned his exposed machine gun, delivering devastating fire to protect his fellow soldiers.

When a nearby vehicle was disabled by enemy rockets, Petersen dismounted under a relentless barrage to assist the stranded crew. As enemy fire intensified, he refused to retreat, choosing instead to provide covering fire so his comrades could escape. With total disregard for his own safety, he maintained his position until he was mortally wounded by enemy fire.

Petersen’s heroic sacrifice saved lives and allowed his unit to regroup and counter the attack. For his extraordinary gallantry and indomitable courage, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military decoration.

His legacy endures as a symbol of selflessness, duty, and valor, inspiring future generations of U.S. Army soldiers. Sp4 Danny J. Petersen’s name is forever etched on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, a testament to his unwavering bravery in the face of overwhelming odds.

Listen to Episode 2967 and discover more about Medal of Honor recipient Army Sp4 Danny J. Petersen.

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Vietnam Medal of Honor recipient Marine CPL William T. Perkins Jr.

Medal of Honor

Episode 2966 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature Medal of Honor recipient Marine CPL William T. Perkins Jr. Information featured in this episode comes from Wikipedia and the National Museum of American History.                                           

Marine Corporal William T. Perkins Jr. was a true American hero, posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his extraordinary bravery during the Vietnam War. Born in 1947, Perkins enlisted in the United States Marine Corps with a passion for service and a keen eye for photography. As a combat photographer assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, his mission was to document the harsh realities of war—but he did much more than that.

On October 12, 1967, during Operation Medina southwest of Quang Tri, Perkins and his fellow Marines came under intense enemy fire from a well-entrenched North Vietnamese Army (NVA) force. Amid the chaos, an enemy grenade landed among his comrades. Without hesitation, CPL Perkins made the ultimate sacrifice—he threw himself onto the grenade, absorbing the full blast and saving the lives of those around him. His selfless act of valor exemplified the Marine Corps ethos of honor, courage, and commitment.

For his heroism, Corporal Perkins became the only combat photographer to receive the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War. His legacy lives on, inspiring generations of Marines and military photographers who continue to document the cost of war. His name is etched on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall and remembered in Marine Corps history as a warrior who gave everything for his brothers in arms. Semper Fi, Marine. Your sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Listen to Episode 2966 and discover more about Medal of Honor recipient Marine CPL William T. Perkins Jr.

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Vietnam Medal of Honor recipient Army SGT Richard A. Penry.

Medal of Honor

Episode 2965 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature Medal of Honor recipient Army SGT Richard A. Penry. Information featured in this episode comes from Wikipedia and The Press Democrat.  

Army Sergeant Richard A. Penry displayed extraordinary bravery during the Vietnam War, earning the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions on January 31, 1970, near Binh Tuy Province, Vietnam. Serving with Company C, 4th Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 199th Light Infantry Brigade, SGT Penry distinguished himself in intense combat against North Vietnamese forces.

During an enemy assault, SGT Penry’s unit came under heavy machine-gun and small-arms fire. As enemy forces threatened to overrun their position, he moved through intense fire to rescue wounded comrades. Despite the overwhelming odds, he took charge of a disorganized defensive position, rallying his fellow soldiers and distributing ammunition.

Recognizing the dire situation, SGT Penry seized an M60 machine gun and unleashed devastating suppressive fire, effectively halting the enemy’s advance. He then crawled from position to position under relentless enemy bombardment, ensuring his fellow soldiers were able to hold the line. His decisive leadership and unwavering courage inspired his comrades to repel the attack.

For his selfless actions, valor, and dedication to duty, SGT Richard A. Penry was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Richard Nixon. His legacy endures as a symbol of the bravery exhibited by American soldiers in Vietnam. His name is forever enshrined among the nation’s most distinguished heroes, reminding future generations of the sacrifices made in the fight for freedom.

Listen to Episode 2965 and discover more about Medal of Honor recipient Army SGT Richard A. Penry.

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Vietnam Medal of Honor recipient Marine LCpl Joe C. Paul.

Medal of Honor

Episode 2964 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature Medal of Honor recipient Marine LCpl Joe C. Paul. Information featured in this episode comes from Wikipedia and Mountain News WYMT.               

Marine Lance Corporal Joe C. Paul was just 19 years old when he made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam. On August 18, 1965, during Operation Starlite, his unit, part of the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, came under intense enemy fire near Chu Lai. The Viet Cong had set up a deadly ambush, pinning Paul’s platoon down in the chaos of battle.

Seeing his fellow Marines wounded and trapped, Paul sprang into action. Without hesitation, he charged forward, laying down suppressive fire as he pulled his injured comrades to safety. The air was thick with gunfire, and explosions shook the ground, but he refused to falter.

When an enemy machine gun threatened to wipe out his entire squad, Paul grabbed his weapon and rushed toward it, a one-man assault against impossible odds. He unleashed a relentless attack, diverting the enemy’s attention and allowing his unit to regroup and evacuate the wounded. Despite being mortally wounded, he continued fighting until his last breath.

His bravery saved the lives of countless Marines that day. For his extraordinary heroism and selfless sacrifice, LCpl Joe C. Paul was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. His legacy endures as a symbol of the Marine Corps’ highest values: honor, courage, and commitment.

Today, his name is etched into history, remembered by all who serve and those who understand that true heroes are the ones willing to give everything for their brothers in arms.

Listen to Episode 2964 and discover more about Medal of Honor recipient Marine LCpl Joe C. Paul.

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Professor Kenneth Olson, Leader of the Merry Band of Retirees

Episode 2963 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature Part 3 of the latest report by the Merry Band of Retirees titled: Review and Analysis: Environmental and Human Health Impacts of Herbicide Use Studies Conducted during the Vietnam War and Historical Lessons. It is about the use of herbicides by the U.S. in the American Vietnam War. The report was authored by Kenneth R. Olson, Larry Cihacek and David R. Speidel.

Olson is with the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois. Cihacek is with the School of Natural Resource Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota, USA.And Speidel is with the Natural Resource, Conservation Service and Foreign Agricultural Service, Benton, Missouri, USA.

During times of war, it is rare to find a government willing and able to require the military to fund and support environmental impact studies. In the 1960s, many United States scientists expressed concerns about the use of herbicides during the Vietnam War.

This protest was led by Dr. Arthur Galston and eventually included scientists with the National Academy of Science. By 1970, the Department of Defense (DoD) was ordered to permit the scientists to visit South Vietnam during the war to document these impacts. In all 1500 scientist days were spent in South Vietnam. In addition, the US government and military funded research studies on the impact of herbicides on animals.

The primary objective of this research study is to describe how it is possible for a country to fund and carry out scientific studies during the conduct of a war rather than decades later. The environmental impact study findings often lack boots on the ground validation and can be inaccurate or misleading in some situations.

Listen to Episode 2963 and discover more about the latest report on the use of herbicides in the Vietnam War by the US.

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President Richard M. Nixon. stopped the use of herbicides in Vietnam.

Episode 2962 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature Part 2 of the latest report by the Merry Band of Retirees titled: Review and Analysis: Environmental and Human Health Impacts of Herbicide Use Studies Conducted during the Vietnam War and Historical Lessons. It is about the use of herbicides by the U.S. in the American Vietnam War. The report was authored by Kenneth R. Olson, Larry Cihacek and David R. Speidel.

Olson is with the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois. Cihacek is with the School of Natural Resource Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota, USA.And Speidel is with the Natural Resource, Conservation Service and Foreign Agricultural Service, Benton, Missouri, USA.

During times of war, it is rare to find a government willing and able to require the military to fund and support environmental impact studies. In the 1960s, many United States scientists expressed concerns about the use of herbicides during the Vietnam War.

This protest was led by Dr. Arthur Galston and eventually included scientists with the National Academy of Science. By 1970, the Department of Defense (DoD) was ordered to permit the scientists to visit South Vietnam during the war to document these impacts. In all 1500 scientist days were spent in South Vietnam. In addition, the US government and military funded research studies on the impact of herbicides on animals.

The primary objective of this research study is to describe how it is possible for a country to fund and carry out scientific studies during the conduct of a war rather than decades later. The environmental impact study findings often lack boots on the ground validation and can be inaccurate or misleading in some situations.

Listen to Episode 2962 and discover more about the latest report on the use of herbicides in the Vietnam War by the US.

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Arthur W. Galston picture taken during a lecture at Yale.
Credit line: Yale Environment 360. Yale library. Beinecke Rare Books
and Manuscripts library.

Episode 2961 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature Part 1 of the latest report by the Merry Band of Retirees titled: Review and Analysis: Environmental and Human Health Impacts of Herbicide Use Studies Conducted during the Vietnam War and Historical Lessons. It is about the use of herbicides by the U.S. in the American Vietnam War. The report was authored by Kenneth R. Olson, Larry Cihacek and David R. Speidel.

Olson is with the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois. Cihacek is with the School of Natural Resource Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota, USA.And Speidel is with the Natural Resource, Conservation Service and Foreign Agricultural Service, Benton, Missouri, USA.

During times of war, it is rare to find a government willing and able to require the military to fund and support environmental impact studies. In the 1960s, many United States scientists expressed concerns about the use of herbicides during the Vietnam War.

This protest was led by Dr. Arthur Galston and eventually included scientists with the National Academy of Science. By 1970, the Department of Defense (DoD) was ordered to permit the scientists to visit South Vietnam during the war to document these impacts. In all 1500 scientist days were spent in South Vietnam. In addition, the US government and military funded research studies on the impact of herbicides on animals.

The primary objective of this research study is to describe how it is possible for a country to fund and carry out scientific studies during the conduct of a war rather than decades later. The environmental impact study findings often lack boots on the ground validation and can be inaccurate or misleading in some situations.

Listen to Episode 2961 and discover more about the latest report on the use of herbicides in the Vietnam War by the US.