Vietnam Veteran News

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Marine Lance Cpl. Lester W. Weber, Medal of Honor recipient, poses for a photograph in his dress uniform.

Episode 2726 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Lester Weber and his Congressional Medal of Honor award. The featured story comes from The U.S. Department of Defense website and was titled: Medal of Honor Monday: Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Lester Weber. It was submitted by Katie Lange, a writer for DOD News.

Lange, in her story, reported that Courage under fire is something we would all hope to have, but you never actually know until you’re tested. When 22-year-old Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Lester W. Weber was tested in Vietnam, he proved his courage — and then some — by taking out several enemy soldiers to keep his fellow Marines safe. Weber never got to come home, but his valor during the hardest of times earned him the Medal of Honor.

Weber was born July 30, 1948, in Aurora, Illinois, to George and Elsie Weber. He had two brothers, including George Jr., who also became a Marine.  He attended Hinsdale Central High School for two years before he dropped out to enlist in the Marine Corps Reserve in September 1966. By then, the war in Vietnam was escalating. So, about four months later, on Jan. 23, 1967, Weber enlisted in the regular Marine Corps.

On Feb. 23, 1969, Weber was leading his Marines during a search and clear operation in the Bo Ban area of the Hieu Duc district in Quang Nam Province. They were sent to help a squad from another platoon, which was in the middle of a fierce firefight with a well-entrenched enemy battalion.

As Weber’s platoon moved through a rice paddy, they were suddenly attacked by enemy soldiers hiding in the paddy’s tall grass. Weber quickly dove into one patch of grass and took down an enemy soldier before forcing 11 others to break their contact with his fellow Marines. He then overwhelmed another North Vietnamese Army soldier in hand-to-hand combat.

Listen to episode 2726 and discover more about Vietnam Vet Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Lester Weber and his Congressional Medal of Honor award.

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Marine Corps Pfc. Daniel D. Bruce, Medal of Honor recipient, poses in his dress uniform.

Episode 2725 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about Marine Corps Pfc. Daniel D. Bruce and his Congressional Medal of Honor award. The featured story comes from The U.S. Department of Defense website and was titled: Medal of Honor Monday: Marine Corps Pfc. Daniel D. Bruce. It was submitted by Katie Lange, a writer for DOD News.

Lange, in her story, reported that Marine Corps Pfc. Daniel D. Bruce was just a teenager when he gave his life to save others during the Vietnam War. His selfless actions kept him from returning home, but they also earned him the Medal of Honor and a legacy that’s made his family proud.

Bruce was born May 18, 1950, in Michigan City, Indiana, about an hour east of Chicago. He had three brothers and a sister and was the eldest of the group, which could be why helping others seemed to be in his nature.

 Lange added this about Bruce; he enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve. The Vietnam War was in full swing, so, on July 17, 1968, he transferred to the active-duty Marines.

After months of training, Bruce was promoted to private first class on Jan. 1, 1969, and ordered to Vietnam later that month. Before he left, he married his high school sweetheart, Carol.

Upon arrival to Southeast Asia, Bruce was assigned the role of anti-tank assaultman with Headquarters and Service Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division.

On March 1, 1969, Bruce and another Marine were on a late-night watch in a set position at Fire Support Base Tomahawk when Bruce heard movement in some nearby woods. A bundle of explosives was then heaved in their direction.

Listen to episode 2725 and discover more about Vietnam Vet Marine Corps Pfc. Daniel D. Bruce and his Congressional Medal of Honor award.

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Army Command Sgt. Major Gary Littrell, Medal of Honor recipient.

Episode 2724 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about Army Command Sgt. Maj. Gary Littrell and his Congressional Medal of Honor award. The featured story comes from The U.S. Department of Defense website and was titled: Medal of Honor Monday: Army Command Sgt. Maj. Gary Littrell. It was submitted by Katie Lange, a writer for DOD News.

Lange, in her story, reported that Army Command Sgt. Maj. Gary Littrell’s more than two decades in service can likely be summed up by his leadership during a precarious situation in Vietnam, where he earned the Medal of Honor. The skilled Ranger was advising a small battalion of soldiers when they got trapped on a hillside by an enemy 10 times their size..

 Lange added this about Littrell; he was born Oct. 26, 1944, in Henderson, Kentucky. His mother died when he was 5, and his dad wasn’t around, so he ended up moving in with his grandparents on their farm.

When he was 9, Littrell’s uncle drove him about 90 miles to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, to watch as soldiers demonstrated parachute jumps. Then and there, the young Kentuckian decided he wanted to be one of them. So, in 1961, one day after his 17th birthday, he joined the Army.

Littrell was deployed in 1962 to Okinawa to join the newly converted 173rd Airborne Brigade. While he was there, he married a local woman named Mitsue. They had two boys.

In 1965, Littrell was reassigned to the 82nd Airborne and sent back to the U.S. two days before the 173rd was ordered to Vietnam. Instead, he deployed with the 82nd to the Dominican Republic before returning home to attend Ranger School, graduating in 1966. Littrell remained an instructor there until 1969, when his orders to Vietnam came through.

Listen to episode 2724 and discover more about Vietnam Vet Army Command Sgt. Maj. Gary Littrell and his Congressional Medal of Honor award.

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Army Pfc. Milton A. Lee, Medal of Honor recipient.

Episode 2723 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about Marine Corps Pfc. Melvin Newlin and his Congressional Medal of Honor award. The featured story comes from The U.S. Department of Defense website and was titled: Medal of Honor Monday: Marine Corps Pfc. Melvin Newlin. It was submitted by Katie Lange, a writer for DOD News.

Lange, in her story, reported that Army Private 1st Class Milton Arthur Lee joined the service during the height of the Vietnam conflict when he was only 18. He didn’t make it home, but his bravery and dedication saved the lives of several men in his platoon. For that, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

Lange added this about Milton Lee; he Lee was born Feb. 28, 1949, in Shreveport, Louisiana, where his parents lived. However, for reasons that are unclear, he and his brother, Ken, grew up with his grandparents in San Antonio. Lee was a member of the Youth for Christ, Harlandale Christian Church and the Young Republicans.

After graduating from Harlandale High School in 1967, Lee enlisted in the Army. He trained at Fort Campbell with the 101st Airborne Division and was eventually assigned to Company B, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry, 1st Brigade.

Lee arrived in Vietnam in January 1968 as the Tet Offensive was beginning. His unit was one that saw extensive combat during the war.

On April 26, 1968, Lee was with Company C near Phu Bai, an Army and Marine Corps base near the Central Vietnam coast. He was serving as the radio telephone operator with 3rd Platoon, the company’s lead element, when they were fired on by North Vietnamese soldiers hidden in well-concealed bunkers.

Listen to episode 2723 and discover more about Vietnam Vet Army Pfc. Milton A. Lee and his Congressional Medal of Honor award.

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Marine Corps Private 1st Class Melvin E. Newlin, Medal of Honor recipient.

Episode 2722 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about Marine Corps Pfc. Melvin Newlin and his Congressional Medal of Honor award. The featured story comes from The U.S. Department of Defense website and was titled: Medal of Honor Monday: Marine Corps Pfc. Melvin Newlin. It was submitted by Katie Lange, a writer for DOD News.

Lange, in her story, reported that just because you don’t have the best upbringing doesn’t mean you can’t go on to do great things. That was the case for Marine Corps Private 1st Class Melvin E. Newlin. He didn’t have the ideal life growing up, but the actions he performed in Vietnam to save his fellow Marines during combat made him a name that will forever be remembered. For his sacrifice, he received the Medal of Honor.

 Lange added this about Newlin; Newlin was born Sept. 27, 1948, in Wellsville, Ohio, a small town about an hour west of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Newlin’s parents, Joseph and Ruth, had seven other children and struggled to support them all, according to a 2004 article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. So, Newlin spent time in foster care growing up.

By his senior year of high school, Newlin had briefly reunited with his parents. According to his brother Joe that ended after a bout of apparent domestic violence he told the Post-Gazette. So, the teenaged Newlin moved in with Joe and his wife.

Newlin graduated from Wellsville High School in 1966 — the only one of the siblings to get a diploma, said another brother, Richard.

About a month later, at the age of 17, Newlin enlisted in the Marine Corps. He became a machine gunner with Company F of the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division.

Listen to episode 2722 and discover more about Vietnam Vet Marine Corps Pfc. Melvin Newlin and his Congressional Medal of Honor award.

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Air Force Capt. Gerald Young, Medal of Honor recipient.

Episode 2721 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about Air Force Lt. Col. Gerald Young and his Congressional Medal of Honor award. The featured story comes from The U.S. Department of Defense website and was titled: Medal of Honor Monday Army: Air Force Lt. Col. Gerald Young. It was submitted by Katie Lange, a writer for DOD News.

Lange, in her story, reported that Air Force Lt. Col. Gerald Young was not the first helicopter pilot to risk his life in combat, but he was the first of such men to receive the Medal of Honor. Young’s heroics during a mission-gone-wrong over the jungles of Vietnam helped save several stranded comrades who were directly in the path of enemy fighters

Lange added this about Young; he was born on May 19, 1930, in Chicago, just as the Great Depression was taking hold. He grew up during the World War II era, so by the time he was 17, he enlisted in the Navy to do his part to serve. Young was discharged in 1952 but, after a few years back in civilian life, he decided to reenlist in 1955. He served in the Navy for another year before being accepted into the Air Force aviation cadet training program, from which he earned his commission in 1958.

By 1967, the war in Vietnam was in full effect. Young deployed to the country as a rescue helicopter pilot with the 37th Air Rescue Service based at Da Nang Air Force Base. He was 37 and on his 60th combat mission as the pilot of an HH-3E Jolly Green Giant when he earned the Medal of Honor.

Listen to episode 2721 and discover more about Vietnam Vet Air Force Lt. Col. Gerald Young and his Congressional Medal of Honor award.

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Air Force Maj. Merlyn Dethlefsen earned the Medal of Honor during a mission over Vietnam in 1967.

Air Force Capt. Merlyn Dethlefsen kneels beside a board that says he completed 100 missions over North Vietnam.

Episode 2720 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about Air Force Col. Merlyn Dethlefsen and his Congressional Medal of Honor award. The featured story comes from The U.S. Department of Defense website and was titled: Medal of Honor Monday Army: Air Force Col. Merlyn Dethlefsen. It was submitted by Katie Lange, a writer for DOD News.

Lange, in her story, reported that most fighter-bomber missions meant to knock out enemy defense systems during the Vietnam War only involved one fly-by — the pilots knew there were few chances of escaping enemy aircraft if you executed more than one pass. Air Force Col. Merlyn Dethlefsen knew that when he took charge of a daring raid over a North Vietnamese steel plant in 1967, but he ignored the status quo to make sure the mission was a success. For that, he earned the Medal of Honor.

Lange added this about Dethlefsen, he was born in Greenville, Iowa, on June 29, 1934. As the son of a farmer and a schoolteacher, he did well at academics, graduating with honors from high school in 1951 when he was just 16.

He went to Iowa State University for about two years before deciding to join the Air Force in 1953. He started aviation cadet training the following year and was commissioned as an officer by the time he was 20.

During his first few years in the field, Dethlefsen served as a navigator on C-124 Globemaster transports before earning his pilot’s wings in 1960. Next, he served as a fighter pilot in Germany for about five years before coming back to the U.S.

Dethlefsen later said this about his heroics: “All I did was the job I was sent to do.”

Listen to episode 2720 and discover more about Vietnam Vet Air Force Col. Merlyn Dethlefsen and his Congressional Medal of Honor award.

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A man in a military dress uniform poses for a photo.
Army Sgt. 1st Class Fred W. Zabitosky, Medal of Honor recipient.

Episode 2719 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about Army Master Sgt. Fred W. Zabitosky and his Congressional Medal of Honor award. The featured story comes from The U.S. Department of Defense website and was titled: Medal of Honor Monday Army: Master Sgt. Fred W. Zabitosky. It was submitted by Katie Lange, a writer for DOD News.

Lange, in her story, reported that Special Forces soldiers serving during the Vietnam War often operated behind enemy lines during treacherous situations. Army Master Sgt. Fred William Zabitosky did this often with his team of Green Berets. During a 1968 helicopter crash, he refused to give up on the men around him. His efforts that day earned him the Medal of Honor. 

Lange added this about Zabitosky, Zabitosky was born Oct. 27, 1942, into a poor community in Trenton, New Jersey, to parents Cora and Fred T. Zabitosky. When Zabitosky was 15, his father left the family, forcing the teen to take responsibility for his mother, brother and three sisters. To earn money for the family, Zabitosky dropped out of high school after his junior year. At age 17, he realized that joining the military could offer better stability and support, so in 1959, he enlisted in the Army.

After basic training, Zabitosky was sent to Germany for three years, where he served with distinction before coming home and rejoining civilian life. He got a job working construction, but he wasn’t happy with that, so he decided to reenlist in 1963, this time to join the Special Forces. After much training, he became a Green Beret with the 5th Special Forces Group.  In 1964, Zabitosky married his girlfriend, Carrie Mae, before being sent to Vietnam.

Listen to episode 2719 and discover more about Vietnam Vet Army Master Sgt. Fred W. Zabitosky and his Congressional Medal of Honor award.

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Marine Corps Pfc. Robert C. Burke, Medal of Honor recipient.

Episode 2718 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about Marine Corps Pfc. Robert C. Burke and his Congressional Medal of Honor award. The featured story comes from The U.S. Department of Defense website and was titled: Medal of Honor Monday: Air Force Col. William A. Jones IIIs. It was submitted by Katie Lange, a writer for DOD News.

Lange, in her story, reported that When you’re stuck in a bad situation, someone has to take the lead. That’s what Marine Corps Pfc. Robert C. Burke did in 1968 when his unit was pinned down by intense enemy fire in Vietnam. Burke didn’t make it out alive, but his actions earned him the Medal of Honor.

Lange added this about Burke, he was born Nov. 7, 1949, in Monticello, Illinois, and lived with his parents, four sisters and two brothers. As a teen, he worked after school helping his dad build fences for area farmers. His mother told reporters later that he had dreamed of being a Marine since he was a young boy.

Burke made that dream a reality when he enlisted in the Marine Corps at 17 before graduating from Monticello High School in 1967. By the fall of that year, he had completed basic and individual combat training and earned the rank of private first class.

His first few months as a Marine were spent as a vehicle mechanic at Camp Pendleton in California. By February 1968, he joined the 3rd Battalion, 27th Marines, 1st Marine Division, as a machine gunner in Vietnam.

On May 17, 1968, the group set out again in the early morning, with Company I in the lead. As Burke’s unit approached a dry riverbed near a dense line of trees bordering the small village of Le Nam, they were ambushed by a large force hidden in the tall grass and woods.

Listen to episode 2718 and discover more about Vietnam Vet Marine Corps Pfc. Robert C. Burke and his Congressional Medal of Honor award.

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Medal of Honor recipient Air Force Lt. Col. William A. Jones III

Air Force Lt. Col. William A. Jones III’s damaged cockpit, taken shortly after he landed back at Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Base in Thailand.
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Episode 2717 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about Marine Corps Vietnam Air Force Col. William A. Jones III and his Congressional Medal of Honor award. The featured story comes from The U.S. Department of Defense website and was titled: Medal of Honor Monday: Air Force Col. William A. Jones IIIs. It was submitted by Katie Lange, a writer for DOD News.

Lange, in her story, reported that pain can often cloud your judgment, especially under extreme duress, but not for Air Force Col. William A. Jones III. As a pilot in Vietnam, he remained in control of his charred plane long enough to fly nearly 90 miles to relay information that would help save another pilot’s life. For his valiant effort, despite his many injuries, he earned the Medal of Honor.

Lange added this about Jones, Jones was born May 31, 1922, in Norfolk, Virginia. He grew up in the town of Warsaw before his family moved to Charlottesville at age 7. Jones’ mom was a teacher, his dad was an attorney and his grandfather, the senior William Jones, had been a U.S. representative who authored the bill that granted independence to the Philippines.

Jones finished high school early and went to the University of Virginia, where he graduated at age 19 with a degree in Spanish. From there, he entered the U.S. Military Academy in 1942. At West Point, he was known to be determined, confident and a scholar who competed on the school’s fencing team.

Jones was commissioned into the Army Air Corps in 1945, eventually transitioning to the Air Force when it became its own service in 1947.

Listen to episode 2717 and discover more about Vietnam Vet Air Force Col. William A. Jones III and his Congressional Medal of Honor award.