Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Episode 2602 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will a review of the recently published book titled;  Duty to Serve, Duty to Conscience, The Story of Two Conscientious Objector Combat Medics during the Vietnam War and interview the authors James C. Kearney and William H Clamurro.

The interview will be conducted by a good friend of this podcast, Andy Pham. He will interview James C. Kearney and William H Clamurro, two very unusual Vietnam Veterans. They were both conscientious objectors who served as combat medics in Vietnam, one of the most dangerous tasks in the Vietnam War.

They co-authored the book Duty to Serve, Duty to Conscience to describe the dichotomy they faced in the War. The description of their book  includes the following:

Despite all that has been written about Vietnam, the story of the 1-A-O conscientious objector, who agreed to put on a uniform and serve in the field without weapons rather than accept alternative service outside the military, has received scarce attention. This joint memoir by two 1-A-O combat medics, James C. Kearney and William H. Clamurro, represents a unique approach to the subject. It is a blend of their personal narratives with select Vietnam poems by Clamurro to illustrate noncombatant objection as a unique and relatively unknown form of Vietnam War protest.

Because of their status as “a new breed of conscientious objector” i.e., more political than religious in their convictions the authors’ experience of the Vietnam War differed fundamentally from that of their fellow draftees and contrasted even with the great majority of their fellow 1-A-O medics, whose conscientious objector status was largely or entirely faith-based.

JAMES C. KEARNEY received both his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Texas at Austin, where he now teaches. Kearney is the author of Nassau Plantation and No Hope for Heaven, No Fear of Hell (both UNT Press). WILLIAM H. CLAMURRO is professor emeritus of Spanish at Emporia State University in Kansas. He is the author of The Vietnam Typescript, a book of poetry.

Listen to episode 2602 and discover more about the recently published book titled; Duty to Serve, Duty to Conscience, The Story of Two Conscientious Objector Combat Medics during the Vietnam War By James C. Kearney and William H Clamurro.

Vietnam on Tape

Recommended Reading

Buy this book now.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Paul Benedikt Glatz

Episode 2601 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will a review of the the recently published book titled Vietnam’s Prodigal Heroes by Paul Benedikt Glatz. The book examines the deserter situation during the Vietnam War. The reviews was submitted by James Lewes, of the GI Press Project. It appeared on hsozkult.de.

In an effort to be fair and balanced, your pod-caster offers reports on all aspects of the Vietnam War and the brave veterans who served. It this episode, the men who chose to turn their backs on their country and walk away from serving will be examined. This is done through a look at a book review of Vietnam’s Prodigal Heroes by Paul Benedikt Glatz.

The reviewer reported this about the book: At the height of the Vietnam War American servicemen deserted at the unprecedented rate of 73.5 per 1,000 (p. xiv). Whilst a minority of these were able to seek asylum without help, most were not. Instead, they depended on an informal network of organizations and activists who hid and transported them to safety in countries where they would not be extradited and returned to military service. Once safely settled, these men organized press conferences, published newspapers and formed organizations in an effort to counter the traditional cliché describing them as cowards and dead beats. These networks, organizations and publications are the focus of Paul Benedikt Glatz’s richly sourced book Vietnam’s Prodigal Heroes.

Paul Benedikt Glatz’s treatment of these and other issues is nuanced by sensitivity to the importance of sources. While I wish his index had been a little more detailed this was more than balanced by his extensive documentation in his footnotes. On a personal note, my own focus as a scholar of the Vietnam War has been on the newspapers produced by antiwar soldiers. While the discussion of these is a minor part of the story Paul Benedikt Glatz tells, he is alert to their relationship with and influence on those who deserted as well as those who assisted them.

Listen to episode 2601 and discover more about the recently published book titled  Vietnam’s Prodigal Heroes by Paul Benedikt Glatz. The book examines the deserters situation during the Vietnam War.

Recommended Reading

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Recommended Reading

Purchase instructions are in the podcast.

Lubna Z. Qureshi

Episode 2600 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature an interview with Lubna Z. Qureshi about her recently published book titled Olof Palme, Sweden, and the Vietnam War.

 The book description includes this statement; In 1972, Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme’s fierce condemnation of the Christmas Bombings of the North Vietnamese cities of Hanoi and Haiphong led to a breakdown in diplomatic relations at the highest level between Sweden and the United States. The author argues that Sweden’s official position of neutrality allowed its Prime Minister greater independence of action on the international stage. Palme opposed the American military intervention in Southeast Asia for its violation of Vietnamese self-determination. Superpower aggression against one small country threatened all others, including Palme’s own. At the same time, the diplomatic freeze did not substantially damage Swedish-American relations. In spite of the tension with the Nixon White House, Stockholm and its embassy in Washington maintained excellent relations with Congress, with many ordinary Americans, and even with Nixon’s own State Department.

Anyone interested in the history of the Vietnam War must add this book to their collection of related research material. Substantial discounts are offered by the publisher. Andy Pham will offer purchase methods in the podcast.

Listen to episode 2600 and discover more about the recently published book titled  Olof Palme, Sweden, and the Vietnam War by Lubna Z. Qureshi.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Duy Tan University, DaNang, Vietnam.

Episode 2599 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a paper about the complex tapestry of the Vietnam War. The paper was provided to this podcast by the Merry Band of Retirees. The title of the paper is Unveiling the Complex Tapestry: A Historical Analysis of the Vietnam War and its Impact on America. It was submitted by Khánh Minh [minhkh@gmail.com] of Duy Tan University, DaNang, Vietnam.

It is important to learn as much as we can about events and circumstances that result in something as tragic as the American Vietnam War. The featured paper does a good job of explaining the whys of that War.

The writer states this in his article abstract: This journal article presents a comprehensive historical analysis of the Vietnam War and its profound impact on the United States. The study delves into the intricate layers of the conflict, shedding light on its causes, progression, and aftermath. By examining both the military and socio-political dimensions, the article aims to provide a nuanced understanding of the war’s complexity and its lasting implications for American society, politics, and foreign policy. The Vietnam War, intricately woven from geopolitical strategies, ideological clashes, and military tactics, holds enduring significance. Emerging from colonial legacies and Cold War dynamics, its escalation echoed the domino theory and containment policy. Amidst guerrilla warfare and air power strategies, the war’s reach extended beyond battlefields, resonating in the anti-war movement, cultural expressions, and societal rifts.

The Vietnam War, spanning from 1955 to 1975, emerged as a pivotal episode within the broader context of the Cold War. The global struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union for ideological and geopolitical dominance cast its shadow on the Southeast Asian region. The backdrop of decolonization and the spread of communism contributed to the intricate web of factors that led to the Vietnam War. The division of Vietnam into North and South following the Geneva Accords in 1954 set the stage for a conflict that became emblematic of the ideological struggle between capitalism and communism. The American perception of the “domino theory,” which posited that the fall of one nation to communism would trigger a chain reaction of neighboring states following suit, further fueled U.S. intervention.

Listen to episode 2599 and discover more about the Complex Tapestry of the Vietnam War.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Episode 2598 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a paper about the complex tapestry of the Vietnam War. The paper was provided to this podcast by the Merry Band of Retirees. The title of the paper is Unveiling the Complex Tapestry: A Historical Analysis of the Vietnam War and its Impact on America. It was submitted by Khánh Minh [minhkh@gmail.com] of Duy Tan University, DaNang, Vietnam.

This episode will be an introduction to the paper. It is important to learn as much as we can about events and circumstances that result in something as tragic as the American Vietnam War. The featured paper does a good job of explaining the whys of that War.

The writer states this in his article abstract: This journal article presents a comprehensive historical analysis of the Vietnam War and its profound impact on the United States. The study delves into the intricate layers of the conflict, shedding light on its causes, progression, and aftermath. By examining both the military and socio-political dimensions, the article aims to provide a nuanced understanding of the war’s complexity and its lasting implications for American society, politics, and foreign policy. The Vietnam War, intricately woven from geopolitical strategies, ideological clashes, and military tactics, holds enduring significance. Emerging from colonial legacies and Cold War dynamics, its escalation echoed the domino theory and containment policy. Amidst guerrilla warfare and air power strategies, the war’s reach extended beyond battlefields, resonating in the anti-war movement, cultural expressions, and societal rifts.

The Vietnam War, spanning from 1955 to 1975, emerged as a pivotal episode within the broader context of the Cold War. The global struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union for ideological and geopolitical dominance cast its shadow on the Southeast Asian region. The backdrop of decolonization and the spread of communism contributed to the intricate web of factors that led to the Vietnam War. The division of Vietnam into North and South following the Geneva Accords in 1954 set the stage for a conflict that became emblematic of the ideological struggle between capitalism and communism. The American perception of the “domino theory,” which posited that the fall of one nation to communism would trigger a chain reaction of neighboring states following suit, further fueled U.S. intervention.

Listen to episode 2598 and discover more about the Complex Tapestry of the Vietnam War.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Episode 2597 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a paper about the complex tapestry of the Vietnam War. The paper was provided to this podcast by the Merry Band of Retirees. The title of the paper is Unveiling the Complex Tapestry: A Historical Analysis of the Vietnam War and its Impact on America. It was submitted by Khánh Minh [minhkh@gmail.com] of Duy Tan University, DaNang, Vietnam.

This episode will be an introduction to the paper. It is important to learn as much as we can about events and circumstances that result in something as tragic as the American Vietnam War. The featured paper does a good job of explaining the whys of that War.

The writer states this in his article abstract: This journal article presents a comprehensive historical analysis of the Vietnam War and its profound impact on the United States. The study delves into the intricate layers of the conflict, shedding light on its causes, progression, and aftermath. By examining both the military and socio-political dimensions, the article aims to provide a nuanced understanding of the war’s complexity and its lasting implications for American society, politics, and foreign policy. The Vietnam War, intricately woven from geopolitical strategies, ideological clashes, and military tactics, holds enduring significance. Emerging from colonial legacies and Cold War dynamics, its escalation echoed the domino theory and containment policy. Amidst guerrilla warfare and air power strategies, the war’s reach extended beyond battlefields, resonating in the anti-war movement, cultural expressions, and societal rifts.

The Vietnam War, spanning from 1955 to 1975, emerged as a pivotal episode within the broader context of the Cold War. The global struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union for ideological and geopolitical dominance cast its shadow on the Southeast Asian region. The backdrop of decolonization and the spread of communism contributed to the intricate web of factors that led to the Vietnam War. The division of Vietnam into North and South following the Geneva Accords in 1954 set the stage for a conflict that became emblematic of the ideological struggle between capitalism and communism. The American perception of the “domino theory,” which posited that the fall of one nation to communism would trigger a chain reaction of neighboring states following suit, further fueled U.S. intervention.

Listen to episode 2597 and discover more about the Complex Tapestry of the Vietnam War.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Episode 2596 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about Vietnam Vet Kim McKim’s talk about MACV-SOG heroes. The featured story appeared on the American Legion website and is titled: Legionnaire and former Green Beret shares story of ‘best-kept secret’ of Vietnam War. It was submitted by Steven B. Brooks.

Brooks reported that, Keith McKim stepped to the podium at The American Legion National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., on Aug. 30 with a pretty impressive military résumé.

A Green Beret during the Vietnam War, McKim earned both a Silver and Bronze Star, as well as the Purple Heart. But the life member of American Legion Post 171 in Cripple Creek, Colo., didn’t want to talk about himself. Rather, he wanted to share the story of the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam – Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG), and, in particular, a Medal of Honor recipient who served in it.

Military Assistance Command, Vietnam – Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG) was a highly classified, multi-service United States special operations unit which conducted covert unconventional warfare operations before and during the Vietnam War.

Established on 24 January 1964, it conducted strategic reconnaissance missions in the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam), the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam), Laos, and Cambodia; took enemy prisoners, rescued downed pilots, conducted rescue operations to retrieve prisoners of war throughout Southeast Asia, and conducted clandestine agent team activities and psychological operations.

McKim described the actions of SOG soldier, Medal of Honor recipient Roy Benavidez, who was credited with saving the lives of eight men while suffering 37 bullet, bayonet and shrapnel wounds. He was actually thought to be dead and was placed in a body bag before he spit on the attending doctor to alert him that he was alive. Benavidez was originally denied the Medal of Honor but was presented with it in 1981 after a witness emerged to his heroics.

“This is a story of a hero,” McKim said. “President Reagan said on the day he awarded the medal, ‘If this was a movie script, you would not believe it.’ Roy Benavidez is a hero and an inspiration to those of us who are in this fight to save our nation.”

Listen to episode 2596 and discover more about Vietnam Vet Kim McKim’s talk about MACV-SOG heroes.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

The Moving Wall

Peter Mathews will appear at the Moving Wall appearance in Bergenfield.

Episode 2595 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature information about the appearance of Vietnam Vet Peter Mathews and the Moving Wall at Bergenfield, NJ.

In the previous episode of this podcast Vietnam Vet Peter Mathews told the story about how he ended up with an all expense paid ten day trip back to Vietnam. Peter became an almost celebrity in both the U.S. and Vietnam.

Because of his notoriety, he was invited to attend the appearance of Vietnam Moving Wall at the Bergenfield High School in Bergenfield, NJ from September 1 through September 3.

Peter Mathews was featured back in Episode 2436 of this podcast. Listeners are invited to hear that episode to discover more about Peter’s story.

CLICK HERE to hear Episode 2436.

CLICK HERE for info about The Vietnam Memorial Moving Wall.

Viewing Dates:  September 1, 2023 thru September 3, 2023

Viewing Location: Bergenfield High School, 80 S Prospect Ave, Bergenfield, NJ 07621

Viewing Hours: The Moving Wall is available for viewing from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM

Volunteer Information

If you would like to volunteer to help with the assembly of the wall, assist with the locating of names, or assist with walking to the wall, CLICK HERE to signup.

If you would like to donate food or water for the volunteers, CLICK HERE to signup.

Sponsor or Donate

You may contribute towards bringing The Vietnam Memorial Moving Wall to Bergenfield in 2023.  Mail checks to:

Bergenfield Board of Education

C/O Vietnam Moving Wall

225 W. Clinton Ave

Bergenfield, NJ 07621

The Moving Wall Viewing Schedule

Friday, September 1, 2023, from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM

Saturday, September 2, 2023, from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM

Sunday, September 3, 2023, from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM

Weekend Ceremony Schedule

Opening Ceremony, Friday, September 1, 2023, 9:00 AM

Closing Ceremony, Sunday, September 3, 2023, 7:30 PM

Parking Information

General parking is available along the football stadium on West Clint Avenue on the street.  Additional parking if available in the side streets.

Handicap Parking is available directly behind Bergenfield High School in the staff parking lot.  You may enter through the front driveway in front of the school.

GPS Address: 80 S. Prospect Ave, Bergenfield, NJ 07621

Listen to episode 2595 and discover more about the appearance of Vietnam Vet Peter Mathews and the Moving Wall at Bergenfield, NJ.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Episode 2594 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature an interview with Vietnam Vet Peter Mathews as he describes his journey back to Vietnam to return a special item he found on the Dak To battlefield 56 years ago.

Peter’s life phase for this story began in 1963 when he emigrated to this country from his native Holland (The Netherlands). He struggled to find work in his new home country. He did find work and finally he was able to obtain a green card in the summer of 1965. As a result of his diligence, a few months later he was drafted and sent to Vietnam as an M-60 machine gunner with 1/12 Cav, 1^st Cav Division.

He had almost completed his year in Vietnam when his unit was sent to Dak To where it joined the 4^th Infantry Division in the big battle that was being fought in the rugged Central Highlands of Vietnam.

After the battle subsided, Peter found that special item that was to change his life while he was helping examine equipment abandoned by the opposition forces after the batte.

In this episode, Peter will describe in his own words the course of events that would make him a national hero in Vietnam. He has been encouraged by many including this podcaster to write a book about his amazing tale.

He said he would like to do that but he needs help to get the book written. He invites anyone who would help in getting his book written to contact him.

He can be reached at:

Peter Mathews

201-906-3445

Or email him at: whfman@aol.com

Listen to episode 2594 and discover more about the incredible story of Vietnam Vet Peter Mathews’ journey back to Vietnam to return a special item he found on the Dak To battlefield 56 years ago.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Episode 2593 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about Vietnam Veteran Larry DeLong’s two books about his Vietnam experiences.  The featured story comes from the Niagara Gazette and is titled: Vietnam Vet’s new book aims to shed light on PTSD experiences. The story was submitted by Mark Scheer [mark.scheer@niagara-gazette.com].

According to the story, Larry DuLong served in combat in Vietnam. Along with bad memories he brought home with him a bad case of post traumatic stress disorder. He has battled PTSD continuously since returning home to Niagara Falls.

Larry said this about the scourge of many veterans of other wars besides Vietnam: “There should be some recognition for soldiers that have had or suffered from PTSD, whether it’s a medal or a citation or something,. It’s like an inner wound that you can’t see, but it’s there.”

His new book, No Purple Heart for PTSD — Vietnam War Experiences, offers a vision of the war “from a foxhole and a hospital bed view.”

DeLong’s new book is the second one he has published. He previously released It’s Not Easy Being Me: Bar Hopping Through Life, which chronicles his early days hanging around in bars and nightclubs in the Falls and later owning the Portage House, a bar and adult entertainment nightclub where he and his friends and patrons had a lot of colorful adventures.

Larry wrote this in his book description as to why he endured the difficult process of  writing the book: After battling stage 4 throat and tongue cancer, I decided to let the outside world enter into my war chest of dreams, demons, and nightmares. During my care in treatment, I constantly had thoughts of dying. Only then did I decide I no longer wanted to take these secrets to my grave.

Listen to episode 2593 and discover more about Vietnam Veteran Larry DeLong’s two books about his Vietnam experiences.

Recommended reading

Buy Now

Buy Now