78 episodes
Echoes of the Vietnam War Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund
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- History
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4.7 • 86 Ratings
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Even after 50 years, the impact of the Vietnam War echoes across generations. Hear the stories of service and sacrifice from people who are affected — veterans, their families, and others who add perspective to those experiences. Brought to you by the nonprofit that built the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, “The Wall,” in Washington, D.C.
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Front Man
Bruce Springsteen’s song “The Wall” was inspired, in large part, by a musician he idolized in his youth. Walter Cichon was the front man for a band called the Motifs, who were taking the New Jersey shore by storm in mid-to-late 1960’s. Walter’s voice was forever silenced in Vietnam when he was just 21 years old, but his indomitable spirit lives on through those who knew him — including, to a surprising degree, The Boss himself.
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The Hero in Your Midst
Alfred Coke served 730 days in Vietnam and he estimates that he received enemy fire on 400 of them. He was wounded multiple times, and he has both the scars and the decorations to prove it. He never gave much thought to his own trauma until he formed an unlikely friendship with Allan Danroth, a Canadian engineer nearly three decades his junior. In this episode, we bring you an inspiring story of friendship... and the healing power of being interested.
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Cherries Writer
In 1970-71, John Podlaski spent twelve months in Vietnam — seven with the Wolfhounds of the 25th Infantry Division, and five with the Screaming Eagles of the 101st Airborne Division. John never dreamed that he’d become a writer, but his first novel, Cherries, led to five more books and a hugely popular website (cherrieswriter.com) that is a community chest of first-person stories, information, and imagery from the Vietnam War.
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Fortunes
Forty-nine years ago this month, thousands of South Vietnamese children were airlifted to the U.S. and other Western countries in a mass evacuation known as Operation Babylift. In this episode, you’ll hear the incredible story of one of those children, including her reunion — 44 years later — with her birth mother in Vietnam.
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Making an Impact at Home [Remastered]
Next spring will mark 50 years since Saigon fell, an anniversary that will likely spin up more coverage and conversation about the Vietnam War than we’ve seen in decades. Much of that attention will probably focus on how the war ended. We've decided, instead, to emphasize the countless ways that Vietnam veterans have made America better since they came home. To set the tone for the next 15 months or so, we take you back to where we started... three years ago today.
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Di Di Mau
Darren Walton arrived in Vietnam in 1970 and served a full tour on Marine Corps Reconnaissance teams. In this episode, he breaks a 50-year silence to talk about being a Recon Marine, to explain why he hid his Vietnam experience for decades, and to thank the men who routinely risked their lives to save his.
Customer Reviews
Echoes
I’m hooked on this pod cast. I spent a year in Viet Nam 2/67 to 2/68 with the 25th Inf Div; 65th Combat Engineers. Did everything from building roads, jungle clearing, tunnel rat, demo man, humped the jungles with leg units and mech units. Went in to hot L Zs, bridge building , river crossing, even went on a raft ride down a river in the middle of the night to deliver a infantry unit to a ambush site. Story of the Combat engineer is yet to be told…
Black soldiers…
I love this podcast! Would love to hear about the unique experiences of black soldiers during that tumultuous time in our history.
When I was just a little girl, my neighbor would often yell to no one.
Born in 1970, my father had served in WWII. My Uncle Jack also served in WWII and was a Mauradier Pilot for the Air Force. Uncle Jack is a war hero. I have never met my Uncle Jack because he never came home from France. There was a generation or two between my parents and I. When I was just around 4, playing outside in the “empty lot“ between our neighbor’s and I, my pretend world was once again interrupted by our neighbors son. He was drinking a Budweiser (I later associated the label) and yelling angrily at no one and talking to no one I could see. This time my dad was home, so he called me up from the field. Dad was standing with hands in his pockets and concern in his eyes. He asked me if when he was at work, if this happened a lot. “Yeah, sometimes“ I answered. We watched from across the empty lot in silence. My dad was disturbed and as I look back now, he was also conflicted, confused and concerned. Returning from WWII and the ticker tape parades to what these brave young men of Nam who thank God DID come home to, my dad knew there was great unjustice in our country. I asked him “what’s wrong with him Dad?“ and while still looking at our neighbor he simply said, “He went to war honey and now he’s back home“. He then shook his head and wiped a tear, took my hand and went inside. This podcast reverberates what I have always felt in my heart towards our Vietnam Vets. A great injustice was done to all who served. Now in my 50’s, I can say I have rode beside them, partied with them, visited friends I knew and those I did not, being treated at the old Denver VA hospital. (Early 1990’s before they built the new one). It was a disgustingly rundown, poor excuse of a government “service“ extended to our Vets. I was too young when I first felt what “coming home“ meant to a VV to do anything for them. Now, I try
to show any Vets appreciation. Buying their meals
In a restaurant, or a gift card to that restaurant, anonymously. Always thank them for their service. This podcast is the closest I can get besides being 4 and looking across the empty lot. I am grateful to hear their history and always cry at least twice during each episode. This podcast is narrated beautifully and presented with honor and respect. Never have I felt such a high regard to any reporter than the host of this show.
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