Ask A Vet Podcast
Ask A Vet Podcast is a long-form conversation where veterans share their service experiences in their own words, with respect and control over what they choose to talk about.
Episodes
What They Didn't Tell You About the First Black Sniper in Iraq
Roderick "Roger" Pugh grew up hunting and fishing in rural Alabama — and ended up living through 9/11 in basic training, the initial invasion of Iraq, an IED explosion that nearly killed him, and a front-row seat to the execution of Saddam Hussein. Along the way, he became — by his own research — the first African American sniper in the Iraq campaign and U.S. Army history.In this episode
What They Don't Tell You About Guarding Nuclear Weapons in Cold War Germany
From civil engineer to Cold War nuclear weapons officer to Vietnam advisor — Bob Echols' journey through the Army is anything but a straight line. In this episode of Ask A Vet, Bob shares what it was like growing up as the son of a WWII transport pilot who rarely spoke about the war, getting turned away from West Point over his eyesight, standing guard over atomic demolition munitions in Cold
What They Don't Tell You About the Hospital That Treated 45,000 Vietnam Casualties
For three years, Michael Reeder treated the wounded of the Vietnam War without ever setting foot in Vietnam.Drafted in 1966 and trained as a combat medic, Michael expected to deploy in-country. Instead, because his younger brother was already serving in Vietnam, the Army sent him to the 106th General Hospital at Kishine Barracks in Japan — one of the primary evacuation hospitals for the most sever
What They Don't Tell You About Flying B-52s Over Vietnam
From a small farm town in Georgia to the cockpit of a C-7 Caribou over Vietnam, to eleven years flying B-52 Stratofortresses at the height of the Cold War — Buddy Herrington's story is one of the most remarkable we've covered on Ask A Vet. In this episode, Buddy walks us through four years at the Air Force Academy, two tours in Vietnam, a career that touched Guam, the Pentagon, and Space C
What They Don't Tell You About Taking Fire in the Kiowa Warrior
Joe Priester never planned on the Army. He joined the Air Force at 18, spent six years flying on AWACS radar planes, and watched 9/11 unfold from a locked-down base — and walked out of that day determined to become a pilot. Twenty-four days after leaving the Air Force, he was back in basic training, this time headed for Army flight school.In this episode, Joe walks us through flying the OH-58D Kio
What They Don’t Tell You About Giving Up Everything at 32 to Become a Green Beret
He gave up two businesses and a comfortable life at 32 years old to become a Green Beret — then spent six months in the Congo hunting one of the world's most wanted warlords, Joseph Kony.In this episode, Josh Nacey takes us from a small painting company in Rock Springs, Wyoming, through Special Forces selection, the Q Course, and multiple deployments — including a split-team operation in the C
What They Don't Tell You About Vietnam Artillery
Robert Williams grew up in Colville, Utah, and followed three generations of his family into the military: commissioning through Army ROTC at the University of Utah before serving as an artillery officer in Vietnam. In this episode of Ask A Vet, Robert takes us from basic training at Fort Lewis through his time as a battery commander on a remote firebase in the Vietnamese highlands — the boredom,
What They Didn't Tell Me About Being a Marine Door Gunner
Larry Winters served as a Marine helicopter mechanic and door gunner in Vietnam, stationed at Phu Bai and Marble Mountain outside Da Nang in 1969. He grew up in a house with no electricity or running water in upstate New York, ran away from an abusive father at 16, and joined the Marines at 19 trying to "become a man." What he found in boot camp and Vietnam set him on a 56-year journey t
What They Never Told You About Playing Rock & Roll in a War Zone
Stephen Davy was drafted out of a Toys R Us toy gun department in 1967, joined the Air Force to avoid the Army, and ended up loading napalm, two-thousand-pound bombs, and 2.75 rockets at the Pleiku Air Base bomb dump in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. But the part of his story you've never heard is what happened on the weekends: Stephen and his buddy Tom Glenn formed a rock band that played Camp
What They Don’t Tell You About Taking Fire on the Mekong River Delta
Gary Howard grew up in Atlanta and joined the Navy in 1968 to stay one step ahead of the draft. A few months later he landed at Tan Son Nhut on the night of Tet '69 – the whole countryside on fire, Intel telling everyone this year would be worse than last. It wasn't. What followed was a year as a Naval advisor with the Vietnamese Marines in the Mekong Delta: helicopter landings, MEDCAPs in remote
What They Don't Tell You About Life on a Nuclear Submarine
In 1963, a kid from Las Vegas with no money and a father enlisted in the Air Force earned appointments to all three service academies. A retired Army colonel teaching high school math gave him one piece of advice: "if you want choices, go to Annapolis" and it set Tim Martin on a path into the most secretive community in the U.S. military: the Silent Service.In Episode 46 of Ask A Vet, Ti
What They Don't Tell You About Your First Firefight in Afghanistan
In Episode 45 of Ask A Vet, we sit down with Aaron Hinds, a Georgia kid who turned down a Navy SEAL contract and a nuclear program to do the one thing he'd wanted since he was fourteen: be an infantryman.Aaron takes us from Sand Hill at Fort Benning to the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, through brutal pre-deployment "tryouts" where only two dozen men made the cut, and into Afgh
What They Don't Tell You About Being a Combat Medic Turned Infantry Officer
Stephan Wolfert enlisted as a medic in 1986, became an infantry officer, trained for elite special operations, and was on a fast track to a full military career…until two devastating losses in the same year broke something in him. A chance encounter with Shakespeare's Richard III in a small Montana theater changed the course of his life forever.Today, Stephan is a licensed psychotherapist, Sha
Veteran Podcast What They Don't Tell You About Being a JAG Officer in Vietnam Combat
In EP 43 of Ask a Vet, Ron Holdaway shares a remarkable journey from growing up in Wyoming to serving as a senior Army lawyer involved in historic cases during Vietnam and beyond. Discover his perspectives on military justice, the Vietnam War, and the lessons learned from a lifetime of service.CHAPTERS: 01:00 - Growing up in Wyoming & becoming a lawyer02:37 - ROTC, JAG Corps & early milita
What They Don't Tell You About Hunting Soviet Submarines in the Vietnam Era
In Episode 42 of Ask a Vet, we sit down with Navy veteran Tom Hopkins: a man who spent 20 years chasing submarines across the Pacific, Atlantic, and Mediterranean, surviving fire control lock-ons off the coast of China, harrowing carrier landings, cold catapult shots, and engine failures that nearly put him in the water. And somehow, he never stopped loving every minute of it.Tom grew up in Salida
What They Don't Tell You About Being a Cobra Pilot in the Vietnam War
In Episode 41 of Ask a Vet, we sit down with Walter Cox, Vietnam-era Army warrant officer, helicopter pilot, and Price, Utah native.Walter flew both Cobra gunships and Huey slicks with the 7th/17th Air Cavalry and Alpha 2/27 at Camp Holloway in Pleiku, South Vietnam. He walks us through what it was like to learn to fly in the tiny TH-55 trainer, transition to the sleek and lethal AH-1 Cobra, and u
What They Don't Tell You About Flying the CH-54 Skycrane in Vietnam
What does it take to fly the Army's heaviest helicopter, a 72-foot rotor-span Skycrane, into one of the most dangerous combat missions of the Vietnam War? Jim Oliphant knows firsthand. Jim grew up in San Diego, got drafted four times while studying architecture, and ended up becoming one of the Army's elite CH-54 Flying Crane pilots. In this episode, he takes us from boot camp at Fort Blis
What They Never Told You About Being a Combat Flight Nurse in Vietnam
She was 21 years old, a Johns Hopkins-trained nurse, and she had no idea what was about to walk off that plane. In Episode 39 of Ask A Vet, we sit down with Deanna Halterman Savage — Air Force flight nurse, Vietnam-era veteran, and one of the most remarkable women you'll ever hear from. Deanna flew medevac missions out of Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines, transporting wounded soldiers from
What They Don't Tell You About Serving in the Korean War
Richard Colborn was 18 years old when the Air Force made him a shift supervisor in a classified military communications center in the middle of the Korean War.Born in 1933 in rural southwestern Pennsylvania, Richard joined the Air Force in 1951 with no expectation of ending up in a war zone. He ended up at Kimpo Air Base, just 20 miles outside a bombed-out Seoul, running teletype operations that s
What They Don't Tell You About Getting Shot Down Over Vietnam
Paul Huber grew up in Mesa, Arizona, the son of an Army Air Corps officer, and went on to fly 220 combat missions in an F-4 Phantom during the Vietnam War. In this episode of Ask A Vet, Paul takes us inside the cockpit — from jungle survival school in the Philippines, to night bombing runs over the DMZ, to the morning in March 1968 when his aircraft was hit over Laos and he had to eject into the j
What They Don't Tell You About Combat Search & Rescue in Vietnam
Dick Van Allen dreamed of flying from the moment a B-24 roared over his small Ohio town when he was seven years old. What followed was a lifetime of aviation: from propeller trainers in Georgia to jet fighters in Alabama, from combat rescue helicopters over Vietnam to a dam disaster in Idaho. In this episode, Dick takes us through it all: the engine failures in training, arriving in Vietnam to di
What They Don’t Tell You About Surviving Desert Storm as a MP
From Florida kid to Desert Storm MP, Jesse Clifton's story is one of quiet duty, unshakable instinct, and a lifetime spent protecting others. In this episode of Ask A Vet, Jesse walks us through joining the Army as a Military Policeman, deploying to the Philippines in 1986, keeping the peace after Hurricane Hugo, conducting secretive security operations in Honduras, and finally heading to Saud
What They Don't Tell You About Being a Combat Medic in Vietnam
What does it really cost to serve? In this episode of Ask A Vet, we sit down with Patrick Dillon — a Hell's Kitchen-born, Irish-immigrant-raised combat medic who volunteered for the U.S. Army the day after his draft number was called. What followed was a lifetime defined by war, service, survival, and an unrelenting drive to help others.Patrick shares the raw, unfiltered story of serving as a 91B
What They Don't Tell You About Being a Combat MP in 1971 Vietnam
Paul Colliton grew up on Long Island in a military family, named after a B-24 bomber pilot who never came home. He was drinking since age six, working on Wall Street at 18, and heading to Harlem for drugs by noon. Then the draft letter arrived.In this episode of Ask A Vet, Paul shares what it was really like to become a Military Police officer in Vietnam in 1971. From being pulled out of basic tra
What They Don't Tell You About Stepping on a Landmine in Vietnam
In this episode of Ask A Vet, we sit down with Dwight Moss, a Marine veteran who joined at 19, served in Vietnam in 1966, and survived what most men didn't. From watching his buddy get shot in a rice paddy, to nearly drowning on a river crossing, to stepping on a Bouncing Betty landmine that cut him from ankle to chest — Dwight's story is as raw and honest as they come. He also shares a re
What They Don’t Tell You About Driving Tanks in Vietnam
Butch Underwood was just 17 years old when he enlisted in the U.S. Army and volunteered to serve as a tank driver in Vietnam.In this unfiltered conversation, Butch shares what it was really like fighting in one of the most dangerous roles in the war—riding inside a 52-ton tank through jungles, minefields, and ambushes. From his very first firefight to being wounded in combat, his story reveals the
What They Don’t Tell You About Being a Door Gunner in Vietnam
In this episode of Ask A Vet, we sit down with Vietnam Veteran Ernest, whose two back-to-back tours as a Huey door gunner took him from avoiding the draft… to becoming the man everyone in his unit depended on.Ernest shares unbelievable stories: being shot down four times, falling 100 feet from a helicopter into a rice paddy, saving his pilot’s life, living 50 yards from the South China Sea, water-
What They Don’t Tell You About Serving on a Navy Destroyer During the Korean War
In this episode of Ask A Vet, we sit down with Korean War Navy Veteran John Llewellyn, who shares what it was really like serving aboard a destroyer, or what sailors called a “tin can.”From joining the Navy at 18 on a whim… to working deep in the engine room under extreme heat… to surviving typhoons in the Pacific… John gives a raw, honest account of life at sea during the Korean War.He talks abou
What They Don't Tell You About Being a Pathfinder in Vietnam
In this episode of Ask A Vet, we sit down with Vietnam War Veteran Mike, who shares a raw, unfiltered account of his journey from childhood in Detroit to the front lines of Vietnam.Mike opens up about volunteering for the draft, enduring brutal training conditions, and the shocking moment when war became real, just days after arriving in-country. As a Pathfinder, he was tasked with some of the mos
What It Was Really Like Being a Donut Dollie in Vietnam
What was it really like to be a “Donut Dollie” in Vietnam?In this episode of Ask a Vet, we sit down with Vietnam Red Cross Donut Dollie Diane Thornal to hear her remarkable story serving on the front lines of the Vietnam War.Diane was one of just 627 women who volunteered with the American Red Cross Supplemental Recreation Activities Overseas (SRAO) program. Known affectionately by the troops as “
What They Didn’t Tell Me About Being a Dustoff Pilot in Vietnam
In this episode of Ask a Vet, Dustoff pilot Tom Hall shares the reality of flying medical evacuation missions during the Vietnam War. Tom entered the Army’s helicopter flight program and eventually flew Dustoff missions in the UH-1 Huey, rescuing wounded soldiers under intense enemy fire. In this conversation, he recounts what training was really like, the shocking moment he realized he was headed
What They Don’t Tell You About Being Under Fire on Pleiku AirBase
Randy Olea joined the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War and trained as an Air Policeman, a role responsible for guarding aircraft, securing the base perimeter, and defending against threats most people back home never heard about. In this episode, Randy shares what it was really like to serve in Vietnam, from basic training and Air Police school to guarding the flight line with an M-1
What They Don’t Tell You About Being a Machine Gunner in Vietnam
At just 17 years old, Josh Cruze was drafted into the United States Marine Corps and sent to Vietnam as an M60 machine gunner. In this unfiltered conversation, Josh shares what war was really like: the moments no one prepares you for, the brothers he lost, the wounds he survived, and the lifelong battle of coming home from combat when the war never really ends.If you believe these stories matter,
What They Don’t Tell You About Being a DustOff MedEvac Crew Chief in Vietnam
What was it really like flying Dust Off medevac missions in Vietnam?In this powerful oral history, Kerry Cunningham, a DustOff medevac crew chief, shares what he experienced flying wounded soldiers out of combat zones during the Vietnam War, often under fire, often at night, and often with no margin for error.From being shot at during a “possible broken arm” call, to night hoist rescues in triple-
What They Don’t Tell You About Being an Artillery Sergeant in Vietnam
What was it really like to be an artillery sergeant in Vietnam? In this powerful episode, Paul Henderson shares an unfiltered account of his service during the Vietnam War, from volunteering for the draft in 1968, to leading a 105mm howitzer crew in some of the most dangerous areas of the war. Paul walks us through life on remote firebases, artillery raids deep into hostile territory, incoming roc
What They Don’t Tell You About Flying Loaches in Vietnam
In this episode, we sit down with Ben Thornal, a retired U.S. Army aviator who served in Vietnam flying OH-6 “Loach” helicopters during some of the war’s most intense operations, including Hamburger Hill.Ben takes us from the moment he received his draft notice, through flight school, combat reconnaissance missions, near-misses, loss, and the brotherhood that defined his service. He shares what it
What They Don’t Tell You About Being an Armorer in Vietnam
In this episode, Vietnam veteran and writer Brian Delate shares stories he’s carried for decades: from being drafted at 19, to flying into Vietnam on a commercial airline, to unexpectedly becoming the armorer for a helicopter company responsible for millions of dollars in weapons and equipment.Brian talks about what they don’t tell you about Vietnam: the heat and the smell when you step off the pl
What They Don’t Tell You About SOG Missions in Vietnam
Step inside a powerful conversation with Vietnam Veteran Jim McCauley, who served in Special Forces during the Vietnam War. From jungle reconnaissance missions along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, to the harsh realities of combat, to surviving illness and loss, Jim shares experiences from the war that few people ever hear about, including:► His first time in combat,► Recon and hatchet force operations► Li
I Was a Machine Gunner in Vietnam
In this episode, we sit down with Marv Hamilton, a Vietnam veteran whose story bridges courage, loss, grit, and a lifetime of perspective. From enlisting as a young man to carrying the weight of a machine gun in the thick of the Vietnam jungle, Marv shares what life was really like: the friendships, fear, humor, and moments that stay with you forever.He opens up about:What boot camp didn’t prepare
What They Don’t Tell You About Flying Fighter Jets Over Rhodesia
Former fighter pilot Steve Murray joins us for one of the most captivating aviation conversations we’ve ever had. From pushing a Mirage to Mach 2, to navigating fuel warnings at 40,000 ft, to his first real combat strike over Mozambique — Steve shares the stories most people never hear about what it actually feels like to fly in war.We dive into:* How he was rejected from pilot training three time
Vietnam War: US Marine Tells All About Being Hit in the ’68 Tet Offensive
In this episode of Curious Humanography, we sit down with Marine Corps veteran Richard Lemmons, who served two tours during the Vietnam War, including surviving a mortar blast during the Tet Offensive. Richard shares his journey from growing up in Utah, enlisting after his father’s passing, enduring boot camp, serving as a Fire Direction Control Marine, experiencing Operation Starlite, life at Chu
How I Became a Green Beret During Vietnam
Join us as we sit down with Vietnam-era Green Beret Rawland, who shares unforgettable stories from his first parachute jump, to Special Forces training, to working with fighter jets in Vietnam and beyond. His life is a powerful reminder of courage, humor, and service to country.
What I Saw as an Army Combat Photographer in Vietnam with the 1st Air Cavalry
In this episode, we sit down with Ken McConnell, a Vietnam War veteran who shares his journey from growing up in California and working in radio, to being drafted in 1964 and serving as a combat photographer with the U.S. Army’s 1st Air Cavalry Division. Ken’s story is one of courage, luck, humor, and perspective. He opens up about the chaos of the war, close calls in combat, life on base, and the
I Flew Two Combat Tours in the F-104 Starfighter Over Vietnam
In this episode, Harold Alston shares his extraordinary journey from Salt Lake City to the skies of Vietnam, flying some of the fastest jets ever built. From dodging SAM missiles and dropping napalm at 100 feet to flying Mach 2 in an F-104 “missile with a man in it,” Harold’s story captures the thrill, danger, and humanity of a true fighter pilot. He reflects on 36 years in the Air Force, 156 comb
What They Don't Tell You About Vietnam Until You're There
In this powerful episode, we sit down with Vietnam veteran Ed, who enlisted in the Marines in 1965 with a mission to “save the people of South Vietnam from the communists.” What followed was a journey that changed his life forever.Ed shares vivid stories from his time in Vietnam: life on the fire base, surviving a midnight attack, and the inner conflict between his faith and the realities of war.
What They Didn’t Tell Me About Driving Convoy Missions Through Iraq at 38
Craig Flores shares his powerful story of leaving behind life in Guam, joining the military later in life, and becoming one of the oldest recruits at boot camp. From the challenges of basic training to deployment in Iraq, Craig's journey is a raw and inspiring look at service, resilience, and brotherhood.
What They Don’t Tell You About Fixing Tanks in War – An Army Mechanic’s Truth
From wrenching on cars in small-town South Texas to fixing tanks in war zones, David Garza’s life is a story of grit, knowledge, and survival.In this episode, we sit down with David to unpack his journey from a young mechanic to an Army turret technician, National Guard instructor, and Iraq convoy driver who built his own armor and kept driving after an IED blast.David's humor, wisdom, and “keep i
What They Don’t Tell You About Re-Enlisting: From Iraq to Syria Why He Went BACK to War
In this episode, we sit down with veteran Colin Noble to hear his incredible story of resilience, service, and transformation. We follow his path through basic training at Fort Knox, deployment to Saudi Arabia and Iraq, and his firsthand experiences in pivotal moments like the Thunder Run into Baghdad. From re-enlisting after 9/11 to serving in multiple deployments, becoming a tank and weapons rep
Navy Pilot Reveals Insane Truth of Flying Jets Off Carriers in Vietnam
In this episode, retired Navy pilot Fred Lewis shares his incredible journey from learning to fly a Cessna at BYU to launching jets off aircraft carriers during the Vietnam era. Fred takes us inside the high-pressure world of naval aviation—night landings on carriers, hair-raising near misses, aerial refueling, and dogfighting drills.Beyond the cockpit, Fred reflects on the camaraderie of his squa
Sgt Tells All - What You’ve Never Heard About Iraq
In this episode, we sit down with Carl Parkhurst to hear his journey from Sarasota, Florida, to more than two decades in the U.S. Army. Carl opens up about growing up with a father who carried the scars of Vietnam, the unlikely way he found himself enlisting, and the transformation that took him from a 330-pound teenager to an artillery mechanic.With humor, honesty, and grit, Carl recounts everyth
I Fought on the Mekong River - Navy Veteran Remembers Vietnam
In this episode, we sit down with Don DeVoe, a Vietnam veteran with an unforgettable story. From childhood to his decision to join the Navy Reserve, Don takes us on a journey through the unexpected twists that carried him into the heart of the Vietnam War. With vivid recollections of boot camp, life at sea, combat, and the unbreakable bonds of brotherhood, he paints a raw and powerful picture of s
What They Don't Tell You About Desert Storm
From a young boy with big dreams to a soldier on the frontlines of the Gulf War, Jamie Willis’s journey is one of courage, sacrifice, and survival. In this episode, Jamie relives the realities of combat in Iraq: the fear, camaraderie, and moments that left lasting scars. With raw honesty, he shares the battles that continued long after he came home: the weight of PTSD, the strain on his family, an
What They Don't Tell You About War - The Truth About Afghanistan
Warrior. Survivor. Grunt by Choice.Ronny Bruce first joined the Marines hoping to serve on the front lines, but found himself stuck in a quiet role. Years later, at 32, he made a bold choice: re-enlist as an Army infantryman, this time determined to see real combat. What followed was a journey through the heart of war that would change him forever.In this raw and unfiltered episode, Afghanistan ve
Real Cop Tells All: SWAT, Murders & Mayhem
What does it really take to survive 26 years on the frontlines of American law enforcement?In this gripping full-length interview, retired San Jose Police Officer Alan pulls no punches as he shares the unfiltered truth about life behind the badge. From his early days patrolling the streets in the dead of night, to leading high-stakes SWAT operations and solving violent homicides, Alan opens up abo
1,100 Flights Into Hell — Memories of a Vietnam Med Evac Pilot
Make no mistake: Jerry was a Top Gun.As a med evac helicopter pilot in the Vietnam War, Jerry flew over 1,100 life-or-death missions in just one year. Under fire. Into chaos. Without hesitation. He didn’t drop bombs, he rescued the wounded. When others said it was too dangerous, Jerry said, “I’ll go.”In this unforgettable conversation, Jerry shares his story, from volunteering to fly Dustoff missi
The Realities of War - One Soldier's Journey Surviving Afghanistan, Iraq, & Bosnia
In this episode, we hear from veteran Tom Bercher as he recounts his time in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Bosnia as a PSYOP Solider. From the challenges of navigating treacherous terrain to the emotional toll of combat, this episode offers a raw and honest look at the realities of war. Join us as we explore bravery, brotherhood, and the ongoing struggle with PTSD.
What I Saw in Hell - Memories of a Vietnam Veteran
In this episode, we hear the extraordinary story of John Hastings, a Vietnam veteran who shares his experiences from war. John recounts tales of bravery, loss, and the deep bonds formed with fellow soldiers amidst the chaos of combat. He reflects on his life after Vietnam, the struggles with PTSD, and the unexpected blessings that followed. Join us for a heartfelt journey exploring courage, patrio
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