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Echoes of the Vietnam War

Echoes of the Vietnam War

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund 124 Episodes Oct 14, 2026

Even after 50 years, the impact of the Vietnam War still resonates across generations. This podcast shares stories of service and sacrifice from veterans, their families, and others affected by the conflict. It is produced by the nonprofit organization that built the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, “The Wall,” in Washington, D.C.

Episodes

The War Within a War (Part 2)
The War Within a War (Part 2) Oct 14, 2026 00:39:00 In the second installment of our three-part series inspired by Wil Haygood's book The War Within a War: The Black Struggle in Vietnam and at Home, we examine the complex realities of race, brotherhood, and survival during the Vietnam War.The Battle of Ia Drang and Landing Zone AlbanyCaptain George Forrest was among the relatively few Black officers entrusted with combat command during the Vietnam
The War Within a War (Part 1)
The War Within a War (Part 1) Sep 28, 2026 00:37:49 In the 1960s, America was fighting two wars at once: one in Vietnam and another at home over civil rights.Acclaimed journalist and author Wil Haygood grew up watching both unfold. Young men from his Columbus, Ohio, neighborhood disappeared into the war in Vietnam while, at home, the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the unrest that followed brought the struggle for racial equality di
Taking Requests, Taking Fire (Part 2)
Taking Requests, Taking Fire (Part 2) Sep 11, 2026 00:39:51 For five days, nine Americans waited inside a house in Huế for a rescue that never came.Then the enemy came through the door.In the second and final part of Taking Requests, Taking Fire, John Bagwell’s story moves from siege to survival as the position occupied by AFVN Detachment 5 is finally overrun during the Tet Offensive.Three men would be killed.Five would be captured and spend years as priso
Taking Requests, Taking Fire (Part 1)
Taking Requests, Taking Fire (Part 1) Aug 27, 2026 00:34:22 Before Vietnam became a fight for survival, John Bagwell had what he considered one of the best jobs in the Army: playing music on the radio.Bagwell was a disc jockey with the Armed Forces Vietnam Network, broadcasting for the First Cavalry Division in An Khê. Known on the air as “The Scrawny Thing,” he played records, took requests and helped give American troops a connection to home.Then, on Jan
The Time Bomb
The Time Bomb Aug 10, 2026 00:40:19 Sixty-five years ago today, a test aircraft sprayed herbicide over Bien Hoa province. The operation that grew from that test lasted a decade and dumped roughly 20 million gallons of herbicide on South Vietnam. In this episode we’ll explore how Operation Ranch Hand affected the people who served in Vietnam — and their descendants — and how the U.S. government has responded since.
The Plastic Range
The Plastic Range Jul 24, 2026 00:37:31 In July 1969, Job Gonzalez was lowered into a tunnel where his enemy was waiting. When he resurfaced minutes later, he was out of the frying pan and into the fire. His valor that day earned him a Silver Star recommendation that lost its way in the chaos. A mechanical engineer, Job describes trauma in the only language that fits: the point where a material bends and can't spring back.
The Long Night
The Long Night Jul 10, 2026 00:36:55 In EP118, "The Void," we joined Mark Coonrad on a road trip to visit the graves of three men who died serving with the 3rd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division — the "Braves." Heavily engaged in the Central Highlands, this unit earned high commendations for its bravery and combat effectiveness, and enduring legendary battles like Dak To. In this conclusion, we hear from Jim Wyt
The Void
The Void Jun 24, 2026 00:40:07 The Braves of the 3rd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment fought a hard, largely unsung war in Vietnam's Central Highlands. Nearly 300 never came home, and most of their families received little more than a telegram — hardly enough to understand what happened. A veteran of the Iraq War has set out to fill that void: to visit every one of their graves and remember each as "more than just a name on Th
Eight Bells
Eight Bells Jun 12, 2026 00:36:29 The United States Coast Guard is the service that has to go out but doesn't have to come back. By July of 1965, the first 82-foot patrol boats were arriving at Da Nang. Most people don't even know the Coast Guard was in Vietnam, and the people who do know tend to picture them somewhere in the background, keeping the shipping lanes clear. During his one-year tour, Woody Barley was definitely not in
Diane Carlson Evans
Diane Carlson Evans May 26, 2026 00:52:08 Diane Carlson Evans passed away last week at the age of 79, following a battle with cancer. An Army nurse who served 18 months in Vietnam, she became a tireless advocate for the women who served there, ensuring their courage, sacrifice and service were recognized alongside their fellow Vietnam veterans. As we continue to reflect on the meaning of Memorial Day, we’re honored to bring you her story.
A Bad Day
A Bad Day Apr 27, 2026 00:53:52 On January 14, 1969, Army Specialist Gary Guggenberger was ambushed, shot four times, and captured. He spent the next four years in chains, being moved from one prison camp to another -- all in South Vietnam. In this episode, Brad Dunham of the Brady Oberg Legacy Podcast shares Part 1 of his interview with Gary.
Where There Is No Humanity
Where There Is No Humanity Apr 10, 2026 00:49:09 From the rivers of the Mekong Delta to Jewish Theological Seminary to the rubble of the Beirut barracks bombing, Arnold Resnicoff has carried with him one teaching more than any other: "where there is no humanity, you be humanity."

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