Pete Mecca and his guest, Veteran Steve Snyder discuss his book "Shot Down" - the story of his father being shot down over Europe flying B-17s while assigned to the 8th AF in England with the 306th Bomber Group.

In 1965, the Navy conducted their last pilot training class without a college degree necessary for the cadet. Jim "Nomad" Lawrence was in that class; he was 19 yrs old, already with over 1400 hours behind the controls of civilian aircraft. He soloed at age 16.

Thus began a lifelong career and love of aviation, and war: 432 combat missions in North Vietnam-South Vietnam-Laos. Total combat missions: 608 in Vietnam-Bosnia-Iraq-Afghanistan. In war and peace: 7,700 hours in single-seat fighters.

Total hours to date in aviation: 41,250

You cannot know Pete Mecca's guest's name, but his pseudonym is Tom McIntosh. He flew C-130s in the US Air Force and eventually flew CRJ-900s for Al Mekong in communist Vietnam. He married a Vietnamese woman, but if the Vietnamese communists knew his real name they could make life difficult for his wife's parents.

Pete Mecca's guest is Chieu Le. Chieu Le was born into war, grew up in war, fought in war, shot down four times, and fled war when Saigon fell. Join us for the side of the Vietnam War you have never heard.

Pete's guest is F-8 Fighter Pilot John Laughter. John flew 155 combat missions over North Vietnam.

Pete's guest, Captain Lou Eisenbrandt was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease 19 years ago, the result of exposure to Agent Orange while working on injured soldiers in the emergency room at the 91ST Evac Hospital at Chu Lai, Vietnam. God Bless the Angels of Mercy.

From an infantryman in Vietnam to the highest rank for an enlisted man, Command Sergeant Major Bob Dare's thirty year career included First Sergeant of the 3rd US Infantry (The Old Guard) at Arlington, serving in six of the Army's ten divisions and deployment to 28 countries. Leadership, loyalty, love of country.

With host Pete Mecca

Pete Mecca's special guest is Sue VerHoef, Director of Oral History and Genealogy at the Atlanta History Center. Sue is curator of "More Than Self: Living the Vietnam War", and won an Emmy for her contribution to "37 Weeks: Sherman on the March".

Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in Nam, my guest, CH-47 Chinook pilot Glenn Carr will describe the harrowing mission plus much more.

With Pete Mecca

Pete Mecca's guest is Caribou Pilot Alan Gravel. Listen to find out why Alan flew his last mission in Vietnam... Naked.