Vietnam Veteran News with Mack Payne

Episode 1229 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature the work of an American woman, Susan Hammond, who has returned to Vietnam after a brief visit to the country to help victims of Agent Orange. There was a story … Continue reading →

Episode 1228 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature the story about Bryan McDowell, an amazing Vietnam Veteran who became a Presbyterian minister after performing many heroic actions in the War. McDowell’s story comes from the Hometown Patriot Series … Continue reading →

Episode 1227 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature the fascinating story of a former US Army doctor in the Vietnam War and his relationship with a former patient who was a Viet Cong soldier. The story was covered … Continue reading →

Episode 1226 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature an opinion piece found in The Bugle of Camp Verde, Arizona titled: What has become of integrity of our Constitutional process?  that was submitted by Michael C. Westlund of Clarkville. … Continue reading →

Episode 1225 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature the service of Phil Anderson to his country during his 27 year career in the US Air Force. His story was covered in a piece on KTBS, ABC Channel 3 … Continue reading →

Episode 1224 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about a family memorial service held in Moycullen, Ireland to honor the memory of a brave Vietnam Veteran who died in Vietnam fifty years ago. The story appeared … Continue reading →

Episode 1223 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will focus on the problems many Vietnam Veterans face when they are within earshot of 4th of July fireworks celebrations. A story dealing with this scenario appeared in The Duluth News Tribune and was titled: For veterans with PTSD, the Fourth of July fireworks can cause panic, flashbacks. The story was submitted by John Lundy a writer with the paper.

Thousands of Vietnam Veterans are still having to cope with the ravages of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to this very day. Unfortunately one of the most revered American holidays, the 4th of July Independence Day celebrations, that most often include the use of fireworks can be detrimental to the mental state of a PTSD sufferer.

The story described the situation and made suggestions for dealing with the challenges of examples of PTSD being set off by 4th of July fireworks. Lundy stated this about the situation in his story: "The National Center for PTSD at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that about 3 out of every 10 Vietnam veterans have suffered from post traumatic stress disorder in their lifetimes. The percentage is smaller, but still significant, for veterans of more recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. And if they have PTSD, they probably struggle with regards to fireworks."

Christopher Erbes, a psychologist with the Minneapolis VA Health Care System stated in the article effected veterans can cope better with the professionally executed large scale fireworks displays in public places than those set off by individuals in neighborhoods.

It was pointed out in the article that the Military With PTSD organization sponsors red, white and blue-themed signs that appear at this time of the year with the words "Military veteran lives here; please be courteous with fireworks."

Listen to episode 1223 and discover more about how Vietnam Veterans can cope with 4th of July fireworks celebrations.

CLICK HERE for more information about the Military With PTSD and the programs they offer veterans.

Episode 1222 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story that appeared in The Metro News section of the Cleveland Plain Dealer and was titled: Photos of Northeast Ohioans lost in Vietnam war sought for memorial. The story was submitted by Brian Albrecht who covers military and general assignment stories for the paper ([email protected]). It covers Janna Hoehn and her quest to find photos of Cleveland area Vietnam Veterans whose name is on the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington DC.

Janna Hoehn of Hawaii is on a mission. She is determined to help find a picture for every person whose name is on the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington DC. Of the 58,315 names on the wall, 55,872 have been secured. That leaves a mere 2443 to be located. The state of Ohio has 3,095 service members names on the wall and they need only 36 more photos to close out the state.

Hoehn started her quest for photos in her home state of Hawaii then moved east. She is now working northeast Ohio.

Listen to episode 1222 and discover more about Janna Hoehn's quest for fallen Vietnam Vet's images in Northeastern Ohio.

Hoehn can be reached at: [email protected]

CLICK HERE for a direct link to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund Wall of Faces.(http://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces)

Listed below is the list of northeast Ohio names Hoehn is seeking pictures for that can be added to the Wall of Faces in Washington DC. Please check the list for names you may know and can provide assistance in locating pictures

Cuyahoga County:

DENNIS, Willie R.,1947-1968, Cleveland;

EGGERT, Russell W.,1949-1968, Cleveland;

GRAY, James H., 1936-1966, Cleveland;

HALL, Albert, 1949-1970, Cleveland;

HARTLEY, David W., 1944-1966, Garfield Heights;

JOHNSON, Johnny L., 1945-1968, Cleveland;

MEDLEY, Clarence, 1939-1966, Cleveland;

NEWCOMER, James H., 1952-1971, Cleveland;

OWENS, Wilbert, 1948-1969, Cleveland;

STEPP, Eugene H., 1947-1968, Cleveland;

WILLIAMS, Sammy, 1946-1967 Cleveland;

WOODSON, Raymond D., 1949-1970, Cleveland.

Lake County:

DONACIANO, G. Lopez, 1924-1967, Willoughby.

Episode 1221 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature more of the Veterans Corner WFLN radio show that was broadcast on Friday, June 30, 2018. Mack Payne, the podcaster was a guest on the program and along with show host, Mel Jackson talked about relevant issues concerning Vietnam Veterans.

This episode concentrates on The Healing Box Project, one of the more inventive and unique methods of treating PTSD symptoms. It created by retired music teacher Dave Dunklee and his wife CJ.

"The mission of The Healing Box Project is to raise public awareness and enlist the public's aid for the needs of severely injured service men and women to help severely injured members to aide and assist each other, and to provide unique direct musical experience to assist their recovery needs."

According to their website: "Dave and his wife "CJ" decided the name "Healing Box Project" could be used for non-profit registration. "Healing Box" fit coming from a relationship with relic guitars made from box crates or pieces of wooden boxes modified with a pole neck to which strings were attached. The healing begins with the first strum. Thus, "The Healing Box Project®" was born.

"The Healing Box Project®" is raising money to purchase guitars and supplies for soldiers to use. At the same time, Dave and CJ asks people to donate guitars that may be "kicking around the house" or in need of simple repair for the soldiers to play and, again, keep as their own.... a "gift" of heartfelt thanks for their service to our country and us. The real gift is seeing the faces of soldiers making music."

Listen to episode 1221 of the podcast and discover more about the WFLN radio program where podcaster Mack Payne who was a guest on the Veterans Corner Program and the Healing Box Project.

CLICK HERE for more information about The Healing Box Project.

Episode 1220 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature part 1 of the Veterans Corner WFLN radio show that was broadcast on Friday, June 30, 2018. Mack Payne, the podcaster was asked to be a guest on the program by show host, Mel Jackson and talk about relevant issues of Vietnam Veterans.

Just for the record, Mel Jackson is one of heroes that was included in the podcaster's book, Conversations with Vietnam Heroes and is a long time friend and associate of the podcaster. Jackson has been hosting the Veterans Corner program for several years. Normally he has two co-hosts on the program however  the other two were unable to be on the program on Friday.

One is suffering from age related ailments and the other, Dave Wills known as the Preacher, is away for a stem cell procedure that will keep him away from the local area for two months. He did make a telephonic appearance on this show.

Mack Payne, the podcaster, took the opportunity of being on the program to mention several topics of interest that recently appeared on the podcast. One had to do with the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington DC. It seems Sherri Dalphonse, the editor of the Washingtonian Magazine, wrote a story about her reactions to seeing the Wall for the first time when she visited Washington as a college student just after it was completed.

Another subject discussed on the program was PTSD. That is the malady that is affecting and estimated 24 million Americans today. Many of those sufferers are Vietnam Veterans. Numerous methods are being utilized to help those with the condition. One of the more interesting is the Healing Box Project. That and other methods will be discussed in this part 1 and upcoming part 2.

Listen to episode 1220 of the podcast and discover more about the WFLN radio program where podcaster Mack Payne was a guest host and several topics of interest to Vietnam Veterans were discussed.