Vietnam Veteran News with Mack Payne

In episode 705 of this podcast President Obama's ground breaking trip to the landlocked country of Laos was featured. The trip was unique in that it is the first time in history an American president has set foot in the country. He took the occasion to swing by on his trip to China where he suffered humiliation at the hands of the ChiComs. He went to Laos bearing gifts, specifically a purse filled with $90 million that was earmarked for Laotian bomb disposal operations. It seems that about thirty percent of the bombs dropped by the US during the Vietnam War did not detonate upon impact with the ground. Many are still capable of detonation and it seems to have occurred enough to kill and injure 20,000 Laotians and others since the end of the war. The writer is also confident the President bowed deeply and offered his profound apologies for the bombing.

In this episode the story of a Vietnam Veteran who participated in the back office phase of the "Secret" Laotian bombing campaign is highlighted. It comes from The Washington Post and is titled: Five decades later, Vietnam vets remember the bombs the U.S. dropped on Laos  and was submitted by: John Kelly who has been a writer with the Washington Post since 1989.

Larry Zimmerman spoke to the Military History and Veterans Discovery Group in Silver Spring, Maryland. His presentation was titled: “The Laotian Interdiction: An Aspect of the Air War in Vietnam.” he was a 26-year-old Air Force captain stationed in 1969 at Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Base in northeast Thailand, where some of the elements of a secret bombing campaign against Laos were overseen. He explained that the Ho Chi Minh Trail wasn’t some tiny goat track but a highway, cleverly concealed in places, with depots and repair facilities.

Zimmerman worked in super secret target acquisition activities where the use of little camouflaged spikes called ADSIDs was one of their primary methods of pinpointing hostile assets on the trail. He commented this at the end of his talk: “All we did wasn’t enough, They outwaited us. It cost them a heckuva lot of people, a heckuva lot of trucks, a heckuva lot of money.”

In this episode the story of a B-52 crewman in Vietnam will be featured. Retired Air Force Major Peter Camerota served on a B-52 during the closing days of the Vietnam War and suffered the misfortune of being shot down during a SAM attack while on a bombing raid over Hanoi. He told his story to the Morning Rotary Club of Elizabeth City, NC. His speech was highlighted in a story in The Daily Advance of Elizabeth City, NC titled:  Former POW recalls getting shot down, captivity that was submitted for release by Chris Day, the Multimedia Editor.

His story began in December of 1972 when the US was conducting heavy bombing of Haiphong and Hanoi. At the time the US was negotiating with North Vietnam at the round conference table in Paris in hopes of agreeing to a peace agreement. The North Vietnamese had become a bit recalcitrant in the negotiations and withdrew from the conference. President Nixon decided to apply a little pressure in the form of heavy bombing to attempt to encourage a change of heart on the part of the North Vietnamese. It worked. The North Vietnamese returned to the negotiating table, where the Paris Peace Accords were signed less than a month later.

The bombing campaign was called Operation Linebacker II. B-52 aircraft flew 700 sorties during the event and unfortunately fifteen of the magnificent aircraft were shot down. Peter Camerota was aboard one of those lost that was lost. He successfully bailed out on the moonlit night and landed unhurt in a rice paddy. He laid low and evaded capture for ten days but while on the verge of starvation and dehydration he decided to risk turning himself in to the enemy.

Camerota was first taken to the Hanoi Hilton and then to a prison referred to as the "Zoo."  He benefited from the bombing campaign in which he had participated by only having to remain in captivity for three months. He was released on March 29, 1973.

In this episode we take a look at a story about President Obama making a historic visit to the country of Laos. The story comes from The France 24 website and is titled: Obama faces grim legacy of America's 'secret war' on landmark Laos trip submitted by Benjamin Dodman. The trip is historic because it is the first time an American president has ever visited the landlocked nation. The primary purpose of the trip was for Obama to grovel before the Laotian people and beg forgiveness for the US dropping two million tons of bombs on the little country during the unpleasant Vietnam War. The president sought to assuage the hard feelings of Laotians with the gifts of money he brought with him.

Unfortunately much of the fanfare surrounding the visit was stymied after some other national leader called our president a "son of a whore" just as he was arriving in Laos. It seems Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte did not appreciate comments made by Obama in reference to how Duterte is dealing with the tremendous problems the Philippines is having with the illegal drugs. Obama was so incensed over the distasteful remarks he cancelled a planned conference with the loose lipped Philippine president. This affair took away from the purpose of the Laotian trip.

The idyllic landscape of Laos conceals a sinister menace. It is hard to deny that the United States owes the country of Laos some help in dealing with unexploded ordnance. It is estimated thirty percent of the two million tons of bombs dropped on Laos failed to detonate upon impact. That means about 600,000 tons of live ordnance still exist in and on the landscape of the country where children play and farmers toil the soil. Unexploded ordnance have caused more than 20,000 casualties since the end of the war, and continue to maim and kill to this day.

We should and are helping. Obama announced that despite the crushing debt the country is staggering under we will send more millions and millions of dollars to help clean up the mess created by the millions and millions of tons of bombs we dropped on their peaceful country.

Robert Olen Butler is a Vietnam Veteran and a Francis Eppes Professor in the Department of English at Florida State University. He has a degree in theater from Northwestern University (BS, 1967) and a masters degree in playwriting from the University of Iowa (1969). Along the way he has written12 novels and six short story collections. Butler served in Vietnam from 1969 to 1971, first as a counter-intelligence special agent for the Army and later as a translator.

Following his tour of duty in Vietnam, and prior to joining the faculty at FSU he worked as a steel mill laborer, a taxi driver, and a substitute teacher in high schools. Later he joined Fairchild Publications, where he worked on the staffs of trade publications such as Electronic News. From 1975 until 1985, he was the editor-in-chief of Fairchild's Energy User News (now Energy & Power Management).

His latest book is titled Perfume River and it was reviewed in the Minneapolis Star Tribune by Ellen Akins. According to Akins the book sounds a lot like a auto-biographical piece. As she puts it: " The protagonist, Robert Quinlan, 70 (like the author), a professor at Florida State University (like the author), served a couple of years in Vietnam (like the author), an experience that haunts him — as you might say it haunts Robert Olen Butler’s work."

Perfume River is a well written novel that examines family ties and the legacy of the Vietnam War through the portrait of a single North Florida family. Butler uses his experiences in Vietnam to bring to Robert Quinlan, the lead character in the book, a quality of being the "real thing."

Butler's Perfume River presents a realistic portrayal of the twisted relationships caused by the Vietnam War and the opposition to it. It is highly recommended you get a copy of this outstanding book and find out for yourself.

In Berks County, Pennsylvania there is a group of Vietnam Veterans who formed a motorcycle club for the purpose of helping themselves and other vets. The club was featured in a story in The Reading Eagle titled: The Berks Vietnam Vet Motorcycle Club brings comfort to members and fellow vets that was submitted by Marylouise Sholly.

The Berks Vietnam Vet Motorcycle Club is made up exclusively of Vietnam combat veterans and was formed up in 1990 with a membership of 30. Today the membership is down to 19 primarily due to old age, stress, drug and alcohol self-medications and the effects of Agent Orange. One member, Norbert Pohl, 68, of Mount Penn wears an orange tee shirt with the macabre message: "Sprayed and betrayed," on the front; and "I was killed in Vietnam, I just haven't died yet," on the back.

The members of the club are united with a common bond of being Vietnam Veterans who still to this day carry the burdens of terrible memories of horrific battlefield events. Chris E. Leonard, 67, would swear and scream in his sleep, waking his wife. He did not believe he was doing it until she taped one of his nocturnal rants.

The club president Dewey Brown, 68, of Newmanstown said "I haven't slept with my wife in years because I'm afraid I'm gonna hurt her, It's the violent nightmares. I lived through it, I don't want to dream about it."  For soldiers such as these deep scars remain. More and more there is medical care for them, but sometimes what's needed most is a soul mate and that is what the club is providing.

One of the aspects of the club that provides good vibes for the members is their outreach projects. The club raises money for military causes and even takes part in events, such as throwing a huge picnic for patients at the Lebanon Veterans Administration Medical Center. They try to find out what servicemen need, and make sure they get it.

Hope you enjoy this poignant story about a group of Vietnam Veterans in Berks County, Pennsylvania.

In the previous episode of this podcast a Vietnam Veteran, Bob Kerrey, was mentioned. The occasion was his appointment as chair of the board of trustees of the soon to be established Fulbright University of Vietnam (FUV) in Saigon. The mention was made because it is a head scratcher for two reasons, first his academic credentials consist of a bachelors degree in pharmacy from the University of Nebraska and the other is that he admitted that while serving in Vietnam he participated in and ordered the slaughter of innocent Vietnamese civilians including grandparents, men, women, children and yes, babies. His non sequitur was that it was part of the CIA's Phoenix Program and that everyone was doing it.

The story of another Vietnam Veteran in this episode with wash the vile taste left in ones mouth by Bob Kerrey's actions disclosed in the previous episode. That veteran is Tom Faunce. He was featured in a story in The Mission Network Titled: Profile of a missionary by Julie Bourdon.

Tom carried around a lot of emotional baggage from his time in the Vietnam War. He says after serving, he struggled and felt lost. He wandered aimlessly hitching hiking around the country. Around midnight on March 18th, 1976 he saw the light after reading a copy of John Bunyan's Pilgrim’s Progress. He read passages from the Bible, got excited and baptized himself that very night in a restroom.

He felt the calling to be a missionary. Starting in Mexico he has traveled to such war torn areas as Nicaragua, Sudan, Kosovo, Rwanda, Bosnia, Serbia, and Croatia, to name a few. Today he is working in Cambodia. He brings in supplies and helps the people in the highlands. He also distributes Bibles to the people. The problem here is that practice is illegal in that country where only 0.4 percent of the people are Christian. Tom's bravery is incredible.

His main benefactor for Bibles and Christian publications is the World Missionary Press. You are encouraged to donate to that organization to help Tom Faunce with his heroic mission of spreading the word lost souls around the world.

CLICK HERE for the World Missionary Press.

According to the left wing website Counter Punch, the anti-war protestors were right when they called some Vietnam Veterans - baby killers. Specifically in this case they make the case the moniker applies to Medal of Honor winner Bob Kerrey. They bring this lurid subject up in a story about a new institute of higher learning, The Fulbright University of Vietnam, being set up in Saigon, Vietnam. President Barack Obama announced the opening of the U.S.-sponsored institution last May. A story in Counter Punch, "The fearless Voice of the  American Left Since 1993" titled: Bob Kerrey, Fulbright University, and the Neoliberal Erasure of History by Paul Street makes some thought provoking points about this development.

One notable thing about this story is the fact Bob Kerrey has been appointed the chair of FUV’s board of trustees. It’s a curiously Orwellian choice. He is a former governor of Nebraska (1983-1987), a former U.S. Senator from the same state (1988-2000), and the former president of the New School University in New York City (2001-2010) (a curious position for a man whose “higher” educational credentials stopped with a 1966 bachelors’ degree in Pharmacy at the University of Nebraska).

The problem here is that Kerrey was forced to admit that at his direction and participation his unit slaughtered 21 innocent women and children in 1969 during the Vietnam War. His excuse was it was part of his job with the CIA's notorious Phoenix Program. This in itself makes you wonder what on earth would make the American military slaughter civilians whose only sin was living.

The big wonder is why would we put an admitted baby killer of Vietnamese babies in charge of a university in Vietnam. Don't you think the Vietnamese might resent the fact a baby killer was in charge of educating its youth? In the words of Pete Hogwallop in the movie, O Brother Where Art Thou, "That don't make no sense."

Something else to ponder is that this pharmacy major could have been president.

To mark the advent of the 700th episode of the Vietnam Veteran News podcast we will take a look at the situation in Vietnam today. There was an excellent story in The Straits Times titled: Vietnam shows the way forward for Asean submitted by Karim Raslan about how the country of Vietnam is doing today. The story tells a little about the history of the country and points out how resolute the Vietnamese people are about maintaining their sovereignty.

It is easy to be a Monday morning quarterback, but reading the article makes one wonder what were the leaders of this country thinking when the decision was made to engage in a land war in Vietnam. Currently the Vietnamese are in a little bit of a wad with the Chinese about who controls the South China Sea. Many are concerned it could lead to war between the two countries and they think that would lead to disaster for the smaller Vietnam.

According to Raslan's article that might not be the case. The Vietnamese have been kicking the Chinese butts starting in 40 AD when the Tru'ng Sisters, led a revolt on the backs of war-elephants against the Han dynasty. In the 1400's, the nobleman Le Loi drove out the Ming armies, establishing Vietnam's longest-ruling dynasty. In 1979 battle-hardened Vietnamese soldiers repelled invading Chinese troops in a nasty and little reported on border war. The Chinese are probably thinking twice about starting another war with their testy southern neighbor.

Despite these hostilities the two countries share much culturally and economically. This makes Vietnamese policies and actions a model for the other Asean countries. The Vietnamese (unlike the Filipinos) have done an excellent job juggling economic, political, and military interests, keeping China at arm's length while not antagonizing the giant. A leading journalist recently explained: "We cooperate in business and economics, but when it comes to sovereignty, we fight."

The other aspect of modern day Vietnam is the economy. It has one of the fastest growing economies in the world today. It looks like the little country is doing big things today. We wish them the best.

Back in episode 634 retired Army Lt. Col. Charles S. Kettles was featured. He had just been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for something he did back in the Vietnam War. It was remarkable that it took so long for him to receive his award considering the heights of valor he displayed in saving 44 soldiers from death or capture by the enemy. About the only thing to be said here is - better late than never.

In this episode we will look at a follow-up story about how one of the soldiers who was saved by Kettles' heroic actions on May 15, 1967 in Vietnam had a part in the efforts that resulted in the award ceremony in the White House. The story is found in an article in The Highlands Today titled: Sebring native helps hero receive Medal of Honor by Tony Judnich.

Sebring, Florida native and retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Donald E. Long was on hand for the White House ceremony on July 18, 2016 where Kettles received the nation's highest award for valor in combat. It was especially significant for Long to be in attendance because he was not only saved by Kettles' bravery that day in Vietnam but he was also instrumental in getting Congress to pass a special law to make the award possible because of the statute of limitations on the date of the event. He wrote the cover letter for a letter-writing campaign started several years ago by the Ypsilanti Historical Commission and supported by then-U.S. Congressman John Dingell of Michigan. Dingell spearheaded the action through the Congress.

Donald Long, 76, graduated from Sebring High School in 1957 and served in the Army from 1960-1980, including as a helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War. He has two sisters who live in Sebring, and he and his wife, Marti, now live in Winter Park and Murphy, North Carolina.

Back in episode 690 of this podcast we reported on the plans for a special welcome home ceremony planned for the Vietnam Veterans in El Paso. The event was spearheaded by El Paso City Council Representative Emma Acosta. It all started eighteen months ago with a conversation she had with a friend who was an airline stewardess during the Vietnam War. Her friend told her about all the terrible things she witnessed that were done to returning Vietnam Veterans by anti-war protestors.

Acosta decided she wanted to do something to help right the injustices done to the brave Vietnam Veterans when they came home. She assembled a committee made up of a mix of veterans, politicians and business leaders. They got to work and planned a ceremony to honor Vietnam Veterans that will forever more serve as the ideal template for anyone who wants to honor our veterans.

The culmination of the committee's work came about on Sunday, August 28. It was reported on in a story on KFOX14 titled: El Paso honors its Vietnam veterans with a welcome back ceremony by Meghan Lopez.

The El Paso community came together to put on a parade, welcome home ceremony, dinner and dance in honor of those who fought for our country. The event kicked off in downtown El Paso where dozens marched through the streets. The parade included military vehicles, marching bands, decorated cars and veterans themselves.

The welcome back ceremony kicked off later in the afternoon at the El Paso County Coliseum and featured speeches from local leaders including Mayor Oscar Leeser. Gov. Greg Abbott also sent a video message to the veterans thanking them for their service. Officials said they hope the ceremony can right some of history's wrongs.

On top of the parade, welcome home ceremony, dinner and dance in honor of the Vietnam Veterans they will be honored on Monday during the El Paso Chihuahua's baseball game out at Southwest University Park Baseball Stadium.

On behalf of all Vietnam Veterans we thank the people of El Paso and especially Emma Acosta for doing such a wonderful thing to honor the great Vietnam Veteran Generation.