Dearest Suzie
The Story of An American Inheritance
Displaying Episode 1 - 10 of 125 in total of Dearest Suzie with the tag “military”.
-
Episode 120: 1965-08-16 | Next Stop: Rucker
August 16th, 2025 | 6 mins 38 secs
1960s war correspondence, army, army history, arvn, asia, aviation, aviation history, bangkok, civil war, family history podcast, grandfather’s vietnam war letters, helicopter pilot, helicopter pilot war stories, huey, legacy of vietnam veterans, letters from vietnam, military, military history, military history podcast, personal vietnam war archive, pleiku, saigon, vc, veteran stories, viet cong, vietnam veteran memoirs, vietnam war, vietnam war diary, vietnam war letters, vietnam war oral history, vietnam war personal accounts, vietnam war photo archive, vinh long, war, war correspondence
In this episode of Dearest Suzie, Popi writes on August 16, 1965. His orders still haven’t come through, but the destination is set: Fort Rucker, Alabama. He’s already packed, ready to ship his belongings, and growing restless as the end of his tour draws closer. Though he isn’t thrilled about the post, he admits there are worse places, and at least they won’t have to move far. He jokes with Suzie about her surviving one more month with three kids, and signs off with the hope that she’ll be happy with the news.
This episode dives into the legacy of Fort Rucker, the home of Army aviation. During the Vietnam War, tens of thousands of helicopter pilots trained there, including Popi. The post became the proving ground for a new kind of warfare; airmobile, fast-moving, and flexible. From training on the UH-1 Huey to perfecting nap-of-the-earth flight, Fort Rucker shaped the strategy that defined the American war effort in Southeast Asia.
-
Episode 119: 1965-08-13 | A Too-Small Tablecloth
August 13th, 2025 | 6 mins 36 secs
1960s war correspondence, army, army history, arvn, asia, aviation, aviation history, bangkok, civil war, family history podcast, grandfather’s vietnam war letters, helicopter pilot, helicopter pilot war stories, huey, legacy of vietnam veterans, letters from vietnam, military, military history, military history podcast, personal vietnam war archive, pleiku, saigon, vc, veteran stories, viet cong, vietnam veteran memoirs, vietnam war, vietnam war diary, vietnam war letters, vietnam war oral history, vietnam war personal accounts, vietnam war photo archive, vinh long, war, war correspondence
In this episode of Dearest Suzie, Popi writes on August 13, 1965, from a villa in Saigon. He’s groggy, hungry, and still waiting on the orders that will send him home. But in between complaints about raunchy coffee and missing breakfast, there’s something else stirring: thoughtfulness. With only weeks left in-country, he’s begun souvenir shopping, jewelry boxes for the grandmothers, cloth for his sisters, a uniform for Al. He even buys a tablecloth from a group of Irish Catholic nuns, fully aware it won’t fit any table they own. “I just call it my contribution to the war effort,” he jokes.
This episode explores the quiet acts of care that soldiers engage in at the end of a long deployment. From a conversation over raisin cake with nuns raising money for an orphanage, to his quip that Suzie will only receive about fifteen more letters, Popi is beginning to shift. He’s thinking not just about going home, but about what he’s bringing back with him—and what kind of man he wants to be when he gets there. That too-small tablecloth becomes a kind of symbol: proof that generosity can persist, even amid exhaustion, even when it doesn’t quite fit.
-
Episode 118: 1965-08-09 | Packing Out
August 9th, 2025 | 6 mins 39 secs
1960s war correspondence, army, army history, arvn, asia, aviation, aviation history, bangkok, civil war, family history podcast, grandfather’s vietnam war letters, helicopter pilot, helicopter pilot war stories, huey, legacy of vietnam veterans, letters from vietnam, military, military history, military history podcast, personal vietnam war archive, pleiku, saigon, vc, veteran stories, viet cong, vietnam veteran memoirs, vietnam war, vietnam war diary, vietnam war letters, vietnam war oral history, vietnam war personal accounts, vietnam war photo archive, vinh long, war, war correspondence
In this episode of Dearest Suzie, Popi writes on August 9, 1965, just after returning to Vinh Long. It’s his final stop before heading home, and the tone of the letter reflects that shift, lighter, focused, and filled with anticipation. He’s back at his own desk, finally able to write with ease. His first priority? Packing. He describes buying a large trunk in Quang Ngai and quickly realizing it’s not big enough to hold all he’s accumulated during his year in Vietnam. From gear to gifts, every item tells a story, and he plans to lock the trunk with two padlocks, saving its contents for Suzie’s eyes alone.
This episode explores the quiet ritual of “packing out,” a tradition that stretches back through generations of American soldiers. Trunks carried more than objects, they carried closure. As Popi prepares to send his belongings home ahead of him, he’s also trying to shape how that return will feel. He’s not just coming back with things, he’s coming back with stories, tokens of love, and a hope that these small gestures will bridge the long absence. Even Charlie, his mischievous monkey, gets a mention, having caused trouble while Popi was gone. It’s a letter about transition, memory, and the delicate process of returning to a life you never really left behind.
-
Episode 117: 1965-08-06 | Not Meant to Live in Ink
August 6th, 2025 | 6 mins
1960s war correspondence, army, army history, arvn, asia, aviation, aviation history, bangkok, civil war, family history podcast, grandfather’s vietnam war letters, helicopter pilot, helicopter pilot war stories, huey, legacy of vietnam veterans, letters from vietnam, military, military history, military history podcast, personal vietnam war archive, pleiku, saigon, vc, veteran stories, viet cong, vietnam veteran memoirs, vietnam war, vietnam war diary, vietnam war letters, vietnam war oral history, vietnam war personal accounts, vietnam war photo archive, vinh long, war, war correspondence
In this episode of Dearest Suzie, Popi writes on August 6, 1965, just two days before he’s set to return to Vinh Long. His mission up north, “a mess” as he calls it, is finally over, and with less than two months left in Vietnam, his thoughts are turning homeward. He shares a small victory: tired of waiting for supplies, he buys a Vietnamese four-color pen in town. He wonders where Suzie is, whether she’s safely back in Florida, and whether Brian still asks about his “old man.” There’s a tenderness in his questions, a softness that’s only grown stronger the closer he gets to home.
This episode reflects on the quiet space between action and return. Popi writes shorter letters now, saving stories for when he can tell them in person, stories he never ends up sharing. The pen becomes a symbol of that tension: his need to write, his reluctance to relive, and the knowledge that some memories can’t, or shouldn’t, be captured in ink. In the background, war still looms, but for Popi, the countdown has begun, and the ache of distance now carries the shape of home.
-
Episode 116: 1965-08-02 | Waiting to Write
August 2nd, 2025 | 6 mins 13 secs
1960s war correspondence, army, army history, arvn, asia, aviation, aviation history, bangkok, civil war, family history podcast, grandfather’s vietnam war letters, helicopter pilot, helicopter pilot war stories, huey, legacy of vietnam veterans, letters from vietnam, military, military history, military history podcast, personal vietnam war archive, pleiku, saigon, vc, veteran stories, viet cong, vietnam veteran memoirs, vietnam war, vietnam war diary, vietnam war letters, vietnam war oral history, vietnam war personal accounts, vietnam war photo archive, vinh long, war, war correspondence
In this episode of Dearest Suzie, Popi writes on August 2, 1965. He’s still stuck in limbo without orders, unsure where to send his letters, New Jersey or Florida, and frustrated by the instability of his temporary base. Writing with a pencil instead of his usual pen, he reflects on how hard it’s been to write while on the move. With less than two months left, he’s counting down the days and thinking constantly of home.
This episode captures the growing restlessness among soldiers like Popi as the war expands around them. In August 1965, the United States launched its first all-American offensive, Operation Starlite, while CBS broadcast footage of Marines bulldozing a village—offering Americans a new, unfiltered view of the war. Chinese leaders issued threats, SAM missiles took out U.S. aircraft, and the Selective Service removed exemptions for married men. The war was changing fast, and the pressure was mounting from all sides. Amid it all, Popi just wanted to get back to Vinh Long, write from his own desk again, and begin the journey home.
-
All Episodes, July 1965
July 31st, 2025 | 43 mins 55 secs
1960s war correspondence, army, army history, arvn, asia, aviation, aviation history, bangkok, civil war, family history podcast, grandfather’s vietnam war letters, helicopter pilot, helicopter pilot war stories, huey, legacy of vietnam veterans, letters from vietnam, military, military history, military history podcast, personal vietnam war archive, pleiku, saigon, vc, veteran stories, viet cong, vietnam veteran memoirs, vietnam war, vietnam war diary, vietnam war letters, vietnam war oral history, vietnam war personal accounts, vietnam war photo archive, vinh long, war, war correspondence
In this compilation episode of Dearest Suzie, we revisit the letters of July 1965—a month of unbearable heat, long missions, and mounting exhaustion as Popi enters the final stretch of his tour. Stationed between Da Nang and Quang Ngai, he writes of 36-hour shifts, bad food, absent mail, and growing uncertainty about where he’ll be sent next. Amid the routine, he dreams of home, R&R, and board games with Suzie, even as a Viet Cong sapper attack and the arrival of the 1st Air Cavalry remind him that nothing is guaranteed.
But July isn’t just about what happened in-country. This episode moves between 1965 and decades later, when a Fourth of July evening in Georgia stirs memories Popi thought he’d left behind. From monkey troubles and heatstroke to reflections on faith and trauma, these letters reveal the quiet toll of war on both sides of the world—and the ways Popi kept loving, writing, and holding on.
-
Episode 115: 1965-07-24 | Not in the Movie
July 24th, 2025 | 6 mins 40 secs
1960s war correspondence, army, army history, arvn, asia, aviation, aviation history, bangkok, civil war, family history podcast, grandfather’s vietnam war letters, helicopter pilot, helicopter pilot war stories, huey, legacy of vietnam veterans, letters from vietnam, military, military history, military history podcast, personal vietnam war archive, pleiku, saigon, vc, veteran stories, viet cong, vietnam veteran memoirs, vietnam war, vietnam war diary, vietnam war letters, vietnam war oral history, vietnam war personal accounts, vietnam war photo archive, vinh long, war, war correspondence
In this episode of Dearest Suzie, Popi writes on July 24, 1965, during a rare day off. He’s not sure where Suzie is, in Florida or still in New Jersey, so he’s sending his letters home and hoping they find her. There’s still no word on his orders, but he’s hoping to leave Quang Ngai by August 8. The delay matters not just for him, but for Charlie, the monkey he hopes to send home before the weather turns cold. Popi also mentions a big change: the 11th Air Assault Division is coming to Vietnam, newly renamed the 1st Air Cavalry Division.
This episode explores the arrival of the 1st Air Cav and how it transformed the war. Built from the 11th Air Assault Division, the 1st Cavalry was the first full-scale airmobile force. Its rapid deployment in July 1965 marked a turning point. With helicopters at its core, the unit brought unprecedented speed and reach to combat, but also new risks. Their first major test came at Ia Drang, a brutal battle that revealed both the strengths and limits of air mobility. For soldiers like Popi, their arrival signaled a shift: the war was changing, growing, and coming closer to what aviation crews had already been living through.
-
Episode 114: 1965-07-22 | Your World In A Bag
July 22nd, 2025 | 5 mins 43 secs
1960s war correspondence, army, army history, arvn, asia, aviation, aviation history, bangkok, civil war, family history podcast, grandfather’s vietnam war letters, helicopter pilot, helicopter pilot war stories, huey, legacy of vietnam veterans, letters from vietnam, military, military history, military history podcast, personal vietnam war archive, pleiku, saigon, vc, veteran stories, viet cong, vietnam veteran memoirs, vietnam war, vietnam war diary, vietnam war letters, vietnam war oral history, vietnam war personal accounts, vietnam war photo archive, vinh long, war, war correspondence
In this episode of Dearest Suzie, Popi writes on July 22, 1965. He’s still living out of a duffle bag, waiting for orders, and counting down the days—just 62 left in-country. Suzie’s letter has arrived, and he’s glad to hear she’s enjoying her vacation despite everything. Things have been quiet for the moment but there’s a big operation planned for the next morning. The uncertainty is wearing thin, but he’s keeping his sense of humor.
This episode explores the duffle bag as more than just gear—it was a soldier’s portable world. From Civil War haversacks to the barrel-style bags of Vietnam, military packs have long carried not just equipment but connection: letters, photos, comforts from home. For Popi, that bag was home base. With most of his belongings already on their way back to the States, the duffle held what mattered: toothbrush, socks, and letters from Suzie.
-
Episode 113: 1965-07-19 | Faith in War
July 19th, 2025 | 6 mins 23 secs
1960s war correspondence, army, army history, arvn, asia, aviation, aviation history, bangkok, civil war, family history podcast, grandfather’s vietnam war letters, helicopter pilot, helicopter pilot war stories, huey, legacy of vietnam veterans, letters from vietnam, military, military history, military history podcast, personal vietnam war archive, pleiku, saigon, vc, veteran stories, viet cong, vietnam veteran memoirs, vietnam war, vietnam war diary, vietnam war letters, vietnam war oral history, vietnam war personal accounts, vietnam war photo archive, vinh long, war, war correspondence
In this episode of Dearest Suzie, Popi writes on July 19, 1965. The Viet Cong have been active, and he’s running on little rest. He’s relieved to hear Suzie is feeling better and jokes about the boys going to Baptist Bible school, a light moment that reflects the mix of his Southern Baptist background and Suzie’s Northern, Catholic roots. With 60 days left, he’s still waiting on official orders, and rumors are swirling about the 11th Air Assault Division.
This episode explores the quiet presence of faith during the war. At Vinh Long, Irish Catholic nuns ran an orphanage and school despite constant danger. Religious communities like theirs supported both locals and soldiers. For many troops, faith was a personal anchor. Chaplains offered guidance, while church groups back home kept families connected through prayer and care packages. Mema is Catholic, Popi was Baptist, and their marriage bridged that cultural divide. His teasing comment about Bible school is playful but also reveals how faith, like love, endured across distance.
-
Episode 112: 1965-07-13 | The Long Way Home
July 13th, 2025 | 6 mins 53 secs
1960s war correspondence, army, army history, arvn, asia, aviation, aviation history, bangkok, civil war, family history podcast, grandfather’s vietnam war letters, helicopter pilot, helicopter pilot war stories, huey, legacy of vietnam veterans, letters from vietnam, military, military history, military history podcast, personal vietnam war archive, pleiku, saigon, vc, veteran stories, viet cong, vietnam veteran memoirs, vietnam war, vietnam war diary, vietnam war letters, vietnam war oral history, vietnam war personal accounts, vietnam war photo archive, vinh long, war, war correspondence
In this episode of Dearest Suzie, Bill writes from Quang Ngai on July 13, 1965, reflecting on the grind of daily missions and the long shadow of homecoming. He’s finally received mail and it comes as a massive relief. He’s been worried about Suzie's health and the boys and he’s already thinking ahead to a real vacation together. He still has no official orders and there are rumors about the dissolution of the 11th as well as delayed paperwork which leaves him in limbo. Still, he marks a date: September 27. If nothing else changes, that’s the day he’ll walk back through the front door.
Today’s episode explores what “going home” really meant for soldiers in Vietnam. The process wasn’t simple. It revolved around a number, DEROS, or Date Eligible for Return from Overseas, which governed when a soldier could leave the war behind. Once a man got “short,” everything shifted. He wasn’t just a soldier anymore, he was a countdown. That sense of being nearly done came with both hope and danger. Unlike earlier wars, Vietnam operated on an individual rotation system, meaning Bill wouldn’t go home with his unit. He’d likely be replaced by someone just arriving, and if time allowed, he’d pass on what he could. After orders came, the journey out involved transit stops in places like Okinawa or Guam, health checks, and long flights to bases like Travis AFB in California or Fort Benning in Georgia. What waited there was paperwork, maybe discharge, and often, emotional whiplash. Because reentry wasn’t easy. Some returned to warm reunions. Others found themselves disoriented by silence, grocery stores, and a country ready to move on.