Dearest Suzie

Episode 039: 1965-01-29 | A Week Under Fire

January 29th, 2025  |  7 mins 26 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 a deeply emotional letter to Suzie on January 29, 1965, during a rare platoon party. He reflects on the challenges of the week, including the loss of a Christmas package, the camaraderie of his platoon, and the devastating realities of war. Popi recounts being under enemy fire 37 times in just seven days and shares a harrowing story of evacuating wounded civilians, including a young woman and her baby—a moment that profoundly affected him.

Accompanied by a photo of a mother and her baby at the Bangkok Zoo, today’s episode explores the toll of war on Popi's spirit and the weight of his love for his family, which made the suffering he witnessed all the more unbearable.

Episode 038: 1965-01-25 | Roast Beef Out The Ears

January 25th, 2025  |  8 mins 45 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, we explore a letter from January 25, 1965, in which Bill Lowie details his financial juggling and shares vivid, often humorous accounts of his dining experiences at the officer’s club in Vietnam. From planning thoughtful gifts for family members to navigating the costs of club dues, meals, and Christmas bills, Bill’s letter reveals the personal and logistical challenges of life overseas.

Accompanied by a photo featuring the interior of an officer’s club—complete with colorful chairs, a bar, and slot machines—today’s episode offers a glimpse into the daily realities of military life, blending the mundane with the sentimental.

Episode 037: 1965-01-23 | Finding My Grief Pt. 2

January 23rd, 2025  |  8 mins 2 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, we continue with Part 2 of Finding My Grief and hear Bill Lowie’s reflections on family, connection, and the quieter moments of war. His letter to Suzie, dated January 23, 1965, offers a glimpse into his life at the time—filled with letters from home, quiet troop lifts, and cautious optimism about upcoming R&R plans.

Accompanied by an aerial shot showing buildings on fire, today’s episode bridges the realities of war with reflections on family and loss.

Episode 036: 1965-01-22 | Finding My Grief Pt. 1

January 22nd, 2025  |  8 mins 49 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, we dive into a heartfelt exploration of grief, beginning with a letter from Bill Lowie dated January 22, 1965. Bill writes to Suzie with a heavy heart, longing for her letters and sharing the latest from Vietnam, including harrowing accounts of helicopter accidents and gunship incidents.

Accompanied by a deeply personal piece of creative nonfiction titled "Finding My Grief Part 1," this episode reflects on loss, anger, and the enduring impact of family connections. The story recounts a poignant moment in my life when grief and frustration collided, beginning to shape my understanding of love and memory.

Episode 035: 1965-01-18 | The Bob Hope Search

January 18th, 2025  |  6 mins 17 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 Lowie’s letter from January 18, 1965, touches on the joys and frustrations of mail delivery in Vietnam, the quiet tension of recent troop lifts, and his fondness for family photos. He reflects on a fruitcake from home, the boys’ pictures, and his gratitude for regular letters from his wife.

The episode also follows the resolution of the Bob Hope Christmas Special mystery: Was Bill featured in the broadcast? After an investigative journey through YouTube, eBay, and old DVDs, the answer proves elusive—but the process highlights the joy of discovery and preserving family history.

Accompanied by a photo from a USO show, depicting musicians performing for the troops, today’s episode offers a glimpse into both the personal and communal moments that sustained soldiers far from home.

Episode 034: 1965-01-16 | Capturing the Moment

January 16th, 2025  |  7 mins 26 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 Lowie reflects on receiving letters from home, his thoughts on family trips, and the daily grind of his work in Vietnam. Amid the letter’s warmth and pragmatism, we delve into the art of photography, exploring how Popi captured moments in a warzone with his 35mm film camera—preserving history one frame at a time.

Accompanied by a blurry, dreamlike photo of Charlie sitting on the ground and eating, today’s episode highlights the beauty of film photography and its role in Popi’s legacy.

Episode 033: 1965-01-14 | The Reluctant Instructor

January 14th, 2025  |  5 mins 35 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, we explore a letter where Popi reflects on his first experience as an instructor pilot and his anticipation of reaching the halfway point in his tour. As he trains new pilots by day and prepares for troop lift missions by night, we get a glimpse of his dedication and quiet humility.

Accompanied by a photo of a soldier standing in front of wooden barracks, today’s episode provides a grounded look at the daily realities of life in Vietnam—homes away from home for so many soldiers.

Episode 032: 1965-01-12 | Popi's Promotion

January 12th, 2025  |  6 mins 10 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, we explore Popi’s letter from January 12, 1965, where he shares the news of becoming an instructor pilot, the challenges of limited communication with home, and his surprising efforts to bring Charlie, a monkey he owned, back to the United States.

Accompanied by a photograph of a low-flying helicopter carrying smiling soldiers, today’s episode reflects on the small joys, mounting frustrations, and unique relationships that sustained service members far from home.

Episode 031: 1965-01-09 | Promises and Prisoners

January 9th, 2025  |  6 mins 42 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 Lowie reflects on the futility of war, sharing his frustrations about a massive troop lift that yielded little result. Writing over a weekend, Bill also mentions receiving an offer to join an armed company, practicing autorotations, and his plans to bring back a special gift for Suzie. The letter closes with a heartfelt promise to be a better husband and father—a promise that carries little weight as his story in Vietnam unfolds.

Accompanied by a haunting photograph of two young Vietnamese prisoners of war, today’s episode offers a poignant glimpse into the complexities of war and the emotional toll it takes on those involved.

Episode 030: 1965-01-03 | Introducing Charlie

January 3rd, 2025  |  7 mins 18 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, we meet Charlie, Popi’s mischievous pet monkey in Vietnam. Charlie, a macaque, became a beloved and quirky part of Popi’s life during his service, complete with a custom-made military-style jacket stitched by local nuns. Through Popi’s letter and family anecdotes, this episode explores the humor and humanity that Charlie brought amidst the challenges of wartime.

Accompanied by a photo of Charlie sitting on the officer’s club bar in his miniature uniform, today’s episode offers a heartfelt and lighthearted look at unexpected bonds, cultural intersections, and the humorous stories that endure across generations.