Dearest Suzie

In this episode of Dearest Suzie, Bill writes from a quieter moment in Vietnam, just days after attending memorial services for three fellow soldiers killed in action. One of them was Ray Rupcic, a pilot from Lorain, Ohio, and a member of Popi’s original unit. His death, and the absence of his recovered body, hangs over the letter with a quiet weight. Amid this grief, Popi describes how the platoon coped — heading into town, drinking Vietnamese beer that “tastes like embalming fluid,” and doing their best to forget the pain for a night. The letter reflects the strange and complicated ways soldiers processed loss, especially in a war that didn’t allow much room for mourning. Bill also shares the outcome of the operation that cost them those lives: a decisive tactical success with hundreds of Viet Cong killed or captured. But his tone stays subdued. “That doesn’t make up for the men we lost,” he writes. It’s a reminder that victory on paper can feel hollow when measured against the people you never get back. What’s Covered: - Memorial services for fallen pilots - Popi’s reflections on grief and camaraderie - Tactical success versus personal loss - Everyday moments of emotional recovery in Vietnam 📷 Featured Photo: A shot from inside the cockpit of a combat helicopter, showing Vietnam below and the rocket systems in the foreground — a view that echoes both the power and the weight of the missions these men flew. 🔔 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe! New episodes post regularly, sharing letters and stories from exactly 60 years ago, as written by my grandfather. Follow Dearest Suzie on social media: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1GwqPyO061k0iaQRKwfjoQ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dearestsuziepodcast/ X: https://x.com/DearestSuziePod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dearestsuziepodcast 📧 Have a story to share or want to reach out? Email me at dearestsuziepodcast@gmail.com — I’d love to hear from you! VietnamWar #HueyHelicopter #MilitaryHistory #DearestSuzie #InheritTheStories #VietnamVeteran #HistoryPodcast #FamilyHistory

04-09

05:46

In this episode of Dearest Suzie, Bill writes from Saigon after a quiet day spent retrieving helicopters to replace ones lost in action. Though brief, his letter includes a small gesture that opens up a much broader reflection: he encloses a map from the Stars and Stripes military newspaper, hoping it helps Suzie follow what’s happening overseas. Accompanied by a photo of a map later found hanging in his home office, today’s episode considers the role of Stars and Stripes during the Vietnam War — not just as a newspaper, but as a cultural and emotional lifeline. It balanced morale-boosting stories with frank coverage of the war’s realities, offering American troops a connection to home and an outlet for navigating the confusion and contradictions of combat. What’s Covered: - Popi’s brief update from Saigon - The Stars and Stripes newspaper and its role in Vietnam - A personal reflection on early history projects and interviewing Popi as a child 📷 Featured Photo: A National Geographic map hung in Popi’s office on base, similar to the one mentioned in this letter. 🔔 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe! New episodes post regularly, sharing letters and stories from exactly 60 years ago, as written by my grandfather. Follow Dearest Suzie on social media: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1GwqPyO061k0iaQRKwfjoQ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dearestsuziepodcast/ X: https://x.com/DearestSuziePod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dearestsuziepodcast 📧 Have a story to share or want to reach out? Email me at dearestsuziepodcast@gmail.com — I’d love to hear from you! VietnamWar #HueyHelicopter #StarsAndStripes #MilitaryHistory #InheritTheStories #HistoryPodcast #FamilyHistory

04-08

05:12

In this special episode of Dearest Suzie, we look back on the March 1965 letters from Bill Lowie—a month that marked a profound shift in both his role in Vietnam and the risks he faced. After months of flying troop transports and medevac missions, March was the month Popi officially joined the Cobras, placing him directly in the fight against the Viet Cong for the first time. His letters recount the near-misses of combat operations—from bullets tearing through his helicopter to crash-landing behind enemy lines—all told with the same steady, understated voice he's used since the day he arrived. Even as the war pressed closer, Bill’s mind stayed tethered to home—sending gifts, making plans for matching jackets with his sons, and imagining the life he would build when he returned. His long-awaited trip to Bangkok offered a rare reprieve from the daily grind of war, a brief window to indulge in beauty and escape, only to return to the uncertainty of what each mission might bring. March is a month where two versions of Bill Lowie seem to exist at once—the soldier hunting the enemy from the air, and the husband and father carefully folding silk paintings to send home. It’s a testament to the quiet, unseen work of holding on to your humanity in the middle of a war. 🔔 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe! I’ll be posting new episodes regularly, sharing letters and stories from exactly 60 years ago, as written by my grandfather. Follow Dearest Suzie on social media: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1GwqPyO061k0iaQRKwfjoQ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dearestsuziepodcast/ X: https://x.com/DearestSuziePod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dearestsuziepodcast 📧 Have a story to share or want to reach out? Email me at dearestsuziepodcast@gmail.com — I’d love to hear from you! VietnamWar #1965Vietnam #BillLowieLetters #InheritTheStories #HueyHelicopter #Cobras #MilitaryHistory #VietnamLetters #CombatStories #WarDiaries #MarchRecap #HistoricalPodcast

04-02

01:28:27

In this episode of Dearest Suzie, we follow Popi through one of the most morally complex days of his deployment. Writing on April Fools’ Day, 1965, he begins with heat and headaches, but quickly moves into a harrowing story of hesitation — where instincts, orders, and ethics collide. After flying over a minefield and narrowly avoiding disaster, Popi and his crew encounter a group of over a hundred unarmed men in an open field. A Vietnamese officer pleads with them to open fire, certain they are Viet Cong. Instead, Popi lands. The men beg for their lives, claiming to be farmers. They’re let go. Later, the Americans find out the truth: they were part of a group that had attacked a nearby outpost hours before. What’s Covered: - A failed mission to intercept a Viet Cong battalion. - Popi’s helicopter setting off a mine during a landing attempt. - A tense standoff with suspected—but unarmed—Viet Cong. - Reflections on the difficulty of making ethical decisions in war. - Popi’s admission that he stopped keeping a diary after witnessing the aftermath of a massacre. 📷 Featured Photo: A group of Vietnamese civilians — men and children, some on bicycles, others in conical hats — stand by the roadside. Like the men in Popi’s letter, their identities are uncertain. Resistance fighters? Innocent bystanders? This photo, like the moment it echoes, holds no easy answers. 🔔 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe! I’ll be posting new episodes regularly, sharing letters and stories from exactly 60 years ago, as written by my grandfather. Follow Dearest Suzie on social media: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1GwqPyO061k0iaQRKwfjoQ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dearestsuziepodcast/ X: https://x.com/DearestSuziePod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dearestsuziepodcast 📧 Have a story to share or want to reach out? Email me at dearestsuziepodcast@gmail.com — I’d love to hear from you! VietnamWar #VietnamHistory #DearestSuzie #LettersFromVietnam #HelicopterPilot #InheritTheStories #MilitaryEthics #Counterinsurgency #FamilyHistory #HistoryPodcast

04-01

08:04

In this episode of Dearest Suzie, Popi writes in the wake of the bombing of the American Embassy in Saigon — one of the deadliest attacks against Americans in Vietnam to that point. His letter folds the threat of violence into the rhythms of everyday life, moving between worries about family finances and the sleepless wait for an attack that never came. What’s left unsaid feels just as important as what’s written — a balancing act between reassurance and fear. Accompanied by a photo which is presumed to depict a square in Saigon, today's episode explores how soldiers carried on in the shadow of uncertainty, holding onto routine even as the ground beneath them threatened to shift. What’s Covered: - The March 30, 1965 bombing of the American Embassy in Saigon and its significance in the larger arc of the Vietnam War. - How Popi's letters mirror the way soldiers processed fear without giving it too much space on the page. - The tension between normal life and the ever-present threat of violence. - President Johnson’s response to the bombing and how governments frame acts of terror in times of war. - Reflections on how societies respond to violence — then and now. 📷 Featured Photo: The photo today appears to be a large square in a big city, which may be Saigon. It has a roundabout with some sort of signage in it and manmade pond or water feature. The square itself looks to be a big parking lot for bikes or motorcycles. 🔔 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe! I’ll be posting new episodes regularly, sharing letters and stories from exactly 60 years ago, as written by my grandfather. Follow Dearest Suzie on social media: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1GwqPyO061k0iaQRKwfjoQ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dearestsuziepodcast/ X: https://x.com/DearestSuziePod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dearestsuziepodcast 📧 Have a story to share or want to reach out? Email me at dearestsuziepodcast@gmail.com — I’d love to hear from you! VietnamWar #MilitaryHistory #WarLetters #FamilyHistory #InheritTheStories #HistoryPodcast #OnThisDay #Saigon #1960sHistory

03-31

05:38

In this episode of Dearest Suzie, Popi returns from a short but meaningful trip to Bangkok, his letter brimming with souvenirs and stories. With just two nights away from Vietnam, he fills his time gathering gifts — delicate silks, bronze dinnerware, and a princess ring — all chosen with Suzie and the boys in mind. But beneath the excitement of shopping and sightseeing, his letter carries the weight of distance, longing, and the quiet strain of trying to hold a family together from half a world away. Accompanied by a photo of a temple or shrine, today's episode explores the fragile balance between joy and loneliness in the small reprieves of war. What’s Covered: - Popi’s Bangkok trip and the souvenirs he carefully picked out for his family. - The tension between his desire to protect Suzie and his understanding of her longing to care for her sister. - The ways soldiers carved out moments of pleasure and normalcy amid the backdrop of war. - How borrowed money and bartered cigarettes bought him a fleeting escape — and a glimpse of the man he hoped to be when he finally came home. 📷 Featured Photo: The photo today was likely taken on one of Popi’s trips outside of Vietnam. There is a chance it was taken in Bangkok. It appears to be a temple or shrine. 🔔 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe! I’ll be posting new episodes regularly, sharing letters and stories from exactly 60 years ago, as written by my grandfather. Follow Dearest Suzie on social media: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1GwqPyO061k0iaQRKwfjoQ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dearestsuziepodcast/ X: https://x.com/DearestSuziePod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dearestsuziepodcast 📧 Have a story to share or want to reach out? Email me at dearestsuziepodcast@gmail.com — I’d love to hear from you! VietnamWar #HueyHelicopter #MilitaryHistory #WarLetters #FamilyHistory #InheritTheStories #HistoryPodcast #OnThisDay #Bangkok #1960sHistory

03-29

08:41

In this episode of Dearest Suzie, Popi marks a quiet but significant milestone — the halfway point of his tour. Six months down, six to go. His letter from March 23, 1965, touches on the routines of life at Vinh Long — training flights, troop lifts, and the growing menagerie of animals that fill the compound. But even in the stillness, the war lingers beneath the surface — in the language he uses, the weariness in his voice, and the small ways survival reshapes the people who endure it. Alongside stories of Charlie the monkey and the dogs and birds that offer comfort in an uncomfortable place, today's episode grapples with the complicated legacy of wartime language — and the gravity of reaching the top of the hill. Accompanied by a photo of a monkey playing with a dog, with soldiers looking on, this episode explores the tension between tenderness and dehumanization — the habits that help soldiers get through the day, and the ways those habits can harden over time. What’s Covered: - Popi’s letter from March 23, 1965 - The significance of reaching the halfway point of his tour - The growing animal population on the compound - How racism and dehumanizing language were embedded in the culture of the war - The small, tender ways Popi cared for Charlie — and what those moments reveal about him 📷 Featured Photo: A monkey playing with a dog, with two soldiers watching — one standing above them, the other sitting behind the action. 🔔 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe! I’ll be posting new episodes regularly, sharing letters and stories from exactly 60 years ago, as written by my grandfather. Follow Dearest Suzie on social media: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1GwqPyO061k0iaQRKwfjoQ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dearestsuziepodcast/ X: https://x.com/DearestSuziePod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dearestsuziepodcast 📧 Have a story to share or want to reach out? Email me at dearestsuziepodcast@gmail.com — I’d love to hear from you! VietnamWar #HueyHelicopter #WarLetters #InheritTheStories #MilitaryHistory #FamilyHistory #OralHistory #MemoryAndMyth #HalfwayHome

03-23

07:08

In this episode of Dearest Suzie, the letter itself is short — just a few lines about quiet days, card games, and Popi's plans to bring Charlie the monkey home. But it’s the stories that surround this letter — the ones passed down through generations — that offer a glimpse into the weight of what went unsaid. Two stories have survived about Popi’s time with the Cobras: one darkly funny, the other quietly heroic. Together, they raise larger questions about how we remember war — and how family stories shape the people we’ve lost. When the written record leaves gaps, what becomes more important — the truth of what happened, or the legacy those stories help to build? Accompanied by a photo of Huey helicopters flying in formation, today's episode explores the distance between the stories Popi told, the ones he kept to himself, and the ones that survived him. What’s Covered: - Popi’s brief letter from March 22, 1965 - Family stories about Popi’s time with the Cobras - How memory, myth, and survival shape the stories we inherit - The lingering question of why Popi chose to move from medevac missions to combat operations 📷 Featured Photo: Three Huey helicopters flying in formation, with a door gunner visible hanging outside one of the aircraft. 🔔 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe! I’ll be posting new episodes regularly, sharing letters and stories from exactly 60 years ago, as written by my grandfather. Follow Dearest Suzie on social media: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1GwqPyO061k0iaQRKwfjoQ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dearestsuziepodcast/ X: https://x.com/DearestSuziePod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dearestsuziepodcast 📧 Have a story to share or want to reach out? Email me at dearestsuziepodcast@gmail.com — I’d love to hear from you! VietnamWar #HueyHelicopter #HelicopterPilot #MilitaryHistory #WarLetters #InheritTheStories #FamilyHistory #OralHistory #MemoryAndMyth

03-22

05:24

In this episode of Dearest Suzie, the war finally closes in as Popi recounts two harrowing days behind enemy lines. Under steady fire from the Viet Cong, his helicopter is hit three separate times — the final round forcing him to crash-land on an island controlled by the very enemy he'd been fighting. Yet even in the face of danger, Popi’s letter carries the same measured, almost lighthearted tone we’ve come to know — balancing stories of survival alongside the daily routines of feeding Charlie pineapple chunks and planning for a rare three-day pass. Accompanied by a photo of the interior of a gunship, today’s episode captures the tension between the life Popi was trying to protect at home and the one he was living every day in Vietnam — a world where even the most terrifying moments are tucked between careful reassurances and everyday observations. What’s Covered: - Popi’s first missions with the Cobras - His helicopter crash-landing behind enemy lines - The emotional balancing act between sharing experiences and shielding loved ones from fear - Small routines that helped him hold on to normalcy 📷 Featured Photo: The interior of an attack helicopter, loaded with ammunition, featuring a mounted machine gun and rocket tubes. 🔔 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe! I’ll be posting new episodes regularly, sharing letters and stories from exactly 60 years ago, as written by my grandfather. Follow Dearest Suzie on social media: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1GwqPyO061k0iaQRKwfjoQ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dearestsuziepodcast/ X: https://x.com/DearestSuziePod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dearestsuziepodcast 📧 Have a story to share or want to reach out? Email me at dearestsuziepodcast@gmail.com — I’d love to hear from you! VietnamWar #HueyHelicopter #HelicopterPilot #MilitaryHistory #InheritTheStories #WarLetters #FamilyHistory #BehindEnemyLines

03-20

06:38

In this episode of Dearest Suzie, Popi writes from a place caught between two worlds — the one he’s living in and the one he’s dreaming of returning to. As he recovers from reinjuring his ankle, he fills his letter with plans for the future: silk paintings to send to family, matching jackets for him and his boys, and small gestures that bridge the distance between Vietnam and home. Beneath these hopeful plans, though, subtle hints of vulnerability emerge — from the lingering injury grounding him to the financial strain of life as a soldier. Accompanied by a photo of Vietnamese civilians, possibly refugees or VIPs, today's episode invites us to consider the quieter moments of war — the small, human details that Popi noticed even amidst danger and exhaustion. What’s Covered: - Popi’s reinjured ankle and temporary grounding - The emotional weight of making plans for home - Financial strain on soldiers and their families - Small, everyday moments that stood out against the backdrop of war 📷 Featured Photo: A group of Vietnamese civilians, including women carrying children on their backs — part of a series of photos taken by Popi. 🔔 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe! I’ll be posting new episodes regularly, sharing letters and stories from exactly 60 years ago, as written by my grandfather. Follow Dearest Suzie on social media: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1GwqPyO061k0iaQRKwfjoQ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dearestsuziepodcast/ X: https://x.com/DearestSuziePod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dearestsuziepodcast 📧 Have a story to share or want to reach out? Email me at dearestsuziepodcast@gmail.com — I’d love to hear from you! VietnamWar #HueyHelicopter #MilitaryHistory #InheritTheStories #WarLetters #Refugees #FamilyHistory #TwoWorldsAtOnce

03-19

06:15

In this episode of Dearest Suzie, Bill writes home with news of his first injury in Vietnam—but the story isn’t quite what you might expect. What starts as a dramatic tale of being shot down by the Viet Cong quickly turns into a humorous account of how he actually sprained his ankle—trying to rescue his pet monkey, Charlie, from tangled power lines. The letter highlights Popi’s signature storytelling style, using humor to downplay his injury and ease the worries of his family back home. Accompanied by a photo of Charlie and Doll enjoying table scraps on the grass, today's episode reminds us that even in the middle of a warzone, it’s often the small, absurd moments that stand out the most. What’s Covered: - Bill’s first injury in Vietnam - The importance of humor in Popi’s letters - Life at the base through small, personal moments - How soldiers downplayed hardships to protect their loved ones 📷 Featured Photo: Charlie and Doll sitting on the grass, eating tomatoes and lettuce, with a soldier’s boot visible behind them. 🔔 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe! I’ll be posting new episodes regularly, sharing letters and stories from exactly 60 years ago, as written by my grandfather. Follow Dearest Suzie on social media: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1GwqPyO061k0iaQRKwfjoQ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dearestsuziepodcast/ X: https://x.com/DearestSuziePod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dearestsuziepodcast 📧 Have a story to share or want to reach out? Email me at dearestsuziepodcast@gmail.com — I’d love to hear from you! VietnamWar #MilitaryHistory #HueyHelicopter #InheritTheStories #MonkeyMascot #CharlieTheMonkey #WarLetters #HumorInWar

03-15

05:34

In this episode of Dearest Suzie, Bill writes about receiving his birthday present from home, his first troop lift mission since joining the Cobra platoon, and the strange comfort of listening to Radio Peking's propaganda broadcasts. His amusement at the hostile messages offers a glimpse into how soldiers coped with the psychological pressures of war. Accompanied by a powerful photo of a medevac helicopter unloading a wounded soldier onto an ambulance, today's episode explores the role of psychological warfare—both in the skies and over the airwaves—during the Vietnam War. What’s Covered: - Bill's first troop lift mission with the Cobras - Firing the "hog" rocket system for the first time - Radio Peking's propaganda broadcasts - Psychological warfare from both sides of the conflict 📷 Featured Photo: Medevac helicopter unloading a wounded soldier onto an ambulance, taken on the tarmac at an airfield. 🔔 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe! I’ll be posting new episodes regularly, sharing letters and stories from exactly 60 years ago, as written by my grandfather. Follow Dearest Suzie on social media: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1GwqPyO061k0iaQRKwfjoQ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dearestsuziepodcast/ X: https://x.com/DearestSuziePod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dearestsuziepodcast 📧 Have a story to share or want to reach out? Email me at dearestsuziepodcast@gmail.com — I’d love to hear from you! VietnamWar #HueyHelicopter #PsychologicalWarfare #RadioPeking #MilitaryHistory #InheritTheStories

03-12

05:50

In this episode of Dearest Suzie, Popi writes to Suzie about the black cloud of bad luck that seems to be following him through one mishap after another — from wrecked helicopters to accidentally jettisoned rockets. What starts as a humorous letter full of self-deprecating stories reveals how quickly the war is forcing him to take on new responsibilities. After only two days in the Cobra platoon, Popi is already training to become a rocket man — flying some of the deadliest helicopters in Vietnam. Accompanied by an overhead shot of a three-sided military outpost dug into the ground, today's episode offers a glimpse into the unpredictable rhythm of war — where long stretches of boredom can turn to chaos in an instant. What’s Covered: - Popi's growing reputation as a "jinx" among the platoon - How quickly he was thrust into new roles as a rocket man and instrument instructor - The challenges of learning to fire rockets from the heavily armed Huey "hog" - A rare peek into Popi's sense of humor and self-reflection 📷 Featured Photo: Overhead view of a three-sided military outpost, showing the kinds of fortifications Popi would have seen from the air. 🔔 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe! I’ll be posting new episodes regularly, sharing letters and stories from exactly 60 years ago, as written by my grandfather. Follow Dearest Suzie on social media: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1GwqPyO061k0iaQRKwfjoQ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dearestsuziepodcast/ X: https://x.com/DearestSuziePod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dearestsuziepodcast 📧 Have a story to share or want to reach out? Email me at dearestsuziepodcast@gmail.com — I’d love to hear from you! VietnamWar #HueyHelicopter #HelicopterPilot #MilitaryHistory #InheritTheStories #WarLetters #VietnamHistory #FamilyHistory #HistoryPodcast #RocketMan

03-11

12:30

In this episode of Dearest Suzie, Popi writes one of his most personal letters yet—grappling with family tensions, money troubles, and the loneliness of separation. While training for combat half a world away, he's still trying to mediate disagreements between Suzie and his parents, all while worrying about whether his family has enough to get by. The letter gives us a rare window into the everyday burdens that followed soldiers to Vietnam—the struggles that didn't make it into history books but shaped their lives just the same. Accompanied by a photo of women in bright white dresses and conical hats carrying briefcases through town, today's episode highlights the quieter side of war—the unseen emotional labor of balancing family, finances, and distance while serving overseas. What’s Covered: - The tension between duty to family at home and duty as a soldier abroad - Financial struggles and the realities of supporting a family on military pay - How soldiers remained wrapped up in domestic life even from thousands of miles away - A humorous glimpse into Mema's famous sailor mouth—and how Popi tried to keep her in line 📷 Featured Photo: A group of women in bright white dresses and conical hats carrying briefcases through town—an everyday scene that caught Popi's eye and offered a rare glimpse into civilian life. 🔔 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe! I’ll be posting new episodes regularly, sharing letters and stories from exactly 60 years ago, as written by my grandfather. Follow Dearest Suzie on social media: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1GwqPyO061k0iaQRKwfjoQ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dearestsuziepodcast/ X: https://x.com/DearestSuziePod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dearestsuziepodcast 📧 Have a story to share or want to reach out? Email me at dearestsuziepodcast@gmail.com — I’d love to hear from you! VietnamWar #MilitaryLetters #FamilyHistory #HueyHelicopter #WarLetters #MilitaryHistory #Vietnam1965 #InheritTheStories #HistoryPodcast #AnthropologyOfWar

In this episode of Dearest Suzie, Popi writes as he begins settling into his new role in the Cobra platoon—training with machine guns and rockets, breaking the monotony with a U.S.O. show, and counting down the long stretch of days still ahead. But beneath the surface of his daily routines, the war itself was starting to shift. While Popi learned the weapons systems of his armed Huey, policymakers thousands of miles away were quietly questioning whether America’s entire approach to the war had been flawed from the start. Accompanied by a photo of Popi's point of view at the firing range—rockets streaking across the landscape and smoke rising from the ground, today's episode explores how the Vietnam War played out on two fronts: the action and boredom experienced by soldiers on the ground, and the unseen battle for control of the countryside playing out in the minds of U.S. strategists. What’s Covered: - Popi’s early days training with the Cobra platoon - The disconnect between military strategy and life on the ground - The role of boredom and routine in soldiers' experiences of war - How the war's blurred front lines made it difficult to tell friend from enemy 📷 Featured Photo: Popi's point of view at the range—firing rockets into the Vietnamese landscape, turning farmland into a training ground. 🔔 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe! I’ll be posting new episodes regularly, sharing letters and stories from exactly 60 years ago, as written by my grandfather. Follow Dearest Suzie on social media: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1GwqPyO061k0iaQRKwfjoQ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dearestsuziepodcast/ X: https://x.com/DearestSuziePod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dearestsuziepodcast 📧 Have a story to share or want to reach out? Email me at dearestsuziepodcast@gmail.com — I’d love to hear from you! VietnamWar #HueyHelicopter #CobraPlatoon #MilitaryHistory #WarLetters #FamilyHistory #InheritTheStories #AnthropologyOfWar #USOShow #Vietnam1965 #HistoryPodcast