Episode 106: 1965-06-24 | Oral History Hiccups

In this episode of Dearest Suzie, Popi writes from Da Nang on June 24, 1965, after a long, grueling week of missions, including the evacuation of a town and a terrifying mortar attack while refueling. Exhausted but still counting down the days, he mentions finally catching some rest and responds to Suzie’s letter, all while quietly processing the loss of another fellow pilot in Vinh Long. He closes with humor and warmth, teasing her about the absence of photos and joking about missing his brother John’s wedding invitation. Today’s episode reflects on the nature of oral history itself—how we tell stories, how we remember, and how the truth can shift depending on who’s speaking. The letter prompts a comparison between Popi’s own written account of a botched rocket mission and a decades-later retelling in a veterans’ oral history compilation, Knights Over the Delta. The discrepancy—different year, different name, different blame—reveals just how fragile memory can be. But it also reminds us that even with contradictions, oral history remains a vital and deeply human method of preserving the past. What’s Covered: Evacuating a town under fire Popi’s near miss during a mortar attack The importance and imperfection of oral history A rocket mishap told two different ways Popi’s humor and affection for his family 📷 Featured Photo: A group of Vietnamese civilians—mostly women with children—boarding a plane, possibly during an evacuation. 🔔 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 [email protected] — I’d love to hear from you! VietnamWar #HelicopterPilot #MilitaryHistory #WarLetters #OralHistory #InheritTheStories #FamilyHistory #KnightsOverTheDelta #Evacuation #MemoryAndMyth