VietnamWar #HueyHelicopter #PsychologicalWarfare #RadioPeking #MilitaryHistory #InheritTheStories

39:50

The truth is out West! We’re hopping on the ET Highway and venturing to the most notorious alien hot spots, including Roswell’s infamous crash site, Area 51’s eerie perimeter, and a mysterious desert watchtower. Join us as journalist Laura Krantz, host of the podcast Wild Thing , beams up to share stories from the front lines of UFO reporting—from strange sightings and quirky festivals to a mailbox where people leave letters to extraterrestrials. Maybe you’ll even decide for yourself: Is the Earth a tourist stop for spaceships? UFO hot spots you’ll encounter in this episode: - UFO Watchtower (near Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado) - Roswell, New Mexico - Area 51, Nevada - Extraterrestrial Highway (aka State Route 375), Nevada - Little A’Le’Inn, ET Highway, Nevada - E.T. Fresh Jerky, ET Highway, Nevada - Alien Research Center, ET Highway, Nevada - The Black Mailbox, ET Highway, Nevada Via Podcast is a production of AAA Mountain West Group .…

Dearest Suzie « »
Episode 061: 1965-03-12 | Rockets and Radio

about a year ago 5:50

MP3•Episode home

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

104 episodes

Episode 061: 1965-03-12 | Rockets and Radio

Dearest Suzie

published about a year ago

MP3•Episode home

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.

Follow Dearest Suzie on social media:

📧 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

104 episodes

Wszystkie odcinki

Dearest Suzie

1
Episode 094: 1965-05-20 | Fish, Pharmaceuticals, & Phil, Finale 8:22

1 day ago8:22

8:22

In this episode of Dearest Suzie, Popi writes from Vinh Long on May 20 after a rare slow day, sharing simple pleasures and family pride. He compliments Billy’s school paper, jokes about toddler haircuts, and eagerly awaits new photos from home. With little news from the field beyond a trip to the range and an upcoming U.S.O. show, Popi admits there’s not much to write—but in that quiet, you can hear the subtle ache of distance, the strain of trying to stay connected with the ordinary world while surrounded by war. His closing remarks are soft, familiar, and full of longing: "I love you all very much and miss you same as always." This episode also marks the final installment of Fish, Pharmaceuticals, & Phil. In today’s conclusion, Mary and the family’s frustrations reach a boiling point. As the state continues to offer no solutions, they begin looking beyond institutions—to charismatic outsiders and unlikely saviors. Mary’s faith in Dr. Phil becomes a symbol of desperation and parasocial trust, a last-ditch hope that someone—anyone—might care enough to intervene. The story grapples with Strongman fantasies, media exploitation, and what it means when a system fails so completely that even questionable public figures feel like lifelines. In the end, the narrator steps away from the table, but the weight of the family's pain lingers long after the fish is cleared. What’s Covered: Popi’s letter from May 20, featuring reflections on family updates, U.S.O. entertainment, and the comfort of uneventful days How everyday correspondence maintains connection amid distance, loneliness, and emotional fatigue The final chapter of Fish, Pharmaceuticals, & Phil, exploring institutional failure and the appeal of Strongman figures Mary’s plea to Dr. Phil as a cultural moment—where reality TV, trauma, and moral compromise collide A reflection on what people are willing to trade for the illusion of a solution, and who pays the price 📷 Featured Photo: A shooting range in Vietnam. Rifles—likely captured Russian and Chinese arms—are stacked in pyramids, while automatic weapons with bipods are arranged neatly on the ground. The image speaks to both order and aftermath, a moment between use and memory. 🔔 If you’re enjoying this series, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe. New episodes post regularly, following Popi’s letters exactly 60 years after he wrote them—and the lives they continue to touch today. 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 #FamilyHistory #WarLetters #InheritTheStories #Popi #OralHistory #StrongmanPolitics #InstitutionalFailure #DrPhil #RealityTV #1965Vietnam #DearestSuzie…

Dearest Suzie

1
Episode 093: 1965-05-18 | A Quagmire on the Horizon 5:51

4 days ago5:51

5:51

In this episode of Dearest Suzie, Popi writes on May 18, sharing a quiet day in Vinh Long marked by a short operation and a long-awaited letter from home. His tone is warm and affectionate, filled with light updates about insurance policies, family visits, and his role as an instrument instructor. Though officially recognized by the Army as an aircraft instructor, he jokes about being “scared to death” of autorotations. It’s a letter that captures the slow tick of time during deployment—no new orders yet, just steady anticipation and the emotional labor of staying connected across distance. While Popi reflects on training, checks, and missing mail, the world around him is shifting. In May 1965, President Johnson temporarily paused Operation Rolling Thunder in hopes of bringing North Vietnam to the negotiating table. But behind the scenes, diplomatic efforts were unraveling, and military escalation was quietly accelerating. In China, Ho Chi Minh secured support from Mao Zedong—with conditions—and by the end of the month, tens of thousands of Chinese personnel were quietly assisting in the North. Meanwhile, in Washington, a now-famous warning appeared in a memo: if the U.S. went further into Vietnam, it risked stepping into a “quagmire.” That word would echo across decades of history, but in Popi’s letter, the future still feels uncertain and unwritten. What’s Covered: Popi’s letter from May 18, filled with everyday reflections on family, flight training, and counting the days His candid thoughts on autorotations, instructor duties, and the emotional pull of home A look at the pause in Operation Rolling Thunder and why it failed to bring peace Behind-the-scenes diplomacy between Ho Chi Minh and Mao Zedong The first emergence of the word “quagmire” in U.S. internal memos and its chilling prescience 📷 Featured Photo: A Huey helicopter in flight. A door gunner leans out beside a mounted machine gun, scanning the ground below. Beneath the aircraft, a river winds through a green countryside. 🔔 If you’re enjoying this series, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe. New episodes post regularly, following Popi’s letters exactly 60 years after he wrote them—and the lives they continue to touch today. 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 dearestsuiepodcast@gmail.com — I’d love to hear from you! VietnamWar #FamilyHistory #WarLetters #InheritTheStories #Popi #OperationRollingThunder #HelicopterPilot #1965Vietnam #Quagmire #OralHistory #MilitaryHistory #HueyHelicopter #DearestSuzie…

Dearest Suzie

1
Episode 092: 1965-05-17 | Fish, Pharmaceuticals, & Phil Pt. 5 9:21

5 days ago9:21

9:21

In this episode of Dearest Suzie, Popi writes on a much-needed break after several intense flying days. He’s still receiving letters from home and sends updates about camera gear, anniversary gifts, and the lack of desire to ever extend his tour in Vietnam—"not for all the tea in China," as he puts it. Between updates about taxes, slide projectors, and tailoring concerns, he’s clearly trying to hold onto whatever sense of normalcy he can. His tone is light and even playful, but his remark about potential forced extensions quietly nods to the mounting uncertainty of war. This episode also continues our serialized story, Fish, Pharmaceuticals, & Phil, with Part 5. Today’s section explores the crushing inertia families face when caught in the gears of broken institutions. Despite their best efforts, Tim and Lisa find themselves powerless as Florida’s foster care and child welfare systems shuffle court dates, misplace caseworkers, and leave the most vulnerable children adrift. Kid 1 and Kid 2 struggle deeply, their dreams colliding with harsh realities, while Mary clings to hope in the only way she knows how—by asking for help from Dr. Phil. The story touches on parasocial trust, moral optimism, and the desire to believe someone out there can fix what the state refuses to. What’s Covered: Popi’s letter from May 17, with updates on camera gear, family gifts, and the emotional weight of downtime An extended discussion of how hope, desperation, and pop culture intersect in broken welfare systems Mary’s request to write to Dr. Phil and what it reveals about generational trauma, family bonds, and media-driven hope A moment of reflection on whether healing is still possible—for Jessica, for the kids, and for the family trying to hold things together 📷 Featured Photo: A street scene in a Vietnamese town. A man rides by on a bicycle in the foreground, while a large propaganda poster with a map of Vietnam looms behind him. Written in Vietnamese, the message likely conveys state messaging about the war effort. 🔔 If you’re enjoying this series, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe. New episodes post regularly, following Popi’s letters exactly 60 years after he wrote them—and the lives they continue to touch today. 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 #FamilyHistory #WarLetters #InheritTheStories #Popi #FosterCareSystem #OralHistory #SocialServices #CatholicHope #DrPhil #1965Vietnam #DearestSuzie…

Dearest Suzie

1
Episode 091: 1965-05-15 | Popi’s Souvenir Rifle 10:48

7 days ago10:48

10:48

In this episode of Dearest Suzie, Popi writes on a rare day off, reflecting on a grueling two-day operation that left over 200 Viet Cong reported dead. It’s May 15, 1965, and though the battle is over, the war lingers—in photographs, memories, and a souvenir rifle he brings back from the field. Popi casually mentions photographing the aftermath and recovering a weapon used against them. Beneath his steady tone, the emotional weight of what he’s seen and done begins to surface. He also shares small victories—like nearly two weeks without smoking—and thoughtful updates about family gifts, food rations, and his hopes of sending Charlie the dog home soon. This letter prompts a deeper reflection on two powerful artifacts from Popi’s service: a graphic black-and-white battlefield photograph and the Soviet-made Mosin-Nagant rifle he brought home as a war souvenir. Today’s commentary explores both—the photo’s haunting presence in the family archive and the rifle’s Cold War legacy. Used by the VC and NVA, the Mosin-Nagant reminds us how older, simple weapons remained lethally effective in the hands of guerrilla fighters. What’s Covered: Popi’s May 15 letter, written on a rare break after a high-casualty operation The story behind a graphic battlefield photo Popi took and kept private A deep dive into the Mosin-Nagant rifle: its origins, its use in Vietnam, and how Popi came to bring one home A reflection on the emotional and historical weight of war relics and memories 📷 Featured Photo: A friend of Popi’s stands at a range holding a Mosin-Nagant rifle with a fixed bayonet. It may be the same rifle Popi brought back, now nickel-plated and preserved as part of his legacy. 🔔 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 #DearestSuzie #MosinNagant #LettersFromVietnam #WarRelics #CombatPhotography #InheritTheStories #1965Vietnam #HelicopterPilot #FamilyHistory #ColdWarWeapons #OralHistory #VietnamCombat…

Dearest Suzie

1
Episode 090: 1965-05-13 | Fish, Pharmaceuticals, & Phil Pt. 4 9:53

9 days ago9:53

9:53

In this episode of Dearest Suzie, Popi writes after an exhausting day—17 hours of flying, including a major operation that left 125 Viet Cong reported killed and one American wounded. It’s May 13, 1965, and his fatigue seeps into every word of the letter. Despite being overwhelmed, he takes time to connect: recounting a chance meeting with Captain Hodgson in Soc Trang, commenting on gifts sent and received, and reflecting on small moments of frustration and care from back home. The war may be escalating, but his focus is still on Suzie, their children, and the rhythm of ordinary life. Alongside the letter, we continue with part four of Fish, Pharmaceuticals, & Phil—a deeply personal and sobering narrative about the cascading failures of Florida’s child welfare system. Today’s installment centers on Kid 2, the girl Tim and Lisa tried hardest to help. From struggles with bedwetting and depression to repeated involuntary psychiatric holds under Florida’s Baker Act, her story reveals the deep trauma that cycles through families and institutions alike. As state-run systems fail to provide meaningful care, the episode highlights the limits of well-meaning foster families and the immense emotional toll that caregiving takes when public structures are fractured at the root. What’s Covered: Popi’s May 13 letter, written after a 17-hour day of missions and a major enemy casualty report A quiet moment of camaraderie in Soc Trang Thoughts on gifts, home repairs, and a son being bullied back home Part four of Fish, Pharmaceuticals, & Phil: Kid 2’s decline, the Baker Act, and how broken systems fail children 📷 Featured Photo: A Huey helicopter parked on the ground, with a red winged wheel painted on the nose and the words “Road Service” on a placard in the window. A striking and unusual detail—yet another sign of how these aircraft were personalized by the men who flew 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 #DearestSuzie #LettersFromVietnam #MilitaryHistory #BakerAct #ChildWelfare #SocialSystems #InheritTheStories #1965Vietnam #CombatMissions #FosterCareCrisis #OralHistory #HelicopterPilot…

Dearest Suzie

1
Episode 089: 1965-05-11 | Fish, Pharmaceuticals, & Phil Pt. 3 9:23

11 days ago9:23

9:23

In this episode of Dearest Suzie, Popi writes from an unusually quiet night in Vinh Long. It’s May 11, 1965, and for once, he’s alone on base. While the rest of his unit is off at Ben Hoa responding to an attack that left five Americans dead, Popi remains behind after a supply run to Saigon, teaching new pilots and preparing for a farewell party. The tone is calm, even domestic—he talks about gifts sent, letters received, and his pride in helping a new pilot pass his check ride. But the wider context of the war creeps in as he casually mentions the day's casualties and an increasingly active Viet Cong, reminding us how quickly things can shift in Vietnam. Alongside the letter, we continue with part three of Fish, Pharmaceuticals, & Phil, a personal narrative that examines the collapse of a family’s stability and the deep flaws in Florida’s child welfare system. Today’s installment focuses on the children’s fathers—each one gone, deadbeat, or deeply troubled—and the profound impact their absence has on the kids now scattered across foster homes and group facilities. With each twist, the story reveals a painful intersection between systemic failure and personal trauma, offering a sobering look at how broken lives are often passed down, compounded by bureaucracy, poverty, and neglect. What’s Covered: Bill’s May 11 letter from Vietnam, written while alone on base Reflections on training new pilots and preparing for a farewell party Casual mention of escalating conflict and American casualties Part three of Fish, Pharmaceuticals, & Phil: absent fathers, broken systems, and Florida’s complex child welfare bureaucracy 📷 Featured Photo: A group of new arrivals walking down the main avenue of the base, carrying large sacks over their shoulders. Perhaps they’re bringing in laundry. Perhaps everything they own. 🔔 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 #DearestSuzie #LettersFromVietnam #MilitaryHistory #FamilySeparation #FosterCareCrisis #ChildWelfare #InheritTheStories #1965Vietnam #WarLetters #OralHistory #SocialSystems #Podcast…

Dearest Suzie

1
An Interview with Suzie 1:02:32

12 days ago1:02:32

1:02:32

In this special episode of Dearest Suzie, we step away from the battlefield and into the memory, voice, and wisdom of the woman who saved the letters. Recorded over Zoom, this episode features a heartfelt conversation with my grandmother, Susan “Mema” Lowie, about her life before, during, and after the Vietnam War. It’s a deeply personal portrait of a woman whose love, strength, and honesty made this entire project possible. Mema talks candidly about her childhood in Manville, New Jersey, her parents’ struggles with mental illness and alcoholism, and her early marriage to Bill “Popi” Lowie. Together we revisit the places they lived—Fort Bragg, Fort Ord, Munich—and the years she raised three young boys while Popi flew missions in Vietnam. We talk about memory, marriage, the lingering cost of war, and what it means to tell the truth, even when it hurts. This interview is about the things we inherit that aren't always written down: silence, resilience, pain, and love. 🔔 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, remembered, and preserved by my family. 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 #FamilyHistory #IntergenerationalTrauma #OralHistory #DearestSuzie #InheritTheStories #WomenInHistory #MilitarySpouses #MemoryAndMyth #HistoricalPodcast #MentalHealthHistory #1960sAmerica #CatholicUpbringing #PostwarAmerica…

Dearest Suzie

1
Episode 088: 1965-05-08 | Showing Off 7:52

14 days ago7:52

7:52

In this episode of Dearest Suzie, Popi writes from Vietnam with a mix of weariness, routine, and yearning. It’s May 8, 1965, and while most of his day is spent giving instrument instruction and catching up with familiar faces over lunch, the heart of the letter lies in a quiet reflection about home. Suzie is planning a summer trip with the boys, and Popi wishes he could be there to go with them — not to stop them, but to be part of the picture. To show off the boys. And to show off himself, just a little. It’s a touching moment of vulnerability and pride, the kind that many soldiers tucked into letters during wartime. For Popi, returning home isn’t just about leaving the war behind, it’s about stepping back into a world where he’s more than a pilot or a platoon officer. He’s a dad. A husband. A man with stories, scars, and medals who still wants to feel like he belongs in a normal, peaceful life. Throughout the letter, he also touches on practical matters, insurance payments, gifts for the kids, the possibility of shirts instead of jackets, and checks in on friends and family who haven’t written back. But the emotional center is clear: he misses his family deeply and longs for the simple joy of being together again, proud and whole. What’s Covered: Bill’s May 8 letter from Vinh Long Reflections on homecoming and the emotional significance of being "seen" The cultural context of Vietnam War returnees and their transitions back to civilian life A subtle look at pride, memory, and the hope of reunion 📷 Featured Photo: Six men lounging outside a hootch in swimwear and flip flops, relaxing in the sun — a small pocket of calm during their time overseas, possibly taken the same day Popi wrote this letter. 🔔 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 #DearestSuzie #FamilyHistory #VeteranStories #LettersFromVietnam #1965Vietnam #InheritTheStories #ComingHome #CombatVeteran #MilitaryFamily…

Dearest Suzie

1
Episode 087: 1965-05-07 | Fish, Pharmaceuticals, & Phil Pt. 2 8:54

15 days ago8:54

8:54

In today’s episode of Dearest Suzie, Popi writes during a quiet afternoon, though the tone is edged with tension. The Viet Cong have been growing more active, and six helicopters from his platoon were damaged in a recent attack, yet thankfully, no one was hurt. Between missions and radio static, he’s listening to “Country Corner” on AFN and teasing Suzie about her clumsy bleach mishap. As always, the letter ends with love, longing, and a kiss saved just for her. But much of today’s episode focuses on the second installment of "Fish, Pharmaceuticals, & Phil," a deeply personal narrative outside of Vietnam, told across several episodes this month. This part of the story picks up with Jessica, a woman struggling with mental illness, addiction, and motherhood. When tragedy forces her chaotic home life into the care of extended family, we witness how well-meaning relatives like Tim and Lisa face impossible decisions during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s a story about family, survival, and the limits of love, told with empathy, complexity, and unflinching honesty. What’s Covered: The May 7, 1965 letter from Bill Lowie A brief glimpse into rising VC activity and Popi’s reflections from standby The second installment of Fish, Pharmaceuticals, & Phil, focusing on kinship, foster care, and systemic failure during a crisis 📷 Featured Photo: A paved road running into a rural settlement, lined with wooden huts and power lines, with a mountain in the background — perhaps a scene like one Popi flew over while thinking of home. 🔔 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 #FamilyHistory #OralHistory #DearestSuzie #InheritTheStories #LettersFromVietnam #MentalHealth #FosterCare #PandemicParenting #PersonalNarrative #May1965…

Dearest Suzie

1
Episode 086: 1965-05-05 | Finding Popi’s Camera 10:27

17 days ago10:27

10:27

In this episode of Dearest Suzie, we hear from Popi as the rainy season begins in Vinh Long. His letter is calm, full of updates from a quiet day — a trip to the range, a short note about mailing gifts, and a few thoughts on the Hong Kong R&R he’s decided not to take. The real excitement in today’s letter, though, comes when he casually mentions picking up something new for himself: a camera. It might not seem like much at first. But for this podcast, for this project, that camera is a big deal. In today’s episode, I tell the story of how I tracked down Popi’s original camera model. What began with a grainy black-and-white photo and a dead end at the family’s digital point-and-shoot eventually turned into a multi-month search through online forums, PX catalog archives, and military issue equipment lists, all of it in pursuit of a single, tangible object: the same kind of camera Popi once held in his hands while serving in Vietnam. Thanks to a bit of luck (and a surprisingly helpful conversation with ChatGPT), I finally identified it as a Petri 7s, a compact 35mm rangefinder camera from the early 1960s. In this episode, I break down what made the Petri 7s so popular and why it was the perfect tool for a soldier who wanted to capture moments in between missions. What’s Covered: The May 5, 1965 letter from Bill Lowie Reflections on memory, materiality, and archival work A technical deep dive on the Petri 7s camera A personal story of discovery and connection across generations 📷 Featured Photo: A black and white snapshot labeled “The gang,” with Popi and three fellow soldiers standing together in front of water. In his hands: the Petri 7s. 🔔 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 #BillLowie #Petri7s #VintagePhotography #WarLetters #FamilyHistory #OralHistory #MilitaryArchives #DearestSuzie #InheritTheStories #CameraHistory #1965Vietnam…

Dearest Suzie

1
Episode 085: 1965-05-04 | Fish, Pharmaceuticals, & Phil Pt. 1 8:47

18 days ago8:47

8:47

In this episode of Dearest Suzie, we hear from Popi on May 4, 1965, as he responds to three letters from Suzie and shares how much he loved the photos of the boys. There’s no mission report today, no combat update — just a quiet letter about family, missed birthdays, and the difficulty of shopping for gifts in a place where anything nice has to be specially made. He’s still hoping for new photos of Brett and Suzie, still counting down the months, and still trying to be a thoughtful husband and father from a world away. But today’s episode is different. With little to comment on in the letter, I begin the first installment of a personal essay I wrote, titled "Fish, Pharmaceuticals, & Phil." Across the quieter days this month, I’ll be sharing pieces of it — a true story about class, mental illness, intergenerational trauma, and the complicated ties that hold people together. It begins at an upscale restaurant in suburban Florida, during the birthday dinner of a woman named Mary — a second-generation American grandmother with deep family roots and a life shaped by both love and regret. Her request? That I write to Dr. Phil on behalf of her granddaughter. What follows is the beginning of that request, and the family history behind it. What’s Covered: The May 4, 1965 letter from Bill Lowie Popi’s ongoing gift hunt for Suzie and the boys A new serialized personal essay: Fish, Pharmaceuticals, & Phil Reflections on trauma, storytelling, and family obligations 📷 Featured Photo: A candid shot from a Vietnamese market — three women, a weighing scale, and the everyday rhythms of life behind the war. The label says Hue, but it may just as easily be Vinh Long. 🔔 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 #DearestSuzie #FamilyLetters #FishPharmaceuticalsAndPhil #MentalHealth #1965Vietnam #InheritTheStories #MilitaryHistory #OralHistory #HistoricalPodcast #MarketScenes…

Dearest Suzie

1
Episode 084: 1965-05-02 | Navy Bombers 6:40

20 days ago6:40

6:40

In this episode of Dearest Suzie, Popi writes from a quiet day in the air, flying support for a Navy bombing run. From his Huey, he watches jets drop 500-pound bombs across the landscape — a moment that sparks reflection on the uneasy collaboration between different branches of the U.S. military during the Vietnam War. While Popi’s experience might seem routine, his letter reveals the layered complexity of joint operations, where Army gunships like his flew beneath Navy aircraft like the A-1 Skyraider or A-6 Intruder, all while navigating different chains of command. These overlapping strategies didn’t always align, and Popi’s story reminds us how ordinary soldiers had to adapt to a constantly shifting, often siloed war effort. What’s Covered: The May 2, 1965 letter from Bill Lowie A look at the U.S. Navy's bombing strategy and aircraft in Vietnam How the branches of the military operated alongside (and sometimes against) each other Popi’s updates on family friends and financial news from the field Reflections on everyday duties in a complicated, overlapping war 📷 Featured Photo: Aerial view of scattered islands from above the coast — a quiet image for a quiet day flying cover for Navy jets. 🔔 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 #ArmyPilot #NavyJets #MilitaryBranches #JointOperations #VietnamLetters #HueyHelicopter #FamilyHistory #InheritTheStories #CharlieTheMonkey #OralHistory #MemoryAndMyth…

Dearest Suzie

1
All Episodes, April 1965 1:20:06

21 days ago1:20:06

1:20:06

In this special episode of Dearest Suzie, we look back on the April 1965 letters from Bill Lowie—a month defined by loss, guilt, long stretches of boredom, and small moments of unexpected joy. Now firmly settled into his new role with the Cobras, Popi spent April flying missions that ranged from uneventful to harrowing, often with little warning as to which kind the day would bring. Early in the month, Popi wrote about grieving the death of fellow pilots and struggling to make sense of a war that never quite felt like it was being won. By the end of the month, he was writing through tears, haunted by a mission gone wrong that left two close friends dead—one of them killed while following Popi’s request for help. In what is perhaps the most heartbreaking letter of the series so far, Popi admits to feeling responsible and writes to Suzie not as a husband reporting home, but as a man unburdening his conscience. But April wasn’t only sorrow. It also brought new photos, monkeys learning to swim, plans for R&R in Hong Kong, and a custom Italian silk suit. He received the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry and mailed home a short-timer’s calendar counting down the days until his return. April is the month the war starts to feel heavy. Not just dangerous, but exhausting. It’s the month Popi’s steady voice begins to crack—not because he’s weak, but because he’s still human. 🔔 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 #AprilRecap #HistoricalPodcast…

Dearest Suzie

1
Episode 083: 1965-04-30 | Cry On Their Shoulder 7:01

22 days ago7:01

7:01

In this episode of Dearest Suzie, Popi writes home after what he calls a "better outcome" in the field. A large Viet Cong weapons cache has been captured, and while the victory lifts spirits briefly, there’s no triumph in his tone — just exhaustion. One day before, he witnessed the death of a friend during a failed recovery mission. Now, he’s trying to hold it together, sharing a short-timer’s calendar with Suzie and quietly admitting he’s still unraveling. Alongside the war updates, he shares a story about Charlie the monkey, who injured himself trying to eat razor blades and panicked at the medic’s touch. It’s a strangely fitting metaphor for the moment — everyone a little more fragile than usual, just trying to survive. What’s Covered: The aftermath of Popi’s most painful mission so far A successful Vietnamese operation and what it meant to witness it from above Reflections on guilt, grief, and why Popi never talked about this part of the war How silence shaped Popi’s legacy — and the weight of what wasn’t shared The short-timer’s calendar and the long road home 📷 Featured Photo: Charlie the monkey, leashed and wearing a small green shirt, sits calmly on a gravel surface — a rare still moment for the chaotic little companion. 🔔 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…

Dearest Suzie

1
Episode 082: 1965-04-29 | The Worst Letter 7:17

23 days ago7:17