17 John Podlaski, Vietnam War Veteran & Author
In this episode of Behind the Line podcast, Tim interviews Vietnam War veteran and author John Podlaski.
John reflects on his experiences serving in the United States Army with the Wolfhounds and Screaming Eagles, detailing the grueling challenges of boot camp, combat, and life in Vietnam.
He also discusses his journey in writing his acclaimed novel 'Cherries,' and the emotional hurdles he overcame.
The conversation underscores John's dedication to preserving the stories of Vietnam veterans through his comprehensive website, cherrieswriter.com, ensuring their legacy endures for future generations.
With heartfelt respect, the episode honors the sacrifices made by the 2.7 million soldiers who served, emphasizing the importance of remembering and welcoming home the remaining 800,000 veterans.
00:00 Introduction to John Podlaski
01:31 Early Life and Hobbies
05:26 Joining the Army and Bootcamp Experience
08:29 Advanced Training and Deployment to Vietnam
11:11 First Impressions of Vietnam
13:58 Life with the Wolfhounds
31:15 Transition to the Screaming Eagles
37:49 Camaraderie and Friendships in Vietnam
43:14 Recalling Firefights and Injuries
43:49 Jungle Dangers: Snakes, Spiders, and More
51:14 Encounters with the Enemy
54:18 Returning Home: The Journey Back
01:02:54 Writing 'Cherries': From Diary to Bestseller
01:14:38 The Impact of 'Cherries' and Building a Legacy
01:19:31 Maintaining the Legacy: The Website
01:24:54 Final Thoughts and Gratitude
John Podlaski grew up in Detroit Michigan and after graduating high school, joined the United States Army on February 27, 1970. Between 1970 and 1971, he spent 12 months in Vietnam.
He served seven of those months with The Wolfhounds and five with The Screaming Eagles. While in Vietnam, he carried the M60 machine gun and then took on the responsibility as a radio operator for his lieutenant and captain.
In April 2010, he published his first of six books, a novel called Cherries.
As a way to promote the book, he created a website called cherrieswriter.com.
The website still exists and stories about what it was like to serve in the Vietnam War are consistently being added.
You’ll learn more about John’s first novel and website in the interview.
Cherries - http://tiny.cc/94thyz
CherriesWriter - Vietnam War Website See what war is like and how it affects ourWarriors https://cherrieswriter.com/
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