In this episode, James interviews Fred Apgar, who served as a pilot during the Vietnam War and participated in several missions over Laos. Fred discusses his book Return to the War, in which he narrates his war service and his decision to return to Laos decades later.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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56:50
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56:50
The Deer Hunter
This week, Sean and James review the classic 1978 film The Deer Hunter, a powerful war drama that explores the impact of the Vietnam War on a group of working-class friends from a small steel town in Pennsylvania. The story follows three friends—Michael, Nick, and Steven—who are sent to fight in Vietnam, where they endure horrific experiences, including being captured and forced to play Russian roulette by their captors. The film contrasts their traumatic war experiences with their lives before and after the war, showing how deeply they are changed. Known for its emotional depth and intense performances, The Deer Hunter examines themes of friendship, loss, and the psychological scars of war.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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1:16:59
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1:16:59
VW12: The End of the War
In the 1972 presidential election, Richard Nixon defeated antiwar Democrat George McGovern in a landslide, aided by the announcement of a tentative peace deal. However, South Vietnamese President Thieu rejected the agreement, fearing it would lead to Communist domination. Talks broke down, prompting Nixon to launch the intense “Christmas Bombings” (Operation Linebacker II) in December 1972. The bombings pressured North Vietnam back to the negotiating table. The Paris Peace Accords were signed in January 1973, calling for a U.S. withdrawal and a ceasefire. Nixon forced Thieu to accept the terms, though both North and South Vietnam soon violated the agreement. Later in 1973,the U.S. exited Vietnam, leaving South Vietnam heavily dependent on continued American aid. By 1974, U.S. support dwindled due to the Watergate scandal and Congressional opposition. South Vietnam’s economy and military collapsed under the strain. In late 1974, North Vietnam launched a final offensive. The ARVN, plagued by desertions and logistical failures, crumbled. Saigon fell on April 30, 1975, marking the end of the war and the unification of Vietnam under Communist rule. John Sean and James as they narrate the dramatic final years of the Vietnam War.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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59:13
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59:13
Apocalypse Now
In this episode Sean and James review the classic 1979 film Apocalypse Now, a surreal and haunting war film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, inspired by Joseph Conrad’s novella Heart of Darkness. Set during the Vietnam War, the story follows U.S. Army Captain Benjamin Willard, who is sent on a secret mission to travel up the Nung River into Cambodia and assassinate Colonel Walter Kurtz, a once-respected officer who has gone rogue and is now leading a cult-like group of followers deep in the jungle. As Willard journeys deeper into the heart of the war—and human darkness—he encounters chaos, madness, and moral decay. Apocalypse Now explores the psychological toll of war and the thin line between civilization and savagery.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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1:32:34
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1:32:34
VW11: The US Tries Again; North Vietnam Pulls Back
In 1971 and 1972, American troop withdrawals accelerated under President Nixon’s Vietnamization policy. The South Vietnamese Army faced its first major test during Operation Lam Son 719 in Laos, which ended in a costly failure and revealed the ARVN’s limitations. Domestically, antiwar sentiment intensified, fueled by the Winter Soldier Investigation, rising drug use and fragging within the military, and the explosive release of the Pentagon Papers. In 1972, North Vietnam launched the massive Nguyen Hue (Easter) Offensive, aiming to decisively defeat the South. Despite initial successes, the offensive was repelled with significant help from U.S. air power, including Operation Linebacker and the mining of Haiphong Harbor. While the ARVN held its ground, the costly battle highlighted the fragility of Vietnamization and set the stage for the war’s final phase. Join Sean and James as they discuss the autumn of the Vietnam War.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
War has played a key role in the history of the United States from the nation’s founding right down to the present. Wars made the U. S. independent, kept it together, increased its size, and established it as a global superpower. Understanding America’s wars is essential for understanding American history. In the Key Battles of American History, host James Early discusses American history through the lens of the most important battles of America’s wars. James is an Adjunct Professor of History at San Jacinto College in Pasadena, TX. He has published one book and two scholarly articles. He is also the cohost (with Scott Rank) of the Presidential Fight Club, Key Battles of the Civil War, Key Battles of the Revolutionary War, and Key Battles of World War I podcasts.
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