On Veteran’s Day Saturday, November 11, 2023, Voice of Vashon aired a live show hosted by Dr. Steve Nourse and Rick Ames. We contacted numerous Veterans of the War in Vietnam and asked them the simple question, “What music had a special meaning to you during the time you spent in Vietnam?’ In doing so, we have three hours of hits and songs that almost everyone will remember. The Veterans chose and requested the songs we played.
Some of the 20th century’s most defining pop music emerged from the period during which the Vietnam War was fought. The sights and sounds of Woodstock intermingled with those of Vietnam, where half a million Americans were fighting at the time, and the Kent State shootings blend into the strains of “Ohio.”
We also include stories from Vietnam, as well as the music. Assisting Dr. Nourse is Mike Dorsey (an infantryman and a gunner on a Huey), and Chris Anderson and Chris Gaynor, Islanders and Vietnam Veterans.
For warriors across time, there have always been tunes to march to, and tunes to defuse the tension. But Vietnam was special. Music heals!
I appreciate the many Vietnam Veterans who have sent suggestions of songs to play on Voice of Vashon’s live streaming radio show on Veterans Day, November 11th .
