Dearest Suzie Podcast Por Alexander Lowie arte de portada

Dearest Suzie

Dearest Suzie

De: Alexander Lowie
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 Welcome to Dearest Suzie, a podcast and photo series that brings to life the personal letters, diary entries, and photographs of U.S. Army helicopter pilot William “Bill” Lowie during his service in the Vietnam War. In this introductory episode, host Alexander Lowie—Bill’s grandson and an anthropologist—sets the stage for a journey through family history and wartime memories. With the 60th anniversary of the Vietnam War approaching, Alexander will share Bill’s experiences in a unique “on this day in history” format, pairing each diary entry or letter with a corresponding photograph. These materials offer a deeply personal glimpse into the war, with over 100 letters to his wife, Susan (“Suzie”), and more than 500 photos captured during his deployment. More than just a historical archive, Dearest Suzie is about discovery, reflection, and connection. Whether you’re interested in military history, personal stories, or exploring your own family’s past, this podcast encourages you to listen, learn, and share your own stories. Join us as we uncover Bill’s memories, one letter at a time.© 2025 Dr. Alexander Lowie Ciencias Sociales Mundial
Episodios
  • Episode 106: 1965-06-24 | Oral History Hiccups

    Episode 106: 1965-06-24 | Oral History Hiccups
    Jun 24 2025
    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 dearestsuziepodcast@gmail.com — I’d love to hear from you! VietnamWar #HelicopterPilot #MilitaryHistory #WarLetters #OralHistory #InheritTheStories #FamilyHistory #KnightsOverTheDelta #Evacuation #MemoryAndMyth
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    8 m
  • Episode 105: 1965-06-16 | Flying Sick in Da Nang

    Episode 105: 1965-06-16 | Flying Sick in Da Nang
    Jun 16 2025
    In this episode of Dearest Suzie, Popi writes from Da Nang after completing his move north, catching Suzie up on mail, family updates, and a growing sense of fatigue, both physical and emotional. He’s sick with his first cold since arriving in Vietnam but continues flying missions daily due to a shortage of pilots. The letter is full of little domestic concerns, sending a hunting uniform to Al, asking for Bea’s ring size, and teasing Suzie about not sending slides from the camera he mailed her. But behind these day-to-day details is a clear sense of strain. He shares the news that another pilot from Vinh Long has been killed and admits he probably shouldn't have been flying while sick. Set against the backdrop of Da Nang’s rapid militarization in mid-1965, this letter offers a glimpse into what it was like to be stationed there at a pivotal moment in the war. Just three months earlier, Da Nang became home to the first major deployment of U.S. ground combat troops. The city was transforming quickly: more helicopters, more personnel, more infrastructure, and more danger. Popi’s writing reflects that tension. His tone shifts between playful and heavy, the normal and the extraordinary sitting side by side. What’s Covered: - Popi’s arrival and illness in Da Nang - The daily stress of mission flights amid a pilot shortage - Family updates and care packages - A fellow pilot’s death in Vinh Long - Da Nang’s importance in U.S. military strategy during the war 📷 Featured Photo: A helicopter hovers just above the ground, framed by South Vietnamese flags and a local municipal sign. 🔔 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
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    7 m
  • Episode 104: 1965-06-11 | Shooting an Elephant in Vietnam Pt. 3

    Episode 104: 1965-06-11 | Shooting an Elephant in Vietnam Pt. 3
    Jun 11 2025
    In this episode of Dearest Suzie, Popi writes from Da Nang on June 11, 1965, sharing that he’s finally made the move north after his sudden orders. He’s relieved to see familiar faces and to settle—at least for now—into slightly better quarters with hot water and decent food. But even this small reprieve is colored by uncertainty: mail delivery is unpredictable, orders are slow to catch up, and leave plans are constantly changing. He signs off with warm wishes for Suzie’s trip to New Jersey, a reminder that family remains his anchor in a world that feels increasingly chaotic. Alongside Popi’s letter, this episode continues the fictionalized narrative of “Shooting an Elephant in Vietnam,” a creative reflection that blends fact, memory, and moral reckoning. Drawing on the Stars and Stripes article and George Orwell’s famous essay, this story imagines what it felt like for Popi—or any soldier—to confront the strange orders and expectations of a war fought both in the air and in the villages below. Here, we witness a village’s reaction to receiving elephant meat from American soldiers: the laughter, the confusion, the uneasy gratitude. The narrator wrestles with the conflicting roles—liberator, invader, witness—and realizes how America’s insistence on control often left soldiers trapped in a cycle of expectation and futility. What’s Covered: - Popi’s June 11 letter from Da Nang, describing familiar faces, new quarters, and family updates - Reflections on the uncertainty of orders, mail, and the challenges of staying connected to home - Part three of “Shooting an Elephant in Vietnam,” exploring the uneasy morality of following orders - A meditation on how America’s power in Vietnam was felt—and sometimes resented—by those it claimed to protect - Reflections on how soldiers, including Popi, reconciled duty with doubt and compassion 📷 Featured Photo: A statue of an elephant, likely in a temple or shrine, standing as a symbol of cultural reverence—so different from the image of elephants in the war zone. 🔔 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 #ShootingAnElephant #GeorgeOrwell #MoralComplexity #114thAviation #Vietnam1965 #OralHistory #CombatHistory #ElephantHunting #DaNang #DearestSuzie #PowerAndExpectations
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    9 m
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