For Memorial Day, we’re rebroadcasting our hour-long feature: “Stories from Third Med: Surviving a Jungle ER.” That documentary came about thanks to veteran Al Naar who coordinated the 40-Year reunion in 2008 — and invited us to attend.
Al Naar and producer Ariana Pekary
I’ve written before about the special bond I feel with these men – one that would last a very long time. Al Naar’s not only a dedicated fan of the show, but we’ve become friends as well. My father and I traveled to Newport stay with Al and his wife Judy a couple of years ago. It was a great weekend – we toured the Newport mansions (what they call “cottages”), went sailing in a schooner, and Judy guided us on a lovely bicycle ride while Al zoomed past on his Harley. Four years later, we’re still in contact.
Every time I hear Third Med, it weighs on me all over again – maybe it affects me so because I met the men in person, but I think it has to do more with the emotion you can hear in their voices. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: I think that kind of emotion is something you can only achieve with the intimacy of radio. Either way, if this is the first time you are hearing these stories, I hope they are meaningful to you – or a loved one here or overseas – in some way. This weekend, let’s not forget the sacrifice our veterans have given for the country, a sacrifice some are still paying today.
-Ariana
To view photos and a map of Third Med, click HERE.
For a list of music heard in Third Med, click HERE.
I am also a newcomer to this documentary and very happy to have caught it. Always glad to catch the multiple airings of The Bob Edwards show via XM, but particularly today.
Thank you.
I would love to hear from any men that I treated at Dong Ha and Quang Tri.
John Munna, M.D.
Third Med Bn.
1968-1969
I’m glad this exceptional documentary was aired again, as it was the first time I’d heard it and I found it moving, interesting, informative. The more we know about doctors and all who assist them working under extreme conditions, the more we can appreciate what they do. There are many kinds of emergencies, and many unsung heros and heroines–nurses among them.
On this note, there is an excellent book of oral histories of the nurses who worked in Vietnam, edited by Dan Freedman and Jacqueline Rhoads — Nurses in Vietnam: The Forgotten Veterans.
Thanks for this excellent documentary.
I’m glad this exceptional article was aired again this Memorial Weekend–I hadn’t heard it before and found it moving and informative. The more we all know about medical emergencies in extreme situations–war first among them–the better we can appreciate doctors and all who work together to keep us all alive.
As a footnote, nurses too were courageous actors in Vietnam; there is an excellent book of their oral history: Nurses in Vietnam: The Forgotten Veterans, edited by Dan Freedman and Jacqueline Rhoads.
W. Roberts Powers