Vietnam Voices: Elwin Valley: 'Grab all the ammo you can carry and a brand new rifle'

[@bjornnilsson7982]

Im a Swedish veteran, 4 years, Afghanistan, Liberia, Balkan, this is a very good program, thank you all. Björn ftom Sweden

[@topmodstv3682]

I went from watching TV after work to turning on the videos and closing my eyes. What a great set of videos

[@philbrown6787]

I’ll binge watch these occasionally and nearly every one of these have been riveting I know people like to complain just to complain but I think the interviewer does a fine job. Asks just the questions I would ask and generally let’s the interviewed, talk Thanks for these

[@jerrymccommons6950]

Never complained once. Wild thing all these guys from MT. N & S Dakota. Nobody lives there.

[@barryogilvie9247]

@@jerrymccommons6950 mj

[@johndavis2399]

I did wonder what made the interviewer guffaw harshly at inappropriate times .....as I did appreciate his to-the-point follow up questions. I am thinking about retiring to Billings. A lot of wise guys around there.

[@pamnichols7877]

This veteran is a national treasure! I love his outlook and he is such an inspiration! Love his voice and his laughter . Thank you for your service 🤗🙏

[@mebeasensei]

Somewhere out there a woman exists who saw something in this guy, loved and supported him. Thank you to that lady too...you made him happy in a time many struggled. Hope you too got your rewards.

[@dollybellamy1290]

Very informative enjoyable interview from a humble vet and his million dollar smile.

[@7curiogeo]

In the late 60s as a young teenager, I went to a "peace" March in Berkley, CA. I wanted to see what I had heard about. I seen the proagitators stir up the students with a mixture of lies and anger. I got 2 scars on the back of my head 1 was from a guy attacking a cop, I went help the cop, I hurt the protest guy and a few others, I was helping the cop up and Anothe cop had made it through the crowed and the 2nd scar is from him. I was dazed now on my knees and a older guy busted through the group flashed something at the cop that hit me, graves me hustled me off to the edge of mess said you got no buesness here kid get out of here. I did. Learning Experiance. I was against the nam war. But never our troops, they did the job they were given, like it or not. Full respect, for our men of honor. God bless each and every one of them. I remember.

[@makemarker]

It's fascinating how well spoken and humble these individuals come across. Although they were in a bloody war, something about the whole experience shaped them into these fascinating; wise individuals. These interviews are a true gem.

[@dougdownunder5622]

These individuals came out of a school system where a minimum level of competence was demanded. F grades meant you did the course over again.

[@falconmoose5435]

​@@dougdownunder5622 I too was raised in an era where my parents trained me for the completion that was expected if one wanted to make something from this gift of life. Viet Nam 1971

[@davidkohler7454]

This is one of my favorite interviews in this series..I can't wait to read his book.. There is so much more to this man's story. Also the interviewer did a way better job just letting him talk. Thank you sir for your service. Welcome home,glad you made it..

[@VintageTexas59]

Interesting story and one of the best Vietnam Voices so far I have seen, very smart man Mr Mr Valley. Thanks for your service * * *

[@techlife9853]

This guy is so happy ..its infectious ... hes a good bloke

[@averymclaurin9607]

This was the BEST AND MOST INFORMATIVE INTERVIEW you have done to date. This was amazing And Nothing else needs to be said. Claps hands together 👏🏾👐🏾 Drop the mic 🎤 Turns around and walks out. Then shut the lights off and lock the doors with everyone still in the audience. Even takes with the crickets 🦗

[@GL1998X]

Mr. Ehrlick, etc., thank you for this. Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, thank you for preserving your history. Thank you all, I have recently found series like this help me personally to process things.

[@ThorsHammer]

Neat this man was born in the town next to me. Mason City. Thanks for your time served

[@christopherscott6794]

I want to be able to hear all of the experiences. This is a conflict I have spent most of my life trying to understand and these stories help me understand

[@gerimcgladrigan2822]

I absolutely love these interviews

[@johnbishop6890]

What a wonderful man. His humor and courage made for an amazing interview. Wish i knew him, could buy him a glass of fresh dairy milk, and could consider him my friend.

[@zackmtz7966]

I really like this guy!! Thank you for your service my friend!!!

[@danmurphy4472]

Elwin Valley for president...…..This guy is Awesome !!

[@pacheco4lfaceass949]

I always end up watching the good interviews as soon as ima bout to go to sleep 🤦🏽‍♂️😂 it’s almost impossible to stop watching

[@craiganderson7749]

I'm on a full blown Vietnam binge . up till 3am fooling with this shit 😂😂😂😂😂

[@goergelucas1232]

Got you to hay,they do have some eye opening experience and story,s !!

[@marcroche9324]

At last, an older veteran who had the big picture of how Vietnam was completely unnecessary. listen to his comments towards the end of this interview quite revealing. God bless Elwin.

[@tedd_blackk]

He's smart and fun, but "not a scholar". I was essentially an anticolonial war, with marxism as a path to independence. The real question is what asia was in for without intervention by SEATO. Despite naysayers, it likely would have been a marxist bloc by 77; from Korea to Taiwan to New Guinea to India; at least for a time; with control over markets, resources, and shipping.

[@stevedriver1476]

I cant find the name of his book,,i would love to read it. Steve In Australia

[@leeonardodienfield402]

@@tedd_blackk so we go and ally with marxists to kill germans, who were killing marxists. then allowed them to occupy europe. then kill marxists, to stop occupation in asian nations. makes sense.

[@ronaldstaples1741]

I found his way of seeing everything very close to how I see it

[@JDLarge]

Welcome home brother, glad you made it through. Thank you for your service. I’d love a brand new m14! Gimme that and a pallet of 7.62@51mm and also one of belted rounds, throw in my old pig and just show me my lane! Man, those let ya know lead was flying your way! I miss my m60, carried one for three years and there was no quicker way to keep heads down with a little pig cover fire! You weren’t mad brother, you were pissed! That’s what they call ptsd, and thats what got me out after 27 1/2yrs! Stay healthy, stay safe and try to let the ugly go... May we all have the hearts that are able to forgive, and the smarts to never forget✌🏼

[@cherokeeconcrete1986]

Well Said Bro🤙🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@damon224]

I think these are great interviews bro, way to go man!!

[@vovachammonet5771]

God bless all you Montana guys n gals - just pure patriots.....

[@joer5627]

Thank you Sir for your service. I was to young for Vietnam but knew several who were there. I can’t explain adequately my respect for what you did and endured.

[@kazkazimierz1742]

I was the right age, but fortunately my family came to Canada and not the US.

[@falconmoose5435]

Glad you missed it. I didn't. Be thankful brother....

[@earlbrownlee2453]

@@falconmoose5435 Thank you for your service and sacrifice in a war that your own government wouldn’t let you have a clear victory in.

[@falconmoose5435]

@@earlbrownlee2453 Thank you. Especially since you can see.

[@pinkjohnsen6606]

Love this series thanks Darrel urlich

[@king0cans]

I really like this guy. Just a good old boy

[@bissetttom1738]

thank you for these interviews, so real and people need to know the truth of what actually went on in vietnam. it was a crime against humanity! thank you all!

[@bbfreetube]

Enjoyable and informative..Thank you for sharing this story.

[@allancrow134]

Glad to see Elwin still has a sense of humour, it looks like he had the coping skills to make out alright, no easy task, I'm happy for him.

[@FineTouchLLC]

This guy is hilarious and I can tells he’s from Iowa , I’m also from Iowa and proud of it .

[@traviscole4121]

OTR truck driver. Can indeed attest Iowans are a decent folk.

[@jesushadafender]

Grew up about 30 miles south of Clear Lake

[@FineTouchLLC]

@@jesushadafender it’s beautiful up there north😍 , I’m down south in warren county

[@MrKbtor2]

if this guy has a book i'd love to read it

[@vdub7090]

He literally mentions his book 5 dozen times

[@1murder99]

Glad you made it home Elwin, hope you are well.

[@clinthunter1995]

Thanks for your service

[@garypoirier5375]

Welcome back sir would love to buy you and your brothers a beer some day Thank you for your service

[@lemuelyoungblood5756]

Thank you for your service

[@richardzapor1983]

Great interview with Elwin. His book must be great too because it is from a somewhat common guy’s perspective . As an airman from 69 to 73 i greatly enjoy getting the perspective and recollections of these guys who were actually in country, which I was not . i doubt that I would have made it there . Just too insane for me . So i have tremendous respect for these guys . As i have said for years to anyone who would listen, I was so glad that I did not get sent there , even though I was in munitions, because I heard that people were trying to kill each other over there . I put thousands of bombs together for the B -52’s while TDY to Guam for only 5 months, but that was plenty crazy enough for me , but still a walk in the park compared to what the in country guys went through . If Vietnam could have taught us anything it is that war is not the answer, but alas , the lesson is yet to be learned...

[@johnniebriggs9393]

Thank you for your service!🙏🏻🇺🇸

[@jeffkerr4249]

THANK YOU ELWIN !

[@ljubomirculibrk4097]

A corect and true point of viev Best regards

[@jerrydeem953]

I watched this interview twice. These were brave and dedicated young men. This guy told more truth about the History of this untenable policy than I've heard from others. History does repeat itself.

[@douglehnert8503]

This old timer has a great sense of humor and attitude toward his time in Nam

[@kgw100]

Love when all the vets say “say again”

[@craiganderson7749]

I noticed thAT. .wonder why

[@kgw100]

@@craiganderson7749 thats what you say in the service when you want someone to repeat what they said usually on the radio. You dont say repeat

[@steveparker5406]

“Say again” is taught instead of saying “repeat” on the radio as a distinction. Repeat is a term you say when calling for a follow up artillery barrage, so the distinction is important!

[@garycooper4526]

this guy is spot on...

[@R281]

I really like this interview. Mr. Valley's voice reminds me of the guy in the cowboy hat from the movie 1941.

[@lynnhathaway3755]

Rod281 The actor's name was Louis Burton Lindley, Jr. His stage name was Slim Pickens. He was also in Blazing Saddles. And yes, they do sound similar.

[@R281]

@@lynnhathaway3755 thank you

[@airikwilliams6720]

This stuff is history and needs to be told !!!!

[@tomhoefling]

Love this guy.

[@billwylie1746]

Did you know that LBJ made major investment in Bell helicopter and Genral dynamics just b4 he sent troops to Vietnam.

[@djohnson2194]

I knew that. I also heard Lady Bird Johnson, First Lady, said she "didn't care how many choppers were shot down because Bell Helicopter would get more orders to build more, and their stock would increase in value" !! DISGUSTING.

[@billwylie1746]

@@djohnson2194 now that what i call a inside job usa is home of the of the inside job

[@iamnotpaulavery]

I absolutely *detest* LBJ due to his BS bombing orders that got *alot* of pilots killed - all because he didn't want to anger the Chinese or the Russians!! The Vietnamese hated the Chinese more than the US, from what I heard, but, since they needed a massive amount of military aid, they took whatever they could get their mitts on, from whoever was willing to help.

[@cherylw9442]

Nothing about LBJ was honest!!! Not surprised!

[@billwylie1746]

@@cherylw9442 he also had his sister wacked he was a ruthless politician

[@Syrinx1987]

Elwin Valley, U.S. Army Signal Corps - ¿Base Op? (installation, operation and maintenance of base communications infrastructure, along with hired civilian contracted companies). Served from 1962 to 1965.

[@lowbridgehit]

28:30 army coming story! “We just left army coming & I hate to tell ya, but your going the wrong way lady!” Hilarious!

[@trillseekersarge5099]

Wow small world my family used to live in clear lake Iowa. small world!!!!!

[@PhilsMyFriend]

$100 says he got the clap

[@misfitfarmandhomestead3057]

My grandfather was Army Cpt James H McClain killed in Vietnam July 28th 1963 South of Saigon

[@izzyauna8814]

“Think there gonna have General Patton and the 3rd army” lol

[@smeercat]

I understand the smell. Baghdad had its own type funk. Burnt garbage, sewage, and diesel.

[@jimmyandkathyharrell]

Thank you both!

[@Floxflow]

What a sweetheart.

[@cameronward9443]

In terms of the training differences between Vietnam and WW2.... The biggest difficulty in terms of training people is that in Vietnam they were also immersed in the Vietnam culture. A LOT of troops were stationed in areas where they interacted daily with the population and lived among them. In WW2 it was rare that soldiers operated amongst civilian populations who's allegiance was one way or the other. Only when the Allies were in Okinawa or Germany did this become a factor. Not being able to clearly have an objective or an adversary makes a war impossible to wage, nevermind win. Doomed to fail from the get-go.

[@kathystoneham334]

love

[@jerrymccommons6950]

I binge these too. This guy has a great early aspect of the Diem coup. CIA black ops.

[@izzyauna8814]

I wish I could here what happened when he was injured. Great interview 👍

[@dcd-pn3sd]

One of the most interesting interviews Ive watched. Nobody has ever talked about things in 63 and 64 much. Not to mention, told it and didnt give a damn about being PC. I would have ask Elwin about WHY he choose a Thompson 45 and an M1 . But I think I know the answer. You hit someone with either, they DONT get back up. My Uncle went in 67 and did 2 tours, he said after shooting one guy in the chest with an M16 several times and he kept right on coming at them , until another guy hit him with a grenade launcher. He found an M14 and carried it until he came home in 69. He said you chest shot a VC with an M14 ( .308) they were knocked down and STAYED down. Plus they would really penetrate brush and jungle, where the M16 was worthless. BTW, the officers in Saigon had their own military run whore houses. Im sure Elwin knows that. LOL. THANK YOU for sharing Mr Valley, thank you for serving, and welcome home.

[@garybulwinkle82]

I heard guys would scavenge enemy AK47s for the same reason, and they were less prone to malfunction when dirty!

[@historybuff2329]

I think he said M1 carbine....

[@barryehrlich1583]

@@garybulwinkle82 I went into the Army in June, 1963. In basic training we were trained and qualified on the M1.

[@raulgonzales1374]

True about the M-16, but my experience in combat was up close and personal, shooting at each other (us and the NVA) from 10-15 yards out, very close shooting. If anybody stood up for a better shot was dead meat. Everything was done from the prone position if you managed to make it to the ground alive.

[@raulgonzales1374]

I carried four (4) bandoliers of ammo, three (3) bandoliers on my body and one strapped to my backpack and four (4) fragmentation grenades, one smoke grenade, one strip flare and one block of TNT. Each bandolier holds (7) seven magazines of ammo. In my M-16 I had two magazines taped together. At one time I was carrying 8 fragmentation grenades because one of my squad members was tired of carrying them and was going to throw them away in the jungle. The day I was wounded I used all eight (8) fragmentation grenades.

[@tundrawomansays5067]

What's the title of his book? I'd love to read it. There isn't much published on this period in Vietnam. Really interesting. Thanks!

[@tracybeme1597]

Ask Mich how important Vietnam is to them, and us. Roll on young cowboy, roll-on.

[@papamoney2]

This vet makes me remember Viwt Nam as My War!

[@untermench3502]

Taking a 'brand-new' rifle, or any weapon for that matter is very dangerous because it isn't broken-in and any defect will not be found until you have to use it.

[@falconmoose5435]

Wise man.

[@Groucho-tg1tx]

I've listened to numerous Vietnam experiences, because I'm interested in American history.This veteran has explained for me in a way I can understand. He started the interview as egotistical, as I continued to listen, he's a wealth of knowledge. The United States should only elect to presidential candidates who sacrificed their lives one way or another. Yes I understand the military greed causes wars. Unfortunately the public school system doesn't teach knowledge.

[@aikishugyo]

Smart man, good to hear the wisdom of history repeating itself as far as government lies go. And the US government overthrowing a democracy.... Respect. Very rare to hear interviews about that early in the conflict in Vietnam (at least the US participation). Had to grin about his pride re the first hospital stay, ahem... indeed, a good time to be in Saigon aged 21 lol.

[@izzyauna8814]

I think the draft would be good for the young men of this country. Or atleast the ones getting in trouble. It would get them past that crazy young age and make them grow up. Show them stability and routine. Rather than throwing them in prison.

[@richardbarry04553]

True - but prison is a very lucrative business now

[@mattcero1]

It's interesting at just over an hour he says that don't believe anything about the "Domino Theory" and the rest of why we were there but another Veteran, Steve Fenter in the same series said that it did exist and having the U.S. in Vietnam did indeed stop the fall if Indonesia and Thailand, from going full on communist. Either way, my hat's off to this guy.

[@literati21]

This guy could probably sell me anything.

[@rogerdodger5415]

When did these interviews happen? 2000-2005?

[@misfitfarmandhomestead3057]

Is the book published?

[@leechandler3411]

Trust me, those who call you too old, unimportant, etc. are incompetent, dishonest etc.

[@TheDukeOfDallas]

"How were you injured?" "Well you see.. this was this 'show' this lady did with ping-pong balls.. I was in the audience when her act went awry and I caught a stray to the face, fractured my orbital."

[@mr.peter.l.k]

I wonder from where , I will Christmas package 📦 ???

[@stewartw.9151]

I wish they would mention in the titles what these guys did in Vietnam. Takes too long to discover by listening whether they were rear-echelon or up front!

[@kendalkenny1843]

Its hard to believe most of these guy never heard of Vietnam i was a kid who watched it on TV every night 7 or 8. 13 at the end.

[@douglasturner6153]

"13 at the end"! That would have made you 2 and 3 years old when he returned from Nam. 2 when he went over.

[@dickensdickens3025]

You can never hear enough first-hand accounts from people who had boots on the ground at the time. The US fixation and angst about this lost war is understandable but if you don’t learn from history you’re bound to repeat the same mistakes. and the US administration/military did just that. The American history of Vietnam is completely skewed by their personal involvement in the THIRD Indichina war after the French were kicked out in 1954. The USA were involved in the 3rd Vietnamese war, the French were in the second. The first Vietnamese war took place in 1945 to 1946. This was AFTER the end of the Second World War, the allies had split Vietnam along the 16th parallel with the Communist Chinese as being the dominant factor to take the Japanese surrender north of the 16th parralel. The British, in lieu of the French ( De Gaulle had really no army to speak of) were required to take theJapanese’s surrender and had to fight the Viet Minh , who attacked them in an effort to wrest the government of South Vietnam into their hands because they had no wish for the colonial French to return. The British Southern Expeditionary Army Group fought them street by street rice field by rice field, mountain by mountain all the way up to the North Vietnamese border, utilised Japanese and released French POWs and pacified the complete area . For Britain's involvement in the First Vietnam War, the officially stated casualty list was 40 British and Indian soldiers killed and French and Japanese casualties a little higher. An estimated 2,700 Viet Minh were killed. The unofficial total may be higher, but given the methods with which the Viet Minh recovered their dead and wounded, the exact number may never be known. About 600 of the dead Viet Minh were killed by British soldiers, the rest by the French and Japanese. Look up Operstion Masterdom

[@BilgePump]

Can these fellers bring in pictures of themselves from Vietnam?

[@johndavis2399]

letters were the main source of communication.....as is this.

[@jeanlignereux275]

Hi,from France😍I love these guys and interviews...wish all were subbed,because the voices are often too low for me..what is disgusting is there are some 5/100 thumbs down every time,they must be from your fuck..g dems, Biden's fans...!I was born in french Algeria,and what happened there was the same:a "war"militarily won,but given up by the damned politicians and leftists,those who furthermore,had started it...and in spite of 90/100 local people who wanted us"pale faces"to stay there...Love to you all!!!

[@stevedriver1476]

What a fantastic story,,mannnnn people have no idea, who needs hollywood shit movies this is real. the story leaves that hollywood garbage for dead. What a Hero in very trying times, Thanks Mate your a real hero , these stories are incredible, I watch 1 every day. Steve In Australia

[@stephenmcgraw8871]

Mr. Valley seems to have forgotten that we DID have a reason for being there and that was the signing of the SEATO pact/treaty/agreement,whatever you want to call it.....Ask the Aussies about the communism threat and tell them they had nothing to worry about.......I`ve talked to so many guys that were over there and you weren`t there when everything went down---they were and the threat was definitely real........However,with all due respect,thank you......

[@hazrinanana3123]

this didn't want to tell anything

[@historybuff2329]

Wall Drug, 9000 miles. hah

[@fishheadlemonsnack824]

I take my knee to this man's service -and all women and men who've done such ANY year intervening or before! But let's never forget 'wars are fought by politicians,' and do better at picking (vetting) these consumers of our flesh!

[@timothycollier5871]

The 5 o clock war.

[@williammccormick966]

VERY JOVIAL 😍😎😂

[@84CORVETTEBILL]

16

[@edwinsalau150]

A congressman I knew had been sent to she has Vietnam and was playing tennis the night before the coup!They were joined buy a heavy shit South Vietnamese.. it turned out to be Big Minih! He did not know it at the time. He was later accused of helping orchestrate the coop! Nothing could happen further from the truth!He told me this before he passed away.

[@Victrola777]

According to the Monroe doctrine, we should have interceeded in Cuba, and not have even gotten involved in Vietnam.

[@chrisblue46]

VN'se milk today usually has sugar in it, and a lot of water, no good for scrambled eggs.

[@ismneclirder]

Opiates...

[@flukedogwalker3016]

One thing I noticed in all these interviews is that you rarely hear "getting short" or "short timer" or "2 digit midget" a term that was used by the Vietnam era vets who enjoyed the same leftist anti-war, anti-military atmosphere until Reagan showed up.

[@trentk268]

Man, just think how interesting these could be if they boiled 'em down to a half hour and stopped using click bait titles.

[@philosborn1840]

Why would you ever say Jesus Christ?

[@haroldburrows4770]

Read Neil Sheehan's A Bright Shining Lie for a good overview of this period. Diem was the reason the war was lost, u got that part wrong bub. We should have dumped him in 61 and took over the operation lock stock n barrel and put Viet officers who would fight in positions of power and it would have been a different story

[@williamdillard8330]

Why did Diem kill Buddhists?