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 114: 1965-07-22 | Your World In A Bag

    Episode 114: 1965-07-22 | Your World In A Bag
    Jul 22 2025
    In this episode of Dearest Suzie, Popi writes on July 22, 1965. He’s still living out of a duffle bag, waiting for orders, and counting down the days—just 62 left in-country. Suzie’s letter has arrived, and he’s glad to hear she’s enjoying her vacation despite everything. Things have been quiet for the moment but there’s a big operation planned for the next morning. The uncertainty is wearing thin, but he’s keeping his sense of humor. This episode explores the duffle bag as more than just gear—it was a soldier’s portable world. From Civil War haversacks to the barrel-style bags of Vietnam, military packs have long carried not just equipment but connection: letters, photos, comforts from home. For Popi, that bag was home base. With most of his belongings already on their way back to the States, the duffle held what mattered: toothbrush, socks, and letters from Suzie. What’s Covered: - Popi’s reflections on living out of a bag and counting down to home - The military history of duffle bags and what soldiers carried - How small items became emotional lifelines for deployed troops - What the duffle bag reveals about mobility, survival, and memory in wartime 📷 Featured Photo: Popi stands with three friends on a wet tarmac, bags between them. The location is uncertain—possibly stateside—but the moment is clear: they’re about to move. 🔔 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 #DuffleBagHistory #SoldierLife #MilitaryHistory #WarLetters #InheritTheStories #DearestSuzie #FamilyHistory #OralHistory
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    6 m
  • Episode 113: 1965-07-19 | Faith in War

    Episode 113: 1965-07-19 | Faith in War
    Jul 19 2025
    In this episode of Dearest Suzie, Popi writes on July 19, 1965. The Viet Cong have been active, and he’s running on little rest. He’s relieved to hear Suzie is feeling better and jokes about the boys going to Baptist Bible school, a light moment that reflects the mix of his Southern Baptist background and Suzie’s Northern, Catholic roots. With 60 days left, he’s still waiting on official orders, and rumors are swirling about the 11th Air Assault Division. This episode explores the quiet presence of faith during the war. At Vinh Long, Irish Catholic nuns ran an orphanage and school despite constant danger. Religious communities like theirs supported both locals and soldiers. For many troops, faith was a personal anchor. Chaplains offered guidance, while church groups back home kept families connected through prayer and care packages. Mema is Catholic, Popi was Baptist, and their marriage bridged that cultural divide. His teasing comment about Bible school is playful but also reveals how faith, like love, endured across distance. What’s Covered: - Bill’s reflections on Suzie’s health, Bible school, and 60 days left in-country - The role of Catholic nuns and chaplains during the Vietnam War - How faith sustained both soldiers and their families during wartime - Cultural differences in religious tradition and how they shaped Popi and Suzie’s relationship 📷 Featured Photo: An aerial shot of a large church or cathedral—possibly the same building that appears in Popi’s other photos under construction. A quiet reminder of the spiritual architecture that stood amid the ruins of war. 🔔 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 #FaithInWar #Chaplains #CatholicNuns #MilitaryHistory #WarLetters #InheritTheStories #DearestSuzie #FamilyHistory #OralHistory
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    6 m
  • Episode 112: 1965-07-13 | The Long Way Home

    Episode 112: 1965-07-13 | The Long Way Home
    Jul 13 2025
    In this episode of Dearest Suzie, Bill writes from Quang Ngai on July 13, 1965, reflecting on the grind of daily missions and the long shadow of homecoming. He’s finally received mail and it comes as a massive relief. He’s been worried about Suzie's health and the boys and he’s already thinking ahead to a real vacation together. He still has no official orders and there are rumors about the dissolution of the 11th as well as delayed paperwork which leaves him in limbo. Still, he marks a date: September 27. If nothing else changes, that’s the day he’ll walk back through the front door. Today’s episode explores what “going home” really meant for soldiers in Vietnam. The process wasn’t simple. It revolved around a number, DEROS, or Date Eligible for Return from Overseas, which governed when a soldier could leave the war behind. Once a man got “short,” everything shifted. He wasn’t just a soldier anymore, he was a countdown. That sense of being nearly done came with both hope and danger. Unlike earlier wars, Vietnam operated on an individual rotation system, meaning Bill wouldn’t go home with his unit. He’d likely be replaced by someone just arriving, and if time allowed, he’d pass on what he could. After orders came, the journey out involved transit stops in places like Okinawa or Guam, health checks, and long flights to bases like Travis AFB in California or Fort Benning in Georgia. What waited there was paperwork, maybe discharge, and often, emotional whiplash. Because reentry wasn’t easy. Some returned to warm reunions. Others found themselves disoriented by silence, grocery stores, and a country ready to move on. What’s Covered: - Popi’s letter about home, health, and the hope of a September return - How DEROS and the “short-timer” mentality shaped soldier experiences - The logistics of coming home: orders, layovers, base transitions, and out-processing - The emotional weight of returning to a country that didn’t always welcome them back 📷 Featured Photo: Little girls buy produce from an older woman on the street—a quiet moment of everyday life that may have reminded Popi of home, and the simple connections that wove his two worlds together. 🔔 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 #ComingHome #DEROS #MilitaryHistory #VietnamLetters #Veterans #ShortTimer #InheritTheStories #DearestSuzie #OralHistory
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    7 m
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