Veterans Breakfast Club

Did one decision in Washington change the course of the Vietnam War?

Join the Veterans Breakfast Club for a conversation with award-winning historian and former Los Angeles Times reporter Jack Cheevers about his powerful new book, Kennedy’s Coup: A White House Plot, a Saigon Murder, and America’s Descent into Vietnam.

In November 1963, South Vietnamese President Ngô Đình Diệm was overthrown and assassinated by his own generals. For decades, historians have debated the extent of the Kennedy administration’s role in the coup and whether Diệm’s death made America’s deeper involvement in Vietnam inevitable. Drawing on a decade of research, eyewitness interviews, declassified documents, and dozens of Freedom of Information Act requests, Cheevers reconstructs the political intrigue, personal rivalries, and fateful decisions that led to one of the most consequential turning points of the Cold War.

More than a political history, Kennedy’s Coup is a human drama populated by unforgettable characters: President John F. Kennedy and his divided advisers; Ambassador Frederick Nolting, who struggled to preserve the alliance with Diệm; the outspoken Madame Nhu; ambitious South Vietnamese generals plotting in secret; courageous American journalists reporting from Saigon; and CIA operatives caught between diplomacy and covert action. Cheevers argues that the coup—and Diệm’s murder—opened the door to nearly a decade of escalating American involvement in Vietnam.

Cheevers is the author of the award-winning Act of War: Lyndon Johnson, North Korea, and the Capture of the Spy Ship Pueblo, recipient of the Samuel Eliot Morison Award for Naval Literature. His meticulous research and compelling storytelling have made him one of today’s leading writers on American military and diplomatic history.

As always, we’ll leave plenty of time for audience questions, comments, and stories. Veterans, family members, students, and all who wish to learn are warmly welcome.

Six Marines raising the American flag atop Mount Suribachi on February 23, 1945, became one of the most enduring images in American history. But what about the company behind the flag?

Join the Veterans Breakfast Club for a conversation with Marine veteran and author Billy Myers, who has spent years researching the remarkable story of Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 28th Marines—the unit whose men climbed Suribachi and whose members raised both the first and second flags over Iwo Jima.

Myers’ forthcoming book tells the story of Easy Company from its formation through the brutal battle for Iwo Jima and beyond. Drawing on letters, diaries, military records, and family accounts, he introduces the ordinary young Americans who became part of one of World War II’s most iconic moments. If Band of Brothers told the story of Easy Company in Europe, Myers aims to tell the story of Easy Company in the Pacific.

A Marine Corps veteran himself, Myers enlisted at seventeen and served four years before earning degrees from Northwestern State University and The Ohio State University. He later spent nearly three decades coaching football and baseball in Louisiana, bringing the same commitment to teamwork, leadership, and perseverance to his historical research.

Our conversation will explore not only the famous flag raising but also the men whose lives have too often been overshadowed by a single photograph. We’ll discuss the savage fighting on Iwo Jima, the bonds forged within Easy Company, the challenges of reconstructing its history eighty years later, and why these Marines still matter today.

As always, we’ll leave plenty of time for audience questions, comments, and stories. Veterans, family members, students, history lovers, and all who wish to learn are warmly welcome.

Join the Veterans Breakfast Club for a conversation with retired Army Colonel Frank Hancock, commander of 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) during Operation Desert Storm, about his remarkable new book, Operation Desert Storm: How Two Young Intelligence Analysts and an Infantry Battalion Changed the War in Iraq.

At the heart of the book is an extraordinary story that has remained untold for more than three decades. Just 48 hours before the 101st Airborne launched the largest helicopter air assault in American military history, two young intelligence soldiers—Captain Jose Delgado and Sergeant Jesus Gonzalez—discovered a critical flaw in the division’s battle plan that had escaped every higher headquarters. They identified an Iraqi bunker-and-trench complex directly in the landing zone of the lead assault company. Their discovery forced commanders to revise the plan at the last minute and may well have prevented a devastating disaster.

That dramatic episode opens the door to a much larger story. Hancock takes us inside General Norman Schwarzkopf’s bold “Hail Mary” offensive, which sent the 101st Airborne deep into Iraq to sever the Euphrates Valley in one of the most ambitious operational maneuvers undertaken by the U.S. military since the Inchon landing during the Korean War. He explains how the division planned and executed the largest helicopter air assault in U.S. history, what worked, what nearly went wrong, and why the operation became a defining moment in modern American warfare.

Drawing on recollections from soldiers throughout the battalion—from privates to colonels—Hancock reconstructs the operation from every level of command. Along the way, he also explores a larger question: How did the U.S. Army recover from Vietnam? Desert Storm showcased an Army that had spent nearly two decades studying its failures, rebuilding its doctrine, embracing new technologies, and developing leaders capable of executing extraordinarily complex operations. The campaign’s stunning success did not happen by accident—it was the product of lessons painfully learned after Vietnam.

As always, we’ll leave plenty of time for audience questions, comments, and stories. Veterans, family members, and all who wish to learn are warmly welcome.

Join Glenn Flickinger and the Veterans Breakfast Club for a live conversation with author Gregg Jones about his acclaimed book, Most Honorable Son: A Forgotten Hero’s Fight Against Fascism and Hate During World War II.

Jones tells the remarkable story of Ben Kuroki, a Japanese American farm boy from Nebraska who became one of World War II’s most extraordinary airmen. At a time when more than 100,000 Japanese Americans were incarcerated in the United States, Kuroki fought for his country in the skies over Europe, North Africa, and the Pacific, completing 58 combat missions and becoming a powerful voice against prejudice and hate.

This program explores Kuroki’s wartime service, his fight to prove his loyalty, and the larger story of Japanese American patriotism, sacrifice, and resilience during World War II. Gregg Jones brings new attention to a forgotten American hero whose life challenges us to think deeply about courage, citizenship, racism, and what it means to serve.

#BenKuroki #WWII #VeteransBreakfastClub

Join the Veterans Breakfast Club for an open and wide-ranging virtual conversation about the military experience, past and present. We believe every veteran has a story to tell and wisdom to share.

This event is a chance to listen, learn, and connect with others who understand the unique bonds and challenges of military service. If you have something on your mind—whether a personal memory, a question, or a topic you think deserves attention—we encourage you to bring it to the conversation. Veterans are also invited to email Shaun Hall at shaun@veteransbreakfastclub.org with any specific topics or issues they’d like to discuss.

The Veterans Breakfast Club’s mission is to create communities of listening around veterans and their stories, and our Open Conversations are one of the most dynamic ways we do that. These sessions are often wide-ranging, emotional, funny, and thought-provoking, providing a welcoming space where everyone’s voice is valued.

Whether you have something to share or simply want to listen and learn, we welcome you to be part of the conversation!

How has World War II shaped your family? What stories, memories, questions, and mysteries have been passed down through the generations?

Join host Glenn Flickinger for a special Greatest Generation Live conversation exploring the enduring impact of World War II on veterans and the families who inherited their legacies.

We’ll hear from Lee Kikel, whose father, Melvin Goldman, survived the Holocaust and was liberated from the Wöbbelin concentration camp in Germany in May 1945. After surviving years of imprisonment in the Lodz Ghetto, Auschwitz, and other camps, Goldman was among thousands rescued in the final days of the war. His gratitude to the American soldiers who liberated Wöbbelin became a defining part of his life and family story.

We’ll also be joined by Richard Murphy, whose father-in-law, Lawrence McGartland of Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania, helped liberate Wöbbelin as a soldier in the 28th Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division. Drafted at age 30, married and the father of two young children, McGartland landed in France after D-Day and fought through four campaigns—Normandy, Northern France, the Rhineland, and Central Europe. Wounded twice during 266 days of combat, he was among the American soldiers who encountered the horrors of Wöbbelin on May 2, 1945.

Like many veterans of his generation, McGartland rarely spoke about his wartime experiences. Only years after his death did his children begin to learn what he had endured and accomplished. As they pieced together his military service, they gained new insight into the quiet effects of war that remained throughout his life—from his aversion to loud noises to the flashbacks he experienced in old age. Understanding his service helped his family better understand the man they loved.

Lee and Richard’s stories intersect at a remarkable moment in history: one family descended from a survivor of Wöbbelin, the other from one of its liberators.

Following their presentations, we’ll open the conversation to everyone. We invite you to share stories of parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other relatives whose lives were shaped by World War II—whether they served overseas, worked on the home front, survived wartime hardships, or carried the war’s memories long after the fighting ended.

The generation that fought World War II is passing from the scene, but their stories continue to shape families and communities. Join us as we explore how understanding our veterans can help us know—and love—them a little better.

We welcome Naval officer, diplomat, strategist and author Tom Duffy for a conversation about a largely forgotten Cold War–era naval campaign: Operation Earnest Will.

During the final years of the Iran–Iraq War, the Persian Gulf became the scene of a dangerous maritime struggle known as the “Tanker War.” Iran and Iraq attacked oil tankers to cripple each other’s economies and pressure international shipping. In response, the United States launched Operation Earnest Will—the largest naval convoy operation since World War II—escorting Kuwaiti oil tankers through hostile waters and confronting Iranian threats at sea.

The mission began when Kuwaiti tankers were re-flagged under the U.S. flag so they could legally sail under American naval protection. U.S. warships then escorted the tankers through the Gulf while surveillance aircraft, helicopters, and special operations forces hunted for mines and small-boat attackers.

The danger became clear immediately. On the very first escort mission, the reflagged tanker Bridgeton struck an Iranian mine in the Gulf—an early reminder that even a powerful navy could not fully control the narrow and volatile waters of the Persian Gulf. Over the next fourteen months, dozens of U.S. warships rotated through the region while Navy SEALs, special operations aviators, and patrol boat crews conducted night operations to stop Iranian mining and harassment of shipping.

In his book Tanker War in the Gulf, Duffy draws on his experience as a U.S. Navy officer who participated in the operation and later as a Foreign Service officer stationed across the Middle East. He reconstructs the tense months when American warships escorted vulnerable tankers through minefields, missile threats, and political uncertainty—while trying to prevent a regional war from spiraling into a superpower confrontation.

The story includes dramatic moments such as the USS Stark incident, the shadow presence of Soviet naval forces monitoring U.S. movements, and retaliatory clashes between U.S. and Iranian forces that nearly escalated into a wider war.

Though often overlooked in American military history, Operation Earnest Will marked the first sustained U.S. military confrontation with Iran—a precursor to tensions that continue today. The operation also offers timely lessons about limited warfare, maritime security, and the strategic importance of protecting global energy routes—issues that echo in today’s crises in the Red Sea and across the wider Middle East.

Duffy will also reflect on his unusual career path—from naval officer to U.S. diplomat—including postings in Bogotá during the Pablo Escobar era, Saudi Arabia during the early al-Qaeda bombings, and Baghdad during the turbulent early years of the Iraq War. His stories offer a rare view of how military operations, diplomacy, and global politics intersect in real time.

Join us for a fascinating discussion about a little-known naval campaign that still shapes how the United States uses sea power today—and hear firsthand how history, strategy, and lived experience come together in one remarkable career.

Join the Veterans Breakfast Club for a special VBC LIVE program on Monday, June 22 at 7pm ET exploring the history and human experience of the Berlin Airlift—one of the defining moments of the early Cold War.

In June 1948, the Soviet Union blockaded West Berlin, cutting off food, fuel, and supplies to more than two million civilians. Rather than abandon the city or risk war, the United States and its allies launched a massive airlift—flying around the clock to keep Berlin alive. For nearly a year, aircraft landed every few minutes, delivering coal, food, and hope to a city under siege.

This program brings together those who lived this history—and those working to preserve it.

We’re honored to welcome Bibi LeBlanc, a native of West Berlin and founder of Voices of the Berlin Airlift, an oral history project gathering memories from Berliners, veterans, and families connected to the Airlift. Bibi is racing to capture these stories while firsthand voices are still with us—and invites others to contribute.

We’ll also hear from Dagmar Weiss Snodgrass, a Berlin child who lived through the Airlift and paid tribute to famed Airlift pilot Gail Halvorsen, Uncle Wiggly Wings: My Love and Admiration for Berlin’s Candy Bomber.

Also joining us is Ralph Dionne, who served at Rhein-Main Air Base in 1948 as both an aircraft mechanic and later a flight engineer on C-54 transport aircraft. Ralph completed 74 missions into Berlin and logged 300 flight hours, offering a rare, firsthand view of the precision and discipline required to sustain the Airlift from both the ground and the cockpit.

Joining them is Denise Halvorsen Williams, daughter of Colonel Gail S. Halvorsen—the “Candy Bomber” whose small parachutes of sweets brought joy to Berlin’s children. Through her work with the Candy Bomber Foundation, Denise carries forward a legacy of compassion that reminds us how small acts can resonate across generations.

We also invite anyone with personal or family connections to the Berlin Airlift—pilots, ground crew, Berlin civilians, or descendants—to join the conversation and share their stories.

#BerlinAirlift #ColdWarHistory #VeteransStories #OralHistory #CandyBomber #BerlinHistory #USAirForceHistory #MilitaryHistory #WWIIAftermath #VBC #VeteransBreakfastClub

Join us for a remarkable story of survival, courage, chance, and resilience as Doug Cervi shares the life of Holocaust survivor David Wisnia (1926–2021), whose experiences spanned some of the darkest and most consequential events of the twentieth century.

Born into a Jewish family in Warsaw, Poland, David was a gifted singer whose voice would help save his life after he was deported to Auschwitz at age sixteen. There, amid unimaginable brutality, he survived by performing for Nazi guards and fellow prisoners. He endured the horrors of Auschwitz, a death march across Europe, and a daring escape before being liberated by soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division. Remarkably, the teenager who emerged from the camps went on to serve as an interpreter with the American Army as it advanced into Germany.

Years later, David built a new life in the United States, becoming a cantor, educator, and tireless witness to history. His story gained international attention through the memoir One Voice, Two Lives, which recounts both his wartime experiences and a long-hidden chapter of love and survival in Auschwitz.

Doug Cervi, who worked closely with David on preserving and sharing his story, returns to the Veterans Breakfast Club to recount David’s extraordinary journey and reflect on the responsibility of keeping eyewitness history alive after the witnesses themselves are gone.

This program offers a powerful firsthand window into the Holocaust, liberation, and the enduring strength of the human spirit.

We welcome retired Army General and bestselling author Mark Hertling for a special VBC LIVE conversation about his powerful new memoir, If I Don’t Return: A Father’s Wartime Journal. Drawing from a journal he kept during Operation Desert Storm, Hertling reflects on combat, leadership, fear, family, and the deeply personal thoughts he recorded for his young sons in case he never made it home.

More than a war memoir, If I Don’t Return offers a rare window into the mind of a soldier-father confronting uncertainty in wartime while trying to pass on lessons about courage, character, service, and humanity. Join us for a moving discussion about military life, memory, leadership under pressure, and the enduring bond between veterans and their families.

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