(L-R) Phoebe Astill, Charlene Rhodes, Mareth Chan, Jerry Hare, Tom Palmer, Joe Scheimer, Carolee GiaoUyen Tran, C. Emmett Mahle, Ed Laird, Robert “Bob” Dohlke, Gary Reeder, Lenore Justman (seated), Gene Hamner, Mardeio Cannon (not pictured), and Tido Thac Hoang (not pictured)

Preserving Vietnam History

In March, we asked our community to share their stories of how the Vietnam War impacted them. Now, we’re pleased to share some of your astonishing responses.

In concert with Ken Burns’ newest documentary, The Vietnam War, we are sharing narratives of immigration, service, and volunteerism from our region. These 15 stories are published online as part of an oral history collection, available to the community. Interview features include a woman’s life as the child of a Vietnamese military officer during the fall of Saigon, a Forward Air Controller’s experience as a “Raven” serving on a secret mission in Laos, and an infantry leader shouldered with the heaviest of responsibilities.

You can hear these powerful testimonies and more below. Look for Ken Burns’ The Vietnam War, a 10-part 18-hour documentary premiering September 17 on KVIE.

My Vietnam War Story


C. Emmett Mahle
Colonel, U.S. Army
Sacramento


Gene Hamner
Captain, U.S. Air Force
Lodi


Joe Scheimer
Colonel, U.S. Air Force
Gold River


Lenore Justman
Casualty Staging Facility Volunteer
Sacramento


Mareth Chan
First Lieutenant, Khmer Air Force
Stockton


Tido Thac Hoang
Refugee
Elk Grove

Mardeio Cannon, Specialist 6, U.S. Army
Mardeio Cannon
Specialist 6, U.S. Army
Sacramento

Ed Laird, Lieutenant, U.S. Air Force
Ed Laird
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Air Force
Rocklin


Gary Reeder
Captain, U.S. Army
Sacramento


Charlene Rhodes
Roseville High School Class of 1965
Roseville


Jerry Hare
Captain, U.S. Air Force
El Dorado Hills


Phoebe Astill
Roseville


Robert Dohlke
Master Sergeant, U.S. Air Force
El Dorado Hills


Tom Palmer
Major, U.S. Air Force
Auburn


The Vietnam War is locally sponsored by