EP 14: What I Saw as an Army Combat Photographer in Vietnam with the 1st Air Cavalry

Video Description

In this episode, we sit down with Ken McConnell, a Vietnam War veteran who shares his journey from growing up in California and working in radio, to being drafted in 1964 and serving as a combat photographer with the U.S. Army’s 1st Air Cavalry Division. Ken’s story is one of courage, luck, humor, and perspective. He opens up about the chaos of the war, close calls in combat, life on base, and the emotional return home. He also reflects on what the experience taught him about life, loss, and gratitude. This episode was filmed in partnership with Utah Honor Flight, part of the National Honor Flight Network, which gives veterans the trip of a lifetime to visit the memorials built in their honor. Learn more or support the mission: UtahHonorFlight.org Find your local Honor Flight Hub: honorflight.org Chapters: 02:00 – Growing up in Los Angeles & getting into radio 05:30 – Drafted into the Army (1964) 08:45 – Basic training at Fort Ord, CA 12:00 – Becoming a radio operator in the Army 16:00 – Chosen as a combat photographer 19:00 – Arriving in Vietnam with the 1st Air Cav 23:30 – Life in the jungle and first firefight 27:00 – Filming in combat zones 32:30 – Close calls and near misses 36:00 – Building a makeshift radio station in Vietnam 40:00 – Encounters with danger and daily life in camp 46:00 – Coming home and hiding his service 51:00 – Life after Vietnam and working in radio & airlines 57:00 – Final Thoughts & Reflections on war, life, and gratitude If you enjoyed this conversation like, comment, and subscribe for more veteran stories. If you or someone you know has a story that deserves to be heard, we’d love to connect at: [email protected]. Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UvdMjkOkOgoHM2yIckhlh?si=dcb8d3f6ff96428a Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/curious-humanography/id1854840136