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Navy's Forgotten Heroes: The Swift Boat Legacy
Manage episode 481042752 series 3502599
Born on Veterans Day in San Antonio, Raul Herrera never expected his Navy enlistment for educational benefits would lead him into the heart of Vietnam's maritime battlefield. In this powerful conversation, Herrera takes us aboard PCF-79, one of the Swift Boats that fundamentally altered the course of the Vietnam War yet remains largely overlooked in military history.
Herrera's vivid recollections transport listeners to July 15, 1967, when his six-man crew intercepted and captured an enemy trawler attempting to deliver supplies to Viet Cong forces. This high-profile mission earned them recognition from South Vietnam's highest leadership but also placed a bounty on their heads. Just months later, an ambush would claim the life of Boatswain's Mate Bobby Don Carver, Herrera's tough-love mentor whose death would haunt him for decades.
Most compelling is Herrera's forty-year journey to document this overlooked chapter of military history, a process that ultimately provided healing from undiagnosed PTSD. His book "Capturing Skunk Alpha" stands as both personal catharsis and historical preservation, ensuring the contributions of Swift Boat sailors won't be forgotten as their numbers dwindle.
For anyone interested in untold military stories, the personal costs of war, or the healing power of storytelling, this episode offers profound insights from a veteran who transformed personal trauma into historical legacy.
For book purchases, presentations, or to contact Raul Herrera, visit skunkalpha.com or email [email protected].
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Chapters
1. Introduction to Charlie Mike Podcast (00:00:00)
2. Raul Herrera's Early Life (00:08:20)
3. Enlisting in the Navy (00:19:15)
4. Swift Boat Assignment and Training (00:30:20)
5. The Capture of Skunk Alpha (00:42:00)
6. Bobby Don Carver's Death (00:51:35)
7. PTSD and Writing as Therapy (00:55:20)
8. Preserving the Swift Boat Legacy (00:59:10)
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