Show notes
In this episode, we sit down with Ben Thornal, a retired U.S. Army aviator who served in Vietnam flying OH-6 “Loach” helicopters during some of the war’s most intense operations, including Hamburger Hill.Ben takes us from the moment he received his draft notice, through flight school, combat reconnaissance missions, near-misses, loss, and the brotherhood that defined his service. He shares what it was really like flying low and slow over hostile terrain, calling in gunships, surviving being shot down, and witnessing extraordinary courage — including a Dustoff rescue that still stays with him decades later.But this conversation isn’t just about combat. It’s also about love, memory, and what comes after war. Ben reflects on meeting his wife Diane in Vietnam, coming home, living with PTSD, and why telling these stories still matters.Ben Thornal also appears alongside his wife, Diane, in the documentary "The Donut Dollies: 627 Women who Also Served in Vietnam", where they share their remarkable love story that began during the Vietnam War. To hear more of Ben and Diane’s story, watch the amazing documentary here: • The Donut Dollies: 627 Women who Also Serv... If you or someone you know has a story that should be heard, we'd love to hear from you at [email protected]. CHAPTERS: 02:10 – Getting the Draft Notice06:45 – Officer Candidate School (OCS)11:20 – Flight School: Learning to Fly16:40 – Assigned to the OH-6 “Loach”20:55 – Arriving in Vietnam25:10 – What a Recon Mission Really Looked Like30:45 – Hamburger Hill36:30 – Being Shot Down & Dustoff Rescue47:20 – Life Between Missions52:30 – The 4th of July Incident56:40 – Donut Dollies & Meeting Diane1:01:30 – Coming Home from Vietnam1:11:30 – Why These Stories Still Matter🎖️ Curious Humanography is proud to partner with Utah Honor Flight, helping veterans visit memorials built in their honor. To learn more or support their mission, visit UtahHonorFlight.org and honorflight.org.If this story moved you, please consider liking, commenting, and subscribing — it helps us continue sharing stories that deserve to be heard.
