Veterans Open Conversation

The Scuttlebutt: Understanding Military Culture

VBC Scuttlebutt Open Conversation is a friendly, interactive gathering of veterans, friends of veterans, and history nerds where we discuss whatever aspects of military service, past or present, or the veterans community that are on our minds.

Join us to swap stories, good and bad, at home and overseas, old and new.

We’ve asked Lt. Colonel John J. McBrearty–“Colonel Mack”–to join us to talk about his 32 years Army and Marine Corps service, as well as his voluminous writing about American history, military experience, and other topics.

We’ve also invited Vietnam Navy veterans John Denk and Tracy Garner to come on and talk about the Navy side of Linebacker II, the last major US operation of the Vietnam War in December 1972.

Denk was aboard the USS Floyd B Parks (DD-884) during the operation and saw USS Goldsborough (DDG-20) get hit by NVA counter-battery rounds on December 19, 1972. The last three Navy blue water sailors killed in Vietnam were aboard: the Donald Dix, Robert Dow, and Gary Boyce.

Damage aboard on the Goldsborough, December 19, 1972
We’ll also talk about whatever topics or questions you’d like to bring up!

We’re grateful to UPMC for Life and Tobacco Free Adagio Health for sponsoring this event!