hmTv at HMTC Podcasts Ep 379: The Fog of War and Humanity with Richard Acritelli and guest Joe Cognitore P3 on hmTv
Ep 379: The Fog of War and Humanity — Joe Cognitore, Part 3
In this powerful installment, Vietnam veteran and longtime veterans advocate Joe Cognitore joins host Richard Acritelli to continue recounting the realities of combat, leadership, and survival at the height of the Vietnam War.
Joe takes us from the jungles of South Vietnam into the covert operations in Cambodia, describing supply trails, sudden ambushes, and the split-second decisions that meant life or death. He reflects on inexperienced officers, the weight of responsibility for younger soldiers, and the unspoken rule every veteran learns fast: respect the lesson, because somebody paid for it.
We also walk with Joe through his final days before leaving Vietnam, the fear of being so close to home yet still in danger, and the surreal quiet of the flight that finally carried him out.
This episode isn’t about glorifying war. It’s about honesty, memory, and the humanity that somehow survives inside the chaos.
Listen in, and stay with us for Part 4, where Joe shares the work that became his life mission: helping veterans heal, find purpose, and keep going forward.