Ep 71: The Fog of War and Humanity with Richard Acritelli and guest Dan Guida on hmTv

Episode 71 | The Fog of War and Humanity with Richard Acritelli and Guest Lieutenant Dan Guida (Part 1)

In this powerful episode of The Fog of War and Humanity on hmTv, host Richard Acritelli sits down with Lieutenant Dan Guida, a Vietnam War veteran and former armored cavalry officer, to explore his deeply personal journey from Long Island to the front lines of Southeast Asia.

Dan recounts his early life in the Five Towns of Nassau County, his transition from college to military service, and his grueling training experiences at Fort Hood, Fort Knox, and jungle warfare school in Panama. With vivid storytelling, he shares what it was like to lead an armored platoon in Vietnam, conduct search and destroy missions, navigate deadly landmines, and build trust with both his fellow soldiers and local civilians.

From the chaos of the Tet Offensive to the heartbreak of losing comrades in battle, Dan opens up about the emotional toll of war, the leadership challenges of being a young officer, and the enduring lessons of resilience and responsibility.

This is the first of a two-part conversation that brings to light the often-unspoken realities of combat, the sacrifices of those who served, and the strength of character forged in one of America’s most complex conflicts.

Tune in for a raw and unforgettable conversation.

Transcript

Episode 71 | The Fog of War and Humanity on hmTv
Host: Richard Acritelli
Guest: Lieutenant Dan Guida

Richard Acritelli:
Hello and thank you for joining me today. I’m your host, Rich Acritelli, and on today’s episode of The Fog of War and Humanity here on hmTv, my special guest is Lieutenant Dan Guida. He’ll speak about his experiences as an officer during the Vietnam War, serving in armor units, and his continued advocacy for veterans’ needs. Lieutenant Dan, welcome. Let’s get started—where did you grow up?

Lt. Dan Guida:
I grew up in the Five Towns area in southern Nassau County, not far from Kennedy Airport. I went to Lawrence High School. After high school, I worked in construction for a year, then went to St. John’s University for a bit. But by 1965, I realized I wasn’t ready for college. I stopped attending in September, took my Army physical in October, and by February, I was drafted.

Acritelli:
What did you try studying in college?

Guida:
My dad wanted me to be a pharmacist, so I gave it a try. But I just wasn’t ready, and my grades reflected that. So I left college and soon found myself in the service.

Acritelli:
Was there military service in your family?

Guida:
Absolutely. My mother had nine brothers—five served in Korea, and one brother-in-law was killed during WWII. I also had two brothers-in-law who served in the Korean War. So service ran deep in our family.

Acritelli:
And your hometown was pretty patriotic?

Guida:
Very much so. The VFW and American Legion were active. We weren’t necessarily pro-war, but we understood military service and respected it.

Acritelli:
So now it’s your turn. You’re drafted and head to basic. Walk us through that.

Guida:
I went to Fort Jackson, South Carolina. I took some tests and qualified for Officer Candidate School (OCS). From there, I went to Fort Hood, Texas for basic, then Fort Knox for advanced armor training. Armor was my top choice—I figured riding in tanks beat crawling in foxholes.

Acritelli:
What was it like for a kid from Long Island landing in Fort Hood?

Guida:
A shock! I had a Brooklyn accent, an Italian name, and a different vibe than many of the guys from around the country. But we adjusted. I even remember hearing WABC on the radio down there—it was like a piece of home.

Acritelli:
And this was 1966?

Guida:
Yes. After basic and AIT, I was commissioned in January 1967. Then I was sent to Fort Lewis, Washington, where I trained recruits as a second lieutenant. We were pushing out a lot of soldiers quickly because of the draft. After 10 months, I was assigned to go to Vietnam.

Acritelli:
But not before Panama?

Guida:
Right. Two weeks in the Panama Canal Zone for jungle warfare school. It was miserable—107 degrees, mosquitoes everywhere, showers in the rain. I couldn’t wait to leave. Going to Vietnam felt like a relief.

Acritelli:
And you arrive in Vietnam in November 1967?

Guida:
Correct. I was given command of an armored cavalry platoon: seven APCs, three tanks, and about 50 men. We did many solo patrols—search and destroy missions, clearing areas suspected of Viet Cong activity.

Acritelli:
You were near Da Nang?

Guida:
Yes, about 50 miles south, in an area called Chu Lai. It was open terrain, which was good for armor operations. Not like the jungles you usually associate with Vietnam.

Acritelli:
Were you trained in the mechanics of the tanks?

Guida:
Somewhat. I had AIT and also worked in the motor pool before Fort Knox. But the real knowledge came from the NCOs. I was fortunate to have experienced sergeants, including a Korean War vet, who guided me.

Acritelli:
Did you encounter landmines?

Guida:
Yes. One operation we found a 500lb dud bomb. We sent a track to destroy it and discovered it had been emptied—Charlie took the explosives. Later that day, that same track hit a mine—killed two men, injured others. The track was blown 30 feet into the air.

Acritelli:
That must’ve been devastating.

Guida:
It was. Especially since one of the men killed, Leslie Matchet, was the only enlisted man I had become close with. As an officer, you had to maintain distance. You could be friendly, but not too close—command requires separation.

Acritelli:
Did your family send you care packages?

Guida:
Yes. My Italian mother sent provolone and salami. Sometimes it smelled by the time it arrived, but everyone shared. It was a treat.

Acritelli:
Could you call home?

Guida:
Not easily. I had to mail my wife a letter to schedule a call weeks in advance. Calls were rare and complicated.

Acritelli:
Did you get R&R?

Guida:
Yes, I went to Hawaii and met my wife. Ironically, that was the week Robert Kennedy was assassinated. We were trying to enjoy ourselves, but it was a dark time.

Acritelli:
Were you involved in the Tet Offensive?

Guida:
Yes. I was at base camp when it hit in January 1968. We fought for three days—sappers tried to breach the wire, rockets were flying. It was intense. But I was also lucky—I transitioned to division headquarters after six months in the field and served as security officer.

Acritelli:
What did you take away from your time at headquarters?

Guida:
That men were expendable. You’d see troops come and go, just numbers sometimes. But I also interacted with Vietnamese civilians working on base. They were happy to be there—earning 80 cents a day and grateful for the job.

Acritelli:
Dan, thank you for your candid insight. We’d love to have you back for a second episode to continue this story.

Guida:
Whatever you want. I’m happy to share.

Acritelli:
Join us next time on The Fog of War and Humanity with Lieutenant Dan Guida. Thank you for watching.