Veterans Breakfast Club

The Tanker War: America’s First Clash with Iran After Vietnam

We welcome Naval officer, diplomat, strategist and author Tom Duffy for a conversation about a largely forgotten Cold War–era naval campaign: Operation Earnest Will. During the final years of the Iran–Iraq War, the Persian Gulf became the scene of a dangerous maritime struggle known as the “Tanker War.” Iran and Iraq attacked oil tankers to cripple each other’s economies and pressure international shipping. In response, the United States launched Operation Earnest Will—the largest naval convoy operation since World War II—escorting Kuwaiti oil tankers through hostile waters and confronting Iranian threats at sea. The mission began when Kuwaiti tankers were re-flagged under the U.S. flag so they could legally sail under American naval protection. U.S. warships then escorted the tankers through the Gulf while surveillance aircraft, helicopters, and special operations forces hunted for mines and small-boat attackers. The danger became clear immediately. On the very first escort mission, the reflagged tanker Bridgeton struck an Iranian mine in the Gulf—an early reminder that even a powerful navy could not fully control the narrow and volatile waters of the Persian Gulf. Over the next fourteen months, dozens of U.S. warships rotated through the region while Navy SEALs, special operations aviators, and patrol boat crews conducted night operations to stop Iranian mining and harassment of shipping. In his book Tanker War in the Gulf, Duffy draws on his experience as a U.S. Navy officer who participated in the operation and later as a Foreign Service officer stationed across the Middle East. He reconstructs the tense months when American warships escorted vulnerable tankers through minefields, missile threats, and political uncertainty—while trying to prevent a regional war from spiraling into a superpower confrontation. The story includes dramatic moments such as the USS Stark incident, the shadow presence of Soviet naval forces monitoring U.S. movements, and retaliatory clashes between U.S. and Iranian forces that nearly escalated into a wider war. Though often overlooked in American military history, Operation Earnest Will marked the first sustained U.S. military confrontation with Iran—a precursor to tensions that continue today. The operation also offers timely lessons about limited warfare, maritime security, and the strategic importance of protecting global energy routes—issues that echo in today’s crises in the Red Sea and across the wider Middle East. Duffy will also reflect on his unusual career path—from naval officer to U.S. diplomat—including postings in Bogotá during the Pablo Escobar era, Saudi Arabia during the early al-Qaeda bombings, and Baghdad during the turbulent early years of the Iraq War. His stories offer a rare view of how military operations, diplomacy, and global politics intersect in real time. Join us for a fascinating discussion about a little-known naval campaign that still shapes how the United States uses sea power today—and hear firsthand how history, strategy, and lived experience come together in one remarkable career.

Voices from the Berlin Airlift

Join the Veterans Breakfast Club for a special VBC LIVE program on Monday, June 22 at 7pm ET exploring the history and human experience of the Berlin Airlift—one of the defining moments of the early Cold War. In June 1948, the Soviet Union blockaded West Berlin, cutting off food, fuel, and supplies to more than two million civilians. Rather than abandon the city or risk war, the United States and its allies launched a massive airlift—flying around the clock to keep Berlin alive. For nearly a year, aircraft landed every few minutes, delivering coal, food, and hope to a city under siege. This program brings together those who lived this history—and those working to preserve it. We’re honored to welcome Bibi LeBlanc, a native of West Berlin and founder of Voices of the Berlin Airlift, an oral history project gathering memories from Berliners, veterans, and families connected to the Airlift. Bibi is racing to capture these stories while firsthand voices are still with us—and invites others to contribute. We’ll also hear from Dagmar Weiss Snodgrass, a Berlin child who lived through the Airlift and paid tribute to famed Airlift pilot Gail Halvorsen, Uncle Wiggly Wings: My Love and Admiration for Berlin’s Candy Bomber. Also joining us is Ralph Dionne, who served at Rhein-Main Air Base in 1948 as both an aircraft mechanic and later a flight engineer on C-54 transport aircraft. Ralph completed 74 missions into Berlin and logged 300 flight hours, offering a rare, firsthand view of the precision and discipline required to sustain the Airlift from both the ground and the cockpit. Joining them is Denise Halvorsen Williams, daughter of Colonel Gail S. Halvorsen—the “Candy Bomber” whose small parachutes of sweets brought joy to Berlin’s children. Through her work with the Candy Bomber Foundation, Denise carries forward a legacy of compassion that reminds us how small acts can resonate across generations. We also invite anyone with personal or family connections to the Berlin Airlift—pilots, ground crew, Berlin civilians, or descendants—to join the conversation and share their stories. #BerlinAirlift #ColdWarHistory #VeteransStories #OralHistory #CandyBomber #BerlinHistory #USAirForceHistory #MilitaryHistory #WWIIAftermath #VBC #VeteransBreakfastClub

The Extraordinary Story of Auschwitz Survivor David Wisnia with Doug Cervi

Join us for a remarkable story of survival, courage, chance, and resilience as Doug Cervi shares the life of Holocaust survivor David Wisnia (1926–2021), whose experiences spanned some of the darkest and most consequential events of the twentieth century. Born into a Jewish family in Warsaw, Poland, David was a gifted singer whose voice would help save his life after he was deported to Auschwitz at age sixteen. There, amid unimaginable brutality, he survived by performing for Nazi guards and fellow prisoners. He endured the horrors of Auschwitz, a death march across Europe, and a daring escape before being liberated by soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division. Remarkably, the teenager who emerged from the camps went on to serve as an interpreter with the American Army as it advanced into Germany. Years later, David built a new life in the United States, becoming a cantor, educator, and tireless witness to history. His story gained international attention through the memoir One Voice, Two Lives, which recounts both his wartime experiences and a long-hidden chapter of love and survival in Auschwitz. Doug Cervi, who worked closely with David on preserving and sharing his story, returns to the Veterans Breakfast Club to recount David’s extraordinary journey and reflect on the responsibility of keeping eyewitness history alive after the witnesses themselves are gone. This program offers a powerful firsthand window into the Holocaust, liberation, and the enduring strength of the human spirit.

General Mark Hertling on War, Fatherhood, and If I Don’t Return

We welcome retired Army General and bestselling author Mark Hertling for a special VBC LIVE conversation about his powerful new memoir, If I Don’t Return: A Father’s Wartime Journal. Drawing from a journal he kept during Operation Desert Storm, Hertling reflects on combat, leadership, fear, family, and the deeply personal thoughts he recorded for his young sons in case he never made it home. More than a war memoir, If I Don’t Return offers a rare window into the mind of a soldier-father confronting uncertainty in wartime while trying to pass on lessons about courage, character, service, and humanity. Join us for a moving discussion about military life, memory, leadership under pressure, and the enduring bond between veterans and their families. #VeteransBreakfastClub #VBCLive #MarkHertling #DesertStorm #MilitaryHistory #Veterans #Army #Leadership #WarMemoir #MilitaryFamilies #EveryVeteranHasAStory

Judgement at Nuremberg: The Justice Case

Glenn Flickinger talks with Navy veteran, playwright, and director Harry Kantrovich the acclaimed drama Judgement at Nuremberg, the famous 1961 film starring Spencer Tracy and Burt Lancaster. Harry brings rare expertise to this discussion, having directed Judgement at Nuremberg on stage with the Prince William Little Theatre. His work brings this difficult history to life, challenging audiences to wrestle with the same ethical dilemmas confronted by postwar jurists. In the aftermath of World War II, the world confronted not only the devastation of battle but the profound challenge of justice. The third Nuremberg trial — officially The United States of America vs. Josef Altstoetter et al., known as The Justice Case — examined the role of judges and legal officials in Nazi Germany. The trail raised a fundamental question: Can legal professionals be held accountable for wielding the law as an instrument of atrocity? Drawing on both his military background and his deep engagement with dramatic storytelling, Harry offers insight into how Judgement at Nuremberg translates complex legal history into sharp human drama, why the story still matters today, and what the play reveals about law and collective responsibility. About the Nuremberg Trials: Nuremberg was made up of thirteen separate trials held in the same German courtroom between 1945 and 1949. The first, the famous International Military Tribunal, tried the top Nazi leaders like Göring and Speer and established the principle that individuals could be held responsible for crimes against peace, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. After that came twelve additional trials that looked deeper into the machinery of the Third Reich, putting on trial doctors, jurists, industrialists, and SS commanders who contributed to the wartime horrors of Nazi Germany.