Media

After Saigon’s Fall: The Postwar Decade (1975-1985)

Each year, the Contemporary History Institute (CHI) at Ohio University hosts the annual Baker Peace Conference, fostering discussions on war and peace. The 2025 conference, themed “After Saigon’s Fall: The Postwar Decade (1975-1985),” commemorated the fiftieth anniversary of the fall of Saigon by examining the decade that followed. The event featured three panels: “Indochina,” “Cold War Allies,” and “Southeast Asian Neighbors.”

I had the privilege of moderating the first panel on "Indochina," which focused on the experiences of Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos—the nations most immediately affected by the war and its legacies. This panel explored the consequences of war and revolution in Indochina during the decade after 1975, including the fall of Saigon, the establishment of communist rule, and the broader regional implications of postwar conflicts. Panelists examined topics such as Vietnam’s occupation of Cambodia, the Cambodian genocide, Laotian political shifts, and the economic and social transformations within these countries.

• Ian Baird – Professor of Geography at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, specializing in political ecology, human-environment interactions, and Southeast Asian studies.

• Sophal Ear – Associate Professor at the Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University, focusing on international development, political economy, and Southeast Asian politics.

• Alex-Thái Vo – Research Assistant Professor at the Vietnam Center & Archive at Texas Tech University, with research interests in Vietnamese history and archival studies.

• Tuong Vu – Professor of Political Science at the University of Oregon, specializing in comparative politics, Southeast Asian politics, and political regimes.

Vietnam Veteran News Podcast

In Episode 2773 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast, I joined Andy Pham to interview historian Van Nguyen-Marshall discusses her new book, Between War and the State: Civil Society in South Vietnam, 1954-1975. Andy asked me to join him on the podcast after reading my book review in the Journal of Military History and meeting him at the Vietnam conference hosted by the University of California Berkeley. The episode centers on Nguyen-Marshall's exploration of South Vietnamese civil society during the turbulent years of warfare and political turmoil. The book sheds light on various voluntary organizations—such as mutual-help, charitable, professional, and women's groups—that operated despite the challenges of war, government repression, and foreign intervention.

Nguyen-Marshall, an Associate Professor at Trent University, challenges stereotypes about South Vietnam being devoid of social agency by illustrating its residents' vibrant public lives. The book's discussion highlights how this civil society navigated the competing influences of the South Vietnamese state, foreign powers like the U.S., and the communist Party. It is available through Cornell Press.

Military Historians are People, Too!

I had the pleasure of joining the podcast Military Historians are People, Too! hosted by Brian Feltman and Bill Allison to talk about my journey as a PhD candidate at Ohio University. Before pursuing my doctoral program, I talked about growing up idolizing my father and grandfather, both of whom were Marines, and how this led me to pursue a career in the military but how I was medically disqualified. My interest in military history led me to pursue a career in academia. I completed my BA and MA in History at San Diego State University, where I had the privilege of working with Pierre Asselin. We discussed how Pierre supported and encouraged me to study Vietnamese in Vietnam and helped me enroll at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Hanoi. We also had some lighter moments, discussing my favorite band, the White Buffalo, my love for the Russian-Georgian dish, Chakhokhbili, and the delicious brisket found at Kiser’s BBQ in Athens, Ohio!