Ted Severn | Surviving Vietnam: From Battlefield to Reflection
From The Vantage Point by Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center
February 25, 2026 · 1h 57m · Episode 338
About this episode
Ted Severn shares his experiences and reflections from serving in the Vietnam War, exploring themes of leadership, resilience, and the moral complexities of war.
Inspired by a family legacy of service, Ted Severn entered the Army during one of the most turbulent periods in American history—the Vietnam War. As an infantry officer, he led young soldiers through unforgiving terrain, impossible decisions, and conditions that tested both the body and the conscience. In this powerful conversation, we explore what persevering truly means when survival is the reward for doing so. Ted reflects on leadership under fire, the moral weight carried long after the battlefield, and the kind of resilience that is not learned from books—but forged in necessity. This is not simply a story of endurance, but of perspective earned at great cost—an honest look at what remains after war, and how hardship can shape a deeper understanding of life itself. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 2:09 Tell Us About This Jeep 4:06 Life Before The Military 8:32 Family Legacy of Service 18:02 Preparing For War 25:53 A Warm Welcome to Vietnam 36:47 Operation Bach Ma 46:20 Hot LZ 54:51 Enemy Contact 1:08:35 Psalm 23 1:18:11 Evacuation 1:28:19 Controlling Fear 1:45:42 Family 1:47:42 Three Lessons From Vietnam 1:53:10 Advice For Young Men Thank you to our sponsors: Optum Medical…
People in this episode
Host: Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center
Guest: Ted Severn
Topics covered
- Vietnam War
- leadership
- resilience
- military service
- moral weight
- survival
Keywords
- Vietnam War
- Ted Severn
- military leadership
- resilience
- survival
- moral weight
- family legacy
Sponsors
Optum Medical, USAA, Colorado Computer Support, Medicare Mentors
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center
More episodes of The Vantage Point
- Dr. Lori James | The Science of Remembering... And Forgetting · March 13, 2026 · 1h 25m
- Jay Maloney | The Cost of Service · March 13, 2026 · 1h 15m
- Dr. Janice Thorpe | The Art of Conversing · January 4, 2026 · 1h 30m
- Major General Chuck Anderson | The Man in the Arena · November 17, 2025 · 1h 4m
- Angela Darling | The Age of Enough · November 15, 2025 · 1h 7m
- Michelle Ruehl | The Future of Childrens Education · October 24, 2025 · 1h 15m
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Vantage Point podcast page.