Vietnam veteran turned actor visits Team Tango
Stu Richel, a life member of American Legion Post 581 in the Department of New York, joins this week’s episode of The American Legion Tango Alpha Lima podcast.
Richel is a U.S. Army veteran who volunteered for service in Vietnam where he served as a photographer/journalist with the 1st Infantry Division. After his service, Richel worked as a professional actor/playwright for more than 30 years.
He compared some of the similarities between military life and the entertainment industry. “It’s all the hurry-up-and-wait and the attention to detail that I can’t stand.”
Additionally, he has written and toured four, one-man stage plays, including “Vietnam … Through My Lens.” He has performed that show in nine states so far, appearing in theaters, colleges and municipal auditoriums.
Richel offers examples of his “Vietnam” play with performances on the podcast. Check out the video version to see them and understand how they have affected his life.
Also not shy to offer his opinion, Richel addresses the current political climate in the United States. “Politics, these days. You say the wrong thing to the wrong people — people you care about. They are violently and viciously at odds with how they feel about a certain man, or COVID, or shots. It’s a horrible state of affairs in this country with how you can’t discuss, based on reason and logic.”
Note to listeners and viewers: The regular weekly Tango Alpha Lima episodes are taking a brief hiatus starting next week. In their place, a special series — 20 days. 20 stories. 20 years. — honors the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
The special podcast series debuts Aug. 16 with one new episode released each weekday through Sept. 10. The series features memorable stories, including:
• Jessica Lynch, the first female prisoner of war ever to be rescued.
• A Legionnaire and ferry boat captain who helped people flee New York City.
• An Army sergeant major who escaped the Pentagon.
• A retired Marine lieutenant colonel who spent the day with the president and vice president as they prepared the U.S. response.
• An air traffic controller for Flight 93 who has not returned to work since 9/11.
More than 60 Tango Alpha Lima episodes are available at the podcast's web page, or via download on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or other major podcast-hosting sites. You can also view all of the episodes on the Legion’s YouTube channel.