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Cold War Conversations Podcast

Dickey Chapelle - trailblazing female Cold War journalist (299)

Cold War Conversations Podcast

Ian Sanders

Society & Culture, Documentary, History

4.8 • 758 Ratings

🗓️ 7 July 2023

⏱️ 63 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Now have you ever heard of Dickey Chapelle? No, I hadn’t either, but I’m delighted to bring you the unknown story of this trailblazing female war correspondent. Dickey’s career started in World War 2 where she reported from some of the Pacific wars’ toughest battlefields of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. During the Cold War, she reported from Hungary during the 1956 Uprising and was held in the infamous Fő Prison and interrogated by the Hungarian security forces. Dickey went on to report from the struggle of the Algerian Liberation Front covering their campaign against French colonial rule as well as becoming the first Western female reporter to march with Castro’s Cuban Revolutionary Army. She was the first woman to be given permission to para drop with the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions' first correspondent to live with anti-communist guerrilla forces in the Mekong Delta. Later, she would become the first female reporter to go on patrol with the First and Third Battalions of the Seventh Marines Regiment which were among the initial US combat troops sent to Vietnam. 0:00 Introduction to the episode and the story of Dickie Chapelle 1:22 Interview with author Larissa Reinhardt on Dickie Chapelle's journalism career 12:46 Chapelle's experiences in the Hungarian revolution and subsequent arrest 19:57 Discussion on Chapelle's post-traumatic stress disorder and reporting style 21:13 Chapelle's determination to report on the Algerian war of independence 25:07 Difficulty of getting such stories published in the US 30:02 Chapelle's time in Cuba and her unique reporting strategies 38:54 Discussion on the Bay of Pigs incident and CIA's control of information 47:52 Early assessment of the Vietnam War by Chapelle 52:38 Chapelle's fame in the US and her vocal opposition to the treatment of South Vietnamese 56:11 Chapelle's death and its impact on the journalism world 57:54 Ian Sanders wraps up the conversation and promotes Larissa's book 58:20 Thanks to the financial supporters of the podcast Buy the book here and support the podcast https://uk.bookshop.org/a/1549/9781250276575 Book giveaway entry info here https://coldwarconversations.com/giveaway/ The fight to preserve Cold War history continues and via a simple monthly donation, you will give me the ammunition to continue to preserve Cold War history. You’ll become part of our community and get a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank you and you’ll bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history. Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/ If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, We also welcome one-off donations via the same link. Extra episode information https://coldwarconversations.com/episode299/ Find the ideal gift for the Cold War enthusiast in your life! Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/store/ Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/ Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPod Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/ Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Welcome to Cold War Conversations, the home of real stories of the Cold War.

0:05.9

Timothy Shalame is Bob Dylan and a complete unknown.

0:09.4

If anyone who's going to hold your attention on the state, you have to kind of be a freak.

0:14.0

Critics agree it's outstanding on every level. Five stars.

0:19.1

Shalemate is a revelation.

0:21.7

What do you want to be?

0:23.4

Whatever it is, they don't want me to be.

0:26.1

Now nominated for the Golden Globes for Best Picture,

0:28.6

best actor and best supporting actor, Edward Norton,

0:30.4

a complete unknown.

0:32.1

Ladies and gentlemen, Bob Bill!

0:35.3

In cinema's January 17, rated 15. This is Cold War Conversations. If you're new here, you've come to the right place to listen to first-hand Cold War history accounts. Do make sure you follow us in your podcast app or join our emailing list at cold warconversations.com.

0:58.4

Now have you ever heard of Dickie Chappelle?

1:01.7

No, I hadn't either, but I'm delighted to bring you the unknown story of this trailblazing

1:07.5

female war correspondent. Dickie's career started in World War II where she reported from some of the Pacific

1:14.6

War's toughest battlefields of Iwojima and Okinawa.

1:18.6

During the Cold War she reported from Hungary during the 1956 uprising and was held in the infamous

1:25.6

faux prison and interrogated by the Hungarian security forces.

1:31.0

Dickey went on to report the struggle of the Algerian Liberation Front covering their campaign

1:36.3

against French colonial rule as well as becoming the first Western female reporter to march

1:41.8

with Castro's Cuban Liberation Army. I speak with author Larissa

1:47.7

Reinhart, who's written a new book about Dickie Chappelle called First to the Front. There's

...

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