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app or on Apple Podcasts. American Scandal uses dramatizations that are based on true events. Some

elements, including dialogue, might be invented, but everything is based on

historical research. A listener note, this episode contains descriptions of violence and may not

be suitable for all audiences.

Thank you. It's April 20, 1968, at a U.S. military base in South Vietnam.

It's been just over a month since the massacre at Milai, and the men in Charlie Company who were there that day are all handling it differently.

One of them is Private Charles Butch Groover.

He sits alone at a battered metal table in the mess tent, a half-empty beer sweating in his hand.

His eyes are unfocused, fixed on nothing at all.

Grover takes another swig, trying to drown out his thoughts when he hears a familiar voice.

Butch!

Grover blinks out of his days as Ron Reidenhower steps by his side.

Ridenhauer is a 22-year-old who shipped out to Vietnam at the same time as Gruevner did. He sits down. When was the last time we saw each other? Hawaii? Yeah, good old

Schofield Barracks. You still a door gunner? Yep, started in the 70th infantry. Then the 11th,

about to head out to the 51st. Then got me moving around like no one's business.

Well, it could be worse. Where'd they stick you? Still with Charlie Company? No, they're back near

Donnie now. I got rotated out last month, which had been sooner. What do you mean? You haven't

heard? About Pinkfield? I'm crawling with Via Kong, right? Yeah, well, there weren't any when we got sent in. You really haven't heard?

Ridenauer shakes his head. Groover glances around the mess hall and takes another drink.

Oh, God, it was this village called Mely. Intel said everyone would be Via Kong, but the only ones there were women and children, some old guys.

...