History Detectives

Vietnam Diary, Bootlegger’s Notebook and a Hollywood Ledger

In this episode, can History Detectives return the diary of a fallen North Vietnamese soldier to that veteran’s family? Then, a notebook full of recipes for large volumes of liquor makes an Indiana man wonder if his rich uncle was a Prohibition-era bootlegger. And what can an old ledger tell us about how Hollywood treated Native American actors?

Vietnam Diary, Bootlegger’s Notebook and a Hollywood Ledger

53m 16s

In this episode, can History Detectives return the diary of a fallen North Vietnamese soldier to that veteran’s family? Then, a notebook full of recipes for large volumes of liquor makes an Indiana man wonder if his rich uncle was a Prohibition-era bootlegger. And what can an old ledger tell us about how Hollywood treated Native American actors?

Previews + Extras

  • Bootlegger’s Notebook: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Bootlegger’s Notebook

    S10 E6 - 13m 24s

    Kevin fondly recalls spending time as a kid with his very wealthy Great Uncle Mike. Sifting through a box of old books, Kevin came across a small, leather-bound journal of his. Inside, were handwritten instructions for making large quantities of liquor. Kevin wonders if his uncle earned his money as a Prohibition era bootlegger. He asks Elyse to find the facts behind this mysterious journal.

  • A Vietnam Diary’s Homecoming: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    A Vietnam Diary’s Homecoming

    S10 E6 - 25m 9s

    For 46 years, Bob Frazure has wanted to return the small, red diary he took off a dead Vietnam soldier’s chest. Now Bob has asked Wes Cowan to find the soldier’s hometown and return the diary to his family. The search becomes part of a profound international exchange as U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta gets involved to present the document to Vietnam’s Minister of Defense.

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