Dr. Erik Villard
@erikthehistorian.bsky.social
Military/Digital Historian and Vietnam War specialist, soccer player, EDM fan, avid gamer, lives with my wonderful wife and a posse of Shih-Tzu's and cats.
Has any persona had such a profound, unexpected, and shattering impact given their apparent role as a "secondary character" as Kleya Marki in "Andor?" I'm going to say no. What a triumph of acting and writing. I'm still in awe. #Andor
November 12, 2025 at 4:25 AM
Has any persona had such a profound, unexpected, and shattering impact given their apparent role as a "secondary character" as Kleya Marki in "Andor?" I'm going to say no. What a triumph of acting and writing. I'm still in awe. #Andor
Working on the football (soccer) stadium in the Minecraft world I’m building for my niece. :)
November 11, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Working on the football (soccer) stadium in the Minecraft world I’m building for my niece. :)
If you saw Jason Kelce refer to his interview with Tyler Steen on Monday Night Football, you'll know Steen's grandfather, Sgt. Rodney M. Davis, was awarded the Medal of Honor for sacrificing his life for his fellow Marines in Vietnam in Sep 1967. Here is that crater where it happened. Honor.
November 11, 2025 at 7:03 PM
If you saw Jason Kelce refer to his interview with Tyler Steen on Monday Night Football, you'll know Steen's grandfather, Sgt. Rodney M. Davis, was awarded the Medal of Honor for sacrificing his life for his fellow Marines in Vietnam in Sep 1967. Here is that crater where it happened. Honor.
5-2 Stryker ACV's preparing for a mission in at FOB Frontenac, Arghandab Valley, Kandahar Province, March 2010. I think about that time in my life a lot these days. I hope to reconnect with some of the people I talked to, and interviewed on video, back then. #VeteransDay
November 11, 2025 at 1:09 AM
5-2 Stryker ACV's preparing for a mission in at FOB Frontenac, Arghandab Valley, Kandahar Province, March 2010. I think about that time in my life a lot these days. I hope to reconnect with some of the people I talked to, and interviewed on video, back then. #VeteransDay
One of the great photos of the Vietnam War, taken by Catherine Leroy in either 1967 or 1968. There is some question in my mind as to exactly where and when this photo was taken, and I'd like to pin that down. There is one intriguing mystery- look at the shoulders. One is not like the others.
November 9, 2025 at 5:34 PM
One of the great photos of the Vietnam War, taken by Catherine Leroy in either 1967 or 1968. There is some question in my mind as to exactly where and when this photo was taken, and I'd like to pin that down. There is one intriguing mystery- look at the shoulders. One is not like the others.
Getting back to some Vietnam War geo-location. I think the photo was taken on the western side of the Treasury compound on or about 4 Feb 1968 as the (mostly) 1/1 Marines were fighting their way through southern Hue. Digital work by erikthehistorian (erik villard)
November 8, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Getting back to some Vietnam War geo-location. I think the photo was taken on the western side of the Treasury compound on or about 4 Feb 1968 as the (mostly) 1/1 Marines were fighting their way through southern Hue. Digital work by erikthehistorian (erik villard)
Bonus find. Crawling through the film taken during the battle, I think I might have spotted Blaine shown in the days before his death. Not 100 percent sure, but certainly looks like him. Again, nothing but respect for Blaine, the Marine Bowden ID'd (who survived the battle) and all other Hue vets.
November 7, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Bonus find. Crawling through the film taken during the battle, I think I might have spotted Blaine shown in the days before his death. Not 100 percent sure, but certainly looks like him. Again, nothing but respect for Blaine, the Marine Bowden ID'd (who survived the battle) and all other Hue vets.
Just as important, a second photographer, Don McCullin, also took a number of photos of the Marines who were evacuating Blaine. The B&W pics above are his. Knowing where Don (and Olsen) where in those days was even more proof. Btw, just found a second pic of A-52 (undated) but certainly in Hue.
November 7, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Just as important, a second photographer, Don McCullin, also took a number of photos of the Marines who were evacuating Blaine. The B&W pics above are his. Knowing where Don (and Olsen) where in those days was even more proof. Btw, just found a second pic of A-52 (undated) but certainly in Hue.
One of the clues was figuring out what UMSC M48 tanks were in the Citadel during the battle. Only two from the 1st Tank Bn HQ were present- A-52 and A-51. A-52, the tank in Olson's photo, had the dozer. A-51 did not. Identifying where each tank was on a particular day/time helped solved the riddle.
November 7, 2025 at 6:46 PM
One of the clues was figuring out what UMSC M48 tanks were in the Citadel during the battle. Only two from the 1st Tank Bn HQ were present- A-52 and A-51. A-52, the tank in Olson's photo, had the dozer. A-51 did not. Identifying where each tank was on a particular day/time helped solved the riddle.
Years ago I looked into the John Olson photo of the mortally wounded Marine in Hue. With other great researchers, I believe we determined that he was Pfc. James Blaine, not the other Marine that Mark Bowden ID'd in his book. First, both Marines deserve our respect. Full stop. But what were clues?
November 7, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Years ago I looked into the John Olson photo of the mortally wounded Marine in Hue. With other great researchers, I believe we determined that he was Pfc. James Blaine, not the other Marine that Mark Bowden ID'd in his book. First, both Marines deserve our respect. Full stop. But what were clues?
It's taken longer than I had hoped, but I am now fully committed to finishing and releasing my Google Earth map system for the Vietnam War. Many reasons why now, but it is happening. Stay tuned.
November 6, 2025 at 9:43 PM
It's taken longer than I had hoped, but I am now fully committed to finishing and releasing my Google Earth map system for the Vietnam War. Many reasons why now, but it is happening. Stay tuned.
I love my Halo Warthog crew something fierce. I just do. For my money, a pinnacle in video game design. It makes me care in a totally unreasonable but deeply emotional way about a bunch of pixels.
November 6, 2025 at 3:03 AM
I love my Halo Warthog crew something fierce. I just do. For my money, a pinnacle in video game design. It makes me care in a totally unreasonable but deeply emotional way about a bunch of pixels.
If you can be Ferrier, be Ferrier.
November 5, 2025 at 9:41 PM
If you can be Ferrier, be Ferrier.
The Boys at the Beach- Raffie and Kody after tearing up Rehobeth Beach, Delaware, for the first time.
October 31, 2025 at 10:26 PM
The Boys at the Beach- Raffie and Kody after tearing up Rehobeth Beach, Delaware, for the first time.
The Boys at the Beach- Raffie and Kody after tearing up Rehobeth Beach, Delaware, for the first time.
October 31, 2025 at 10:16 PM
The Boys at the Beach- Raffie and Kody after tearing up Rehobeth Beach, Delaware, for the first time.
"ooouh, and there's a woman. Yeah. A woman, who I love. And I got close . . . nearly got FUKIN' EVERYTHING!" Among the best five minutes in ALL of television history. If you know, you know.
October 27, 2025 at 12:41 AM
"ooouh, and there's a woman. Yeah. A woman, who I love. And I got close . . . nearly got FUKIN' EVERYTHING!" Among the best five minutes in ALL of television history. If you know, you know.
Another clever Army SSI is the 4th ID patch. The Roman numeral for 4 is "IV" so it is the "Ivy Division." Ivy symbolizes tenacity and fidelity (it can climb sheer surfaces) of the div's motto is "Steadfast and Loyal." Also note the center resembles a aiming sight. Also like the quarter turn square.
October 26, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Another clever Army SSI is the 4th ID patch. The Roman numeral for 4 is "IV" so it is the "Ivy Division." Ivy symbolizes tenacity and fidelity (it can climb sheer surfaces) of the div's motto is "Steadfast and Loyal." Also note the center resembles a aiming sight. Also like the quarter turn square.
This is Goose back in 2014 when he was about 3 and I had just started the VietnamWarHistoryOrg group on FB because I was so effin' pissed at my leadership at the time. Goose was a regular feature in the early days. One day I'll write the whole story of my journey.
October 25, 2025 at 12:42 AM
This is Goose back in 2014 when he was about 3 and I had just started the VietnamWarHistoryOrg group on FB because I was so effin' pissed at my leadership at the time. Goose was a regular feature in the early days. One day I'll write the whole story of my journey.
Goose back in his element on my desk- The Verve on the audio and no dogs in sight. :]
October 25, 2025 at 12:10 AM
Goose back in his element on my desk- The Verve on the audio and no dogs in sight. :]
We've all been there. "I'm sorry . . . you said . . . what? Really?" Erikthehistorian Blue Adama Remix. -So Say We All-. #bsg2003 #battlestargalactica
October 24, 2025 at 11:26 PM
We've all been there. "I'm sorry . . . you said . . . what? Really?" Erikthehistorian Blue Adama Remix. -So Say We All-. #bsg2003 #battlestargalactica
Posting for no particular reason . . .
October 24, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Posting for no particular reason . . .
CRi's "Signal" (esp. with the video) is one of my all-time favs. Words cannot adequately express how much it means to me. This graphic is as close as I can come to putting those feelings into form.
October 24, 2025 at 9:15 PM
CRi's "Signal" (esp. with the video) is one of my all-time favs. Words cannot adequately express how much it means to me. This graphic is as close as I can come to putting those feelings into form.
There is no way that I would buy an audio extractor just so I could set up my Xbox X and Buttkicker chair sub at my office desk when I have a 9.2 setup in the living room. That is, there is a tiny non-zero chance that I would do that. Just to be completely clear . . . yes, actually I did that.
October 23, 2025 at 8:47 PM
There is no way that I would buy an audio extractor just so I could set up my Xbox X and Buttkicker chair sub at my office desk when I have a 9.2 setup in the living room. That is, there is a tiny non-zero chance that I would do that. Just to be completely clear . . . yes, actually I did that.
The 27th ID's SSI is god-tier clever. From Wiki-The red stars depict the Orion constellation, punning on the surname of the division's World War I commander John F. O'Ryan. The Red circle on the outside is an "O", also for "O'Ryan". The letters inside form the monogram "NYD", for "New York Division"
October 23, 2025 at 3:44 PM
The 27th ID's SSI is god-tier clever. From Wiki-The red stars depict the Orion constellation, punning on the surname of the division's World War I commander John F. O'Ryan. The Red circle on the outside is an "O", also for "O'Ryan". The letters inside form the monogram "NYD", for "New York Division"