SNAFUBAR

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Cal Poly Humboldt

SNAFUBAR is a show about strategic and moral military errors and mishaps, and the myths that both lead to and then justify them. The histories they look at will make clear the degree to which the U.S. is a warful nation, contrary to the myth of a peaceful nation regularly compelled, against its will, to go to war. Through every episode, the show uncovers how we romanticize and fetishize the military while not always providing the support it needs to carry out its intended (or stated) goals, or to meet veterans’ needs when they return from combat.

  1. 2d ago

    The Vietnam Syndrome

    Hello everyone, and welcome to SNAFUBAR, a show about American war and American myth. Today’s episode explores the history of “Vietnam Syndrome,” a phrase you probably have heard of. Several generations of American citizens were, and still are, deeply affected by the Vietnam War (1964-1973), in which “Vietnam Syndrome” comes from. For some, “Vietnam Syndrome” harks back to the 1980s, to the era of Ronald Reagan. Reagan used the term to describe the reluctance of the American public to support U.S. military operations overseas. This not only applied to the reluctance of the American public, but to large scale military mobilization more broadly. Thus “Vietnam Syndrome” became a term to describe the crisis in confidence surrounding US foreign military interventions.  But here at SNAFUBAR, we had some questions, so we did some digging. It turns out, some of the earliest documented instances of this term appeared in news articles describing mental health afflictions and daily struggles of Vietnam Veterans returning home from war. Today, the terms PTSD or moral injury would be something closer to what is considered the original usage of “Post-Vietnam Syndrome.” But the question is, how the heck did we get here? A term originally applied to the mental health struggles of Vietnam veterans is co-opted and warped to reignite America’s martial character?  Find out on this episode of SNAFUBAR.  SNAFUBAR is hosted by ⁠⁠⁠Jeff Crane ⁠⁠⁠who is an Environmental Historian and Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Cal Poly Humboldt, and ⁠⁠⁠Sara Hart⁠⁠⁠, Chair of the Department of Applied Humanities at Cal Poly Humboldt.  Research and writing for the show by Liam Salcuni and Roman Sotomayor. SNAFUBAR is produced by Abigail Smithson and brought to you by the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Cal Poly Humboldt.  Music by Silverman Studios  Further Readings: Chaim F. Shatam, “Post Vietnam Syndrome,” The New York Times, May 6th, 1972.  Gulf of Tonkin Resolution 1964  History is a Weapon Digital Database National Archives Vietnam War Records  Ralph Blumenthal, ‘“Syndrome Found in Returning G.I.’s,” The New York Times, June 7th, 1971.

  2. Oct 20

    Smedley Butler: the model of a modern major general?

    When you hear the name Smeldley Darlington Butler, your mind instantly goes in one of two directions. 1) That might be the coolest name I’ve ever heard. Or 2) Ole Gimlet Eye! The legendary general of the Marine Corps! If you know, you know…  Smedley Darlington Butler (1881-1940) spent his 33 year long career fighting on three different continents: North America, Asia, and Europe. Butler is one of only 19 Americans to receive the Medal of Honor twice, and one of only 14 to receive it twice for two separate actions. Butler spent most of his life in the military, and he is known within military circles for his bravery and leadership in combat. He’s more widely recognized, though, for his outspoken criticism of war and of the emerging military-industrial complex of his day. In Butler’s own words: “I spent thirty-three years and four months in active service as a member of this country’s most agile military force, the Marine Corps. I served in all commissioned ranks from Second Lieutenant to Major General. During that time, I spent most of my service as a high-class muscle man for Big Business, Wall Street, and the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism.” Join us for this episode of SNAFUBAR as we revisit the early life and career of one of the most legendary, and controversial, Marine Corps Veterans of all time.  SNAFUBAR is regularly hosted by ⁠⁠⁠Sara Hart⁠⁠⁠, Chair of the Applied Humanites Department at Cal Poly Humboldt, and ⁠⁠⁠Jeff Crane ⁠⁠⁠who is an Environmental Historian and Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Cal Poly Humboldt.  Research and writing for the show by Liam Salcuni (who appears as a guest host) and Roman Sotomayor. SNAFUBAR is produced by Abigail Smithson and brought to you by the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Cal Poly Humboldt.  Music by ⁠⁠Silverman Sound Studios⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Works Cited:  Hans Schmidt, Maverick Marine: General Smedley D. Butler and the Contradictions of American Military History, 1998.  Jonathan Katz, Gangsters of Capitalism: Smedely Butler, the Marines, and the Making of America’s Empire, 2022.  Naval History and Heritage Command, Smedley Darlington Butler.  Lowell Thomas, Old Gimlet Eye: The Adventures of Smedley D. Butler, 1933.   Owen Linlithgow Conner, Always Faithful: 250 Years of Remarkable Stories from the Collection of the National Museum of the Marine Corps, 2024.  Smedley Darlington Butler, War is a Racket, 1935.  Susan A. Brewer, Why America Fights: Patriotism and War Propaganda from the Phillippines to Iran, 2009.  United States Marine Corps History Division, Major General Smedley D. Butler, USMC.   W.D. Ehrhart, “Smedley Darlington Butler: From Consummate Imperialist to Strident Anti-Imperialist,” In The Veteran: Vietnam Veterans Against the War, 2022.

  3. Oct 1

    Moral Injury

    Welcome back to SNAFUBAR, a podcast on American militarism and national myths. What do veterans, psychiatrists, and ancient Greek authors have in common? They help us understand and define the complexities of moral injury and post traumatic stress. The United States is a martial nation, the military and its pageantry is everywhere. But is that same energy found in the Veterans Affairs Offices? As a martial nation, the United States is quick to deploy and send troops abroad. But when soldiers return home, where is that same energy and support? Where are the benefits and social programs for our service members returning home from war? Do we only ‘support our troops’ as servants to fight in wars? Only when it is relevant in a nationalistic way? We’ll discuss in this episode of SNAFUBAR.  SNAFUBAR is hosted by ⁠⁠⁠Sara Hart⁠⁠⁠, Chair of the Applied Humanites Department at Cal Poly Humboldt, and ⁠⁠⁠Jeff Crane ⁠⁠⁠who is an Environmental Historian and Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Cal Poly Humboldt.  Research and writing for the show by Liam Salcuni and Roman Sotomayor. SNAFUBAR is produced by Abigail Smithson and brought to you by the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Cal Poly Humboldt.  Works Cited:  American Psychiatric Association, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 1980. David M. Potter, The Impending Crisis: America before the Civil War, 1848-1861, 2011.  Edward Tick, Warrior’s Return: Restoring the Soul After War, 2014. Euripides, The Trojan Women, 415 BCE.  John Huston, “Let There Be Light”, 1946.  Jonathan Shay, Achilles in Vietnam: Combat Trauma and the Undoing of Character, 1994.  Jonathan Shay, Odysseus in America: Combat Trauma and the Trials of Homecoming, 2003.  Karl Marlantes, What It Is Like To Go To War, 2011.  Lieutenant Colonel Bill Russell Edmunds, God Is Not Here: A Soldier's Struggle with Torture, Trauma, and the Moral Injuries of War, 2015.  Tim O’Brien, The Things They Carried, 1990.  Tim O’Brien,  If I Die In A Combat Zone: Box Me Up and Ship Me Home, 1999.

  4. Sep 15

    USS Pueblo - Part III: The Return

    “You come home and you don’t fit.” Did you know that the only actively commissioned US naval vessel in captivity is docked in Pyongyang, North Korea? On January 23, 1968, the USS Pueblo, a former WW2 US Army cargo ship converted into a Navy intelligence-gathering vessel, was captured by the Korean People’s Army. Her crew of 82 men spent 11 months as prisoners during one of the most volatile periods of the Vietnam War and the Cold War. Don’t forget, the Korean War ended with an armistice and is technically still active to this day.  For this special three part series, we took our recording equipment on the road to explore the story of the USS Pueblo through the eyes of Navy veteran and Pueblo crewman John Mitchell, who turned 21 years old while in captivity. Throughout the series, John reflects with us on what has become known as the “Pueblo Incident.”  In this final episode in the Pueblo series, our story takes us back to the homefront, the United States. The Incident has ended and the crew is free. But what new trials await them upon their return? And what will it be like to reintegrate into civilian life after 11 months in captivity? We close our Pueblo series by following John from the moment he arrives back in the United States in December of 1968 to the present day. We discuss topics like reactions from the public, the January 1969 Pueblo Affair Naval Court of Inquiry, navigating the Veterans Affairs system, and how his emotions toward his captivity have changed over time.  Today’s episode is guest narrated and edited by SNAFUBAR Writer/Researcher Roman Sotomayor. John Mitchell is a member of the Arcata Veterans Hall, American Legion Post 274. Also present during the interviews with John are SNAFUBAR co-host Sara Hart, Writer/Researcher Liam Salcuni, and Producer Abigail Smithson.  SNAFUBAR is regularly hosted by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sara Hart⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, who is the Chair of the Applied Humanities Department at Cal Poly Humboldt, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jeff Crane, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠who is an Environmental Historian and Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Cal Poly Humboldt. Research and writing for the show is done by Liam Salcuni and Roman Sotomayor. SNAFUBAR is produced by Abigail Smithson and brought to you by the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Cal Poly Humboldt. Sources and Resources Welna, Remembering North Korea’s Audacious Capture of the USS Pueblo Lerner, The Pueblo Incident: A spy ship and the failure of American foreign policy, 2002 The American Legion, Arcata Post 274, Manual for Veterans Dependents The American Legion, Main Page Veterans of Foreign Wars, Main Page Disabled American Veterans, Main Page Amvets National Service Foundation, Main Page Paralyzed Veterans of America, Main Page Vietnam Veterans of America, Main Page Mission POW-MIA, Main Page K9s for Warriors, Main Page VA Caregiver Support Program VA Benefits for Family and Caregivers

  5. Sep 13

    USS Pueblo-Part II: The Incident

    It’s either pure hell, or pure boredom. Did you know that the only actively commissioned US naval vessel in captivity is docked in Pyongyang, North Korea? On January 23, 1968, the USS Pueblo, a former WW2 US Army cargo ship converted into a Navy intelligence-gathering vessel, was captured by the Korean People’s Army. Her crew of 82 men spent 11 months as prisoners during one of the most volatile periods of the Vietnam War and the Cold War. Don’t forget, the Korean War ended with an armistice and is technically still active to this day. For this special three part series, we took our recording equipment on the road to explore the story of the USS Pueblo through the eyes of Navy veteran and Pueblo crewman John Mitchell, who turned 21 years old while in captivity. Throughout the series, John reflects with us on what has become known as the “Pueblo Incident.” We welcome you back to the series for Episode 2, “The Incident”. This episode follows the timeline of the USS Pueblo Incident through John’s eyes, beginning with the ship’s capture and ending with the crew’s release from North Korea after 11 months in captivity. Along the way, John shares what life was like as a prisoner of war, from the days spent in places known as “The Barn” and “The Country Club” to the routines, boredom, and hardships that defined those months. You'll hear what kept him going, the moments that tested him most, and the experiences that have stayed with him ever since. Stay tuned for our final episode in the series, “The Return,” as we follow the crew’s return to the United States. Today’s episode is guest narrated and edited by SNAFUBAR Writer/Researcher Roman Sotomayor. John Mitchell is a member of the Arcata Veterans Hall, American Legion Post 274. Also present during the interviews with John are SNAFUBAR co-host Sara Hart, Writer/Researcher Liam Salcuni, and Producer Abigail Smithson. SNAFUBAR is regularly hosted by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sara Hart⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, who is theChair of the Applied Humanities Department at Cal Poly Humboldt, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jeff Crane, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠who is an Environmental Historian and Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Cal Poly Humboldt. Research and writing for the show is done by Liam Salcuni and Roman Sotomayor. SNAFUBAR is produced by Abigail Smithson and brought to you by the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Cal Poly Humboldt. Sources & Resources Boissoneault, Fifty Years Ago, North Korea Captured an American Ship and Nearly Started a Nuclear War Bucher, Bucher: My Story 1970 Lerner, The Pueblo Incident: A spy ship and the failure of American foreign policy, 2002 Meyer, Column One: Pueblo’s Bittersweet Tribute Office of the Historian, Action Memorandum From the Under Secretary of the State to President Johnson Wilber, Hell Hath a Jury Woo, Charles Law Jr., 60; Led Pueblo Crew in Captivity The American Legion, Arcata Post 274, Manual for Veterans Dependents Definition of a CIA Spook

  6. Sep 1

    USS Pueblo - Part I: The Clunker

    The Navy’s most fouled-up Top Secret. Did you know that the only actively commissioned US naval vessel in captivity is docked in Pyongyang, North Korea? On January 23, 1968, the USS Pueblo, a former WW2 US Army cargo ship converted into a Navy intelligence-gathering vessel, was captured by the Korean People’s Army. Her crew of 82 men spent 11 months as prisoners during one of the most volatile periods of the Vietnam War and the Cold War. Don’t forget, the Korean War ended with an armistice and is technically still active to this day.  For this special three part series, we took our recording equipment on the road to explore the story of the USS Pueblo through the eyes of Navy veteran and Pueblo crewman John Mitchell, who turned 21 years old while in captivity. Throughout the series, John reflects with us on what has become known as the “Pueblo Incident.”  Our first episode, “The Clunker”, introduces you to the USS Pueblo, whose mission was SNAFUBAR’d from the start. We detail the challenges faced by the ship’s commanding officer, Commander (then Lt. Commander) Lloyd Bucher, as he struggled to prepare the under-equipped vessel and crew for a high-risk assignment, and hear from John about his early days in the Navy and life on the seas aboard Pueblo. This installment ends with the USS Pueblo braving the journey across the Pacific. Stay tuned for our next episodes in the series, “The Incident” and “The Return,” as we follow the Pueblo from her capture by North Korea to the crew’s eventual return to the United States.  Today’s episode is guest narrated and edited by SNAFUBAR Writer/Researcher Roman Sotomayor. John Mitchell is a member of the Arcata Veterans Hall, American Legion Post 274. Also present during the interviews with John are SNAFUBAR co-host Sara Hart, Writer/Researcher Liam Salcuni, and Producer Abigail Smithson.  SNAFUBAR is regularly hosted by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sara Hart⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, who is the Chair of the Applied Humanities Department at Cal Poly Humboldt, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jeff Crane, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠who is an Environmental Historian and Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Cal Poly Humboldt. Research and writing for the show is done by Liam Salcuni and Roman Sotomayor. SNAFUBAR is produced by Abigail Smithson and brought to you by the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Cal Poly Humboldt. Sources & Resources Bucher, Bucher: My Story 1970 Lerner, The Pueblo Incident: A spy ship and the failure of American foreign policy, 2002 The American Legion, Arcata Post 274, Manual for Veterans Dependents

  7. Aug 18

    Private Snafu

    Hi Folks! Welcome back to SNAFUBAR. We’re getting animated today! We are touching on a topic that’s close to home, or rather, close to the name of our podcast. Today, we are getting into the Private SNAFU series, a top secret animated series funded by the military during World War II. Your eyes are not deceiving you, this was a real, top secret project funded by the military. And the strange part is, many famous names in animation like Mel Blanc and Theodore Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss, were a part of it. Join us as we explore the history behind the comical and strange Private SNAFU series.  SNAFUBAR is hosted by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sara Hart⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Chair of the Department of Applied Humanities at Cal Poly Humboldt. We have a guest host today, Liam Salcuni, who teaches history classes at Cal Poly Humboldt.  SNAFUBAR is regularly co-hosted by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jeff Crane ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠who is an Environmental Historian and Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Cal Poly Humboldt.  Research and writing for the show is done by Liam Salcuni and Roman Sotomayor  SNAFUBAR is produced by Abigail Smithson and brought to you by the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Cal Poly Humboldt.  Works Cited: Audrey Amidon, “The US Military Goes to Hollywood: Behind the Scenes with the First Motion Picture Unit,” 2013.  CenSoc WWII Army Enlistment Dataset Codebook, 2023.  Classified Cartoons: Private SNAFU Christopher Klein, When Dr. Seuss Went to War,” 2016.  David Vergun, “First Peacetime Draft Enacted Just Before World War II,” 2020. Mark David Kaufman, “Ignorant Armies: Private SNAFU Goes to War,” 2015.    Phillip Knell, “Suess on Film,” 2016.  Peter Zablocki, “Private SNAFU,” 2025.  The National WWII Museum: New Orleans, “Training the American GI.”  US Army Heritage and Education Center, “World War II Core Area.”  Paul Dickson, “OCTOBER 16, 1940—UNCLE SAM’S GOT YOUR NUMBER, GUYS,” 2020.  Susan Thompson, “Communicating and training through film: an Army Signal Corps innovation,” 2022.  Theodor Seuss Geisel & Edward Connery Lathem, The Beginnings of Dr. Seuss: An Informal Reminiscence, 2010. National Parks Service, “The American Homefront and the Buildup to World War II: The Selective Service Act and the Arsenal of Democracy.”

  8. Jul 26

    Braddock's Defeat

    Welcome to SNAFUBAR! A podcast on American military history and national myths. Today we’re exploring the ruinous Battle of the Monongahela, or “Braddock’s Defeat,” which took place in 1755 near modern day Pittsburgh. We know what you’re thinking, the United States wasn’t around in 1755, what does this have to do with American military history and national myths? A lot. Present at the Battle of the Monongahela was the young George Washington, who learned valuable lessons on leadership and tactics as a result of this crushing defeat. What’s more, the Battle of the Monongahela marks the beginning of the Washington mythos.  We hope you enjoy the show.  SNAFUBAR is hosted by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sara Hart⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, chair of the Applied Humanities department at Cal Poly Humboldt, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jeff Crane , an Environmental Historian and Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Cal Poly Humboldt.  ⁠Research and writing for the show is done by Liam Salcuni and Roman Sotomayor.  SNAFUBAR is produced by Abigail Smithson and brought to you by the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Cal Poly Humboldt. Works Cited Armstrong Starkey, European and Native American Warfare: 1675-1815, 1998.  Battle of Fort Necessity and Braddock’s Defeat, Fort Edwards Online Archive David Preston, Braddock’s Defeat: The Battle of the Monongahela and the Road to Revolution, 2015.  Emanuel Leutze, Washington Crossing the Delaware, 1851.  George Washington, Letter to John Augustine Washington, 1755.  George Washington, Letter to Robert Orme, 1755. George Washington, Letter to William Fairfax, 1754.  Gordon S. Wood, The Radicalism of the American Revolution, 1991.  Paul E. Kopperman, Braddock at the Monongahela, 1977. Ron Chernow, Washington, A Life, 2010.

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Ratings & Reviews

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out of 5
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About

SNAFUBAR is a show about strategic and moral military errors and mishaps, and the myths that both lead to and then justify them. The histories they look at will make clear the degree to which the U.S. is a warful nation, contrary to the myth of a peaceful nation regularly compelled, against its will, to go to war. Through every episode, the show uncovers how we romanticize and fetishize the military while not always providing the support it needs to carry out its intended (or stated) goals, or to meet veterans’ needs when they return from combat.

Information

  • Creator
    College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Cal Poly Humboldt
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    26
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Cal Poly Humboldt
  • Show Website
    SNAFUBAR