{"id":231053,"date":"2026-02-05T16:31:22","date_gmt":"2026-02-05T22:31:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/?p=231053"},"modified":"2026-02-05T18:03:49","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T00:03:49","slug":"nick-brokhausen-truth-about-combat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/nick-brokhausen-truth-about-combat\/","title":{"rendered":"When War Never Lets Go: Nick Brokhausen\u2019s Brutal Truth About Combat"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-estimated-reading-time yoast-reading-time__wrapper\"><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__icon\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" data-icon=\"clock\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" style=\"display:inline-block;vertical-align:-0.1em\" role=\"img\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M12 8v4l3 3m6-3a9 9 0 11-18 0 9 9 0 0118 0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__spacer\" style=\"display:inline-block;width:1em\"><\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__descriptive-text\">Estimated reading time: <\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__reading-time\">2<\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__time-unit\"> minutes<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019ve spent any time listening to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Ul-xArBEdtE\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"nick-brokhausen-truth-about-combat\" title=\"When War Never Lets Go: Nick Brokhausen\u2019s Brutal Truth About Combat\">Shawn Ryan Show<\/a>, you already know it doesn\u2019t do highlight reels or Hollywood nonsense. And the recent conversation with<a href=\"https:\/\/www.modernforces.com\/veterans_nick_brokhausen.htm\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"nick-brokhausen-truth-about-combat\" title=\"When War Never Lets Go: Nick Brokhausen\u2019s Brutal Truth About Combat\"> Nick Brokhausen<\/a> might be one of the most unfiltered looks yet at what close combat actually does to a human being\u2014and how it never really stops doing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Brokhausen, a MACV-SOG recon veteran who ran deep behind enemy lines in Vietnam and Laos, doesn\u2019t romanticize anything. He talks about killing at arm\u2019s length. About using an entrenching tool when there was nothing else. About a shotgun at eight feet and the kind of destruction that doesn\u2019t leave room for second thoughts. It\u2019s not bravado. It\u2019s memory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Horrific Hand-to-Hand Combat Story That Haunts a MACV-SOG Soldier\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/zfurBai4npc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What hits hardest isn\u2019t the <a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/biden-nra-hickenlooper-assault-weapons-ban\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"nick-brokhausen-truth-about-combat\" title=\"When War Never Lets Go: Nick Brokhausen\u2019s Brutal Truth About Combat\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"3376\">weapons talk<\/a>.  It\u2019s what came after. Brokhausen describes nightmares that followed him for years. A \u201cghost\u201d that visited when he was worn down, sick, or drinking too hard. A 15- or 16-year-old enemy fighter who reminded him of his younger brother. A recurring dream on a quiet Minnesota lake that turns into something else entirely. That\u2019s the part people <a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/korwin-great-secret\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"nick-brokhausen-truth-about-combat\" title=\"When War Never Lets Go: Nick Brokhausen\u2019s Brutal Truth About Combat\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"3375\">don\u2019t see<\/a> when they talk about war in abstractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-see-also-adler-ad500-308-budget-semi-auto-shot-show-2026\">SEE ALSO: <a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/adler-ad500-308-shot-show-2026\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"nick-brokhausen-truth-about-combat\" title=\"When War Never Lets Go: Nick Brokhausen\u2019s Brutal Truth About Combat\">Adler AD500 .308: Budget Semi-Auto \u2014 SHOT Show 2026<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Back then, nobody called it PTSD. It was \u201cbattle fatigue.\u201d You sucked it up, drank more than you should, and moved on.  Until you didn\u2019t. Brokhausen is blunt about how his generation dealt with it, and how many didn\u2019t. The anger. The drinking. The stuff that gets welded shut instead of worked through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The conversation takes a sharp turn when Brokhausen and Ryan get into emerging PTSD treatments.  Specifically psychedelic therapies that the VA once dismissed outright and is now cautiously re-examining. Brokhausen doesn\u2019t pitch it as a miracle cure or a trendy solution. He talks about results. About veterans who stopped drinking. About addiction losing its grip. And, about relief that didn\u2019t come from burying things deeper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"This Vietnam War Story is One of the Craziest You\u2019ll Ever Hear\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/6Bh41h7FskY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s plenty here that will make people uncomfortable, especially those who prefer their <a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/cpt-bruce-carrs-stolen-focke-wulf\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"nick-brokhausen-truth-about-combat\" title=\"When War Never Lets Go: Nick Brokhausen\u2019s Brutal Truth About Combat\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"3373\">war stories<\/a> neat and symbolic. But that\u2019s the point. This isn\u2019t about glorifying violence or turning soldiers into props for political arguments. It\u2019s about acknowledging the real cost paid long after the <a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/method-for-stopping-shooting-rampages-emerges\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"nick-brokhausen-truth-about-combat\" title=\"When War Never Lets Go: Nick Brokhausen\u2019s Brutal Truth About Combat\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"3374\">shooting stops<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Brokhausen doesn\u2019t ask for pity. He doesn\u2019t ask for applause. He just <a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/maryland-trooper-silenced-omally-administration-couldnt-tell-truth-gun-control-law\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"nick-brokhausen-truth-about-combat\" title=\"When War Never Lets Go: Nick Brokhausen\u2019s Brutal Truth About Combat\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"3377\">tells the truth<\/a> as he lived it. And sometimes, that\u2019s harder to hear than any gunshot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\" style=\"font-size:24px\"><strong><em>*** <a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"nick-brokhausen-truth-about-combat\" title=\"When War Never Lets Go: Nick Brokhausen\u2019s Brutal Truth About Combat\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Buy and Sell on GunsAmerica!<\/a> ***<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Brokhausen, a MACV-SOG recon veteran who ran deep behind enemy lines in Vietnam and Laos, doesn\u2019t romanticize anything. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":158,"featured_media":231055,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_specdata_upc":"","_specdata_placement":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4024],"tags":[132,607],"featured":[],"hunt365":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-231053","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-news","8":"tag-buzz","9":"tag-news"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.1 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Nick Brokhausen\u2019s Brutal Truth About Combat<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"MACV-SOG veteran Nick Brokhausen opens up on the Shawn Ryan Show about close combat, PTSD, and the lasting cost of war.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/nick-brokhausen-truth-about-combat\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"When War Never Lets Go: Nick Brokhausen\u2019s Brutal Truth About Combat\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Brokhausen, a MACV-SOG recon veteran who ran deep behind enemy lines in Vietnam and Laos, doesn\u2019t romanticize anything.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/nick-brokhausen-truth-about-combat\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Gun Reviews and News | GunsAmerica.com\/Digest\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/gunsamerica\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/gunsamerica\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-02-05T22:31:22+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-02-06T00:03:49+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Vietnam_Vet_War.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"900\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Larry Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@https:\/\/twitter.com\/GunsAmerica\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@gunsamerica\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Larry Z\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/nick-brokhausen-truth-about-combat\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/nick-brokhausen-truth-about-combat\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Larry Z\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/e6de4369965cb544a9ebd9533bb9c06b\"},\"headline\":\"When War Never Lets Go: Nick Brokhausen\u2019s Brutal Truth About Combat\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-05T22:31:22+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-06T00:03:49+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/nick-brokhausen-truth-about-combat\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":443,\"commentCount\":5,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/nick-brokhausen-truth-about-combat\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/02\\\/Vietnam_Vet_War.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Buzz\",\"News\"],\"articleSection\":[\"News\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/nick-brokhausen-truth-about-combat\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/nick-brokhausen-truth-about-combat\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/nick-brokhausen-truth-about-combat\\\/\",\"name\":\"Nick Brokhausen\u2019s Brutal Truth About Combat\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/nick-brokhausen-truth-about-combat\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/nick-brokhausen-truth-about-combat\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/02\\\/Vietnam_Vet_War.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-05T22:31:22+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-06T00:03:49+00:00\",\"description\":\"MACV-SOG veteran Nick Brokhausen opens up on the Shawn Ryan Show about close combat, PTSD, and the lasting cost of war.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/nick-brokhausen-truth-about-combat\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/nick-brokhausen-truth-about-combat\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/nick-brokhausen-truth-about-combat\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/02\\\/Vietnam_Vet_War.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/02\\\/Vietnam_Vet_War.jpg\",\"width\":900,\"height\":600,\"caption\":\"A raw conversation with Vietnam MACV-SOG veteran Nick Brokhausen reveals the brutal reality of combat, survivor\u2019s guilt, and life after war.\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/nick-brokhausen-truth-about-combat\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"When War Never Lets Go: Nick Brokhausen\u2019s Brutal Truth About Combat\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/\",\"name\":\"Gun Reviews and News | GunsAmerica.com\\\/Digest\",\"description\":\"Gun Reviews, Industry News, and Product Reviews for Rifles, Pistols, Revolvers, Shotguns, Optics, and Ammunition. Looking to purchase a firearm online? Look no further than GunsAmerica.com, America&#039;s premier destination for buying and selling firearms.\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"GunsAmerica\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/image-3.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/image-3.png\",\"width\":286,\"height\":156,\"caption\":\"GunsAmerica\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/gunsamerica\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/gunsamerica\",\"https:\\\/\\\/instagram.com\\\/gunsamerica_official\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/user\\\/GunsAmerica\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/e6de4369965cb544a9ebd9533bb9c06b\",\"name\":\"Larry Z\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/5a69271fff458c0181bcf97d84275180a0fb536786a6dd417d0618e9688be035?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/5a69271fff458c0181bcf97d84275180a0fb536786a6dd417d0618e9688be035?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/5a69271fff458c0181bcf97d84275180a0fb536786a6dd417d0618e9688be035?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Larry Z\"},\"description\":\"is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who'd rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he\u2019s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he's deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there's a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry\u2019s got an opinion\u2014and it's probably backed up with both facts and field experience. Experience: \u2013 Licensed Bowhunter, Hunter, and Trapper \u2013 Experienced in ethical hunting and wildlife conservation.\u2013 Concealed Carry Permit Holder (NYS &amp; AZ) \u2013 Trained and licensed to carry in multiple states.\u2013 2A Journalist \u2013 Covering firearms legislation, Second Amendment issues, and gun rights for over a decade.\u2013 Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) \u2013 Certified to provide emergency medical care in the field.\u2013 Field-Tested Gear Reviewer \u2013 Hands-on experience with firearms, optics, and hunting tech.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/hunt365.gunsamerica.com\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/gunsamerica\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/gunsamerica_official\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/https:\\\/\\\/twitter.com\\\/GunsAmerica\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/user\\\/GunsAmerica\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/gunsamerica.com\\\/digest\\\/author\\\/larry-z\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Nick Brokhausen\u2019s Brutal Truth About Combat","description":"MACV-SOG veteran Nick Brokhausen opens up on the Shawn Ryan Show about close combat, PTSD, and the lasting cost of war.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/nick-brokhausen-truth-about-combat\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"When War Never Lets Go: Nick Brokhausen\u2019s Brutal Truth About Combat","og_description":"Brokhausen, a MACV-SOG recon veteran who ran deep behind enemy lines in Vietnam and Laos, doesn\u2019t romanticize anything.","og_url":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/nick-brokhausen-truth-about-combat\/","og_site_name":"Gun Reviews and News | GunsAmerica.com\/Digest","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/gunsamerica","article_author":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/gunsamerica","article_published_time":"2026-02-05T22:31:22+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-02-06T00:03:49+00:00","og_image":[{"width":900,"height":600,"url":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Vietnam_Vet_War.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Larry Z","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@https:\/\/twitter.com\/GunsAmerica","twitter_site":"@gunsamerica","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Larry Z","Est. reading time":"2 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/nick-brokhausen-truth-about-combat\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/nick-brokhausen-truth-about-combat\/"},"author":{"name":"Larry Z","@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/#\/schema\/person\/e6de4369965cb544a9ebd9533bb9c06b"},"headline":"When War Never Lets Go: Nick Brokhausen\u2019s Brutal Truth About Combat","datePublished":"2026-02-05T22:31:22+00:00","dateModified":"2026-02-06T00:03:49+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/nick-brokhausen-truth-about-combat\/"},"wordCount":443,"commentCount":5,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/nick-brokhausen-truth-about-combat\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Vietnam_Vet_War.jpg","keywords":["Buzz","News"],"articleSection":["News"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/nick-brokhausen-truth-about-combat\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/nick-brokhausen-truth-about-combat\/","url":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/nick-brokhausen-truth-about-combat\/","name":"Nick Brokhausen\u2019s Brutal Truth About Combat","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/nick-brokhausen-truth-about-combat\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/nick-brokhausen-truth-about-combat\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Vietnam_Vet_War.jpg","datePublished":"2026-02-05T22:31:22+00:00","dateModified":"2026-02-06T00:03:49+00:00","description":"MACV-SOG veteran Nick Brokhausen opens up on the Shawn Ryan Show about close combat, PTSD, and the lasting cost of war.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/nick-brokhausen-truth-about-combat\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/nick-brokhausen-truth-about-combat\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/nick-brokhausen-truth-about-combat\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Vietnam_Vet_War.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Vietnam_Vet_War.jpg","width":900,"height":600,"caption":"A raw conversation with Vietnam MACV-SOG veteran Nick Brokhausen reveals the brutal reality of combat, survivor\u2019s guilt, and life after war."},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/nick-brokhausen-truth-about-combat\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"When War Never Lets Go: Nick Brokhausen\u2019s Brutal Truth About Combat"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/#website","url":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/","name":"Gun Reviews and News | GunsAmerica.com\/Digest","description":"Gun Reviews, Industry News, and Product Reviews for Rifles, Pistols, Revolvers, Shotguns, Optics, and Ammunition. Looking to purchase a firearm online? Look no further than GunsAmerica.com, America&#039;s premier destination for buying and selling firearms.","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/#organization","name":"GunsAmerica","url":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-3.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-3.png","width":286,"height":156,"caption":"GunsAmerica"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/gunsamerica","https:\/\/x.com\/gunsamerica","https:\/\/instagram.com\/gunsamerica_official\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/GunsAmerica"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/#\/schema\/person\/e6de4369965cb544a9ebd9533bb9c06b","name":"Larry Z","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/5a69271fff458c0181bcf97d84275180a0fb536786a6dd417d0618e9688be035?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/5a69271fff458c0181bcf97d84275180a0fb536786a6dd417d0618e9688be035?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/5a69271fff458c0181bcf97d84275180a0fb536786a6dd417d0618e9688be035?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Larry Z"},"description":"is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who'd rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he\u2019s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he's deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there's a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry\u2019s got an opinion\u2014and it's probably backed up with both facts and field experience. Experience: \u2013 Licensed Bowhunter, Hunter, and Trapper \u2013 Experienced in ethical hunting and wildlife conservation.\u2013 Concealed Carry Permit Holder (NYS &amp; AZ) \u2013 Trained and licensed to carry in multiple states.\u2013 2A Journalist \u2013 Covering firearms legislation, Second Amendment issues, and gun rights for over a decade.\u2013 Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) \u2013 Certified to provide emergency medical care in the field.\u2013 Field-Tested Gear Reviewer \u2013 Hands-on experience with firearms, optics, and hunting tech.","sameAs":["https:\/\/hunt365.gunsamerica.com","https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/gunsamerica","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/gunsamerica_official\/","https:\/\/x.com\/https:\/\/twitter.com\/GunsAmerica","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/GunsAmerica"],"url":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/author\/larry-z\/"}]}},"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Vietnam_Vet_War-150x100.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/231053","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/158"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=231053"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/231053\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":231078,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/231053\/revisions\/231078"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/231055"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=231053"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=231053"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=231053"},{"taxonomy":"featured","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/featured?post=231053"},{"taxonomy":"hunt365","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hunt365?post=231053"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}