Mel Pender: From Vietnam to Victory Lane

This week on The Gedunk Show, we sit down with the legendary Dr. Mel Pender—Vietnam War veteran, Olympic gold medalist, and former head track coach at West Point. His life story is a masterclass in resilience: from facing racism in the Army to standing on the Olympic podium, and from combat zones to coaching cadets. We dive deep into how he views today’s military and what’s changed—and what hasn’t. You don’t want to miss this one.