An Honorable Merchant Seaman Snuck Into a Vietnam Combat Zone to Buy His Friends a Beer

Pabst Blue Ribbon tells the story of John “Chickie” Donohue, a former merchant seaman from the Inwood neighborhood of New York City who traveled more than halfway around the world to keep a promise that he would buy his friends a beer the next time his work took him to Vietnam. Little did his friends realize that he would sneak into an actual combat zone in order to do so. 47 years later, the men reunited to recount the amazing tale.

At a time when the Vietnam War was at its height, one man, John “Chickie” Donohue, snuck back into the war zone to find his 3 closest friends and buy them a beer. Crazy or caring, Chickie gave his friends more than beer, he gave them hope. Hope that helped each one safely return home when the war was over. Now, 47 years later, the group is reunited to relive the greatest beer run ever.