Rock star Rick Springfield has revealed that when he was 19, he killed a man with a mortar bomb during the Vietnam War. He still struggles with the emotional impact of that split-second decision decades later. Springfield, now 77, was part of the Australian pop-rock band MPD Limited in the early years of his music career. The group traveled to South Vietnam in 1968 to entertain troops, spending around four months in the war-torn region. The Vietnam War, which lasted from 1955 to 1975, was one of the most significant and controversial conflicts of the 20th century. At the time, Springfield and his bandmates agreed to the tour because they were struggling financially and saw the opportunity as a way to earn money, even if it meant being in a war zone. During their stay, they were attacked one night while sleeping in bunkers. Radio messages confirmed that there were no friendly forces nearby, and Springfield found himself in a terrifying situation. During an appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, he described how he was asked to throw mortar bombs—a type of explosive weapon that is fired through a metal tube and detonates upon hitting a target. "I was throwing mortars down the tube of the radio shack," he recalled, calling the experience "freaky" and comparing it to a scene from a movie. The next day, Springfield learned that he had hit someone with one of the bombs. Another person congratulated him, saying, "Hey, you got one." The experience left a lasting emotional scar on Springfield, who called it "the hardest thing" he had ever faced. "It still has a place... hard place to land in me," he said, acknowledging that the memory of taking a life, even in the chaos of war, remains difficult to process. "Even though it's distant and it's war, and I didn’t really have anything to do with it," he added, emphasizing that he still feels responsible for the life he ended. Despite the emotional weight of his past, Springfield continues to lead an active and vibrant life. He celebrated his 77th birthday recently and went viral for his muscular physique, with fans marveling at his ability to defy aging. He performs with high energy and continues to be praised for his charisma. Springfield maintains a healthy lifestyle, working out daily and watching his diet. He has also had a long and varied career beyond music, with acting roles in shows like General Hospital, Supernatural, Hot in Cleveland, and American Horror Story. His early career with the band Zoot and his 1981 hit "Jessie's Girl" helped solidify his status as a music icon.