Ken Burns' "The Vietnam War" (2 Viewers)

jazzeum said:
Here's a link to a reading list I posted in the Vietnam 67 thread, https://forum.treefrogtreasures.com/showthread.php?61858-Vietnam-67/page9
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Went back and reviewed the thread and found the reading list at post #82. Saw Sheehan's book has already been mentioned a couple of times. There are some terrific reads on that list, especially Bernard Falls. I've read about 2 dozen of the books on that long list, including the excellent Sci-fi book by Haldeman, The Forever War. There are many books on the list I'm not familiar with. -- Al
 
lancer said:
Been very impressed with parts 3 & 4. -- Al
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Both episodes but episode 3, more than episode 4, brought back emotions I didn't know I had or were buried deep down. It was like I transported back to that time. I read similar comments from others.
 
It's interesting to hear the private comments of JFK and LBJ on Vietnam and contrast those with their actions as president. LBJ in particular seemed to understand the futile nature of the conflict and risks of escalation but was almost powerless from a political standpoint except to keep doubling down on a strategy that he knew was doomed. There is probably an interesting character study therein on the limits of power. The upcoming Robert Caro book that will cover the LBJ Vietnam era should be a great one. Assuming he ever finishes it. He must be pushing 90 by now.
 
I found a HBO movie that was made in 2002 about the war called Path to War. It's pretty good. I forgot who played LBJ but Alec Baldwin played McNamara.

You can find it on HBO on demand or HBO Go.
 
jazzeum said:
I found a HBO movie that was made in 2002 about the war called Path to War. It's pretty good. I forgot who played LBJ but Alec Baldwin played McNamara.

You can find it on HBO on demand or HBO Go.
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Have seen it and thought it worth while. Brad, this is a little off subject, but I would recommend watching 'Thirteen Days' with Kevin Costner. It is about Kennedy and his advisors during the Cuban Missle Crisis. I really liked it. -- Al
 
For me personally, this has been one of the best things I have watched on tv. And I did not serve in Viet Nam. But it brings out all the emotions of the 60's and 70's. I wanted to yell "NO, STOP" at the television so many times watching the path we took into that war. I view the war very differently now, as the father of an active duty soldier, than I did as a college student or young military officer during those times. Standing at the VN war memorial in my state and looking at the remembrance markers for the 18 yr olds who died is very sobering. I have tried to stay away from politics here.

I also read the Sheehan book A Bright Shinning Lie. Great book although I have not read a lot about that war. Chris
 
Terp152 said:
For me personally, this has been one of the best things I have watched on tv. And I did not serve in Viet Nam. But it brings out all the emotions of the 60's and 70's. I wanted to yell "NO, STOP" at the television so many times watching the path we took into that war. I view the war very differently now, as the father of an active duty soldier, than I did as a college student or young military officer during those times. Standing at the VN war memorial in my state and looking at the remembrance markers for the 18 yr olds who died is very sobering. I have tried to stay away from politics here.

I also read the Sheehan book A Bright Shinning Lie. Great book although I have not read a lot about that war. Chris
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I did serve ,,Volunteer 1966-67,,After a bit of the first program Ken Burns version was enough for me,,Standing at the memorial looking at the remembrance Markers for my soldiers Last week I have no need to go back to the 70s -80s version of history and us,,
 
One thing I'm getting from this that I really did not know the scope of was that N. Vietnam was pretty much getting their a-- kicked through out the war. And this is coming from the N. Vietnamese. However their persistance and determination to out last the USA is what won them this war. Also the corruption and incompetance of S. Vietnam helped.
Gary
 
I watched the Tet episode last night. To say it was riveting is an understatement. It's an event embedded in our national consciousness, at least for those who were alive then. Surprisingly, I knew very little about what happened in Hue.
 
I am still really enjoying this series. Finding it very informative, as far as it goes. Done quite a bit of reading about Tet, so I was aware that it was a sound military defeat for the NVA and VC. I also knew it was the turning point in US public opinion about the war although I was completely unaware of these facts as a teenager experiencing the war via the newspapers and TV broadcasts. It is all very fascinating and a true 'way-back machine' happening. -- Al
 
The NVA had no chance against USA's military might. Air supremacy, interlocking artillery fire would destroy any kind of advance. However, the USA (the public) will not tolerate thousands upon thousands of American soldiers being killed unless the USA itself be threatened by domination by another power (WWII). The NVA was fighting for and on their own country, so had no choice to fight on. The NVA's strategy to keep fighting until we get tired of fighting and dying seems to be the same strategy used by the rebels in Afghanistan.
Good documentary. The protests at home was a little shocking.
 
I'm still enjoying it too but at two hours an episode its hard to keep up. One thing that is apparent is that the NVA had the advantage of choosing when and where to fight. The Americans were hamstrung by the political limitations of the conflict and were constanty on the defensive. While the NVA could routinely move back and forth across international boundaries the Americans could not. It was a strange way for the US to fight a war. Should have been all in or all out. All in would mean taking the ground forces into N. Vietnam. All out would be letting S. Vietnam stand or fall on its own. Instead they decided on a middle ground that maximized carnage for no real purpose.
 
Invading the North would have required more troops and expanding the draft. Moreover, LBJ wasn't sure how Russia and China would react. These were steps he didn't want to take or didn't feel he had the public's support to take.
 
jazzeum said:
Invading the North would have required more troops and expanding the draft. Moreover, LBJ wasn't sure how Russia and China would react. These were steps he didn't want to take or didn't feel he had the public's support to take.
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I remember reading about a discussion LBJ had with the JCS. He was very concerned that if we invaded NVN, China would react as they did in Korea. Chris
 
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