Ken Burns' "The Vietnam War" (1 Viewer)

I think that was mentioned in the program as well. With the benefit of hindsight, it doesn't seem to have been likely.
 
I am enjoying this series and learning a lot although doing my own research to verify or expand upon some issues.
A very ambitious undertaking of an extremely complex and controversial subject. Ken Burns does try to present history
with a slant towards the average educated viewer so amateur and professional historians should have some empathy with
time constraints and the depth of discussion he deems appropriate.
I lived through these times as a college student, demonstrator, government intern in DC and National Guard member.
Attended GW University from 68 to 70 and was a student marshall at the large peace marches. Attended some SDS
meetings, only as an observer, to understand their motives. Saw first hand the violence of the SDS and Weathermen
along with some real commitments to ending the war as well as the hypocrisy of many who marched for a "social event".
The Vietnam War totally changed my views of government and American history.
Thanks Brad for all your input and recommendations, I have much larger reading list now!
Also doing several Vietnam dioramas using FL, Figarti and hopefully TCS's M113 in the near future.
My long time business partner served two tours in Vietnam and was a great source of information for me.
My accountant for close to 40 years (still working) served as well and won a silver star and two purple hearts and
I will ask him about the series.
 
Before I went to Chicago, I saw a book in a used bookstore that had been on the reading list, The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien, and because a lot of people had mentioned it, I bought it and started to read it on the flight.

It's an excellent book and I'm almost finished. It's fiction but it almost seems like non fiction. I read a lot of fiction, as well as non fiction, and this is one of the best books I've read in awhile. I've just purchased two more of his books.

Hopefully, his participation in the series will lead to more interest in his books.
 
jazzeum said:
Here is a review of Episodes 7 and 8, http://www.processhistory.org/appy-vietnam-war-eps-7-8/

The review is incisive and very good as it demonstrates some of the flaws that run throughout the series.
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Interesting, but I think the writer has a definite agenda. The series does cover the counter war movement. How much is needed is an open question. Not enough according to the article. The statement "The Vietnam War contributes to the myth that antiwar activists routinely denigrated American soldiers and veterans." I was called a pig on campus. Was that an isolated incident according to the article? I doubt it. Chris
 
I will have to disagree Chris. Yes, Burns and Novick show plenty of film but a little more discussion from the anti war side might have given a fuller or more nuanced picture, especially to those who didn't live through those times.

In other respects, the series, when discussing a particular occurrence, goes up to a point but then seems to shy away from discussion. Sometimes I feel like I'm watching a newsreel version of the War. That being said, I will buy the Blue Ray version of the series.

Aside from all that, sometimes I have this out of body sensation when watching the series. It's like reliving experiences you'd tucked away from a long time ago. I'm not sure that makes any sense but that's how I feel.
 
jazzeum said:
I will have to disagree Chris.


Aside from all that, sometimes I have this out of body sensation when watching the series. It's like reliving experiences you'd tucked away from a long time ago. I'm not sure that makes any sense but that's how I feel.
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I figured you would Brad.


It does bring back a lot of memories. I don't think people under age 40 can appreciate how much this changed our society and how people saw the government from then on. Chris
 
If my time frames are correct it seems most of the big protest occurred after Nixon started withdrawing troops and the U.S. involvement in the ground war was coming to a halt. That is other than the incurrsion into Cambodia. That caused a whole new scenerio. As stated one had to live through this period to know what the mind set was of your average citizen. We believed what the government said, we believed in the domino theory of communism, the protestors were hippies, anarchist and radicals. I know this happened on the coast but in mid America I never saw any disrespect for servicemen. The only thing I remember was as a policeman at the time if we got an AWOL soldier we took him directly to the MP station in St Louis and we got a check for $25. Sad to say we called it bounty hunting. Back in 68, 69 $25 was a decent some of money, more than I would make working all day at a part time job.
Gary
 
It is hard to understand unless you lived through it. I was in the center of the action during those times when I was attending George Washington University. The Police had come into our campus and it was chaos. I and a friend who had attended or attempted to attend one of the marches in May 1970 hid out in one of the classroom buildings because the campus was full of tear gas and the CDU (DC Police's Civil Defense Unit; not people we loved) were on campus and not in a great mood, as you might imagine. The demonstrations had started after early morning classes has begun and when students from one of those classes walked out of their building (not realizing what was taking place), they were all arrested and sent to central booking. It was quite a scene. Eventually all charges were dropped.
 
jazzeum said:
It is hard to understand unless you lived through it. I was in the center of the action during those times when I was attending George Washington University. The Police had come into our campus and it was chaos. I and a friend who had attended or attempted to attend one of the marches in May 1970 hid out in one of the classroom buildings because the campus was full of tear gas and the CDU (DC Police's Civil Defense Unit; not people we loved) were on campus and not in a great mood, as you might imagine. The demonstrations had started after early morning classes has begun and when students from one of those classes walked out of their building (not realizing what was taking place), they were all arrested and sent to central booking. It was quite a scene. Eventually all charges were dropped.
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I was there as well and remember the gassings.......I saw firsthand the CDU's brutal treatment of the protestors. My younger brother was attending American U. at the time and he was clubbed at one of the demonstrations and lost two teeth.
At the large peace march where busses ringed the White House I was a student marshall. We were positioned between the police and demonstrators to try and keep the peace. The marshall standing next to me was hit in the head by a sand filled coke bottle thrown from the demonstrators and split his head open. He ended up with 28 stitches and a concussion.
 
Those CDUs were POS. I still detest them to this day. I'm sure you remember Lisner Hall. That's where the students coming out of one those intro classes that had probably 100 to 200 students were arrested. We were in the building next store and some stupid GW security guard tried to order us out. We laughed at him and he stormed off.

I remember that one group (maybe Weathermen) was trying to block the 14th Street Bridge. Those who were arrested on the D.C. weren't treated too harshly by the authorities but they tried to throw the book at those arrested on the Virginia side. Never found out what happened to them.

I think it was that year or maybe the year after -- the memory fades -- but demonstrations took place during the middle of finals and the administration offered us a choice of taking a makeup exam or taking a Pass on a course. I think I opted for exams but I knew some opted for the P.

I also remember that in one of those demonstrations people were camped out by the Lincoln Memorial and Nixon tried to come out and win them over by talking football. I wasn't there but heard about it from some who were. Weird. Needless to say it didn't work.
 
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Found tonight's episode, #10, to be very informative in regards to the actual fall of South Vietnam. Have never really studied the years after US troops pulled out. Never realized just how bad things were for the ARVN after US support was gone. I do remember being stunned at how fast everything fell apart. All in all, a very good series. Certainly a decent overview, if somewhat lacking in detail. -- Al
 
I watched the next to last episode tonight. Watching this series reminds me of the War: never ending. When we went in with combat troops, I was still in my first year of being a teenager. By the time Saigon fell, I was 25 -- a lifetime.

The program reminded me of the cynicism and corruption of the Nixon administration. They sold the South down the river but to be honest by that point I think I (and probably most Americans) just wanted it to be over, no matter the cost. That's what I recall anyway. Before Nixon we didn't think government didn't lie and after him we knew it did. Maybe our current state of affairs dates back to that time.

Anyway, here's a review of the last two episodes, http://www.processhistory.org/appy-vietnam-war-eps-9-10/ Some probably won't like it and I'm not sure I agree with everything he says either.
 
Whether it was right or wrong that we were there I feel great sympathy for the South Vietnamese that we abandoned.
Mark
 
There is a good fictional account of the experience of Vietnamese refugees who came to the US after the war. It's called "The Sympathizer" by Viet Thanh Nguyen.
 
I just finished watching the last episode and to say that watching the series, particularly the parts from 1965 on, when I first became aware of Vietnam as a teenager, and reliving those moments was an emotional experience is an understatement. I can't even imagine what it's like for the vets. I suppose I could say more but I guess I won't.

One thing: at the end of the last episode Tim O'Brien reads from his book "The Things They Carried." It's a fantastic -- no, great -- book and recommend it to all.
 
There is a special place in Hell for Nixon, LBJ, Kissinger and others who put their political ambitions above the lives of so many brave Americans and Vietnamese.
Before Vietnam I thought my country and government were beyond reproach. Vietnam taught me to question our government and research our history.
I enjoyed this series and learned more about the history. Doing more reading on the conflict and talking to my friends who were in the fight.
Its a shame that most Americans didn't watch this series!
 
I DVR'd the series and guess what? I started to rewatch it again last night. As with most films watching it a second time you pick up things you missed the first time around. Plus after 2 weeks of watching this every night my evenings didn't feel the same unless I was watching Vietnam.
Gary
 
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