General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsI never thought I could learn more about the Vietnam war until the PBS documentary
this week.
I was drafted in 1966 and spent most of 67 and part of 68 in the war. I knew we were being lied to but I thought that was to keep us from questioning.
But watching the PBS Vietnam special I now know they didn't know how they were ever going to get out of the war even before I got there and the escalation or why I went to war was for Johnson and his administration to save face.
I didn't die but what a fucked up reason to make me fight for survival for a year.
This documentary is going to bring back a lot of shit we stuffed way back in our minds.
LeftInTX
(25,103 posts)The Diem regime reminded me of Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos.
True Dough
(17,246 posts)He said the same thing about the documentary series. He felt like he knew a great deal, but he has learned a lot!
jaysunb
(11,856 posts)post. I was not quite as naive as some, but didn't realize how deep the deception went.
And, in case no ones told you lately, "welcome back to the world, Brother."
uponit7771
(90,301 posts)jaysunb
(11,856 posts)wasupaloopa
(4,516 posts)uponit7771
(90,301 posts)... ran then !!
Story telling by Burns is top notch, the time scenes are eye opening, real account cutaways lead into the action and some reveals.
If you think you know Nam then check your knowledge with Burns documentary.
Blue_true
(31,261 posts)A lot of them got Agent Orange dumped on them regularly and it took the government years to take care of them.
The Blue Flower
(5,432 posts)Burns and Novick have done the greatest possible service to this country at this moment in history. I became a USMC spouse in 1970, right after my fiancé came home from a year's tour. None of us military spouses understood the reason why our marriages were so difficult. Ours didn't make it. This series has answered so many questions for me. The war was a crime against humanity, our troops, and the American people. Thank God the full story is being told to the nation at last.
mahina
(17,612 posts)He was a great DUer and a Vietnam vet too.
Nixon saving face is why my Dad fought for his life and the lives of his men in the tri-border region for a year. And why he lost the brother we were supposed to adopt, a Montegnard kid.
Seconded.
catchnrelease
(1,944 posts)I loved Pinboy. My husband is a Vietnam vet and we exchanged some pms on the topic of relationships. I miss him and his wonderful, painful puns.
mahina
(17,612 posts)msongs
(67,347 posts)the war is a fraud, dont' go. his group reported their analysis and when it hit the news media all the numbers
and outcomes were totally fabricated and jacked up to look way more successful according to him
Best_man23
(4,897 posts)I've been recommending this series to everyone. I'm going to buy it when it comes out on DVD.
jalan48
(13,839 posts)Why did our government do this?
imanamerican63
(13,725 posts)Thank you for your service and sacrifice. It was a good series, but also very disturbing. No real plans going in, during and getting out. No leadership in Washington.
Yavin4
(35,420 posts)We could not fathom that a colonized people simply did not want to be colonized and wanted to control their own fate. If we had worked with the nationalists from the beginning, we could have achieved the goal of stopping communism in Vietnam.
uponit7771
(90,301 posts)BannonsLiver
(16,288 posts)Basically LBJ thought all the anti war demonstrators were either communist infiltrators or mentally impaired. I've never been as enanamored with LBJ as some are and that bit affirmed my belief.