General Discussion

Bradshaw3

(7,964 posts)

102. Sadly there are thousands and thousands of stories like theirs

Mon Sep 25, 2017, 08:52 PM

Sep 2017

I don't know if younger people today know how much the war affected our formative years as you pointed out, even those of us who didn't go.

One of the things I've been struck with in reading these threads is the number of veterans who aren't watching the documentary. Yes I know veterans generally don't like to talk about their war experiences, and my father was like that about his WWII experience. But those who don't want to watch seems like a large number and I think I understand more after talking with a vet today. It was just such a uniquely bad experience for him in every respect he doesn't want to go back there again, even on film.

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Ken Burns, Vietnam. We are half way through episode 5. My wife and I are at a loss for words. [View all] NRaleighLiberal Sep 2017 OP

I was in Vietnam from Dec. 66 to Dec. 67. I was 21 years old. Glorfindel Sep 2017 #1

Thank you, in every way I can possibly thank you. NRaleighLiberal Sep 2017 #2

Indeed RobinA Sep 2017 #6

You're telling my story, almost verbatim. n/t jaysunb Sep 2017 #9

"Welcome home brother".... Docreed2003 Sep 2017 #10

I'm fighting tears reading your post and others on Duppers Sep 2017 #22

Thank you for your service...which continues today, in MANY ways. Ken Burch Sep 2017 #19

My heart goes out to you, Glorfindel.... Upthevibe Sep 2017 #25

I can't imagine LeftInTX Sep 2017 #55

From June of '69 madokie Sep 2017 #67

I'm glad we got back, too, madokie. Glorfindel Sep 2017 #78

I was there 69-70 jimmil Sep 2017 #92

My brother was there at the time. Demtexan Sep 2017 #3

You Think That One RobinA Sep 2017 #4

Yes. Demtexan Sep 2017 #5

He didn't have to paint the party into a corner with him. Ken Burch Sep 2017 #20

I know. Demtexan Sep 2017 #38

no excuse. The the Gulf of Tonkin was a lie, and he knew it still_one Sep 2017 #54

Yep. Demtexan Sep 2017 #74

agree, there were many points where it was clear onetexan Sep 2017 #77

I haven't watched the series. dflprincess Sep 2017 #7

+1 LittleGirl Sep 2017 #18

The episode is being repeated now. Demtexan Sep 2017 #8

All I remember is crying at Lyndon Johnson saying he would't run again. a kennedy Sep 2017 #11

That whole damn year was cause for crying. Ken Burch Sep 2017 #21

Except Apollo 8. Gore1FL Sep 2017 #40

Yep Warren DeMontague Sep 2017 #48

That was a small saving moment...otherwise...little but tragedy... Ken Burch Sep 2017 #60

I wish that America had taken the knee on Vietnam instead of faking a reason to kill Not Ruth Sep 2017 #12

Wait til you get to tonight's Episode 6. SMC22307 Sep 2017 #13

Watch Apilcopyse Now as I did in Vietnam Film class... BigmanPigman Sep 2017 #14

Trump wants his Gulf of Tonkin incident so badly IronLionZion Sep 2017 #15

And then he wants to prove that Nixon's "madman theory" of foreign policy was right after all. Ken Burch Sep 2017 #23

PBS has a great free app for Roku. sarcasmo Sep 2017 #16

yes - that's what we are using. NRaleighLiberal Sep 2017 #26

For Amazon FireTV and Apple TV as well. Atman Sep 2017 #27

I know. I can't watch one episode in a sitting. LeftInTX Sep 2017 #41

You can watch... TeeYiYi Sep 2017 #65

Two weeks in country and I knew The Wizard Sep 2017 #17

When they "thank me for my Service" Cryptoad Sep 2017 #24

It's just now showing here in L.A. (tonight's episode) I love Peter Coyote's narration....n/t Upthevibe Sep 2017 #29

Im not watching it! Cryptoad Sep 2017 #31

'what the public is told vs what the truth is, our country's perception of itself elleng Sep 2017 #28

Burns does incredible work. Lucinda Sep 2017 #30

Haven't watched all of it yet. It's very good, but not a revelation. That war, like most if not all, Hoyt Sep 2017 #32

Exactly why so many of us, myself included, are so passionate about no draft again Warpy Sep 2017 #72

For the most part, we still have a draft -- RandomAccess Sep 2017 #79

The war ended because taxes were going up Warpy Sep 2017 #81

And of course the protests had nothing to do with it. RandomAccess Sep 2017 #87

The protests inspired a lot of hippie hating and college resentment Warpy Sep 2017 #89

Well I'm sure glad RandomAccess Sep 2017 #91

I think it's important to remember there was a draft. Some went to Canada others never YOHABLO Sep 2017 #33

I agree - being one year younger than you, I can also share in the sigh - NRaleighLiberal Sep 2017 #35

You're lucky that your parents would have supported you LeftInTX Sep 2017 #46

I come from a long line of New England liberals/doves. My grandparents supported me leaving as well. NRaleighLiberal Sep 2017 #47

Treasure them for what they taught you! LeftInTX Sep 2017 #50

I do - my memories of them are priceless. thanks for your lovely responses and comments.... NRaleighLiberal Sep 2017 #52

I noticed Sam Hynes had a brief spot in tonight's episode. lpbk2713 Sep 2017 #34

My entire teen years and most of my 20's was LuckyLib Sep 2017 #36

We have a severe fault as a species - an inability to learn from past mistakes, and excess hubris NRaleighLiberal Sep 2017 #37

It's hard to watch the US getting involved in Vietnam Big_K Sep 2017 #94

absolutely NRaleighLiberal Sep 2017 #105

I agree, it's hard to watch and I remember it so well GP6971 Sep 2017 #39

"It just seems to us to be exceptionally important to watch" Martin Eden Sep 2017 #42

Sadly, I heard that Cheney was very bitter about Vietnam LeftInTX Sep 2017 #53

He felt the war was SO winnable that HE didn't even need to fight in it. Ken Burch Sep 2017 #61

That's a job for "little people". LeftInTX Sep 2017 #63

he got like 15 deferments to avoid serving there JI7 Sep 2017 #62

I know. It was "someone else's" dirty job. LeftInTX Sep 2017 #64

Why does an asshole who grabbed five deferments flotsam Sep 2017 #69

Lived through it. Unable to watch bobbieinok Sep 2017 #43

Yes. sarge43 Sep 2017 #84

I'm off to bed...thanks to you all for so many thoughtful responses and comments. NRaleighLiberal Sep 2017 #44

PBS.ORG Cereal Killer Sep 2017 #45

It's leaving me with a big pit in the middle of my stomach. Warren DeMontague Sep 2017 #49

I include this with The Civil War as his best. It is a masterpiece. Bradshaw3 Sep 2017 #51

We are the same age and I would never went to Vietnam. Demtexan Sep 2017 #97

Sadly there are thousands and thousands of stories like theirs Bradshaw3 Sep 2017 #102

I never trusted Washington. Demtexan Sep 2017 #109

Thanks for sharing your experience n/t Bradshaw3 Sep 2017 #110

I was in RVN from July 66 to Sept 67. leanforward Sep 2017 #56

+ a zillion NRaleighLiberal Sep 2017 #57

+ another zillion. FuzzyRabbit Sep 2017 #66

Thank you for your compassion for those who served. Lucca2 Sep 2017 #58

I had family members and high school friends that were injured or died.. can't watch Thekaspervote Sep 2017 #59

68-69, Phu Bai, HQ 24th Corps pbmus Sep 2017 #68

I was a new h.s. graduate in 1967. A classmate's brother was killed in Vietnam. A college friend WinkyDink Sep 2017 #70

I've been recording it to watch later... like during my next period of unemployment... Rollo Sep 2017 #71

My husband returned from Vietnam a changed man, with bursts of anger, throwing objects etc secondwind Sep 2017 #73

This malaise Sep 2017 #75

My husband was "Berry planned" during Vietnam years which essentially was a deferment mnhtnbb Sep 2017 #76

Can't watch it. tavernier Sep 2017 #80

It should be a law. bullsnarfle Sep 2017 #82

Tonight's episode (1969 and later) should cover . . FairWinds Sep 2017 #83

First air cavalry, 69-70, Cambodia too. pwb Sep 2017 #85

Can't Watch..but I watched another Ken Burns video..3 or 4 times. Stuart G Sep 2017 #90

It's Like Deja Vu The River Sep 2017 #86

Riveting. cp Sep 2017 #88

Vietnam War Not Taught in Schools Juliusseizure Sep 2017 #93

Just wait. It gets worse. Nixon committed treason by telling the NV not to negotiate with LBJ (1968) LS_Editor Sep 2017 #95

Yep. dalton99a Sep 2017 #101

That was stunning. SMC22307 Sep 2017 #106

Got a PBS Passport so I could watch them all last week Big_K Sep 2017 #96

another view globe lady Sep 2017 #98

I am so very sorry, that was a terrible war. Rhiannon12866 Sep 2017 #103

So incredibly tragic. I share your feelings at least at least in empathy. Hortensis Sep 2017 #111

Americans' distrust with politicians began. SergeStorms Sep 2017 #99

It was so long ago but I remember like it was yesterday when the word about ....... Botany Sep 2017 #100

When is the episode on dating and STDs? Nevernose Sep 2017 #104

I was shot at UNM campus twice for protesting burrowowl Sep 2017 #107

We owe it to our kids and grandkids to struggle to make . . FairWinds Sep 2017 #108