Topic: Documentary on PBS

[lovetheherd2]

There's a 10 part series documentary on Viet Nam War on our PBS station airing now. Begins before our involvement and about halfway through now.

Incredible footage and interviews with survivors on both sides of the war. Some previously released recorded phone calls between Kennedy, LBJ and others.

My wife & I found out how naive we were during those early years. Recall the news was not that quick and sometimes filtered in the late 50's early to mid 60's.

Warning, mature audience only, lots of carnage and discussions of stuff tough to hear and watch.

For those interested, in our area they are replaying the first five videos at off times in the early AM. If you have a DVR to record, it's important to start at episode 1 or 2 to get the full understanding of the events that cost so many so much.

[The E-Man]

There's a 10 part series documentary on Viet Nam War on our PBS station airing now. Begins before our involvement and about halfway through now.

Incredible footage and interviews with survivors on both sides of the war. Some previously released recorded phone calls between Kennedy, LBJ and others.

My wife & I found out how naive we were during those early years. Recall the news was not that quick and sometimes filtered in the late 50's early to mid 60's.

Warning, mature audience only, lots of carnage and discussions of stuff tough to hear and watch.

For those interested, in our area they are replaying the first five videos at off times in the early AM. If you have a DVR to record, it's important to start at episode 1 or 2 to get the full understanding of the events that cost so many so much.

I've been watching this series and as they say, "War is Hell!" that is so true! I hope PBS offer this true documentary on DVD.

[pdunn]

I've been watching it too.  I think this might be Ken Burns' best series yet and that is saying something.

[herdorbust]

Instead of watching, shouldn't we take a knee?

[lovetheherd2]

I've been watching it too.  I think this might be Ken Burns' best series yet and that is saying something.

In my area, tonight's episode was the Tet Offensive and subsequent political strife in America.

Very intense, very hard to watch - especially the Doctor who became a POW..

But the inside political maneuvering was almost as difficult.

In my opinion, the entire series should be required as a sophomore college class. Understanding that time is extremely important for the future.

[wasbarryb]

I've been watching this series and as they say, "War is Hell!" that is so true! I hope PBS offer this true documentary on DVD.

I was at Cosco in Harrisonburg on Friday. The DVDs and companion book were both available. The DVD set was $39.00 or so. (Less than 40 for sure)

[CoachSkip]

I remember watching World at War years ago with my dad when I was younger . He never saw any action ( Korea ) but every now and then I would look over at him and see a tear coming down his cheek , it has stuck with me all of these years .

[pdunn]

I remember watching World at War years ago with my dad when I was younger . He never saw any action ( Korea ) but every now and then I would look over at him and see a tear coming down his cheek , it has stuck with me all of these years .

That was a great series.  They filmed that in the late 60s-early 70s.  I'm glad they managed to go in and talk to a lot of the big figures--generals and admirals-- while they were still alive.

[The E-Man]

After watching more of this documentary, I came away with a different impression and "respect" for President Richard Nixon. Had Nixon been President instead of Johnson, the Vietnam War would have ended a lot sooner and probably saved 1k's of lives. President Nixon was one of the best International Diplomatic President's we've ever had, Nixon knew how to deal with Russia, and China.

[elginherd]

E-Man, I will have to binge on this documentary at a later date, and I will.

Nixon was a brilliant & visionary man, but deeply & obviously flawed.

These items would make today's Republicans' heads spin:

1) Opening relationships with a rogue nation (Red China).
2) The first really serious efforts to limit nukes
3) Price controls (both wholesale & retail) for most consumer items
4) Proposing a single-payer gov't healthcare system (which, ironically, Ted Kennedy was responsible for shooting down.)
 
For those who actually consider evidence, all the developed countries's populations as wholes spend less with better outcomes than the US. However, for some individuals, obviously there are problems with wait times. Also, interestingly, the US presently anywhere near the top in the number of small business start-ups per population. The heavily socialist Scandinavian countries, along with Canada beats us on that. I would hypothesize the risk of losing health insurance for one's entire family by leaving a job/career has something to do with the US's relative shortage of entrepreneurship. I know that is one of primary reasons that I stayed at my job after my 13-year-old daughter's bout with colon cancer. At that time, quitting or getting fired would have lead to a strong possibility of her NEVER being able to be insured during her lifetime if I would remain in the US.

[GoHerd2112]

I heard about this series and have the blu rays on their way in the mail. Read it is really good.
As an Army vet I met a lot of guys that were over there. I joined in '83.
When you saw a soldier with a unit patch on his right sleeve it was instant respect back when I was in. See you wore your current unit patch on your left sleeve, and if you had seen combat you could wear that unit patch on your right sleeve.
You would think the lessons we learned after Vietnam, that you couldn't fight a foreign war from Washington DC, would have been learned. But it seems the way we fought and continue to fight the war(s) in The Middle East, DC didn't learn a thing.

[pdunn]

One of the things that I am amazed at is the favorable views that the people of Vietnam have for the United States today.  Pew Research did a study of about 50 countries around the world and 78% of Vietnamese surveyed viewed the US favorably.  There were only about seven countries that showed higher favorability.  Among those under thirty, 88% viewed the US favorably, but among those over 50 64% did. 

[The E-Man]

E-Man, I will have to binge on this documentary at a later date, and I will.

Nixon was a brilliant & visionary man, but deeply & obviously flawed.

These items would make today's Republicans' heads spin:

1) Opening relationships with a rogue nation (Red China).
2) The first really serious efforts to limit nukes
3) Price controls (both wholesale & retail) for most consumer items
4) Proposing a single-payer gov't healthcare system (which, ironically, Ted Kennedy was responsible for shooting down.)
 
For those who actually consider evidence, all the developed countries's populations as wholes spend less with better outcomes than the US. However, for some individuals, obviously there are problems with wait times. Also, interestingly, the US presently anywhere near the top in the number of small business start-ups per population. The heavily socialist Scandinavian countries, along with Canada beats us on that. I would hypothesize the risk of losing health insurance for one's entire family by leaving a job/career has something to do with the US's relative shortage of entrepreneurship.I know that is one of primary reasons that I stayed at my job after my 13-year-old daughter's bout with colon cancer.  At that time, quitting or getting fired would have lead to a strong possibility of her NEVER being able to be insured during her lifetime if I would remain in the US.

Elginherd, how is your daughter now? I hope and pray she's living a good quality life. I agree with you about President Nixon, he was a very brilliant man. It's to bad Nixon thought he was above the law, he would have been one of our better President's.

[elginherd]

Thanks E-Man for your concern. She had a 2nd bout of cancer, in a section of what remained of her colon, at age 24. Fortunately, she survived that too. She is now 34 and is doing well, though there were a few health hiccups. she is staying with us for now at least. My wife & I moved back to H-ton this past July (after 34 years i Sc & GA).
All 3 of us attended the "About Town" reception at the Fredrick last night. My daughter was interviewed by WSAZ and part of it appeared on the 10 & 11 o'clock news on CW & channel 3. she was also quoted in today's HD.

She will be looking for gainful employment next month. If has great people skills & is computer literate. Being a USC grad, she is a Gamecock first, but a Herd fan 2nd.

[The E-Man]

Thanks E-Man for your concern. She had a 2nd bout of cancer, in a section of what remained of her colon, at age 24. Fortunately, she survived that too. She is now 34 and is doing well, though there were a few health hiccups. she is staying with us for now at least. My wife & I moved back to H-ton this past July (after 34 years i Sc & GA).
All 3 of us attended the "About Town" reception at the Fredrick last night. My daughter was interviewed by WSAZ and part of it appeared on the 10 & 11 o'clock news on CW & channel 3. she was also quoted in today's HD.

She will be looking for gainful employment next month. If has great people skills & is computer literate. Being a USC grad, she is a Gamecock first, but a Herd fan 2nd.

I seen your daughter on the news and she's a very beautiful woman. It's good to see home grown Huntingtonian's move back home. I wish we could get rid of the bad elements from Detroit and other cities.

[chris88]

I have a couple of episodes left to watch.  Truly amazing.  A guy in my office (retiring) was in jungle for a full year and had most of his unit wiped out on multiple occasions. There was a portion in first 3 or 4 episodes that was the inspiration for Mel Gibson movie "When We Were Soldiers"....which I highly recommend as well.

Nixon was better than LBJ for sure but Nixon got talked into bombing Cambodia after he starting withdrawing troops which led to a reinvigoration of anti-war movement in US...including Kent St incident.  The red scare on US side and proxy war helped by Russia/China to further communism was only bad for Vietnam....3 M killed.  As poster said earlier in thread, govt doesn't learn.  You can't win by overthrowing govts...mostly innocent people get killed. We should have stopped in MEast after stopping Sadam in Kuwait and routing Taliban in Afghanistan imo.  The BS in Irag, Syria, Libya etc just a lot of people killed/displaced for nothing.  Hard to believe we dropped more bombs in Vietnam than in WWII. There is a website out there that details how many hundreds of millions have been killed one way of another by governments.

http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/NOTE1.HTM

BTW, PBS has "on demand" features on multiple platforms (Directv, Time Warner Spectrum, etc etc) so once you find out how that works on your platform you have access to all 10 episodes anytime you want to watch it until the on demand expires.