Vietnam documentary on PBS

[upstatedoc]

This documentary is epic. Information I never knew about. It will surely win an Emmy. It has had me in tears at times. Even if you're not interested, turn it on for five minutes you won't be able to turn it off

[longress]

Just finished the first episode and as expected from a Ken Burns documentary it's well done!

[zinengineer]

have made it through the first 2 episodes; well done. As one that grew up during that time, many of the news features shown I can clearly remember. I also remember having the "dominos dropping" theory beat into our psyche. Fast forward about 50 years and you will hear much of the same rhetoric coming from current (and previous) "leaders"

those that don't study history are destined to repeat it

I think regardless of ones political leanings, it is a worthy watch and should give us all reason to pause and think a bit

[The Wind Breezes]

Relevant:

[M_Six]

Been recording it. I'll binge watch it at some point. My evenings lately have been taken up by cycling and baseball. I've heard it was a great documentary, though. I would expect nothing less from Ken Burns. He's a genius. His Civil War documentary set the standard for everyone else.

[TXSTYLE]

PBS is without question the best local free channel on television. It's a shame some in leadership, have and want to ax it.
FRONTLINE is epic.

[are0lies]

More relevance - Major Erik Bonde smokes a cigarette after being hit by two bullets, 1962. LTC Bill Kilgore (Apocalypse Now!) almost seems like he took his que from this guy.

[808@702]

Saw the episode last night. I have been watching and all episodes are must see. The video of the poor guy getting shot in the head was pretty gruesome. If you watch just be advised that there are some very graphic scenes.

[GERMAN M3]

Great Documentary...watching it as we speak and listening to Lt. Okamoto's story... Most highly decorated Japanese/American soldier during the war.

My Dad served during Vietnam. Did two tours, and to this day has difficulties speaking about it.

[rlmesq]

Originally Posted by The Wind Breezes

Relevant:

The Fish Cheer was truly an iconic moment.

(True Fact: Barry "The Fish" Melton went to law school and retired a couple of years ago from his job as the Public Defender of Yolo County, California.)

We can't forget Tommie Smith and John Carlos, either.

[BMW F22]

Started watching this documentary. Very interesting. I'm Vietnamese and was born there but know nothing about the history. This documentary is and will be my main source of learning more about my home country and why so many people I know left to go elsewhere.

[bmw1racer]

Originally Posted by M_Six

I would expect nothing less from Ken Burns. He's a genius. His Civil War documentary set the standard for everyone else.

His documentaries on baseball and jazz are terrific as well.

[zinengineer]

I've now made it through 8 of the 10 segments, all very good. I told my wife this should be required viewing for all High School civics/government classes (if they even teach that any more). A few observations; not quite sure what to make of this

a. this thread, on a significant era in US history, currently has 12 posts and 1,895 views
b. The "cool pic" thread has 1,125 posts and 160,700 views. Granted, it's probably been going longer, AND I contribute to the view count myself
c. The "LOL" thread has 1,089 posts and 186,034 views; ditto my comments on (b)

my observations/questions

1. Have we reached the point where people don't give a shit any more?
2. Is this a function of the demographics of this (and other) forums? The conflict ended in 1975, I was a junior in High School. So.....is it a function of BMW owners not even realizing there was a conflict there?
3. Am I the only one that cares?

[Eternal]

I need to watch the series. Watched some preiews and trying to find some time to get into the series. It is crazy how gruesome war was and how the public perception of what war is has changed.

I say this as someone who has spent a lot of time in Iraq/Afghanistan and other places. Vietnam was truly nasty.

[zinengineer]

It is certainly a commitment of time. I watch it while on the treadmill.

[BMW F22]

Originally Posted by zinengineer

I've now made it through 8 of the 10 segments, all very good. I told my wife this should be required viewing for all High School civics/government classes (if they even teach that any more). A few observations; not quite sure what to make of this

a. this thread, on a significant era in US history, currently has 12 posts and 1,895 views
b. The "cool pic" thread has 1,125 posts and 160,700 views. Granted, it's probably been going longer, AND I contribute to the view count myself
c. The "LOL" thread has 1,089 posts and 186,034 views; ditto my comments on (b)

my observations/questions

1. Have we reached the point where people don't give a shit any more?
2. Is this a function of the demographics of this (and other) forums? The conflict ended in 1975, I was a junior in High School. So.....is it a function of BMW owners not even realizing there was a conflict there?
3. Am I the only one that cares?

As it was mentioned in the first 5 mins of episode 1, most people don’t want to talk about Vietnam. Although I came from there, I never learned about the war except hearing stories from people in the family about goe my grandpa was fighting againsts the Viet Cong and was almost killed several times. At one point my grandparents and relatives were put in prison (forgot why).

Even then, I didn’t really care much as I wasn’t even born at the time. I didn’t see how being a socialist country or a communist country had any effects on the people. But when I watched the documentary - only made it through 2 episodes as they are so long- it gave me a greater appreciation for what everyone went through. I meant everyone that was involved (South VN, North VN, China, USA, the Vietnamese citizens, etc.). I learned so much from it as well.

[rdub315]

I'm hooked on this series. I've gotten through the first 5 episodes. I hadn't learned about this war in any of my schooling, so I've found it fascinating. I agree with what zinengineer said above - this should be required viewing in high school!

[overcoil]

Originally Posted by zinengineer

I've now made it through 8 of the 10 segments, all very good. I told my wife this should be required viewing for all High School civics/government classes (if they even teach that any more). A few observations; not quite sure what to make of this

a. this thread, on a significant era in US history, currently has 12 posts and 1,895 views
b. The "cool pic" thread has 1,125 posts and 160,700 views. Granted, it's probably been going longer, AND I contribute to the view count myself
c. The "LOL" thread has 1,089 posts and 186,034 views; ditto my comments on (b)

my observations/questions

1. Have we reached the point where people don't give a shit any more?
2. Is this a function of the demographics of this (and other) forums? The conflict ended in 1975, I was a junior in High School. So.....is it a function of BMW owners not even realizing there was a conflict there?
3. Am I the only one that cares?

I didn't watch the PBS series ( maybe 45-minutes ) but have read excellent reports about the war in newspapers, online and biographies - don't recall ever reading a book specific to that war, but excerpts in books about Lyndon Johnson and Henry Kissinger are very enlightening.
Some may find Ken Burns himself unlikeable and maybe a book/reading is a better media format then Burns way of using archival footage. Like 'Dateline' on NBC I find the pace of television documentaries to be slow and repetitive.
Anyway, I'm fascinated by the war but didn't watch the PBS show.

[other_evolved]

Is it available through any of the streaming services (Sling, Hulu, etc.)?

[zinengineer]

Originally Posted by other_evolved

Is it available through any of the streaming services (Sling, Hulu, etc.)?

check on PBS.org. I watched one of the episodes on my iPad