Vietnam in HD: A Changing War (2011)
*** 1/2 (out of 4)
Fifth episode in the series introduces us to some new soldiers. Don Devore learns that he's been drafted at the same time he learns that his wife is pregnant. This gets him sent to Vietnam for a short time before he's granted a leave to return home due to his wife giving birth but when he gets back he's shocked to see the Woodstock festival taking place. Gery Benedetti discusses how he got involved in the war and his mission there. We also meet John Anderson who leads a group of men into Cambodia only to learn that Nixon has cut their mission short just before it really got going. This episode also shines the spotlight on what was going on in America as more protests were starting and of course what happened at Kent State. This is yet another very good episode as once again we're treated to some rather amazing footage from on the scene combat. As you'd expect much of it is rather graphic but at the same time it's so strange and surreal seeing this footage. One can't help but think about the various Hollywood movies you've seen about the subject and then you realize that not even millions of dollars could really re-create the events. We get to hear about a wide range of subjects including the December 1st, 1969 draft, which was meant to make things more "fair" by going by birth dates. We also learn that by 1970 over 50% of troops are now doing drugs. This episode certainly keeps you entertained from start to finish but it also makes it clear that many bone-headed things were being done and that perhaps all of this could have ended much earlier had more common sense been used. Anne Purcell, the wife of a man shot down and listed as MIA also learns that he is a POW so she decides to start a group to make sure those missing get back home as well.
*** 1/2 (out of 4)
Fifth episode in the series introduces us to some new soldiers. Don Devore learns that he's been drafted at the same time he learns that his wife is pregnant. This gets him sent to Vietnam for a short time before he's granted a leave to return home due to his wife giving birth but when he gets back he's shocked to see the Woodstock festival taking place. Gery Benedetti discusses how he got involved in the war and his mission there. We also meet John Anderson who leads a group of men into Cambodia only to learn that Nixon has cut their mission short just before it really got going. This episode also shines the spotlight on what was going on in America as more protests were starting and of course what happened at Kent State. This is yet another very good episode as once again we're treated to some rather amazing footage from on the scene combat. As you'd expect much of it is rather graphic but at the same time it's so strange and surreal seeing this footage. One can't help but think about the various Hollywood movies you've seen about the subject and then you realize that not even millions of dollars could really re-create the events. We get to hear about a wide range of subjects including the December 1st, 1969 draft, which was meant to make things more "fair" by going by birth dates. We also learn that by 1970 over 50% of troops are now doing drugs. This episode certainly keeps you entertained from start to finish but it also makes it clear that many bone-headed things were being done and that perhaps all of this could have ended much earlier had more common sense been used. Anne Purcell, the wife of a man shot down and listed as MIA also learns that he is a POW so she decides to start a group to make sure those missing get back home as well.
