The Vietnam War

"Goggles Pizzano" (gogglespizzano)
08/29/2018 at 13:00 • Filed to: None

So far this documentary is phenomenal. Before I started watching my understanding of how the war came to be was limited. The first episode did an excellent job of explaining the period 1858–1961.

Last night I watched episode 6, “ Things Fall Apart” (January 1968 – July 1968). I most definitely do not have a weak stomach, but it was very hard to watch. I’m still carrying this with me today.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

Now on Netflix.

DISCUSSION (24)

UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy > Goggles Pizzano
08/29/2018 at 13:09

The episodes were a tad long, but I loved it. The ken burns civil war documentary is good as well.

PartyPooper2012 > Goggles Pizzano
08/29/2018 at 13:11

The show is absolutely amazing! I learned a lot I did not know from it.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Goggles Pizzano
08/29/2018 at 13:11

You’ll also love "The untold history of the United States"on Netflix.

Goggles Pizzano > UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy
08/29/2018 at 13:13

I only found them long in that after 2 hours I felt I ’ d seen enough death for one day. This isn’t a doc to burn through multiple episodes in a row.

Goggles Pizzano > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
08/29/2018 at 13:14

Watched it. G reat!

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Goggles Pizzano
08/29/2018 at 13:15

This is on my list. I just finished “Wings over Vietnam” recently. All the episodes are available on Youtube

https://docuwiki.net/index.php?title=Wings_Over_Vietnam:_The_Missions

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Goggles Pizzano
08/29/2018 at 13:30

I need to watch it. This war (and generation) completely skipped my family. My dad is older (he’s 80 now ) and my oldest brother was too young to be drafted.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Goggles Pizzano
08/29/2018 at 13:37

The string of decisions that were made over several decades don’t stop ceasing to amaze you throughout the whole documentary. And my distrust in the government was certainly heightened as a result of an inside look into the those decisions. Also the honoring of any president that had any part in any of this is severely tainted for me.

Goggles Pizzano > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
08/29/2018 at 13:37

There’s a spot in an early episode that speaks of “ a long hush” that followed the war. I grew up during this period and this would explain some of my lack of familiarity .

KnowsAboutCars > Goggles Pizzano
08/29/2018 at 13:40

I saw it when they ran a version with slightly shortened episodes on tv. Very good documentary.

Ash78, voting early and often > Goggles Pizzano
08/29/2018 at 13:41

The Civil War, The War (WWII) and Vietnam are all fantastic from Ken Burns.

None of my parents or uncles served in Vietnam for luck or medical reasons, but it was definitely a part of my childhood (ie, having vets all around). They almost NEVER talked about it. Like total silence, even more than WWII vets, but for a different reason: That they were mostly hated for what they did.

And the only really major difference between this war and other wars is the amount of media coverage. Atrocities were everywhere, but suddenly the US wasn’t always “the good guy” in everything and people reacted harshly.

I’m glad that today those vets are getting a little more recognition for serving in such horrible conditions, and many for a cause they probably couldn’t support, but they did a job and served bravely.

(full disclosure: I am mostly against the idea of our entry into Vietnam, but that’s heavily with the benefit of hindsight.)

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Goggles Pizzano
08/29/2018 at 13:45

No one likes to talk about a loss... I was born in ‘78.

ceanderson920 > Goggles Pizzano
08/29/2018 at 14:46

This is one of my favorites. I think I have watched the whole thing 3 times already since its been out. I missed a lot of info the first couple times I watched it. Ken Burns also did a doc on WWII Called The War, which is also very very good. I am hoping he does one on World War I sometime also, but since the main parts of WWI do not involve the US to much I doubt it will happen.

Monkey B > Goggles Pizzano
08/29/2018 at 14:51

it is a fantastic series, and after the 1st few episodes I was really disappointed about not being taught this stuff in school. I just finished his WWII doc and he has a good one about prohibition.

Monkey B > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
08/29/2018 at 15:07

I was born in 74, I’ve never heard anyone involved talk about it. What I gathered by watching is that, unlike WWII vets, they couldn’t be proud of anything they did. K nowing that they shouldn’t be there and the things they were being called upon to do were pointless could not have sat well

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Monkey B
08/29/2018 at 15:23

Yeah, I really feel for these guys...

ateamfan42 > Monkey B
08/29/2018 at 15:30

it is a fantastic series, and after the 1st few episodes I was really disappointed about not being taught this stuff in school.

History in the U.S. education system is a joke. Every single US history book I had in grade school started in 1620 and ended in 1945. I learned more about the 3 decades the followed from watching VH1 (during my college years) than I ever did in school.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Goggles Pizzano
08/29/2018 at 15:44

I’m halfway through right now.

Watch "The seven five" if you haven't. It's not related to world history (related to the NYPD in the 90 iirc) but it's a good one as well.

Monkey B > ateamfan42
08/29/2018 at 15:53

our schools fail miserably at teaching history, especially our not so proud moments . But I think that our schooling’s biggest failure is teaching finance, useful in depth finance that you need to know to manage a household. I got a week or so in Social Studies in 10th grade on how to write checks and balance a checkbook. That’s it. The shit they call math now is really going to throw another slew of rocks on that already large pile of people who struggle with finance. I can’t help my GF’s 9 and 11 year old kids with their math homework, mom sometimes needs to call the neighbor kid who’s a year ahead.

bubblestheturtle > Goggles Pizzano
08/29/2018 at 19:26

I like the part where we have audio proof that Nixon committed treason. Always fun to see how the sausage gets made.

Goggles Pizzano > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
08/29/2018 at 23:44

I’ve seen this too. I like historical docs . If you liked “ The Seven Five” you may also enjoy “ American Experience: The Blackout” also on Netflix. :-)x

Goggles Pizzano > bubblestheturtle
08/29/2018 at 23:56

Haven’t got that far yet. I found it most interesting that for years Johnson was accused of perpetuating the war merely to save face even though h e was surrounded by advisors that told him to continue. Then in 1968 Secretary of Defense, Robert McNamara left his position and told Johnson t o stop. Johnson continued anyway.

Goggles Pizzano > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
08/29/2018 at 23:59

‘75 here.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Goggles Pizzano
08/30/2018 at 06:03

I’ll watch that!