Vietnam: la guerre qui a changé l'Amérique

Is the failure to mention the criminal, corrupt & venal CHENNAULT AFFAIR, which extended the war by years & cost thousands of unnecessary American lives for political purposes. . Nixon & Kissinger should have tried & died in prison. Otherwise, a balanced presentation. Particularly the view from the North. Having served late in the war & living through the riots, the protests, the war, & the end, I liked this series. I regret much in life, but I'm proud of my service to the nation: not the war, but the comradere & protection of my fellow soldiers. The war shaped me...and scared me. But at least I came home.

Watched this series and it brought back many memories. I was there in March 1975 in Vung Tau. Say what you want about the US involvement in Vietnam. We really had no business being involved as we were. We did not take our lessons from the French. But that aside, I followed my orders (Navy) and served the best I could. Been up and down the Vietnamese coast and up rivers. There has been at least one good series about the Vietnamese War before this one. This current one brought more personal aspects with people who were there and 50 years later. Loved both sides (VC and S. Vietnamese) interviews. Both did what they believed was honorable. Well worth watching. Thanks producers. They're correct in that the Vietnam War still impacts us these many years later.

Vietnam: The War That Changed America is an outstanding documentary that relates various aspects of the war as interpreted by some who served there. Their stories are compelling, surprising, horrifying and guaranteed to make you cry. We see them 50 years ago on film in country and we meet them back home today.

The first thing misleading about the documentary is the time frame - the war did not start in 1965. President Kennedy was of course assassinated in November of 1963. The Viet Nam war was his war. Kennedy sent the first 15,000 combat soldiers to Viet Nam. He authorized the use of napalm, agent orange and air power. The 58,000 Americans who died there and perhaps over a million Vietnamese who died are ultimately a result of his stimulus and leadership. President Kennedy bears the most responsibility for America's involvement in the war.

Missed entirely in the documentary was the religious aspect of the war. Catholics vs Buddhists. I enlisted in the military and volunteered to go to Viet Nam. When I spoke to any Vietnamese whether an ARVN soldier, shopkeeper or bar girl they all understood the division between the relatively affluent, upwardly mobile and privileged Catholics and the poor and lesser treated Buddhists. This hostility formulated and motivated the Viet Cong guerrillas in the south and aligned them with the NVA communists of the north.

The documentary leaves the impression that young black soldiers were given the most dangerous assignments in Viet Nam and consequently died in greater numbers than their percentage of Americas population. The war's data and the KIA men and women listed on the Viet Nam War Memorial does not verify that assumption. Young black men died in Viet Nam at almost exactly at the same percentage of black men in the US population. If a composite was formed of a typical Viet Nam KIA based on statistics he would be a 20 year old white kid from California.

Viet Nam did change the US Military in one major way. The US Military no longer wants to go to war with draftees and has formed a professional military. It prefers to fight with those who want to serve rather than those who are forced to. Whether this somewhat incestuous policy is good for the future of America remains to be seen, but it has definitely suppressed anti-war protests of America's military adventures after Viet Nam.

Finally, the treatment by the public of US Viet Nam veterans is touched upon, but in my opinion it has been somewhat exaggerated. There were probably instances when vets were spat upon and cursed as baby killers, but by in large the attitude was indifference - not condemnation.

Soldiers should probably not expect parades and accolades when we lose a war.

The attitude of the public towards the military changed dramatically after 9-11. The public began thanking soldiers for their service when they realized our oceans no longer protected them and that a determined enemy could reach out and kill them at any time.

So, did Viet Nam change America? We were divided then and we still are.

"Vietnam: The War That Changed America" is a profound documentary that delves into the human stories behind the Vietnam War. Narrated by Ethan Hawke, it combines raw archival footage with personal accounts from soldiers, nurses, and Vietnamese civilians, creating an intimate and immersive experience. The filmmakers avoid sensationalism, focusing instead on authentic storytelling that captures the emotional and historical impact of the war. This approach ensures a fresh and engaging narrative throughout, making it a standout in the genre.

In contrast, many Netflix documentaries often fall into the trap of being overly dramatic and campy, prioritizing runtime over substance. They tend to stretch content thin, adding unnecessary filler to meet episode quotas. Apple TV+, however, takes a different approach by focusing on high-quality content that respects the viewer's time. Their documentaries are concise, well-researched, and avoid the pitfalls of campiness, offering a more genuine and impactful viewing experience. This commitment to quality over quantity sets Apple apart in the competitive streaming landscape.

As Episode 1 of "Vietnam: The War That Changed America" (2025 release; 6 episodes ranging from 38 to 47 min) opens, narrator Ethan Hawke that 2025 narks the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam war, and the Vietnam war was the first to so openly provide press (both written and filmed) access. We then go to "March 9, 1965" when there are 75,000 US combat troops, many just kids straight out of high school in Vietnam, fighting against the Viet Con from the north. At this point we are 10 minutes into Episode 1.

Couple of comments: this documentary mini-series provides a concise overview of what happened in the Vietnam war, at that time the longest war ever in US history playing out over 4 US presidents. I cam to this country from Belgium in the early 80s when I was in my early 20s, and my knowledge of the Vietnam war was rather limited to what I saw on TV or in the movies. In other words: a lot of holes which I feel this mini-series does an excellent job in filling. The documentary makers interview a lot of people who lived through it, both from the US and from the Vietnamese (north and south). It is now clear that the US could not and would not win this war, even with 500,000 soldiers in Vietnam at one point. I also must mention the infamous scene towards the very end when helicopters were pushed into the ocean from the air carrier. I had never understood what was happening. Well, this documentary explains all of the context of what was going on at that time. And I now finally understand it.

"Vietnam: The War That Changed America" started streaming on Apple TV in the last week of so. I watched a;; 6 episodes over 2 evenings. This mini-series is currently rated 100% Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, which feels a little too generous to me. All that aside, if you have an interest in the Vietnam war or in this country's history, I'd readily suggest you check it out and draw your own conclusion.