Excellent show. I noticed the music too and lo and behold Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.Originally Posted by TexHill
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Senior Member
Excellent show. I noticed the music too and lo and behold Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.
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If only they left out the Bob Dylan crap.
It's hard to be a ACLU hating, philosophically Libertarian, socially liberal, fiscally conservative, scientifically grounded, agnostic, porn admiring gun owner who believes in self determination.
Chuck, we miss ya man.
كافر
Senior Member
If I only I could down vote.
I do love the series and how it looks at all sides. I think most of my generation (late 20's to early 30's) believe that all of America was against the war. I appreciate that this documentary keeps it more honest then most.
Senior Member
+1 to that.
Moderator
So I've watched 5 episodes so far online. The recurring theme is:
The US commanders are bumbling, inexperience, didn't learn from previous encounters.
The US soldiers didn't want to be there.
The US forces were always walking into traps/ambushes.
The US forces that fell into ambushes were outnumbered 3 - 4 - 10 to 1.
The VC and NVA were tough, determined, ruthless fighers. They fight to win, only fight when they outnumbered the Americans 3 - 4 or 10 to 1.
The US soldiers/Marines hated the VC/NVA.
The VC/NVA hated the Americans.
The AR15/M16 jammed a lot.
The AK47 were proven and reliable weapon.
So far that's what I've seen.
Riots are like sports, it's better to watch it on TV at home.
Senior Member
You forgot that we didn't pull out even though we should have so that the USA wasn't embarrassed on the world stage. And that the early years of where the OSS stood up Uncle Ho versus France it mildly resembles the CIA with OBL versus the Russians.
Senior Member
Aside from the AK/M16 spiel, it isn't wholly inaccurate from what happened.
Member
I was there. The show is pretty well done IMO. Vietnam was a disaster.
US NAVY
1961-1965
Senior Member
Was in HS when the war and draft ended. So did not serve, but was around many who did.
The above sums up what I heard from them.
Remember, about 60%+ were drafted or volunteered to get ahead of the draft and get a cushy Navy/USAF billet.
Read accounts like "We were soldiers once" and make your own conclusion... "We need to get this war started. Go here", points to a spot on a map, no Intel/recon about what was there.
At the strategic level we did not fight smart, creating a grinder that burned though ground forces at a sustained rate that never would have been tolerated now. (Though on a smaller scale we had some shorter periods like that in A'stan. Korengal, etc)
Take a village, incur casualties, capture 5 bags of rice. Even the Navy was not immune, the brown water navy would take fire and lose people to capture a sampan or junk that had 1-2 VC and a few weapons.
Bad mix of nonstop asymmetric warfare with conventional engagements with a tough, experienced enemy.
Vets buried their service even into the 80s. Usually you did not know unless they still quietly wore a POW bracelet. As a kid one babysitter was what I now know as a gold star mom. Don't ask about that picture, don't go in that room. (Ironically, today is Gold Star Mother's day) As a Blue Star dad with an OCONUS son, often deployed, I have a better understanding now than I did. Have to watch this when my wife is not around, too close to home.
It's not the media I fault for Viet Nam, though they were evil even then. But the politicians and generals were the biggest issue. And the horrible treatment of the returning vets (baby killer!) Is totally on the older baby boomers. Some see their error, many do not.
The M16 myth lives longer than reality, but had some truth apparently early on. Well documented that early only on powder change in the ammo created issued, Joe's did not have cleaning kits, etc.
In general equipment sucked, was illsuited, and logistics were very difficult.
The enemy had 30 round mags, we had 20. 7.62x39 was throughly debugged, we were still sorting 5.56, powder, twists, etc. Joe's lugged M60, SAW would have been better. CAS was immature, often was just Slicks with M60s.
There are always debates and whining on gear, but the Army is much more responsive now to addressing issues. It was not then, and was not even thru the late 80s. (M16A2 anyone? Let's change our rifle to help the Army and Marines win at Camp Perry)
Moderator
I didn't forget them, my list were items that kept coming up again and again. Beside so far that's almost 10 hours of videos, there were more.
Try to read my reviews with some sarcasm.
Riots are like sports, it's better to watch it on TV at home.
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