The Vietnam War 1955-1975 (Full Documentary)
ED: This Documentary runs for 2¾ hours, I haven’t watched in all at this stage, but I will when I have time.
When the US enters the Vietnam War, it’s confident in its military might, but it soon finds itself struggling with an underestimated enemy, a widening war, and political turmoil at home. North Vietnam has been fighting for an independent and unified Vietnam for decades. As both sides clash in the jungles of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, the war becomes a quagmire in which military power alone cannot secure victory.
Chapters:
00:00 Part I: Why did the Vietnam War Break Out?
28:19 Part II: Vietnam War 1965-67
50:02 Part III: Tet Offensive 1968
01:15:04 Part IV: Vietnam War 1969-1975
01:43:17 Part V: Forgotten Armies of the Vietnam War
01:59:59 Part VI: Vietnam War in Laos and Cambodia
02:25:11 Epilogue: Why the US Lost the Vietnam War
A comprehensive, quality production of six parts with both a voice narrative, footnoted text of the narrative, and quality graphics. Interestingly, there is no mention of the words “Australia” or “Australians” in the first four “Parts” (ie Parts I to IV inclusive). Mention of the Australian involvement only commences at Part V. The narrative and graphics in the earlier Parts on the Gulf of Tonkin incidents (at 22 min – 23.46 min) and the communist attacks on Hue at Tet 1968 are also very good.
Part V: Forgotten Armies of the Vietnam War – from 1hr 43 min to 1 hr 48, covers the Australian involvement in the War – including the Battle of Long Tan (against “2,000 VC” – including the 275th VC Regiment and D445 VC Battalion). That section includes good graphics and also comments on the Battle by Bill (Yank) Akell. The work cites “512” Australians as having been killed-in-action in Vietnam. Other countries mentioned as supporting the US and the South Vietnamese include the Philippines (2,300), the Thais (eventually 12,000), and the Koreans.
Regards, Ernie Chamberlain