"American Valor" - Medal of Honor Recipients on PBS (believe it or not)

Meridian Magazine online ^ | 11-112003 | by Martin Garff

[zlala]

PBS Special Showing "American Valor"

PBS will be showing an outstanding documentary called AMERICAN VALOR on Veteran's Day, November 11 (check local listings).

by Martin Garff

I remember talking with my son, Ken Garff and BYU film school graduate, about his involvement with a PBS special called American Valor. He had told me how difficult it was for him to direct the shooting of this 'Hi Def' production with his eyes full of tears. "How come I was never taught about these events in school?" was his earnest question.

Now I know what my son meant.... we attended a special preview showing of American Valor at the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (Home of the Emmy Award) in Hollywood. The capacity crowd gave a standing ovation that sent chills up our backs, to three of these special American heroes who were in attendance.

The personal stories of selected Medal of Honor recipients are presented in a moving look at the heroic actions which earned them their country's highest recognition. Interviews with selected medal honorees are woven together with newsreel footage, photographs and testimonies from witnesses of their heroic acts from World War II, Vietnam and Mogadishu, Somalia.

While these Americans tell their own stories, the gripping military action leading to their display of "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty" surrounds their interviews.

This is an incredible film that the Producers, Lionel Chetwynd and Norman S. Powell, said HAD to be made at this time. (Every day 1700+ war veterans take their stories of valor with them to the grave.) This honest documentary film praising fundamental American values will be shown nationally.

Over half of the Medal of Honor awards are made posthumously... Mike Durant tells how his life was saved through the bravery and sacrifice of Delta Force members Master Sgt. Gary Gordon and Sgt. First Class Randall Shughart as their helicopters were shot down in Mogadishu.

The weaving of stories continues as we come to understand what they have experienced, the freedom they cherish and the values which generate such heroic actions.

American Valor will be shown on PBS (various local times) November 11th, Veterans' Day. It is my opinion that this powerful 90 minute documentary should be viewed by every single freedom loving individual. After a compelling 90 minutes, you will also feel the pride of AMERICAN VALOR!

This is showing at 8pm Central time and again tomorrow (not sure when).

[zlala]

This is showing at 8pm Central time and again tomorrow (not sure when).

[Cacophonous]

Just goes to show, I suppose, that a blind nut can find a pig sometimes.

[RKV]

I will certainly watch this. Knowing PBS, I wonder 1) why not Korea? plenty of live Korean War vets out there who don't get half enough credit for their service 2) WW2 was "good" for the PBSers because the US was on the same side as Russia (the liberals true home) 3) not to downplay Vietnam nor Somalia at all.

[Hodar]

Great Post! It's really refreshing when the media actually says something positive about the men and women who have so honorably served our country.

I know what I'll be watching tonight at 8 (Tejas time). If it's as good as the article says, I think it's also Tivo time.

Thanks for the heads up!

[VOA]

Thanks for the heads-up.
There are at least a couple of (relative) islands of sanity at PBS:
1. FrontLine
2. The American Experience
3. NOVA
4. Antiques Roadshow
5. Occassionally good stuff that make it past the PC propograndist corps of PBS...

Sadly, that's about it...now that "Masterpiece Theater" and "Mystery" have gone really boring.

Wonder if any legislator will have the cojones to subtract the amount of
the Kroc (McDonalds fortune) bequest to PBS from their subsidy from the US guvmint...

[zlala]

I agree with your comments about Korea. My father served in the Korean War (also WWII & Vietnam). Rarely is there anything...movies, stories, etc. about Korea.

[zlala]

Wonder if any legislator will have the cojones to subtract the amount of the Kroc (McDonalds fortune) bequest to PBS from their subsidy from the US guvmint...

Thanks for the laugh! No way...that will happen. Wanna bet someone else gets to pad their pocket w/Kroc's $$ (execs).

[RKV]

Please thank your father for his service to our country (I am hoping you still can). WW2, Korea and Vietnam is quite a long record and there aren't too many around today who can say they were for all those actions.

[zlala]

I will gladly pass that message on :-)

[SAMWolf]

Bump

[zlala]

If anyone has the opportunity to see this broadcast (or a re-cast) - take the time. It is well worth it. I am humbled by those that serve to keep me free. Thank you.

[wardaddy]

I just watched it and I'm still wiping my eyes.

My wife sobbed thru a good part of it and I held it together till that black Nam vet spoke of the proudest thing he'd ever done was put his 3 boys thru college and how his wife had just been killed.....whew...that was so painful to watch.

God bless all of them for saving our bacon.

PS: Those two Delta fellows that dropped in to certain death in Mog are beyond heroes in my book.


Thankfully....a gem from an unusual source about REAL FRIGGIN HEROES not media inventions!

Happy Veterans day to all who served and a big thanks.

[archy]

I just watched it and I'm still wiping my eyes.

My wife sobbed thru a good part of it and I held it together till that black Nam vet spoke of the proudest thing he'd ever done was put his 3 boys thru college and how his wife had just been killed.....whew...that was so painful to watch.

God bless all of them for saving our bacon.

PS: Those two Delta fellows that dropped in to certain death in Mog are beyond heroes in my book.

Hope you're not quite yet done with such thoughts....

Shenandoah.

-archy-/-

[Travis McGee]

It just came on, 9PM on the left coast!

[happygrl]

why not Korea?

I wondered the same thing as I watched this moving documentary through tears.

[happygrl]

I held it together till that black Nam vet spoke of the proudest thing he'd ever done was put his 3 boys thru college and how his wife had just been killed.....whew...that was so painful to watch.

That's when I lost it too, wardaddy.

The most moving television that I have seen in a long time.

Thanks for the ping, archy, and for the music.

That is a song that my sisters and I have song for years, in harmony.

What men ! What a story ! What a country we were blessed with, and preserved by such sacrifice and courage.

[archy]

I held it together till that black Nam vet spoke of the proudest thing he'd ever done was put his 3 boys thru college and how his wife had just been killed.....whew...that was so painful to watch.

That's when I lost it too, wardaddy.

Sorry, but there's more sad news, more recent. Yep, I'll be there for the services. He was one of ours.

First this one, then a few more details here....

-archy-/-

Staff Sgt. Morgan DeShawn Kennon, 23, 101 Airborne. Div, KIA 06 October, 2003.

[happygrl]

I'll keep this family in my prayers.

They have suffered far more than their share of tragedy and sorrow.

[wardaddy]

God Bless!!

[wardaddy]

It was quite a poignant moment....one I won't soon forget.

and it came out of the blue....poor man, he certainly loved his wife.