Proud to Serve: The Men and Women of the U.S. Army (Cronkite alert)

kqed.org, knpb.org, others ^ | May 31, 2004 | KQED

[risk]

Proud To Serve: The Men and Women of the U.S. Army

“It is the soldier, not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press
It is the soldier, not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech

It is the soldier, not the campus organizer,
who has given us freedom to demonstrate

It is the soldier, not the lawyer,
who has given us a right to a fair trial

It is the soldier who salutes the flag,
who serves under the flag,
whose coffin is draped by the flag,
who allows the protester to burn the flag.
— Charles Province

Notes from KNBP's Channel 5 February schedule:

Proud To Serve: The Men and Women of the U.S. Army salutes the men and women who dedicate their lives to protecting the United States. Through reflections and personal stories of sacrifice and service, this program profiles the camaraderie and pride shared among those who engage in active combat. It also illustrates the lives of those who work behind the scenes such as clerks, translators, and mechanics.

Hosted by the legendary Walter Cronkite, Proud To Serve: The Men and Women of the U.S. Army features moving interviews with over 20 veterans including former Senator Bob Dole; American Legion Past-National Commander Joe Frank, basketball star and Army “brat” Shaquille O’Neal; Korean War veteran and “G.I. Joe” creator Don Levine; Operation Iraqi Freedom POW Jessica Lynch; and many others.

Interviews with veterans and current service men and women provide an intimate glimpse into the life of a soldier, including the rigors of basic training, the risks of combat, the possibility of becoming a POW, and the fear of death. For all the many different reasons they join — they are united in their efforts to uphold and protect the rights of citizenship of all Americans.

In moving testimony, the interviewees describe the importance of teamwork, responsibility and commitment in their roles as soldiers. The army works to develop a group with, as featured Drill Sergeant David Floyd puts it, “one spirit, one mind, one body” and emphasizes honor in sacrifice and courage in defending America.

SF Bay Area Channel and Airdate:	Channel 9 Mon, May 31, 2004 -- 2:00pm

This program salutes the men and women who dedicate their lives to the United States military. Through reflections and personal stories of sacrifice and adventure, it profiles the camaraderie and pride shared among those in active combat. It also illustrates the lives of those who work behind the scenes such as clerks, translators, and mechanics. Interviews include veteran and former Senator Bob Dole; basketball star and Army brat Shaquille O'Neal; Korean War veteran and "G.I. Joe" creator Don Levine; Operation Iraqi Freedom POW Jessica Lynch; and many others.

RELATED: A Cronkite Retrospective in Links

NewsMax: Walter Cronkite Denounces [Operation Iraqi Freedom], by Notra Trulock Thursday, April 10, 2003
museum.tv: Cronkite, Walter - U.S. Broadcast Journalist. Post-Tet quote: "It seems now more certain than ever," he said, "that the bloody experience of Vietnam is a stalemate."
Erin McLaughlin, College of the Holy Cross: Television Coverage of the Vietnam War and the Vietnam Veteran Quote: "Veterans understand what really occurred in the jungles of Vietnam, and only they can compare the truth to what was portrayed on television."
Dakota Freedom: General Giap / Vietnam / Walter CronkiteA Cronkite retrospective: Then, [the VC] heard Walter Cronkite [during Tet]

[risk]

Cronkite uses this "patriotic" vehicle to repeatedly float the idea that domestic political support for troops and commitment to their military objectives are separate notions.

[risk]

Related: a Cronkite Retrospective in Links

NewsMax: Walter Cronkite Denounces [Operation Iraqi Freedom], by Notra Trulock Thursday, April 10, 2003

museum.tv: Cronkite, Walter - U.S. Broadcast Journalist. Famous post-Tet quote: "It seems now more certain than ever," he said, "that the bloody experience of Vietnam is a stalemate."

Erin McLaughlin, College of the Holy Cross: Television Coverage of the Vietnam War and the Vietnam Veteran Quote: "Veterans understand what really occurred in the jungles of Vietnam, and only they can compare the truth to what was portrayed on television."

Dakota Freedom: General Giap / Vietnam / Walter CronkiteA Cronkite retrospective: Then, [the VC] heard Walter Cronkite [during Tet]

[risk]

I saw this "memorial" to our veterans and I was struck that we're seeing a contemporary strategy of whitewashing the destructive power of the media as it was exerted during Vietnam. Pelosi appears several times with free PBS media exposure at the memorial day concert on the same day she tells Russert that we should use the U.N. and never should have invaded Iraq. Cronkite narrates veteran-praising program after program never apologizing for handing the victory to the VC when he told America in 1968 that we were losing the war.

I keep thinking that opposition to war is one thing, but irresponsible use of media to express it is another. In the 1960s climate where America was enamored with "hot" media such as TV and film, maybe we didn't know better. But we know now. Yet the students of those media amateurs are playing out their deadly avocation again with this generation.

Who will stop them? Haven't we learned yet?

[ALOHA RONNIE]

.

WE WILL STOP THEM.

WE now have the CLARITY and the audience of the Internet and Conservative Talk Radio/TV to share it with.

.

[SAMWolf]

Bump

[ALOHA RONNIE]

.

Perhaps what some Members of Congress, Governors and Presidents have to say about REALLY makes an American Hero to them in:


'MODERN DAY HEROES: In Defense of America'


will make a difference in people's perceptions of America's real Enemies Within.

http://www.ModernDayHeroes.com

[RottiBiz]

From your Erin McLaighlin link:

Anchors and reporters quickly became trusted, household names because the public turned to them every night for the day's information; Walter Cronkite was even referred to as the "most trusted man in America" throughout the war (Hallin, 1986, p.106).

This trust allowed the opinions and biases of television news personalities to have some influence on the way in which many Americans viewed the war. Thus, Americans increasingly depended on television for images and accurate accounts of the Vietnam War; what they were watching, however, were edited, thirty-minute versions of an extremely complex war.

Cronkite is shameless -- hosting a program honoring those who serve after his unforgivable conduct during the Vietnam War.

Disgusting leftist hypocrite!

[Guywithcat]

Hey all
I produced PROUD TO SERVE. I did it for one reason -- to thank our amazing soldiers. Also, PBS did not commission me to make or distribute the show, American Public Television (aptonline.org) did it with me in conjunction with 5 great American corporations -- Balfour Military Rings, Dell Computer, United Technologies, Vibram Soling, and Veterans Life. Cronkite only hosted. He was hired to do the show and had nothing to do with the script. His politics are not part of the show. Whether you like him or not, I hope you can move past your feelings about him to see that we did a great job of thanking our soldiers! We got zillions of emails from soldiers thanking us from all over the world. And the Army's private TV system has asked to buy the show to run for the soldiers overseas. We also got emails and calls from many many parents and relatives of those KIA. You may not like Cronkite but don't attack PBS or him for what I -- a damn proud American did. And also I will have you ALL KNOW, we asked Rush Limbaugh to help us with the show and he said NO. We asked fox news and they said NO, we asked public television and they said yes.
Andrew Goldberg

[RottiBiz]

Whether you like him or not, I hope you can move past your feelings about him to see that we did a great job of thanking our soldiers!

I'm all for thanking our soldiers and since the soldiers appreciated your effort, that's good enough for me.

I didn't see the show when it aired, but if it comes on again, I will definitely watch it -- now that I know the troops liked it.

Thanks for taking the time to set me straight.

I still will never forgive Cronkite for undermining our troops while they were in Vietnam and contributing to the hostile reception they received when they came home.

[HaveGunWillTravel]

And also I will have you ALL KNOW, we asked Rush Limbaugh to help us with the show and he said NO. We asked fox news and they said NO, we asked public television and they said yes. Andrew Goldberg

Welcome to FreeRepublic, Guywithcat. I just wanted to add that I emailed Jim Robinson twice to ask him for permission to use FreeRepublic as a vehicle to help get the word out when the project was being put together and the money was being raised. He did not respond. At that time, Cronkite had still not been chosen as the narrator and all minds were open to any input.

[donethatalready]

My name is Karen Offutt. I am a female Vietnam veteran, having served in Vietnam from 1969 - 1970. I watched "Proud To Serve" last night and just sat there sobbing. The emotions that I try so hard to keep inside of me, just bubbled out, fresh and raw. It was an amazing documentary and was very well done. You are to be commended for your efforts and a huge thank you to PBS also. I am often told to forget Vietnam and move on. I am now 56 and I can tell you that there just is no forgetting Vietnam, the fear, the tremendous losses. At a time when were are, once again, on the battlefield, how can one forget? I am proud to have served in Vietnam, proud to have been one of a handful of women in history to have received the Soldier's Medal and proud of those who served with me, my brothers and sisters. Living with PTSD and having had children born with cancer, epilepsy, learning disorders and bone defects, from Agent Orange, has not been a blessing, but rather, an everyday reminder of that war. At any rate, I applaud you for providing the public with an overall view of what war really costs.
Thank you.

Karen Offutt
vietnamvetgal@charter.net

[donethatalready]

My name is Karen Offutt. I am a female Vietnam veteran, having served in Vietnam from 1969 - 1970. I watched "Proud To Serve" last night and just sat there sobbing. The emotions that I try so hard to keep inside of me, just bubbled out, fresh and raw. It was an amazing documentary and was very well done. You are to be commended for your efforts and a huge thank you to PBS also. I am often told to forget Vietnam and move on. I am now 56 and I can tell you that there just is no forgetting Vietnam, the fear, the tremendous losses. At a time when we are, once again, on the battlefield, how can one forget? I am proud to have served in Vietnam, proud to have been one of a handful of women in history to have received the Soldier's Medal and proud of those who served with me, my brothers and sisters. Living with PTSD and having had children born with cancer, epilepsy, learning disorders and bone defects, from Agent Orange, has not been a blessing, but rather, an everyday reminder of that war. At any rate, I applaud you for providing the public with an overall view of what war really costs.
Thank you.

Karen Offutt
vietnamvetgal@charter.net