Inside the Vietnam War (National Geographic Channel Special)

National Geographic Channel ^ | 2-18-08 | Program Announcement

[smoothsailing]

Inside the Vietnam War [TV-14 LSV Ratings N/A]

Monday, February 18, 2008, at 08P

Inside the Vietnam War takes you inside covert operations, gives you a seat at the military strategy table and lets you witness the emotional toll of war through the eyes of the soldiers and the pilots who undertook dozens of death-defying missions. Woven together with testimonials from more than 50 Vietnam veterans, archival audio and video footage, and never-before-seen photos, the special features the harrowing firsthand accounts of the brave men and women who lived through the war.

5 minute preview video...Battle at Ia Drang

[smoothsailing]

And this from the Corner at National Review... Vietnam in Balance [John J. Miller]

Occasional NROnik Mark Moyar recommends a new program on the Vietnam War, airing tonight:

The documentary "Inside the Vietnam War" airs Monday, February 18, at 8 pm EST on the National Geographic Channel. Having served as the documentary's principal consultant, I believe that it provides a much more balanced treatment of Vietnam veterans than previous documentaries.

The Corner

[smoothsailing]

Ping.

[SandRat]

*snif* - wish Tonk were here to give his always sage and unique comments on this. - *snif*

[BeAllYouCanBe]

“The documentary “Inside the Vietnam War” airs Monday”

I will rate this based on the 5 minute trailer:

Political Correctness: 7
Historical Accuracy: 8
News Footage that correlates with the story: 2
Left leaning whinnying: 9
General lack of what this special is about: 1

[spanalot]

Yeah - I dont expect much from National Geographic as they are all pretty far on the left.

[Kathy in Alaska]

He surely would have had something to say.

[indcons]

To all: please ping me to threads that are relevant to the MilHist list (and/or) please add the keyword "MilHist" to the appropriate thread. Thanks in advance.

Please FREEPMAIL indcons if you want on or off the "Military History (MilHist)" ping list.

[Lexington Green]

Once again we will hear how the unjust imperialist war shattered the delicate psyches of all American fighting men, leaving an entire generation emotionally crippled.

[GATOR NAVY]

The National Geographic Channel often surprises me. Despite crap like the recent “Six Degrees Could Change the World” it’s not near as greenie pussified as the magazine.

[jazusamo]

Major Bruce P. Crandall
Medal Of Honor

Citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty:

Major Bruce P. Crandall distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism as a Flight Commander in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company A, 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). On 14 November 1965, his flight of sixteen helicopters was lifting troops for a search and destroy mission from Plei Me, Vietnam, to Landing Zone X-Ray in the la Drang Valley. On the fourth troop lift, the airlift began to take enemy fire, and by the time the aircraft had refueled and returned for the next troop lift, the enemy had Landing Zone X-Ray targeted. As Major Crandall and the first eight helicopters landed to discharge troops on his fifth troop lift, his unarmed helicopter came under such intense enemy fire that the ground commander ordered the second flight of eight aircraft to abort their mission. As Major Crandall flew back to Plei Me, his base of operations, he determined that the ground commander of the besieged infantry batallion desperately needed more ammunition. Major Crandall then decided to adjust his base of operations to Artillery Firebase Falcon in order to shorten the flight distance to deliver ammunition and evacuate wounded soldiers. While medical evacuation was not his mission, he immediately sought volunteers and with complete disregard for his own personal safety, led the two aircraft to Landing Zone X-Ray. Despite the fact that the landing zone was still under relentless enemy fire, Major Crandall landed and proceeded to supervise the loading of seriously wounded soldiers aboard his aircraft. Major Crandall's voluntary decision to land under the most extreme fire instilled in the other pilots the will and spirit to continue to land their own aircraft, and in the ground forces the realization that they would be resupplied and that friendly wounded would be promptly evacuated. This greatly enhanced morale and the will to fight at a critical time. After his first medical evacuation, Major Crandall continued to fly into and out of the landing zone throughout the day and into the evening. That day he completed a total of 22 flights, most under intense enemy fire, retiring from the battlefield only after all possible service had been rendered to the Infantry battalion. His actions provided critical resupply of ammunition and evacuation of the wounded. Major Crandall's daring acts of bravery and courage in the face of an overwhelming and determined enemy are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

[andyandval]

NGC Mon, Feb 18

11:00 PM Inside the Vietnam War

NGC Sun, Feb 24

4:00 PM Inside the Vietnam War

NGC Mon, Feb 25

4:00 PM Inside the Vietnam War

More airtimes.

[geopyg]

Thank you for your post. And thanks to Major Crandall for his service.

And for his patience for his Medal of Honor 35+ years later???

[19th LA Inf]

That sure looks like Engineer brass on his lapels. But as I recall from the late 1950s, there was no Army Aviation branch as such, and pilots might be from any of them. A few that I knew well were Signal Corps and were involved in operational testing of ground mapping radar systems. I have no idea how this works nowadays. To me back then, all Army pilots were direct heirs of the pioneer days of aviation (not Zoomies!)

[smoothsailing]

Thanks for posting, Jaz!

[smoothsailing]

I miss Tonk alot. He was one of my first buddies at FR.

[smoothsailing]

Thanks, I didn’t know you had a ping list, but will remember in the future!

[jazusamo]

I believe the Army took people from any MOS in the early sixties for Helo training, there was an intensive recruitment program. If a person signed a six year enlistment and could pass the flight entrance exam they’d take you, if I recall correctly.

[SandRat]

Me Too.

[rlmorel]

"...the unjust imperialist war shattered the delicate psyches of all American fighting men, leaving an entire generation emotionally crippled..."

And this is different from how they are trying to portray our military today...how?

Makes me sick, and I have zero faith that National Geographic will change their spots just for this.

[BeAllYouCanBe]

“To me back then, all Army pilots were direct heirs of the pioneer days of aviation (not Zoomies!)”

Actually we felt and believed that we were part of the Army Air Corps. The same Air Corp group that bombed Berlin, Dresden, Frankfurt in WW II. If you were to see 300 helicopters involved in a operation you would understand. My own aviation company in Vietnam was called the Tigers and we were allowed to use the same tiger insignia that the Flying Tigers used in China.

No pilot had any special brass but many were artillery as I remember. Crew chiefs like me all wore Transportation brass because we were transportation soldiers. Actually, we were Aviation Soldiers.