A Long Way Home For The Truth About Vietnam Veterans

VFW.org ^ | March 2003 issue | Susan Katz Keating

[Chi-townChief]

For two Vietnam veteran film producers, the quest to convey the facts about vets of that war has become their personal crusade. But those in the "mainstream" media are determined to perpetuate the negative stereotypes.

Shortly after receiving a prestigious international award last year for producing a documentary television series, three Colorado- based filmmakers thought that our nation was finally ready to hear their message about the Vietnam War and its veterans.

"For too long, America has been given a distorted view about Vietnam," says director Calvin Crane, whose four-part series, The Long Way Home Project, takes particular aim against negative misconceptions about Vietnam veterans. "We wanted to cut through the myth and the fantasy, and tell the truth after all these years."

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The first episode, Men versus Myth, addresses misconceptions about men who served in Vietnam. The second part, How We Won the War, shows battlefield victories that are commonly portrayed as defeats. How We Lost the War depicts the Left's wartime betrayal of America. The fourth episode, The New Diaspora, shows the struggles of the Vietnamese people who were left to deal with the aftermath of their country's defeat by Communist forces.

The series earned high praise from historians and veterans alike. Former Persian Gulf War commander, retired Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf, agreed to appear on camera as a host in the beginning segment of each episode.

In his introduction, Schwarzkopf says: "The Long Way Home Project will give all viewers a powerful new perspective on the events that shaped that war and the men who fought it."

But media buyers simply did not agree. They wanted the perspective of the North Vietnamese and the American anti-war protestors--a perspective the filmmakers say has been well presented.

"They've had their say," Martinez says. "But we have another story that needs to get out to the American public."

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[Chi-townChief]

Somehow, I don't think this project is getting too much "mainstream" publicity.

[cinFLA]

Thanks for the post. On "The Quiet American". The book author was from England and although formerly MI6, turned communist, as did his boss, who also fled to the USSR. The author (Greene) was barred from entering the USA in 1952 (the same year the story is based). The first "Quiet American" was a pro-US movie starring Audie Murphy and Greene was upset at the distortion of his anti-US book. BTW, the present Vietnam government gave it two-thumbs up.

[JoeSixPack1]

But media buyers simply did not agree. They wanted the perspective of the North Vietnamese and the American anti-war protestors-

In other words-- dress it up so it follows the story line they set out 25 years ago or go jump in the lake! ANd for goodness sake don't tell the public about how our politicians shut down the air-war long before the ground war and left us out to dry (dry, what a nice thought). And never let on how every single enlistee (that I ever knew) enlisted in part BECAUSE of the anti-war protesting slime they were disgusted with. As much then, as we are disgusted with them today.

[oh8eleven]

Semper Fi bump. Thanks for posting.
RVN '67-'68

[Countyline]

Someone like Bruce Willis or Mel Gibson might produce it. They are not afraid of standing up for and by the President. They have influnce with money people and a voice for America. Send it to them ... ask for their assistance. There are others, only most don't want to risk deep sixing their careers. Nothing ventured nothing gained.

Not to mention the possibility of going the "Left Behind" video way; that first was produced and released from the video stores. Then the plan is to build a following and then bring it to the movies. The second "Left Behind #2" followed about a year after the first. Good idea that seems to be working for their series.

It has come to far to allow it to languish now. I would very much like to see it on TV as a series on the history channel too.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

The Long Way Home Project

[eleni121]

Thanks so much for this article and news. Coincidentally I am teaching two film courses this semseter and some of the students are brainwashed left wingers. This week we are doing the topic: Hollywood and the War Film. I have a lecture outline planned but this story will assist me in demonstrating to the "activist" in class that the media is controlled in large part by the left wing.

If anyone has any input to my lecture on Modnay please please feel free to assist.

[RangerVetNam]

Thanks for this post. This is a project long overdue.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Excerpts from Stolen Valor: How The Vietnam Generation Was Robbed Of its Heroes And its History by B.G. Burkett & Glenna Whitley :

Part I - Rambo and the Bogus War Heroes
Part II - Welcome Home, Babykiller
Part III - Will the Real Vietnam Vet Stand Up?
Part VI - The VVA - The Vietnam Victims of America

[JoeSixPack1]

Excerpt:---That they were not “victims” but raised their families and became America’s community and business leaders is the amazing inspirational message of “Men Versus Myth”.

This is one of the real reasons the true stories of VN will never see daylight in our "open" press. It would completely destroy the lefts hold on victimization and plantation racism as a lifestyle.

and that's just the icing AFTER Nixon brought everything to an end.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

I just saw this issue at a doctors office today. I then read it online and knew someone had posted this on FR. Thanks.

(I was about to post this article, but didn't want SMEDLEY to spank me) :o)

[RedBloodedAmerican]

I was entering my teens during Nam. I had an older sister who at the time was a Zippy and protested the war, so that was most of my young (up to 10 yrs) knowledge of it. I didn't understand it all, but knew it was not the soldiers fault, and never did like the protests I heard of.
I grew up with the air of 'nam vets are societal outcasts (which is not true), thanks in part to much of the media.
Then when I got my first "real" job, working for a Govt contractor, almost ALL the men I worked with had served in Nam. One supervisor was a door gunner on a Huey and did 4 tours. My closest friend while working there was in Nam almost the entire time is was on. All these men are quality individuals, and I knew them only 10 years after it ended. The more I read about it and meet people, and get info (such as Aloha Ronnies website and info on IA DRANG) the more I realize how unspeakable the hurt must have been to come home to (many) people who rejected them. Men without a country. It's kind of like cancer. You don't really understand or fathom what it is and does until you go through it yourself.

All this to say: I appreciate this article, and the VFW more than I did before.

Ok, end of rant. :o)

[ALOHA RONNIE]

NEVER FORGET


HILLARY RODHAM
BILL CLINTON

aided our Terrorist Enemy HO CHI MINH's Communist Victory over US and FREEDOM during the Vietnam War.

...And our Hero Young Soldiers paid the Price.

...These 2 Anti-U.S. Activists still cling to Power and want more in the Future as they again call our Commander-in-Chief a Liar in Time of War, just like they did during the last Century.

...During the entire Vietnam War HO CHI MINH's North Vietnam Communist Propaganda kept telling the World that there was not a single of its North Vietnam Army Soldiers fighting inside South Vietnam.

HILLARY RODHAM
BILL CLINTON
agreed.

---

Novemeber 15, 1965 =

Photo of our first 2 North Vietnam Army Soldier POW's at the Battle of the IA DRANG Valley, taken 8 Miles inside a then Free South Vietnam =

'Ronnie Guyer Photo Collection'

http://www.lzxray.com/guyer_collection.htm

*See Last Photo / Photo Set No. 3


NEVER FORGET

[RedBloodedAmerican]

[Coleus]

`

[SAMWolf]

Thanks for the ping, Coleus.

Chi-townChief thanks for posting this. A great find, I hope this sees the light of day. You'd figure the History Channel would pick this up.

[snippy_about_it]

Thanks SAM. Bookmarked.

[sheikdetailfeather]

My brother fought in Vietnam and also the first Gulf War in Iraq. He has described situations in Vietnam which are riveting and only by the fine training of our military mixed with the miracle of God protecting him is he still with us today. He blames the politicians for the way things went then and also the left. He agrees that the truth about Vietnam has not been told.

[bluesagewoman]

And some folks wonder why we try to counter the peaceniks today! Thanks for the ping.

[man of Yosemite]

The guys who went to Nam were a bunch of young idealists who grew up on John Wayne and all the stories of Americans in WW2, fighting to bring an end to evil. What they found was a level of incompetance that was absolutely debilitating, thrusting men to despair of the ideals they had hoped to promote. I was part of the supply line on Okinawa, sending ships filled with bombs into the theatre. It was so poorly run at all levels, that you just shook your head and reached for some drug to help you forget the embarrassment of it all. I came home a disillusioned drug addict with an identity crises that lasted for years. I had little respect for the leadership of the army back in those days. Let's hope it's better now. We should have won that war if it hadn't been for the fear of a major war with China. They pussy-footed around and got a bunch of guys killed for nothing, half-stepping their way towards humiliation. I can still sense that demon of Despair even when I look back to those days.