Atlanta Veterans Attempt to Set the Record Straight on Vietnam War
Correcting History’s Misperceptions
In a bold move to challenge misperceptions and rewrite the narrative of the Vietnam War, a group of Atlanta veterans has taken action. The Atlanta Vietnam Veterans Business Association has crafted a documentary in response to the wave of misinformation and the lack of factual data about the war that ended half a century ago.
The Journey to Change the Narrative
The Vietnam War was a chapter of American history that involved years of conflict and the toll of over 58,220 American lives. While the Greatest Generation honored their country in World War II, their successors — now dubbed as the Not-So-Great Generation — got involved in a war that long stoked public controversy.
The journey to Vietnam began with about 9,000 troops sent during the Kennedy administration in the mid-’50s. This deployment quickly escalated and by 1967, there were over 400,000 American troops in the South Vietnam. Veterans of the conflict, like those of AVVBA, are now working tirelessly not only to correct public misunderstanding but also to combat the perception that the war was unwinnable.
The Trigger: “Truths and Myths About the Vietnam War”
The AVVBA was prompted to take action following American filmmaker Ken Burns’ 10-part series on the Vietnam War which, in their view, was skewed against the war and the soldiers who fought in it. Despite Burns not having lived through the experience himself, his narrative seemed to dominate public perception. In response, the AVVBA produced a film entitled, “Truths and Myths About the Vietnam War,” a 47-minute documentary that sheds light on the realities veterans experienced first-hand. Presented by actor Sam Elliot, the documentary premiered on AVVBA YouTube channel.
Grains of Truth
The Atlanta Vietnam Veteran’s Business Association notes that many myths about the Vietnam War persist, unchallenged, in academia and news media. The information surrounding the war history is often either incomplete or incorrect, and newly available data has not been sufficiently disseminated. For these Atlanta veterans, the mission has become to provide facts that address the skewed historical perspective on the Vietnam War.
While some deny that Vietnamese soldiers were underappreciated upon returning home or that they experienced ill treatment such as being spat on, AVVBA argues that these claims grossly miss the truth. Their documentary includes accounts by veterans who experienced such disrespect, providing evidence against these denials.
Skewed Perceptions and Reactions
The documentary also sheds light on controversial figures like John Kerry, who testified in 1971 about American soldiers engaging in horrific acts against the Vietnamese, only to dismiss these comments 30 years later as quotes from an “angry young man.” Narratives such as these and the dramatic flip of CBS newsman Walter Cronkite, who first called the Tet offensive a “major success,” then labeled the war as “unwinnable” just 13 days later, have contributed to the fraught perception of the Vietnam War.
Departing Thoughts
The Atlanta Vietnam Veterans Business Association has striven to present an accurate side of the story about the Vietnam War, earning endorsements from distinguished individuals such as James Livingston and Patrick H. Brady, both Medal of Honor recipients of the Vietnam War. The goal, according to AVVBA, is not just to correct the historical record but also to honor those who served, their dependents and the widows and orphans of deceased Vietnam veterans. This is a mission well on the path to completion.
