A Television War

Image above: Episodes from the series Vietnam: A Television History on YouTube.

The power of Television

It is often said that the Vietnam War was the first television war - it was televised into our lounge rooms and for the first time the community, young and old could see what war was really about. As a result, there was considerable resistance from sections of the community as the war dragged on and the images of suffering and death continued to be seen on television screens in Australia. Interestingly, no war since Vietnam has had the same coverage in so much detail - compared to the censorship in other wars, including World War 1, the coverage was extensive and very real. It is worth reading the writings and viewing the photojournalism of famous Vietnam war photographers such as the Australian Neil Davis  to get an idea about how close the coverage was to the real action.

As a result of the images captured and stories told about the war, the home front was informed about the nature of war more than ever before.  I wonder if World War 1 and World War 2 would have played out differently if we had television when they occurred?
I really recommend you view the YouTube episodes of the excellent TV Series from 1980's titled, Vietnam: A Television History. Although very much focused on the US, the series provides great information and images to really make us think about their impact at the time.

As you will see above, on the right hand side of the YouTube page for the video there are plenty of great documentaries on Vietnam for you to look at and consider - some quite controversial as we continue to the write the history of the Vietnam War. 

For those of you who really want to immerse yourself in the Vietnam War (and have Netflix), the series called  The Vietnam War: A Film by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick  is pretty amazing. To watch it all is a bit of a marathon (10 episodes @ 1 hour 20 minutes) and very intense but a wonderful documentary of the events and things we will talk and see in Vietnam. A big ask to watch it all but worth a look if you have Netflix. 

Vale John McCain - an amazing story

Image above: John McCain (1936 - 25 August 2018) War hero and politician.

 A link to our days in Hanoi

In the news today I am sure you have heard about Senator John McCain and his death yesterday. John McCain was an outstanding US politician for many years in the American Senate and in recent years he was one of the most outspoken critics of President Trump.  What is the link with our trip I hear you say?

Senator John McCain was a US Navy pilot in the Vietnam War and was shot down over Hanoi in October 1967 (in one of the lakes in Hanoi). With both arms and left leg severely fractured he inflated his life vest using his teeth - these were lifelong injuries. He was then dragged from the lake and beaten before being taken for interrogation. 

Image above: Senator John McCain is pulled out of a Hanoi lake by North Vietnamese army soldiers and civilians on Oct. 26, 1967.


Only after the North Vietnamese found out that his father (as was his Grandfather) was an Admiral in the US Navy did he receive treatment and care. In fact, his father was named Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Command whilst John McCain was in solitary confinement. He was taken prisoner and endured 5 years in the infamous Hilton prison that we visit on our last day in Hanoi.  This prison is often referred to as the "Hanoi Hilton" - an example of black humour, it is a horrible place as you will see.

Image above: The prison we visit in Hanoi where John McCain spent 5 years years, two in solitary confinement. 

The display we see in the prison depicts the prison as some sort of happy resort for prisoners - not the case at all! When pressed for information and names of his fellow service members, McCain instead gave them the names of the Green Bay Packers’ offensive line. One must admire his grit during this time because the North Vietnamese offered McCain to be released ahead of other prisoners, in an attempt to show the world that they were merciful, and also to prove to other prisoners that high-ranking officials would always receive preferential treatment. Staying true to the military Code of Conduct, McCain refused the special treatment, and as a result, was severely beaten for several years for declining the offer. He was finally released on March 14, 1973. 

Image above: Receiving a medal from President Nixon after his release from the Hanoi prison in 1973

He is certainly considered a war hero due the way he dealt with his terrible imprisonment over a long period - his service before 1967 is quite a read as well.

Image above: Lieutenant McCain (front right) with his squadron and T-2 Buckeye trainer, 1965

As a measure of the man, in 2000 as a Senator in the US Government John McCain returned to Vietnam and visited the lake he crashed into and the prison he was incarcerated. Over the years he became a strong advocate for normalising ties between Communist Vietnam and the United States.  During his visit in 2000 he said:

"I put the Vietnam War behind me a long time ago," he said. "I harbor no anger, no rancor."

John McCain retired as a Captain in the US Navy in 1981. In civilian life John McCain was elected to the US House of Representatives in 1982 and then the US Senate in 1987. Although a Republican and conservative in nature, McCain gained a reputation for being outspoken, often disagreeing with his party on a variety of issues. In 2008 he ran for the US Presidency and was defeated by Barrack Obama - after that he continued to serve as a Senator until his death. Click here to see the copious legislative reforms he was involved in during his 36 years as a serving politician. In fact, only last year he struggled into the Senate after punishing treatment for his brain cancer (2 weeks after the operation) to vote against the attempts to get rid of the health care (Obamacare) brought in by President Obama.

Regardless of your politics, John McCain must be admired as a war hero, man of principle and servant of the people as a politician. He certainly did not deserve Donald Trump saying during the 2015 Presidential campaign about John McCain that:

“He’s not a war hero. He’s a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren’t captured.” 

Read what you can about this amazing man - it will make your visit to the "Hanoi Hilton" on 11 October even more poignant and meaningful.

Vale John McCain

Some pieces to think about re: war and service

Image above: A Think Piece from Veterans SA on Long Tan

Veterans SA Think Pieces

Although not only on Vietnam, I really recommend you have a look at the Veterans SA fantastic Think Piece series at http://anzaccentenary.sa.gov.au/stories/think-piece-series/

The ‘Think Pieces’ are short discussion articles written by eminent South Australians, veterans, defence personnel, military historians, authors, academics, educators, journalists and other specialists who have a particular interest and/or expertise in the Anzac Centenary and in Australia’s military history. The objective of the series is to offer different perspectives on the Anzac Centenary, its significance and meaning. Have a look at the archive of the excellent articles posted - there are plenty of great stories written since 2015 when Veterans SA started the series.
Interestingly the stories in the archives have been classified in accordance with some of the Spirit of Anzac characteristics that we have talked about during this competition.

The power of photography

Image above: Part of the photo of the Napalm Girl taken by Nick Ut Cong Huynh in 1972 outside the village of Trang Bang in Vietnam.

The Napalm Girl

Written by Cendall Slattery - teacher chaperone on the 2016 Premier's ANZAC Spirit School Prize tour to Vietnam)

You may have seen in the news in 2015 that the Norwegian Prime Minister, Erna Solberg (along with many other leaders) accused Facebook of 'editing history' after it chose to censor the Pulitzer Prize winning photo of Kim Phuc, more commonly known as 'Napalm Girl'. The image shows Kim and four other local children fleeing after a napalm bomb was dropped on her village in the south of Vietnam. As Kim is naked in the photograph, Facebook removed it in line with their community standards. After much debate and criticism, Facebook has now decided to allow the image to be shared, stating that 'Because of its status as an iconic image of historical importance, the value of permitting sharing outweighs the value of protecting the community by removal, so we have decided to reinstate the image on Facebook where we are aware it has been removed."

The photo was taken in 1972 and is considered a defining image of the realities and devastation of communities during the Vietnam War. Kim was just 9 years old at the time. Debate still occurs, however, regarding the power of this photo for strengthening the anti-war sentiments on the home front in USA and Australia. A simple Google search will leave you with various articles debating each side. 

The ABC's report of the Facebook censorship event (as well as a copy of the image itself) can be found here:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-10/facebook-reverses-move-to-censor-napalm-girl-photo/7832894

The photo is also on display at the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City, which is on our itinerary to visit on Day 1. It certainly inspires a lot of discussion, particularly around the circumstances in which the bomb came to be dropped on her village of Trang Bang, and the impact of the war on locals. 

I have since taken to reading about Kim's life since the attack - it is a very fascinating story. She was inspired to study medicine after the treatment she received for her burns, but her plans were halted by the government who wanted to use her as a symbol of the war. In her 20s, she sought asylum in Canada, and has since become a citizen, and now tours the world speaking about her experience. 

She works with victims who have sustained injuries through means of attack (eg. acid attacks) to help them find forgiveness and confidence. She has also established a foundation to help child victims of war. In 2008, she read her essay "Long Road to Forgiveness" on NPR's "All Things Considered" 

A very inspiring and insightful story - thanks Cendall.

Vietnam Veterans Day this weekend - What is Long Tan all about?

 

Image above: Commemoration ceremony and dedication of memorial cross on the site of the Battle of Long Tan. The Battle of Long Tan took place in a rubber plantation near Long Tân, in Phước Tuy Province, South Vietnam,  The battle took place over the days 18 August – 19 August, 1966 (52 year ago this weekend). Vietnam Veterans Day tomorrow https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/blog/vietnam-veterans-day Vietnam Veterans Day is commemorated on 18 August every year. The day was originally known as Long Tan Day, chosen to commemorate the men of D Company, 6RAR who fought in the battle of Long Tan in 1966. On that day, 108 Australian and New Zealand soldiers fought a pitched battle against over 2,000 North Vietnamese and Viet Cong troops in a rubber plantation not far from the small village of Long Tan. The Australians prevailed, but only after fighting in torrential rain for four hours. They were nearly overrun, but were saved by a timely ammunition resupply, accurate artillery fire from the nearby Australian base, and the arrival of reinforcements by armoured personnel carrier. Eighteen Australians lost their lives and 24 were wounded, the largest number of casualties in one operation since the Australian task force had arrived a few months earlier. After the battle the bodies of 245 enemy soldiers were found, but there was evidence that many more bodies had been carried away.   This time in 2016, you may remember that the Battle of Long Tan was in the news for a range of reasons. It was the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan and many Australians who travelled to the memorial site could not enter. Many of those excluded were Australian soldiers who had fought in the battle and felt somewhat disturbed that they could not commemorate their mates that fell at that spot. As always, as a contestable issue there are two sides to the story - sides that we discussed when we were in Vietnam several weeks later. As you know this is again a part of our tour and it would be great if you had some detailed background on the battle and the commemoration activities. We will be conducting a Memorial Service at the site when we visit - led by Cheryl. In fact, this is the only official memorial service we participate in because there are no other memorials to Australian soldiers in Vietnam. We will however have informal moments of commemoration at nights when you present the soldier you have researched. I recommend that you listen and/or watch the links below that provide some excellent backgrounding to the Battle of Long Tan and the controversy from 2016. What do you think? Videos to watch about the Battle of Long Tan ... and other aspects of the Vietnam War for Australians https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uODWvj8aP-Q&t=13s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nsbMhY5r6w https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1YEaJ6ZCJQ ... and many more at: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=long+tan

Music brings it all back like a flash!

Image above: Photographer: Richard William Crothers. Nui Dat, South Vietnam. 1967. Young South Australian singer, Bev Harrell, performs on stage for about 1,500 diggers at the Task Force Base during the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) Christmas concert.

The power of music for recollection

At our recent briefing, Bob Kearney made a poignant statement in relation to his time in Vietnam and now. Bob said that the thing that hits him the most is when he hears the music of the time and how it takes him back there. In response, Elspeth has done an incredible job in putting together a Songbook for the tour. The book contains information on many of the songs of the Vietnam War era and we will be able to listen and maybe even sing them on the trip. Among the student group I understand we have some musical individuals, so the work of Elspeth will add a soundtrack to our trip.  Thanks greatly Espleth!!

 The poster for the 1987 movie 'Good Morning Vietnam'.

If you have not already done so, we suggest you watch the great 1987 movie titled ‘Good Morning Vietnam’. I know many of you would have already seen the movie but some of the scenes with the music of the time playing on the radio really gives an insight to the importance of the musical link with home for the soldiers and nurses. Robin Williams is amazing in the role of the DJ Adrian Cronauer (loosely based on the truth) and it really is one of those iconic movies from the 80’s (about the 60’s and 70’s in Vietnam).  

In relation to the Songbook, Elspeth writes:

It’s been a pleasure curating this collection of songs to help us feel immersed in the pop culture of the Vietnam War. The idea came to me on the day when we met the Premier: Bob Kearney said it’s songs that make him recall the war, more so than the typical sound of ‘choppers’, and a lot of the prize winners introduced themselves as musos. Personally, I knew a little about Normie Rowe’s story and enjoy listening to his music.

This is the link to follow the playlist in Spotify: https://goo.gl/Hrsvwp

You may be able to download the songs to your phone before the trip, so that you can listen to them without internet access on our flights and in Vietnam. Hopefully we will also be able to connect my phone to the bus stereo to listen to them together if we want.

Photographer: David Reginald Coombe. Phuoc Tuy province. May 1969. Trooper Norman J. (Normie) Rowe of Melbourne, Vic., with nine year old Vietnamese girl, Ha Tri Van Xuyen Moc. Trooper Rowe is a member of A Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment, Royal Australian Armoured Corps.

Here is a list of some of the songs I have identified for us to listen to on the trip via Spotify.

Track 1: Khe Sanh by Cold Chisel (1978)

Track 2: I Was Only 19 by Redgum (1983)

Track 3: I Was Only 19 cover by The Herd featuring John Schumann (2005)

Track 4: The Wild One by Johnny O’Keefe (1959)

Track 5: He's My Blonde‐Headed, Stompie Wompie, Real Gone Surfer Boy by Little Pattie (1963)

Track 6: Ngarra Burra Ferra from The Sapphires: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2012)

Track 7: It Ain’t Necessarily So by Normie Rowe and the Playboys (1965)

Track 8: Shakin’ All Over by Normie Rowe and the Playboys (1965)

Track 9: Que Sera, Sera by Normie Rowe and the Playboys (1965)

Track 10: Smiley by Ronnie Burns (1969)

Track 11: You Can’t Hurry Love by The Supremes (1966)

Track 12: Green, Green Grass of Home by Tom Jones (1967)

Track 13: We Gotta Get Out of This Place by The Animals (1965)

Track 14: I Feel Like I’m Fixin’ To Die Rag by Country Joe and the Fish (1967)

Track 15: Leaving on a Jet Plane by Peter, Paul, and Mary (1969)

Track 16: Detroit City by Bobby Bare (1963)

Track 17: Purple Haze by The Jimi Hendrix Experience (1967)

Track 18: Fortunate Son by Creedence Clearwater Revival (1969)

Track 19: (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay by Otis Redding (1968)

Track 20: The Letter by The Box Tops (1967)

Track 21: Chain of Fools by Aretha Franklin (1967)

Track 22: Say It Loud—I’m Black and I’m Proud by James Brown (1968)

Track 23: These Boots Are Made for Walkin’ by Nancy Sinatra (1966)

Track 24: What’s Going On by Marvin Gaye (1970)

Track 25: Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash (1963)

Track 26: And When I Die by Blood, Sweat, and Tears (1969)

Track 27: My Girl by The Temptations (1965)

Track 28: Reflections of My Life by Marmalade (1969)

Track 29: The Ballad of the Green Berets by SSgt Barry Sadler (1966)

Track 31: Blowin’ in the Wind by Bob Dylan (1963)

Track 32: I Ain’t Marching Anymore by Phil Ochs (1965)

Track 33: Eve of Destruction by Barry McGuire (1965)

Track 34: Lyndon Johnson Told the Nation by Tom Paxton (1965)

Track 35: Waist Deep in the Big Muddy by Pete Seeger (1967)

Track 36: Alice’s Restaurant Massacree by Arlo Guthrie (1967)

Track 37: Backlash Blues by Nina Simone (1967)

Track 38: Saigon Bride by Joan Baez (1967)

Track 39: Handsome Johnny by Richie Havens (1967)

Track 40: 2+2=? by The Bob Seger System (1968)

Track 41: Imagine by John Lennon (1971)

Track 42: Vietnam by Jimmy Cliff (1970)

Track 43: Ohio by Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young (1970)

Track 44: War by Edwin Starr (1970)

Elspeth also recommends:

The Vietnam War: A Film by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick (2017)
The Soundtrack: Original Score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
Music by The Silkroad Ensemble with Yo‐Yo Ma
Available on Spotify