Vietnam: A Television History (1983–…): Season 1, Episode 8 - Vietnam: A Television History - full transcript



¶ YOU'VE LOST
THAT LOVIN' FEELING.

OOH,
THAT LOVIN' FEELING...¶

PILOT #1:
SEE THAT LAST HOOCH DOWN THERE?

PILOT #2:
YEAH.

PILOT #1:
JUST THIS SIDE OF IT

THERE ARE FOUR GUYS
WITH BUSHES ON THEM.

KILL THEM!

PILOT #2:
I'M GOING TO PUT TRACERS
RIGHT HERE.

GO!

CAPTIONING OF THIS PROGRAM
WAS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART



BY THE CORPORATION
FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING

AND PUBLIC TELEVISION STATIONS.

I'D PLANNED TO SPEND CHRISTMAS
IN THE STATES

BUT I CAN'T STAND VIOLENCE.

NARRATOR:
THE BOB HOPE SHOW,
CHRISTMAS 1968.

¶ DALLAS...

¶ HOUSTON...

¶ MEMPHIS...

¶ BOSTON...

¶ ATLANTA...

¶ DENVER...

¶ FRISCO...

DALLAS. ¶

NARRATOR:
PAID WITH AMERICAN AID



ARMED WITH AMERICAN WEAPONS:

SOUTH VIETNAMESE SOLDIERS
ON PATROL IN 1969.

CAPTAIN DO CUONG:
FOREIGNERS DIDN'T UNDERSTAND

THE PSYCHOLOGY
OF THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE SOLDIERS

WHO WERE CARRYING THE GUNS

AND DOING THE FIGHTING.

WE FELT WE HAD TO FIGHT.

WE WERE SPILLING OUR BLOOD

BECAUSE WE FELT
THERE WAS NO OTHER CHOICE.

WE NEVER ACCEPT

ANY FORM OF GOVERNMENT

ANY FORM OF POLICY

THAT THE COMMUNISTS

WOULD LIKE TO IMPOSE ON US

BEFORE THE DECISION
OF ALL SOUTH VIETNAMESE PEOPLE

CAN BE MADE THROUGH FREE CHOICE
AND DEMOCRATIC PROCEDURES

WITHOUT EXTERNAL INTERFERENCE
AND WITHOUT ATROCITIES.

(POP MUSIC IN VIETNAMESE)

NARRATOR:
POP SINGERS LIVENED UP
CONSCRIPTION CAMPAIGNS

WELCOMING DRAFTEES INTO
SOUTH VIETNAM'S ARMED FORCES.

THE MILITARY NUMBERED
MORE THAN A MILLION

BUT EACH WEEK

MORE THAN 2,000 OF ITS TROOPS
DESERTED.

EACH WEEK MORE THAN 400
WERE KILLED.

NARRATOR:
"WE WILL NEVER FORGET YOU
AND YOUR FIGHT FOR FREEDOM"

WAS THE REFRAIN.

THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT

WAS RECOGNIZED
BY MOST WESTERN COUNTRIES.

IT HAD SURVIVED FOR 15 YEARS

ON MORE THAN $100 BILLION
IN U.S. AID.

IT WAS STILL TOTALLY DEPENDENT
ON AMERICA.

BUI DIEM:
WE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS

ABOUT THE IMPACT

OF THE HUGE AMERICAN PRESENCE
IN SOUTH VIETNAM.

WE SOUTH VIETNAMESE--

WE ARE VERY CONCERNED

THAT THE COMMUNISTS

WERE VERY SHREWD

IN TRYING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE

OF THE AMERICAN PRESENCE
IN SOUTH VIETNAM.

THEY SAID THAT WE ARE PUPPET
OF AMERICA--

WE ARE WORKING

FOR AMERICA--

RECEIVE MONEY FROM AMERICA

DIE FOR AMERICA.

WHILE THEY ARE
THE TRUE LIBERATORS.

SO, WHEN YOU LOOK JUST
AT THE SURFACE

A LOT OF PEOPLE
LISTENED TO THEIR PROPAGANDA

AND BELIEVED IT.

BUI DIEM:
THE VIETNAMESE COULDN'T THINK

IN TERMS OF THE AMERICANS
INTERVENING IN SOMETHING

AND NOT SUCCEEDING.

WHEN THEY SAW
THAT THE AMERICANS BUILD

WITH BILLIONS AND BILLIONS
OF DOLLARS

THE AIR STRIPS
IN DANANG AND CAMRANH

EVERYWHERE AROUND THE COUNTRY

THEY COULDN'T THINK
THAT THE AMERICANS

ONCE HAVING COMMITTED
THEIR TROOPS IN VIETNAM

COULD ONE OF THESE DAYS
LEAVE EVERYTHING BEHIND

AND CALL IT QUIT.

NARRATOR:
IN EARLY 1969

1/3 OF THE FORCES DEFENDING
THE SAIGON GOVERNMENT--

HALF A MILLION MEN--

WERE AMERICAN.

AFTER FOUR YEARS IN VIETNAM

AMERICAN COMBAT TROOPS
STILL PURSUED--

AND OFTEN CAUGHT--
AN ELUSIVE ENEMY.

GOT ANOTHER ONE
THAT'S WOUNDED.

SEND ME AN AIRCRAFT.

COME GET THE OTHER ONE, ALSO.

HE'LL PROBABLY DIE

BUT WE GOTTA GET HIM
OUT OF HERE.

NARRATOR:
EVERY AMERICAN

HAD HIS OWN VERSION
OF THE VIETNAM WAR.

THE AVIATION UNITS IN GENERAL

HAD A VERY HIGH ESPRIT DE CORPS.

THE MORALE WAS GOOD.

WE ENJOYED WHAT WE DID.

AND PART OF IT IS DUE

TO THE LOGISTICS
OF BEING A PILOT:

YOU FLY
YOUR MISSION EVERY DAY.

YOU TAKE
VERY PRECARIOUS CHANCES

BUT YOU COME BACK HOME,
YOU HAVE A COMFORTABLE HOOCH.

IT MIGHT BE AIR CONDITIONED.

YOU'VE GOT AN OFFICERS' CLUB

WHERE YOU CAN GET LOADED
EVERY NIGHT.

IT WAS ALMOST LIKE
A NINE-TO-FIVE JOB.

GO OUT AND FIGHT,
COME BACK AND LIVE--

ALMOST LIKE
IN THE STATES.

ALL OF A SUDDEN

ON MY RADIO I HEAR

OUR BATTALION COMMANDER

TELLING ME:

"THERE'S THREE DINKS
TO YOUR WEST.

GO GET 'EM!"

AND I SAID,
"THIS MUST BE BUNKER HILL!"

SO I SAID TO MY MEN:

"OKAY, THE COLONEL SAID
THERE'S THREE DINKS TO OUR WES.

WE'RE GOIN' EAST."

WE WERE WALKING

THROUGH THE VILL

WHEN A SOLDIER CAME UP

AND HE HAD APPARENTLY
HAD SPOTTED

THREE V.C. OR N.L.F.
IN ONE OF THE HOUSES.

SO WE SURROUNDED THE HOUSE.

AND THAT WAS THE STORY
OF "GO GET 'EM!"

AND YOU DON'T JUST
"GO GET" CHARLIE

BECAUSE HE'S A LITTLE FAST.

NONE OF THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE
WHO WERE IN THE PATROL

FIRED AT THESE THREE GUYS.

AND I WAS SCARED STIFF--

I WAS FEELING ALONE
BECAUSE I WAS THE ONLY AMERICAN.

AND SO I PUT MY RIFLE
ON AUTOMATIC.

I JUST FIRED
THE ENTIRE MAGAZINE

AT THESE THREE GUYS.

I KILLED TWO OF THEM.

THERE WERE AREAS

WHERE YOU WEREN'T SUPPOSED
TO FLY OVER.

THERE WERE AREAS WHERE,
IF YOU TOOK FIRE

YOU HAD TO CALL BACK--

MAYBE TO THE COMMANDING GENERAL
OF THE DIVISION--

TO GET PERMISSION
TO FIRE BACK.

NOW, TO ME,
THAT WAS ABSURD.

WE'RE FIGHTING A WAR.

THE AMERICANS GAVE A MEDAL

TO THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE SOLDIER
WHO WAS IN CHARGE OF THE PATROL.

THIS WAS CONSIDERED
"INSTILLING MORALE."

SO HE WAS GIVEN A BRONZE STAR
BY THE AMERICAN ARMY.

AND THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE--

FEELING THE NEED
TO RECIPROCATE THAT--

ENDED UP GIVING ME
A VIETNAMESE CROSS OF GALLANTRY.

I WAS A VERY LUCKY PERSON

TO HAVE
THE PEOPLE I HAD WITH ME

BECAUSE THEY GOT ME THROUGH IT.

AND I WOULD SAY TO THEM:

"YOU HAVE ONE FUNCTION,
AND THAT'S TO PROTECT ME.

BECAUSE I CAN GET YOU
EVERYTHING ELSE."

WE HAD
SOME PRECARIOUS SITUATIONS

AND WE LOST SOME BIRDS
AND WE LOST SOME PEOPLE.

BUT WE ALWAYS WON.

SO TO ME,
WE WERE VERY SUCCESSFUL.

BUT AS I THINK OF IT NOW,
I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE WON.

WE WON A BOX ON A MAP
WHERE THE NEXT DAY, WE LEFT IT

AND WE NEVER CAME BACK,
MAYBE.

NARRATOR:
THE PEACE TALKS IN PARIS

HAD NOT STOPPED THE BOMBING
IN SOUTH VIETNAM.

AMERICAN AIRCRAFT DROPPED

SIX TIMES MORE BOMBS
ON SOUTH VIETNAM

THAN ON THE COMMUNIST NORTH.

MANY TOWNS AND VILLAGES
IN THE SOUTH

WERE DESTROYED

IN ORDER TO DRIVE OUT

THE VIET CONG,
THE NORTH VIETNAMESE

AND THEIR CIVILIAN SUPPORTERS.

THE NUMBER
OF NORTHERNERS CAPTURED

INCREASED

AS MORE OF THEIR MAIN BATTALIONS
MOVED SOUTH.

BUT MOST OF THE ENEMY TROOPS
WERE NATIVE SOUTHERNERS

FIGHTING IN VIET CONG UNITS.

THE DESTRUCTION--
MUCH OF IT DELIBERATE--

CREATED MORE
THAN 3,000,000 REFUGEES.

MOST AMERICAN SOLDIERS SERVED
WITH SUPPORT UNITS

DURING THEIR ONE-YEAR TOURS.

THEIR DAILY ROUTINE
COULD BE BROKEN AT ANY TIME

BY ENEMY ROCKET ATTACKS
OR TERRORISM.

U.S. BASES EMPLOYED

THOUSANDS
OF VIETNAMESE CIVILIANS.

THE JOBS WERE HIGHLY PRIZED.

THE AMERICAN-FINANCED WAR
OVERHEATED THE ECONOMY

CREATING NEW OPPORTUNITIES,
NEW WEALTH

AND A NEW COMMERCIAL CLASS.

NGUYEN NHAN HUU:
BETWEEN 1967 AND 1969

WHEN THE AMERICAN FORCES
WERE STILL IN VIETNAM

IT WAS VERY EASY FOR EVERYONE

TO MAKE MONEY.

TAKE A CERTAIN "MR. A"

WHO WORKED FOR THE AMERICANS.

HE COULD EARN MUCH MORE
THAN AN OFFICIAL COULD EARN

FROM THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE
GOVERNMENT.

MR. A WOULD SPEND MONEY
IN MANY WAYS.

BUI DIEM:
IT WAS SO EASY FOR EVERYONE

TO GET A SHARE OF THE PIE

THAT MONEY WAS
SO EASILY AVAILABLE

THAT IT VERY EASILY CORRUPTED
EVERYONE.

MR. NHAN:
AS FOR BLACK MARKETEERING

I DID NOT SEE
ANYTHING BAD AT ALL.

WHEN PEOPLE BOUGHT GOODS
FROM THE AMERICAN SUPERMARKETS

FOR RESALE,
TO MAKE A LITTLE PROFIT

THEN EVERYBODY SAID

THAT THIS WAS
BLACK MARKETEERING.

BUT TO ME,
THIS WAS NOT BLACK MARKETEERING.

THIS WAS ONLY
A TRANSACTION.

THE PRESS AT THE TIME
TRIED TO BLAME IT

ON VIETNAMESE OFFICIALS
OR VIETNAMESE PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW THAT MOST OF THE GOODS
CAME--

THAT'S SELLING
AT THE BLACK MARKET--

CAME FROM THE VARIOUS P.X.

SO IT'S WARTIME

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE--BOTH SIDE--
AMERICAN AS WELL AS VIETNAMESE

ARE INVOLVING
IN THE BLACK MARKET.

SO IT CREATED
A BIG UPSIDE-DOWN SOCIETY.

NARRATOR:
CHRISTMAS, 1969.

NIXON WAS STEADILY REDUCING

THE NUMBER OF U.S. TROOPS
IN VIETNAM.

IN SOUTH VIETNAM'S TOWNS
AND CITIES--

SWOLLEN WITH REFUGEES--

THE ENEMY STILL PLANTED BOMBS.

CIVILIANS STILL DIED.

BUT BUSINESS WENT ON--
ALL KINDS OF BUSINESS.

I ANSWERED AN AD
IN THE NEWSPAPER

FOR A JOB AS A CASHIER.

WHILE I WAS WORKING THERE

THE WOMAN

WHO OWNED THE ESTABLISHMENT

BOUGHT ME
A LOT OF NEW CLOTHES.

EVERY TIME I LIKED SOMETHING,
SHE BOUGHT IT FOR ME.

I DIDN'T THINK

THAT SHE WAS GOING
TO DEDUCT THESE THINGS

FROM MY SALARY.

BUT AFTER A WHILE,
SHE BEGAN TO DEMAND REPAYMENT.

I BECAME
VERY UPSET AND FLUSTERED.

I DIDN'T KNOW
WHERE I WOULD GET THE MONEY.

THEN SHE SUGGESTED

THAT I OUGHT TO GO
WITH A CERTAIN MAN

WHO WOULD GIVE ME MONEY

SO THAT I COULD REPAY
MY DEBT TO HER.

VIETNAMESE ARE,
BY TRADITION

VERY, VERY RESPECTFUL
OF THEIR FAMILIES, FOR INSTANCE.

BUT BY THE TIME
THOSE PEOPLE

WHO GET THEIR MONEY
THE QUICK WAY--

IF IT HAPPENS

THAT THEY WERE SCOLDED
BY THEIR PARENTS ABOUT IT

THEY BYPASS IT VERY EASILY,
YOU SEE.

THEY THOUGHT
THAT PERHAPS IT IS

THE OPPORTUNITY
OF THEIR LIFE.

PROSTITUTE:
THE MAN ASKED ME

WHETHER I WOULD LIKE
TO GO SOMEPLACE

TO ENJOY MYSELF.

I REPLIED
THAT I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO GO.

THEN HE SUGGESTED

THAT WE GO TO THE TOWN
OF CAN THO.

I THOUGHT

WE WERE GOING TO LIVE TOGETHER
AS HUSBAND AND WIFE.

BUT TO MY SURPRISE

HE STAYED WITH ME
FOR ONLY THREE DAYS.

NGUYEN CAO KY:
PROSTITUTION--

TELL ME, IS SOMEWHERE
IN THIS WORLD

THERE IS NO PROSTITUTION?

TELL ME SOME CITY,
SOME COUNTRY

WHERE THERE IS
NO OSTITUTION.

SO THERE IS PROSTITUTION
IN VIETNAM, IN SAIGON,
OF COURSE.

THERE IS CORRUPTION,
OF COURSE.

THERE IS BLACK MARKET, YES.

AH, BUT, BECAUSE
WE'RE LIVING IN WAR

FOR A LONG TIME--
30 YEARS--

AND WITH THE VAST--
THE BIG PRESENCE

OF FOREIGN TROOPS IN VIETNAM

IT CREATED
A LOT OF SOCIAL PROBLEMS.

MANY OF
THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE WOMEN

SUFFER FROM
AT LEAST ONE TYPE OF V.D.

THE BEST PROTECTION HERE

IS TO ABSTAIN
FROM ALL SEXUAL RELATIONS.

BUT NOT ALL OF YOU
WILL CHOOSE TO DO THIS.

I DON'T KNOW

IF I SHOULD TELL THIS STORY

BUT MY FIRST DAY

WHEN I WENT INTO TOWN

AND I GOT INTO THIS VESPA--

THEY HAD THESE LITTLE TAXIS
THAT THEY CALLED VESPAS.--

I GOT IN

AND THE FIRST THING
THE GUY ASKED ME--

DID I WANT A GIRL?

I SAID, "NO, I'D LIKE
TO SEE THE TOWN FIRST."

AND HE SAID,
"WOULD YOU LIKE..."

AND HE HELD UP THIS BIG PACK
OF WHAT I ASSUMED WAS MARIJUANA.

NOW, I KNOW
IT WAS MARIJUANA.

"G.I., YOU WANT
VIETNAMESE CIGARETTE?

"I TRADE YOU
ONE PACK OF SALEM."

OR "G.I.,
CAN YOU GET ME PHAM?

I GIVE YOU THIS"

AND MAKE ENORMOUS DOPE DEALS.

FOR A BOX OF TIDE,
YOU COULD GET

A CARTON OF PRE-PACKED,
PRE-ROLLED MARIJUANA CIGARETTES

SOAKED IN OPIUM.

FOR $10, YOU COULD GET
A VIAL OF PURE HEROIN

ABOUT THE SIZE
OF A CIGARETTE BUTT.

AND YOU COULD GET LIQUID OPIUM,
SPEED, ACID--

ANYTHING YOU WANTED.

IF I WANTED IT,
IT WAS AVAILABLE.

I COULD EITHER HAVE DRUGS,
OR I COULD HAVE A GIRL.

NOW, LET'S SAY
YOU CAN TURN DOWN A GIRL

OR YOU CAN TURN DOWN
GOING TO A BAR.

WHATEVER
THE TAXIDRIVER OFFERED YOU--

YOU COULDN'T TURN DOWN
EVERY ONE.

THE ONLY DRUGS
I ACTUALLY SAW MEN TAKING

WAS MAYBE SMOKING GRASS--

A LITTLE MARIJUANA
ON A THREE-DAY STAND-DOWN.

WHEN WE CAME BACK
FOR A THREE-DAY STAND-DOWN

BEFORE GOING
ON ANOTHER OPERATION

I WOULD JUST SAY TO THE MEN,
"LOOK, GO GET DRUNK

"FIND A LITTLE VIETNAMESE GIRL,
WHATEVER YOU'RE GOING TO DO.

"IF YOU'RE GOING
TO SMOKE A LITTLE DOPE

DON'T GET CAUGHT."

BUT THEY'D ALWAYS SHOW UP
ON THE THIRD DAY

STRAIGHT.

ANYBODY THAT WASN'T ALERT

COULD COST
THE OTHER GUY HIS LIFE!

NARRATOR:
IN 1971

A CONGRESSIONAL STUDY SAID

THAT DRUGS IN SOUTH VIETNAM
WERE MORE PLENTIFUL

THAN CIGARETTES AND CHEWING GUM.

ANOTHER REPORT ESTIMATED

30,000 AMERICAN HEROIN ADDICTS
IN THE COUNTRY.

NARCOTICS
WERE ERODING DISCIPLINE.

DRUG ABUSE,
CONCLUDED AN OFFICIAL SURVEY

HAD BECOME
A "MILITARY PROBLEM."

¶ BUT THE PUSHER DON'T CARE

¶ IF YOU LIVE
OR IF YOU DIE.

GOD DAMN...¶

NARRATOR:
IN 1969

MORE THAN 9,000 AMERICANS
WERE KILLED IN VIETNAM.

NIXON AIMED
TO REDUCE AMERICAN CASUALTIES

BY "VIETNAMIZING" THE WAR--

LETTING THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE
DO THE FIGHTING.

IN 1970

AS U.S. TROOPS WITHDRAWALS
INCREASED

AMERICAN DEATHS DROPPED
BY MORE THAN 1/2.

ALL OF THE U.S. TROOPS
CANNOT BE WITHDRAWN IN 1970.

IT WILL TAKE MANY YEARS.

AMBASSADOR BUNKER,
GENERAL ABRAMS--

EVERYONE HAVE ASSURE ME

THAT THE U.S. PEOPLE
AND U.S. GOVERNMENT

WILL CONTINUE TO STAY

DETERMINED TO HELP
THE VIETNAMESE PEOPLE AND ARMY

TO DEFEND
THE FREEDOM IN VIETNAM.

GOOOOOD MORNING, VIETNAM.

WELCOME TO DAWN BUSTER.

TODAY IS THE DAY...

NARRATOR:
THE TOTAL NUMBER

OF AMERICANS IN VIETNAM

CONTINUED TO DROP.

BUT AMONG NEW ARRIVALS

ANTI-WAR SENTIMENTS
WERE SPREADING.

MORALE WAS IN DECLINE.

VIETNAM GAVE THE LANGUAGE
A NEW TERM--

"FRAGGING."

IN MORE THAN 200 INCIDENTS
IN 1970

AMERICAN TROOPS TRIED
TO KILL OR WOUND THEIR SUPERIORS

USING
FRAGMENTATION GRENADES.

I HAD AN EXPERIENCE
AND I'LL NEVER FORGET IT.

ON PAYDAY

THE P.X.s OVER THERE
ARE JUST MOBBED.

EVERYBODY HAS
THEIR MONEY FOR THE MONTH.

AND THE LINES ARE REALLY LONG.

I CAME IN ONE TIME

AND THERE WAS A LONG LINE,
AND WE WERE ALL STANDING THERE

AND A COUPLE OF BLACK GUYS
CAME IN

AND THEY WALKED
IN FRONT OF THE LINE.

SO TO ONE FELLOW,
I SAID:

"HEY, BOY

YOU'LL HAVE TO GET BACK
ON THE LINE."

AND I DIDN'T MEAN IT
IN A DEROGATORY SENSE.

WELL, THE GUY WENT CRAZY.

I MEAN,
HE STARTED TO YELL AT ME:

"WHO ARE YOU CALLIN' BOY?"

BUT I SAID TO HIM,
"LOOK, I APOLOGIZE."

NOW, I WAS A CAPTAIN
AND HE WAS A P.F.C.

I DECIDED IT WAS TIME TO LEAVE.

SO I WALKED OUT,
AND THE GUY FOLLOWED ME.

AND I TURNED AROUND TO SAY,
"HEY, LOOK, I'M SORRY"

AND THE GUY HIT ME.

AND HE WAS ABOUT 5'9",
120 POUNDS--

HE COULDN'T HAVE HURT ME.

BUT IN MY MIND,
I SAID:

"THIS GUY'S A P.F.C.--
JUST HIT A CAPTAIN!"

IT WAS THE WHOLE RELATIONSHIP
THAT I HAD GROWN UP WITH

OF "ENLISTED MEN
DON'T HIT OFFICERS"--

YOU GO TO JAIL FOR THAT!

RALPH THOMAS:
THE RACIAL POLARIZATION
WAS DEEPER THERE

THAN I'VE EVER SEEN.

THEY HAD
BLACK SIDES OF TOWN

WHITE SIDES OF TOWN.

AND EVEN THE VIETNAMESE
ACCEPTED IT.

AND WOE TO THE WHITE

WHO WALKED IN A BLACK AREA
UNACCOMPANIED.

AND VICE VERSA--

WOE TO THE BLACK

WHO WALKED INTO
A WHITE AREA OF TOWN
UNACCOMPANIED.

I JUST FOUND MYSELF

ISOLATING MYSELF

FROM THE WHITE SOLDIERS

BLACKS BEGAN

TO ASSOCIATE AMONG OURSELVES
MORE

SO WE BEGAN TO HAVE
POLITICAL EDUCATION CLASSES--

ABOUT SOME OF THE PROBLEMS
THAT WE WAS CONFRONTED WITH.

FOR BLACKS SUCH AS MYSELF,
IT WAS READING.

AFTER READING MALCOLM X
AND BLACK HISTORY

MARTIN LUTHER KING
AND OTHER BLACK MILITANTS--

ELDRIDGE CLEAVER, ETC.

IT NATURALLY LED
INTO POLITICAL READING.

AND I READ
DR. SPOCK ON VIETNAM.

THERE WAS ANTI-WAR LITERATURE
IN VIETNAM--

READILY AVAILABLE.

A LOT OF THE GUYS FELT

THAT WE SHOULDN'T
RISK OUR LIFE

OR PUT OUR LIFE ON THE LINE

WHEN THERE WAS A WAR
BACK IN AMERICA

WHEN WE WASN'T FREE--

WHEN DOGS WAS
BEING TURNED ON TO OUR PEOPLES.

IT WAS VERY CONFUSING.

MOST BLACKS STILL WAS
VERY SUPPORTIVE

OF THE SYSTEM.

NARRATOR:
THE CLOSER THEY GOT TO COMBAT--

THE MORE
BLACKS AND WHITES NEEDED
EACH OTHER--

THE BETTER THEY GOT ALONG.

HOW MANY PEOPLE HERE
GOT A LOT OF SOUL?

YEAH!
YEAH!
YEAH!

RIGHT ON!

NARRATOR:
BOB HOPE'S 1970 CHRISTMAS SHOW

PLAYED
TO SHRINKING AUDIENCES.

IN TWO YEARS

THE U.S. FORCE IN VIETNAM
HAD BEEN REDUCED

BY MORE THAN 300,000.

WHERE WERE YOU
DURING THE WITHDRAWAL?

NARRATOR:
IN SAIGON

DEMONSTRATORS PROTESTED
AGAINST THE THIEU GOVERNMENT.

MANY FAVORED
AN IMMEDIATE PEACE.

OTHERS DENOUNCED CORRUPTION

OR SOUGHT TO DISCREDIT
THE 1971 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

THE ARMY FOUGHT ON.

CAPT. DO CUONG:
WE WERE MORE CONCERNED

WITH SURVIVAL ON THE BATTLEFIELD

THAN WITH THE SOCIAL
AND POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS

TAKING PLACE
BEHIND OUR BACKS.

THE POLITICAL TURMOIL

DIDN'T HAVE

A DIRECT IMPACT

AT THE FRONT.

BUT IT DID AFFECT
OUR FIGHTING MORALE

A LITTLE BIT.

NARRATOR:
ANXIOUS TO GIVE SOUTH VIETNAM
A DEMOCRATIC IMAGE

AMERICAN OFFICIALS SEARCHED
FOR AN ANTI-COMMUNIST CONTENDER

TO RUN AGAINST THIEU.

BUT THIEU STIFLED
DOMESTIC OPPOSITION.

I DON'T THINK

IT'S A VERY DEMOCRATIC WAY

OF AN ELECTION.

BUT I DON'T DEAL WITH POLITICS.

"POLITICS" IS A DIRTY WORD

BECAUSE YOU ARE PLAYING
WITH HUMAN LIVES.

I'VE NEVER EXPLOITED

THE BLOOD AND THE LIFE

OF SOLDIER

FOR MY POLITICAL SEAT.

I DON'T LIKE TO EXCHANGE

THE BLOOD OF MY SOLDIER

AGAINST THE VOTES
FOR THE NEXT ELECTION.

I DON'T THINK HE'S A GOOD MAN
IN ANY SENSE.

BUT I WILL SUPPORT HIM ANY TIME

IF I HAVE TO THINK

ABOUT SUPPORTING THIEU
OR THE COMMUNISTS

I WILL VOTE FOR THIEU ANY TIME.

NARRATOR:
THIEU'S REGIME HAD DISQUALIFIED

OPPOSITION CANDIDATES.

NOW HIS POLICE SUPERVISED
THE ELECTION RITUAL.

TO THIEU,
LIKE HIS PREDECESSORS

THE ELECTION WAS A MEANS
TO CONTROL THE POPULATION

AND PLACATE THE AMERICANS.

PRESIDENT THIEU DECLARED

THAT THE ELECTION
AND HIS VICTORY

WERE AN EXPRESSION
OF CIVIL RIGHTS

IN A FREE
AND DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY.

THE ONLY EFFECTIVE OPPOSITION
TO THIEU

WAS THE VIET CONG

WHICH NOW LABELED ITSELF

"THE PROVISIONAL
REVOLUTIONARY GOVERNMENT."

IT WAS ACTIVE
IN MUCH OF THE COUNTRYSIDE.

IT WOULD GET TO BE

ABOUT 3:30, 4:00

AND PEOPLE WOULD SAY:

"IT'S GETTING LATE

"IN THE AFTERNOON.

"YOU BETTER GO HOME

BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT'S
GOING TO CHANGE."

THE SAIGON GOVERNMENT
SORT OF CLOSED UP AND WENT HOME

AND THE P.R.G. PEOPLE
WOULD COME IN

HELP THE PEOPLE,
MAYBE EVEN WORK AT NIGHT

HELPING TO SIFT THE RICE
OR PUT IT IN BAGS.

THE P.R.G. IN THE AREA WERE--
NOT AS PEOPLE THOUGHT--

NORTH VIETNAMESE

BUT WERE REALLY
THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES.

ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT WAS A PROBLEM

FOR A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT
COMING IN

AND TRYING TO CONTROL AN AREA
WHERE IT WAS NOT POPULAR

WAS FIGURING OUT
WHO WAS AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT.

THEIR WAY OF SOLVING IT
SEEMED TO BE

TO ROUND UP GROUPS OF PEOPLE
AND INTERROGATE THEM.

NARRATOR:
IDENTIFYING SUBVERSIVES

WAS PART OF A BROADER EFFORT
CALLED "PACIFICATION"--

ALWAYS A KEY AMERICAN STRATEGY
IN VIETNAM.

IN 1968

AMERICA'S
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
STARTED

THE "PHOENIX PROGRAM."

ITS TEAMS
SCOURED THE COUNTRYSIDE

ROUNDING UP
VIET CONG SUSPECTS.

WILLIAM COLBY: THEY'RE OBVIOUSLY
MUCH MORE VALUABLE TO YOU

ALIVE THAN DEAD.

AND THEREFORE,
THE INCENTIVE WAS

TO CAPTURE THEM

SO THAT
THEY COULD BE INTERROGATED.

WE ALSO HAD A PROGRAM

OF TRYING TO INVITE THESE PEOPLE

TO RALLY.

WE PUT UP POSTERS
IN VARIOUS PARTS OF VIETNAM

WITH THE PICTURE
OF THE INDIVIDUAL--

WANTED POSTERS,
LIKE THE OLD JESSE JAMES ONES.

AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POSTER,
IT SAID:

"AND, MR. JAMES,
IF YOU WILL TURN YOURSELF IN

"YOU WILL BE FREED
OF ANY PUNISHMENT

"FOR ANYTHING YOU MAY HAVE DONE

WHILE YOU WERE
ON THE OTHER SIDE."

AND 17,000 OF THOSE PEOPLE
TURNED THEMSELVES IN.

IN CAN THO PROVINCE

WE ORGANIZED

A UNIT OF "THIEN NGA"--

"WILD GEESE"--

COMPOSED OF YOUNG

BEAUTIFUL HIGH-SCHOOL GIRLS.

WE INFILTRATED TSE GIRLS

INTO THE LOCAL
COMMUNIST APPARATUS

AND THEY PROVIDED US

WITH INFORMATION
ON THE COMMUNISTS.

NARRATOR:
THE PHOENIX PROGRAM WAS MANAGED

BY A SOUTH VIETNAMESE,
OPERATING WITH C.I.A. ADVISORS.

THOUSANDS OF CIVILIANS--
MEN, WOMEN, AND EVEN CHILDREN--

WERE CLASSIFIED
AS VIET CONG SUSPECTS.

THE SYSTEM RELIED

ON A NETWORK OF INFORMANTS
AND SECRET AGENTS.

COMMUNIST OFFICIALS
LATER CONCEDED

ITS EFFECTIVENESS.

CRITICISM AT THE TIME
PROMPTED PROGRAM MANAGERS

TO TURN
TO PUBLIC RELATIONS.

FOR THE NEWS CAMERAS,
A SEARCH

FOR A HUSBAND-AND-WIFE TEAM
OF VIET CONG TERRORISTS:

DESPITE THE PUBLIC RELATIONS,
REPORT OF ABUSES PERSISTED.

THERE WERE RUMORS OF EXTORTION,
BLACKMAIL, PRIVATE REVENGE

AND POLITICAL ASSASSINATION.

20,000 OF THE NAMES
THAT WE HAD COLLECTED

WE FOUND WERE KILLED.

IT'S ON THAT BASIS

THAT PEOPLE HAVE MADE
TOTALLY FALSE ACCUSATIONS

THAT THIS WAS
A PROGRAM OF ASSASSINATION.

NOT TRUE.

WE HAD THE NAMES
FROM OUR INTELLIGENCE COLLECTION

AND WHEN THERE WAS A BATTLE
OUTSIDE THE VILLAGE

SOME NIGHT

AND PEOPLE WERE KILLED
ON BOTH SIDES

WE WENT OUT
TO FIND OUT

WHO HAD BEEN KILLED
ON WHICH SIDE.

AND SURE ENOUGH--

MR. NGUYEN, WHO WAS DOWN
AS THE LOCAL GUERRILLA CHIEF--

HE HAD BEEN KILLED
IN THAT FIGHT.

BUT HE CERTAINLY
HADN'T BEEN ASSASSINATED--

HE'D BEEN KILLED.

AND SO THAT WAS THE PHRASE USED:
"KILLED."

THE COLONEL
WHO RAN THE PROVINCE--

WHO WAS ACTUALLY

AN ENGINEERING COLONEL--

CREATED A CONTEST

THROUGHOUT THE PROVINCE

AMONG THE IRREGULARS
IN THE DICTRICTS.

THAT WAS

THE TEAM THAT COULD BRING IN
THE MOST BODIES

ON A MONTHLY BASIS

WOULD BE GIVEN CASH PRIZES.

THIS JUST SEEMED TO ME
TOTALLY OUT OF LINE

AND I THINK

THAT IT INCREASED
THE POSSIBILITIES

THAT MANY CIVILIANS WERE KILLED

WHO HAD NOTHING TO DO
WITH THE WAR WHATSOEVER.

I'M NOT GONNA SAY

THAT THERE WAS NOBODY
WRONGFULLY KILLED

IN ALL OF VIETNAM

DURING ALL THE YEARS
OF THE PHOENIX PROGRAM.

BUT I DO SAY

THAT THE PURPOSE AND THE EFFECT
OF THE PHOENIX PROGRAM

WAS TO REDUCE AND ELIMINATE,
AS FAR AS POSSIBLE

THE ABUSES ON THE GOVERNMENT.

WHILE WE WERE HAVING DINNER
ONE EVENING

THESE IRREGULARS CAME IN
WITH THE DISTRICT VILLAGE CHIEF

JUST COVERED IN BLOOD.

THEY'D OBVIOUSLY JUST COME BACK
FROM A BATTLE.

THEY HAD FIVE OR SIX WEAPONS,
AND THEY THREW THE WEAPONS DOWN.

THEY WERE JUST DISGUSTED
WITH THE WHOLE SITUATION.

CAME UP,
THREW A BAG ON THE TABLE.

AND THE BAG HAD 11 EARS IN IT.

AND HE JUST LOOKED AT US
AND HE SAID:

"YOU DON'T NEED THE 12th EAR"

AND WALKED OUT.

SOME AMERICANS,
NOW IN THE UNITED STATES

MAY MISCONSTRUE

THAT THIS PHOENIX PROGRAM WAS
EXTREMELY VICIOUS

DESIGNED TO NEUTRALIZE
VARIOUS COMMUNIST FACTIONS

BY MEANS SUCH AS ASSASSINATION
AND ILLEGAL ARREST.

HOWEVER, THE PHOENIX PROGRAM WAS
AN EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE PROGRAM

AND ONE WHICH ENABLED US
TO DISTINGUISH CLEARLY

BETWEEN NATIONALISTS
AND COMMUNISTS.

IF YOU TORTURE,
YOU'LL GET WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR

OR YOU'LL GET SOMETHING
THAT THE FELLOW INVENTS.

IF YOU'RE CLEVER
ABOUT YOUR INTERROGATION

YOU'LL LEARN
WHAT THE TRUTH IS

AND YOU'LL LEARN IT
WITHOUT ANY ABUSE.

NARRATOR:
PRISONERS WERE HELD

WITHOUT TRIAL

IN HUNDREDS OF JAILS
AND INTERNMENT CAMPS

THROUGHOUT SOUTH VIETNAM.

JANE BARTON:
THERE WAS NO DOUBT

THAT THE AMERICANS
WERE RESPONSIBLE

FOR THE ENTIRE PRISON SYSTEM.

THE VIETNAMESE KNEW THAT.

THEY SAW

ALL THE RESULTS
OF WHAT HAPPENED.

THEY WERE CHAINED TO THEIR BED
WITH SMITH AND WESSON HANDCUFFS.

WHEN THEY WERE TORTURED

IT WAS EITHER BY AMERICANS
IN THE LATTER '60s.

IN THE EARLY '70s

THERE'D BE AMERICAN ADVISORS
THERE.

MY FIRST INKLING
THAT ANYTHING WAS GOING ON

WAS HEARING SCREAMS
FROM NEXT DOOR

AND FINDING OUT

THAT THAT WAS
THEIR INTERROGATION CENTER

AND THAT THE WAY THEY GOT
THEIR INFORMATION

WAS WITH A CRANK TELEPHONE

AND WIRING THESE PEOPLE.

THEY HAD CERTAIN DEVICES
THAT GAVE THEM ELECTRICAL SHOCKS

AT THE INTERROGATION CENTER.

AND THESE ELECTRODES
WERE ATTACHED

TO SENSITIVE PARTS
OF THEIR BODIES.

THE WOMEN WHO WERE TORTURED
BY ELECTRICITY

WERE THE ONES
THAT WE SAW HAVING THE SEIZURES.

AND I REMEMBER SEEING
THIS 67-YEAR-OLD WOMAN

THAT WAS LYING
ON THE BARE BEDFRAME SPRINGS

AND THEY HAD JUST PUT CARDBOARD
ON THE TOP OF IT

WITH A HOLE CUT IN IT

THROUGH WHICH
SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO DEFECATE.

AND SHE HAD NO CLOTHES.

SHE HAD BEEN PARTIALLY PARALYZED
BECAUSE SHE HAD

SUCH A SEVERE INJURY
TO HER HEAD.

ONE OF MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS WAS

THE REAL HORROR
OF THE SITUATION--

THIS OLD WOMAN
BEING TREATED LIKE THIS.

HOW COULD SHE POSSIBLY
BE DANGEROUS TO THE GOVERNMENT?

NARRATOR:
OPERATION "WANDERING SOUL":

FROM HELICOPTERS CAME
VIETNAMESE VOICES

PRETENDING TO BE
FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE.

THEY CALLED ON THEIR
"DESCENDANTS" IN THE VIET CONG

TO DEFECT--
TO CEASE FIGHTING.

VIETNAM WAS DELUGED
WITH PROPAGANDA.

IN SOME PROVINCES

UP TO A MILLION LEAFLETS A DAY
WERE DISTRIBUTED

EXHORTING, CAJOLING
OR WARNING THE PEASANTS

TO BACK
THE GOVERNMENT OF SOUTH VIETNAM.

AMERICAN V.I.P.s--

LIKE SECRETARY OF STATE
WILLIAM ROGERS--

REGULARLY TOURED SOUTH VIETNAM
TO OBSERVE THE PROGRESS

AND REPEATED THE OFFICIAL CLAIMS
THAT PACIFICATION WAS WORKING.

BUT LOYALTY
TO THE SAIGON GOVERNMENT

WAS DIFFICULT TO MEASURE.

THE VIETNAMESE
THAT WE WERE TRAINING

WERE VERY RESPONSIVE.

THEY ASKED QUESTIONS.

THEY WERE VERY INTERESTED.

AND THIS MADE ME FEEL GOOD

BECAUSE THE STANDARD RAP
ON THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE

WAS THAT
THEY JUST WEREN'T INTERESTED.

WE PUT THEM THROUGH
A SIX-WEEK TRAINING PROGRAM.

AT THE END
OF THE TRAINING PROGRAM

THE PROVINCE CHIEF CAME DOWN

AND THERE WAS
A BIG GRADUATION CEREMONY

AND THEY ALL GOT THESE LITTLE
COLORFUL NECKERCHIEFS

AS SORT OF SOUVENIRS.

IT WAS LIKE THIS WHOLE SORT
OF MEDIA PUBLICITY THING.

IT WAS ABOUT A MONTH

AFTER THE TRAINING PROGRAM
WAS COMPLETED

THAT THREE N.L.F. CADRES
CAME INTO THE VILL ONE NIGHT

AND ALL 29 OF THOSE PEOPLE'S
SELF-DEFENSE FORCES

THAT I TRAINED

WALKED OFF
AND JOINED THE N.L.F.

TAKING ALL THEIR WEAPONS AND
ALL THEIR TRAINING WITH THEM.

NARRATOR:
BY 1971

SOUTH VIETNAMESE OFFICIALS
WERE CLAIMING

THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD WON
OVER 95% OF THE POPULATION.

COLBY: PACIFICATION INVOLVED
A LOT OF OTHER PROGRAMS:

THE DEVELOPMENT OF
THE LAND REFORM PROGRAM;

THE BUILDING OF SCHOOLS;

THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE WHOLE
REFUGEE PROGRAM

AND THE RESETTLEMENT
OF THE REFUGEES

IN THE AREAS FROM WHICH
THEY HAD COME.

NARRATOR:
YEARS OF FIGHTING
HAD FAILED TO TOPPLE

THE AMERICAN-SUPPORTED
SAIGON GOVERNMENT.

IN MARCH, 1972,
A DRAMATIC CHANGE OF STRATEGY:

REGULAR NORTH VIETNAMESE UNITS
CROSSED THE DEMILITARIZED ZONE

IN FORCE.

THIS TIME THEY MASSED TANKS
AND HEAVY ARTILLERY

IN AN ALL-OUT OFFENSIVE.

I REMEMBER IT WAS GOOD FRIDAY

WHEN THE NORTH VIETNAMESE
CROSSED THE D.M.Z.

AND INVADED QUANG TRI

AND THEREBY PROVOKING

A COMPLETE DEBACLE

OF THE ONE DIVISION
THAT WE HAD STATIONED THERE.

AND THE NEWS THAT CAME TO SAIGON
WERE NOT 100% ACCURATE.

WE COULDN'T EVEN
RAISE THE GENERAL

ON THE TELEPHONE.

IT WAS SO PATHETIC THAT NOBODY
KNEW WHERE HE WAS.

EVEN THE CHAIRMAN
OF JOINT CHIEF OF STAFF

COULDN'T EVEN FOLLOW
ON THE MAP

WHERE WOULD BE THIS BATTALION,
THAT REGIMENT.

IT WAS ONE OF THE DARKEST HOURS
OF OUR HISTORY.

WE WERE COMPLETELY BEWILDERED.

NARRATOR:
THE SWIFT ENEMY ADVANCE

LEFT LITTLE TIME FOR RETREAT.

ALONG ROUTE 1

AMERICAN ADVISORS HAD TO BLOW UP
THEIR HEADQUARTERS.

TAKING THEIR COLORS AND WHATEVER
ELSE THEY COULD CARRY WITH THEM

THEY ESCAPED BY AIR.

SGT. THO HANG: WE DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT WAS GOING ON.

THERE WERE AMERICAN ADVISORS
WITH THE 56th REGIMENT.

BUT HELICOPTERS SUDDENLY ARRIVED

AND TOOK THEM AWAY

LEAVING BEHIND OUR COMMANDER,
WHO DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING AT ALL.

PEOPLE CALLED THIS ROAD
THE HIGHWAY OF TERROR.

THERE WERE REFUGEES EVERYWHERE.

THEN VIET CONG TANKS CAME.

WE REALIZED THAT WE COULDN'T
RESIST

AND WE FLED TOWARD THE SEA.

NARRATOR:
AMID THE RETREAT

SEVERAL SOUTH VIETNAMESE
ARMY UNITS STOOD AND FOUGHT.

WITH NO AMERICAN COMBAT TROOPS
TO SUPPORT THEM

THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE ARMY
SEEMED TO BE FIGHTING

A LOSING BATTLE.

ON MAY 1st

THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE
WERE FORCED TO SURRENDER

THE PROVINCE CAPITAL
OF QUANG TRI.

PRESIDENT NIXON REACTED
BY MINING HAIPHONG HARBOR

AND STEPPING UP THE BOMBING
OF NORTH AND SOUTH VIETNAM.

A SOUTH VIETNAMESE
AIR STRIKE

ACCIDENTALLY HIT
WOMEN AND CHILDREN

WITH NAPALM.

THE NORTH VIETNAMESE OFFENSIVE
WAS BLUNTED.

AMERICAN EQUIPMENT,
MASSIVE AMERICAN BOMBING

AND AN IMPROVED
SOUTH VIETNAMESE FIGHTING FORCE

MADE THE DIFFERENCE.

SOUTH VIETNAMESE TROOPS
PREPARED TO COUNTERATTACK.

WITH THEIR NORTHERNMOST PROVINCE
IN COMMUNIST HANDS

SOUTH VIETNAMESE TACTICS
INCLUDED

AMPHIBIOUS LANDINGS
BEHIND ENEMY LINES.

THE U.S. AIR FORCE AND NAVY

PROVIDED AIR
AND ARTILLERY SUPPORT.

BUT NOW THE GROUND WAR WAS
LEFT TO THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE.

STOPPING THE NORTHERN OFFENSIVE
DID NOT STOP CIVILIAN PANIC.

PEOPLE NEAR THE BATTLE ZONE

STRUGGLED DESPERATELY
TO GET AWAY.

SOUTH VIETNAMESE TROOPS

AND THEIR FAMILIES
WHO TRAVELED WITH THEM

BATTLED FOR AIRCRAFT SPACE.

ON JULY 1

A COMBAT CAMERAMAN
WITH A SOUTHERN UNIT

CAUGHT A RARE GLIMPSE
OF ENEMY TROOPS ON THE MOVE.

THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE TOOK COVER
AND CALLED FOR REINFORCEMENTS.

THEY PREPARED TO FIGHT AS
THE AMERICANS HAD TRAINED THEM

MAKING LAVISH USE OF
AIR MOBILITY AND FIREPOWER.

DURING AND AFTER
THE SPRING OFFENSIVE

BATTLES RAGED--

NOT ONLY
IN QUANG TRI PROVINCE

BUT ALSO
IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS

AND IN THE MEKONG DELTA
FAR TO THE SOUTH.

EACH WEEK

MORE THAN 3,000
NORTHERN SOLDIERS

MOVED SOUTH
TO JOIN THE FIGHT.

THE FIGHTING IN 1972
WAS THE HEAVIEST OF THE WAR.

40,000 SOUTH VIETNAMESE SOLDIERS
DIED.

THE LAST ENEMY HOLDOUTS
IN THE CITY OF QUANG TRI

FINALLY SURRENDERED
ON SEPTEMBER 15, 1972.

THAT WEEK, FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN SEVEN YEARS

THERE WERE NO AMERICAN
BATTLE DEATHS.

THAT WEEK,
MORE THAN 5,000 VIETNAMESE DIED.

THE WAR HAD BEEN "VIETNAMIZED."

OVER QUANG TRI CITY,
ONCE HOME FOR 80,000 PEOPLE

THE FLAG OF SOUTH VIETNAM
FLEW AGAIN.

AFTER THIS BATTLE

WE BECAME MASTERS
OF THE SITUATION AGAIN.

THE MORALE OF ALL THE SOLDIERS
SEEMED TO BE HIGH.

WE SEEMED TO BE CONFIDENT
IN THE FIGHTING ABILITY

OF THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE
ARMED FORCES

AND IN OUR OWN UNIT.

WE THOUGHT THAT,
WITH CONTINUED AMERICAN HELP

AND THE SUPPORT OF PEOPLE
EVERYWHERE IN THE WORLD

WHO CHERISHED FREEDOM

WE COULD DEFEND A FREE
SOUTH VIETNAM BY OURSELVES.

NARRATOR:
CROWDED SAIGON HAD BEEN SPARED
THE ENEMY OFFENSIVE.

ITS POPULATION HAD BECOME
ACCUSTOMED TO THE WAR.

THEN, ON OCTOBER 22,
HENRY KISSINGER INFORMED THIEU

THAT THE UNITED STATES HAD
REACHED A CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT

WITH NORTH VIETNAM.

THE AGREEMENT
WAS TO BE INITIALLED

BY OCTOBER 31--

A WEEK BEFORE
THE AMERICAN ELECTION.

UNDER THE AGREEMENT

NORTHERN TROOPS COULD REMAIN
IN THE SOUTH--

A CONCESSION
THAT THIEU HAD ALWAYS OPPOSED.

PRESIDENT THIEU
REFUSED TO SIGN.

HE WENT ON TELEVISION

AND TOLD THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE
TO KEEP FIGHTING.

THE WAR CONTINUED.

WITHOUT THIEU'S ACQUIESENCE,
THE AGREEMENT WAS IMPOSSIBLE.

PEACE SEEMED FAR AWAY.

THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE COULD NOT
EASILY CONTINUE THE WAR ALONE.

THE AMERICAN TROOP WITHDRAWAL
WEAKENED THE ECONOMY.

JOBS WERE SCARCE.

INFLATION SOARED.

DOLLARS WERE DISAPPEARING

FROM A SOCIETY
BASED ON THE DOLLAR.

THE BARS, THE CLUBS,
AND THE HOTELS

BUILT FOR THE AMERICAN TRADE

HAD SEEN
MORE LUCRATIVE DAYS.

BUT SOUTH VIETNAM
STILL SPENT MORE

ON IMPORTED COSMETICS
AND BEAUTY AIDS

THAN IT EARNED
FROM ALL ITS EXPORTS.

SAIGON BEAUTY PARLORS

STILL OFFERED
THE WESTERN LOOK--

SURGERY TO MAKE VIETNAMESE EYES
ROUND.

THE VIET CONG
STILL EXLODED THEIR BOMBS.

AS U.S. BOMBS FELL
ON HANOI AND HAIPHONG

THE REMAINING AMERICAN TROOPS
WATCHED

BOB HOPE'S LAST
VIETNAM CHRISTMAS SHOW.

AT THE TIME

AMBASSADOR BUNKER
WAS URGING THIEU

TO SIGN THE AGREEMENT--

TO TRUST NIXON.

RIGHT AFTER
THE CHRISTMAS BOMBINGS

WE WERE DELUGED WITH LETTERS
FROM MR. NIXON

THAT WE, THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE,
SHOULD CLOSE RANKS WITH THE U.S.

ON THE 16th OF JANUARY

WHEN MR. THIEU
GAVE HIS DAUGHTER AWAY

IN A WEDDING

MR. BUNKER WANTED TO SEE HIM

TO COMMUNICATE
THE LATEST LETTER FROM NIXON.

AND THAT REALLY ANGERED
MR. THIEU.

HE SAID:

"ON THIS DAY--
THE HAPPIEST DAY OF MY LIFE--

I'M STILL BOTHERED WITH THAT!"

ONE DAY LATER,
THE PRESSURE CAME

AND SAY:

"IF YOU DON'T SIGN,
WE'LL GO ALONE."

AND THAT'S WHEN

OUR POLITICAL PRAGMATISM
DICTATE TO US--

HE SAY, "OKAY--

"WE ARE NOT GOING
TO BE DUMB ENOUGH

TO STAND IN FRONT
OF A STEAM ROLLER."

NARRATOR:
AMERICA HAD VIEWED VIETNAM

AS A CRUSADE, AS A CHALLENGE,
AND FINALLY, AS A BURDEN.

NOW, LIKE THE CHINESE, JAPANESE,
AND FRENCH BEFORE THEM

THE AMERICANS WERE LEAVING.

BUI DIEM:
THE VIETNAMESE COULDN'T THINK

IN TERMS OF THE AMERICANS
INTERVENING IN SOMETHING

AND NOT SUCCEEDING!

AND SO IT IS
A KIND OF BLIND TRUST

THAT THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE--
WRONGLY OR RIGHTLY--

PUT INTO THE AMERICANS.

THEY COULDN'T THINK
THAT THE AMERICANS--

ONCE HAVING COMMITTED
THEIR TROOPS IN VIETNAM--

HAVING SPENDED SO MUCH MONEY
IN VIETNAM--

COULD, ONE OF THESE DAYS,
LEAVE EVERYTHING BEHIND

AND CALL IT QUIT.

CAPTIONED BY
THE CAPTION CENTER
WGBH BOSTON