I found this roughly 25 minute long special on a double sided DVD release in the bargain bins called "Combat Vietnam: To Hell And Beyond". Made up of what appear to be for the most part "public domain" department of defense public relations films meant to explain and, ultimately, glorify the war in Vietnam to the public during the pre-counterculture years of the 1960s when the military industrial complex was still a way of life. Though now the reels are probably for the most part forgotten, long considered passe or "inflamatory" in their flag waving pride in America and our armed forces ... Like, wow: Imagine that?? My best estimate is that most were made before 1969, or more specifically before the Pentagon Papers and the My Lai massacre became headlines during 1970/1971, polarizing popular opinion against the war beyond any repair. There was a time, according to this movie, when we were actually enthusiastic about the war. Surprise, surprise.
This was one of the more bizarre of the six "episodes" included on the DVD, a jingoistic, flag-waving, LBJ fawning look at how the gallant men of the US Navy faced down scurrilous communist aggression first in 1964 and then as American combat forces were deployed. It's almost the stuff of doublethink to hear Lyndon Johnson spell out in his cornpone Texan politicianspeak (Dubya is ten times more eloquent, believe it or not) how the United States would not stand for such aggression and would take whatever steps were necessary to defend itself. With history perched on one's shoulder, the obvious question is DEFEND ITSELF FROM WHAT?? Nonetheless, the tone of the "documentary" is button-down, narrated by the biggest square the department of defense could cajole into doing it, and played out with a straight poker face as hard working Yankee sailors are seen going about their job of helping to pave the way to victory in Vietnam. Some of the scenes shown are recreations of on-ship situations but the majority of it is actual from the era footage shot by battlefield photographers or newsreel cameramen, and this is where the effect gets really strange.
You see, back then, we fought wars to WIN them, and in 1967 the bulk of our nation's media resources were not yet aligned against the conflict: I imagine this playing in place of cartoons at the movie houses. Unlike contemporary documentaries or specials, the language used is upbeat, positive, forceful, determined, and unapologetic. After six years of hearing NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, MSNBC and every other organization in between snivel their way through one character assassination of America after another, it is actually quite refreshing.
But in the end it's propaganda tainted by the legacy of time, and as such a strange viewing experience. Sure, we ravaged Vietnam and Charlie may have gotten the better of some of our boys & girls. The wounds may still exist unhealed, but this little documentary is proof positive that at one time the United States of America went out into the world and kicked ass not giving half a damn what anybody else thought about it. I'm giving it a neutral rating since it's impossible to deconstruct propaganda as anything but propaganda, but anyone who'd like a taste of what the US military really was like back before the age of political correctness I heartily recommend finding this DVD. Grab a half pint of Yukon plus a pack of Camels to enjoy along with it, and you might just wake up the day after and notice some hair on your chest. Probably elsewhere else, too.
5/10