For Fans, of Ken Burns, the Vietnam War documentary... just got the 2 CD soundtrack...

[hlthe2b]

Admittedly, I've been adding to a "Vietnam (era)" playlist for quite a while and already had a number of inclusions from his documentary, but I thought I'd give it a listen to see what I'd missed. Some good inclusions and not just the expected ones from the time period. I was surprised he didn't include some Jim Morrison (Doors) as I'd always been told the dark undertones resonated strongly with lots of those in combat.

This one struck me as so very timely today, especially for Trump et al:

[NRaleighLiberal]

1. We binged it all - still haunts us. We got the book "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien

one of the greatest reads of our lives. I read it out loud to my wife on warm afternoons on our deck - simply stunning writing, and deeply moving content.

[hlthe2b]

2. The documentary was very good. I will have to order that book.

I was young enough that the Vietnam War and the assassinations (and civil rights movement) sort of bookmarked my childhood-- but I was anything but unaware. I had a much older male cousin who served (in intelligence), mostly, but not totally stationed away from the war, in Okinawa. He'd been bumped up by the local rural draft board (chaired by my grandfather) to go--before the lottery, a phenomenon I have since found to be not uncommon with WWI and II generation Vets thinking it to be "good for the boy"... Needless to say he did not share the kindly view of my grandfather that I had.

Still, with this documentary release, it was the first time I'd ever broached the subject with him. He'd only watched a bit (and yes, he is a generational old-school Republican), but I have a feeling he is among those who went quite unwillingly but then bought into the premise and somewhat defend it today. He made mention of how the intelligence made it clear that bombing the supply trails in Cambodia and Laos would have made all the difference, but that their entreaties to do so were ignored by the PTB.

He'd always been pretty sarcastic about the whole thing so that comment caught me a bit offguard--even while undoubtedly true.

Do you remember the guy from Fairmount, MO who was interviewed throughout and seemed to have an evolution of thought about nearly all aspects (made funny comments about thinking "hippy" was pronounced "hip Eye" and couldn't get too upset about Jane Fonda because they had all lusted after her?) He's the kind of guy I remember from childhood from the area my grandparents came from. Very homespun. I'm glad Burns followed so many different kinds of veterans with so many viewpoints. I was afraid it might be a lot less balanced.

[NRaleighLiberal]

3. That was John Musgrave - he was really a high point of the whole show.

I found him on Facebook and sent him a message of thanks for sharing so much of himself - Tim O'Brien as well. I don't need to - or expect - to hear back from them...just wanted them both to know that their stories really touched my wife and I deeply.

[hlthe2b]

4. I'm glad you did that. I am not on Facebook, but I'd imagine he will hear from many. n/t

[Paladin]

5. Terrific music selection for the documentary.

Tunes I hadn't heard in 40 or 50 years; brought back a bunch of memories.