New OPB Documentary Tells Northwest Stories of the Vietnam War Era and its Impact Today
"The Vietnam War Oregon Remembers" is available to watch online now; TV premiere followed by panel discussion Monday, Oct. 2 at 9 p.m. on OPB TV
PORTLAND, Ore., Sept. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- OPB has produced a new documentary that provides an intimate look at the Vietnam War through the lens of those in the Northwest who lived through it—and who remain deeply affected by the events of those times.
"The Vietnam War Oregon Remembers" is a 90-minute immersive documentary that brings to light widely divergent viewpoints of a volatile time in American and Northwest history—a war that divided the country.
The documentary is available to watch online now at opb.org/Vietnam. For those in the OPB broadcast area, the program airs on OPB TV Monday, October 2 at 9 p.m. Following the show will be a televised panel discussion with local veterans and others who experienced the Vietnam War moderated by OPB's Think Out Loud Host Dave Miller.
With more than 120,000 Oregonians serving in the Vietnam War, the program features first-hand accounts from 30 Oregon veterans—men and women—from every branch of the military and in a variety of roles, from medics and battalion photographers to entertainers and fighter pilots.
They tell their stories of being drafted as naïve kids and how they learned to fight and survive in a brutal war. They remember how the "real world" treated them as they returned to the United States—not as heroes but as "baby-killers" and warmongers. Many share their experiences with post-traumatic stress disorder before the disorder even had a name, and how they're dealing with the aftermath of exposure to Agent Orange.
"The Vietnam War Oregon Remembers" also includes powerful stories from anti-war protestors and grieving family members. It observes the impact of Oregon's outspoken politicians like Senators Wayne Morse and Mark Hatfield who were early leaders in the national anti-war movement, and includes interviews with refugees who fled their homeland after the war. Finally, the program highlights various programs and activities strengthening our ties with Vietnam today.
Interviews include:
- Carol Brown, Army nurse
- Dennis Guthrie, Army medic
- Charlie Haughey, Army battalion photographer
- Don Janigian, who served in the Navy and whose parents created the first statewide memorial for fallen Vietnam soldiers.
- Larson Kalama, Army radio operator and Warm Springs Native American who started a "Healing Circle" for all veterans and family members.
- Donna Lowery, from the Womens Army Corps and part of the first WAC detachment deployed to a combat zone since World War II.
- Karl Marlantes, a Marine, Rhodes scholar and nationally known author.
- Alison Perry, a therapist and founder of Central Oregon Veterans Ranch.
- Gwen Hall Davis, Sister of Blue Angels' Commander Harley Hall, who was shot down on the final day of Vietnam combat operation.
- Floyd McKay, an Author and Journalist
- Gerry Frank, a longtime aide to Senator Mark Hatfield.
- David A. Horowitz, a Portland State University Professor and anti-war activist.
Concurrent to the documentary, an online presentation at opb.org/Vietnam features additional local stories and OPB reporting related to the Vietnam War, photo slideshows, videos, resources for veterans and more.
About Oregon Experience
Oregon Experience is an OPB original television series that brings to life stories that help us understand this place where we live and that reinforce our shared identity as Oregonians. Co-produced with the Oregon Historical Society, the series draws upon the Society's skilled researchers and extensive photography and moving-image archives. The program also incorporates OPB's own film and video resources and the expertise of some of Oregon's finest historians. Each episode features captivating characters – both familiar and forgotten – who have played key roles in building our state into the unique place we call home. This program is supported in part by Arlene Schnitzer and Jordan Schnitzer, the Oregon Cultural Trust, the Clark Foundation and The Holzman Foundation.
About OPB
OPB is a nationally recognized leader in public media, providing news, information and entertainment to the Northwest. With award-winning journalists and original series, OPB illuminates the people, places and issues of the region and puts stories into context. OPB creates content and programming that can be accessed anywhere, at any time on OPB TV, OPB Radio, opb.org and on a variety of digital and social media platforms. For more information, visit www.opb.org.
SOURCE Oregon Public Broadcasting
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