Product Details

• Actors: War Zone
• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Eagle Vision Media
• DVD Release Date: August 23, 2005
• Run Time: 53 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000A88EVY
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #41,364 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

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  Movies & TV > Documentary > Military & War > Vietnam War

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

As US troops were committed in ever-increasing numbers in the 1960’s to protect South Vietnam from Communist takeover, it became clear they faced a double enemy in both the Viet Cong and the inhospitable South-East Asian terrain. The helicopter turned the tide, revolutionizing the face of warfare at a stroke and laying down a blueprint for the future. With much previously-classified film footage shot both on the ground and in the air, this program examines the integral role played by the helicopter.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great History lesson for younger people, August 22, 2007

By	star trek fan - See all my reviews

This is a great video that shows the viewer just how important the helicopter was during this war.

6 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Recycled Viet-Nam War Propaganda, August 9, 2006

By	Edward Rasen Jr. "ExecEditor" (Maui) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Low budget cut-and-paste assembly of various U.S. Army documentary films with new British accent narration. Footage looks like it was transferred from VHS cassettes and portions of the script seem lifted from U.S. government 1960s-era propaganda films. Narration embraces optimism fed the American public during the 1960s. Very little combat footage and nothing about endless shortages of parts and mechanics.

While the helicopter is touted as the great saviour in Viet-Nam, in reality after the war, the U.S. Army did not convert infantry divisions to airmobile because it was determined the cost was prohibitive. Although airmobile infantry units won some battles in Viet Nam, the airmobile concept was a failure.

For example, during and after the alleged great victory by the U.S. Army 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) in the Ia Drang Valley during late 1965, the U.S. Air Force had to fly forty-percent of all it's flights in Viet-Nam to support the 1st Cav and obviously neglect many other Army combat units. Apparently, nobody had ever calculated how much fuel and lubricants were needed to sustain day and night helicopter missions for a week or more. Plus, none of the tough-talking generals ever considered logistical infrastucture necessary to move fuel and supplies from Viet-Nam's coastal ports to remote inland areas.

Moreover, after the alleged great victory, fifty-percent of all 1st Cavalry division helicopters were grounded due to damage or mechanical failures and the 1st Cav did not have enough parts or helicopter mechanics to rapidly repair such. These facts are neglected in this psuedo-documentary and later propaganda feature films such as "We Were Soldiers" starring Mel Gibson. These facts are not my opinion. They are clearly stated in the U.S. Army post-war book about the Airmobility concept and Airmobile units.

The departure from south Viet-Nam of U.S. military units commencing during July 1969 revealed the failure of the South Vietnamese government (military dictatorship) to win support of the people and control territory. Zooming around in helicopters looked and sounded good but was really a grand illusion just like the search-and-destroy missions and free-fire zones. The U.S. Army post-war critique about airmobility basically condemns the concept to the trash heap especially in light of the fact that U.S. and South Vietnamese units never faced an air opponent in southern Viet-Nam.

The United States lost more than 5000 helicopters in Viet-Nam, Laos and Cambodia during the so-called Viet-Nam war, all to groundfire or mechanical failures. The Peoples Army of Viet-Nam (North Vietnames Army - NVA) captured more than 700 U.S. helicopters during their 1975 final offensive. This psuedo-documentary fails to discuss those losses.

Even at $2.75 this is overpriced. If you can buy it a Dollar Store, it is worth the dollar. There are better programs about Airmobile units such as "We Were Heroes," which is sold by Amazon.