Search - Vietnam: The Chopper War on DVD

Recycled Viet-Nam War Propaganda

Edward Rasen Jr. | Maui | 08/10/2006

(1 out of 5 stars)

"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."

Great History lesson for younger people

star trek fan | 08/23/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

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