Vietnam Combat

For decades, war in Vietnam was the central drama on the stage of Southeast Asia. The Vietnamese had fought the Japanese and French Colonial troops to a standstill. The North Vietnamese and Viet Cong were prepared to fight a war for total liberation. The United States had become involved to save the Government of South Vietnam from destruction by what was seen as part of a monolithic communist plot to take over the world. Yet American actions and policies failed to win the hearts and minds of the Vietnamese people. This was an intensely publicized war, the first television war that came roaring into the living rooms of our homes every night. Eventually, the negative side of the war spilled over into the west, touching off a wave of protest and provoking a crisis of social upheaval that rocked the foundation of our society. Few Australians who lived through these times will ever forget this period of drastic change, especially the veterans of this long and brutal conflict whose stories are featured in this series. Their stories will give you an inside view of everyday life and death on the battlefields of war torn Vietnam. This is a story of personal heroism and sacrifice, set against the backdrop of one of the most controversial wars of out rime. This is Vietnam Combat.