[Peter Thomas:] In 1965 Vietnam seemed like just another foreign war
But it wasn't
It was different in many ways
And so were those who did the fighting
In world war two the average age of the combat soldier was 26
In Vietnam he was 19. [Sampling) Inininininin Vietnam he was 19.
[TV-Reporter:] The heaviest fighting of the past two weeks
Continued today 25 miles north west of Saigon
[Albert Dobbs:] I wasn't really sure what was going on
[Vet's Voice:] Nininini Nineteen, 19, 19 19 19
[Peter Thomas:] In Vietnam the combat soldier typically served
A twelve-month tour of duty
But was exposed to hostile fire
Almost every day
[Spokesmen*, Girl**:]
Ninininininininininin** 19* nininininninin 19
[TV-Reporter:] In Saigon a U.S. Military spokesman said today
More then 700 enemy troops were killed last week
In that sensitive border area
Through out all of south Vietnam the enemy lost
A total of 2.689 soldiers [Scream]
[Vet's Voice:] You're 18 years old and you're wearing someone's brains around on your shirt, cos they got their head's blown off right next to you...and that's not supposed to effect you. I never understood it. What would scare me, is if we would send a bunch of 18 year olds 12,000 miles away and subject them to a year of that obscenity and have them NOT effected. That's what would frighten me...
[Singing Girl:]
All those who remember the war
They won't forget what they've seen
Destruction of men in their prime
Whose average age was 19
Dedededededede-Destruction
[Trumpet]
[Peter Thomas:] According to a veterans administration study
Half of the Vietnam combat veterans
Suffer from what psychiatrists call
Post traumatic stress disorder
Many vets complain of alienation, rage or guilt
Some succumb to suicidal thoughts
Eight to ten years after coming home
Almost 800.000 men are still fighting the Vietnam War
[Peter Thomas:] None of them recieved a hero's welcome
[Singing Girl and Spokesmen:]
Nininininininininin Nineteen, Saigon Saigon Saigon Saigon Saigon
19, Ni-nineteen 19, 19, 19, 19, 19
Nininininininininin Nineteen, 19, Ni-nineteen 19, Ni-nineteen, 19
Vietnam , Saigon , Vietnam , Saigon [2x]
[Peter Thomas:] Purple heart, Saigon, purple heart, Saigon
[Vet's Voice:] I wasn't really sure what was going on sure what was going on
But it wasn't
It was different in many ways
And so were those who did the fighting
In world war two the average age of the combat soldier was 26
In Vietnam he was 19. [Sampling) Inininininin Vietnam he was 19.
[TV-Reporter:] The heaviest fighting of the past two weeks
Continued today 25 miles north west of Saigon
[Albert Dobbs:] I wasn't really sure what was going on
[Vet's Voice:] Nininini Nineteen, 19, 19 19 19
[Peter Thomas:] In Vietnam the combat soldier typically served
A twelve-month tour of duty
But was exposed to hostile fire
Almost every day
[Spokesmen*, Girl**:]
Ninininininininininin** 19* nininininninin 19
[TV-Reporter:] In Saigon a U.S. Military spokesman said today
More then 700 enemy troops were killed last week
In that sensitive border area
Through out all of south Vietnam the enemy lost
A total of 2.689 soldiers [Scream]
[Vet's Voice:] You're 18 years old and you're wearing someone's brains around on your shirt, cos they got their head's blown off right next to you...and that's not supposed to effect you. I never understood it. What would scare me, is if we would send a bunch of 18 year olds 12,000 miles away and subject them to a year of that obscenity and have them NOT effected. That's what would frighten me...
[Singing Girl:]
All those who remember the war
They won't forget what they've seen
Destruction of men in their prime
Whose average age was 19
Dedededededede-Destruction
[Trumpet]
[Peter Thomas:] According to a veterans administration study
Half of the Vietnam combat veterans
Suffer from what psychiatrists call
Post traumatic stress disorder
Many vets complain of alienation, rage or guilt
Some succumb to suicidal thoughts
Eight to ten years after coming home
Almost 800.000 men are still fighting the Vietnam War
[Peter Thomas:] None of them recieved a hero's welcome
[Singing Girl and Spokesmen:]
Nininininininininin Nineteen, Saigon Saigon Saigon Saigon Saigon
19, Ni-nineteen 19, 19, 19, 19, 19
Nininininininininin Nineteen, 19, Ni-nineteen 19, Ni-nineteen, 19
Vietnam , Saigon , Vietnam , Saigon [2x]
[Peter Thomas:] Purple heart, Saigon, purple heart, Saigon
[Vet's Voice:] I wasn't really sure what was going on sure what was going on