This is a 2005 documentary--now available on DVD--that shows many in the armed services during the Vietnam/Cambodia War also served the cause of ending that war. They did so often in organized groups, bringing their experiences back home to new draftees and the American people in general .
What makes this documentary especially interesting is that the focus of the film is on men who served in combat during the war and then turned against the conflict at the risk of facing courts-martial, hard prison time or even a death sentence. While this film never claims that the majority of those who served in that seemingly endless war were dissenters, the sheer amount of the content of this film speaks volumes about how Vietnam created dissent in the USA in all segments of society.
The rise of the "G.I. Coffeehouse" anti-war movement is not well known. This film shows that the anti-war movement was more complex than how the regular media now portrays it--as a entitled collegiate "hippies" versus working-class soldiers in crew-cuts affair. Many thousands of the latter didn't just do as told--the courage they brought to serve in the Armed Forces served them well to speak their minds as democratic sons and daughters.
The underground G.I. journals have some echoes in some of the blogs Iraqi War veterans are writing home about their time in this current war. "Sir, No Sir" is a further unfolding of the complexities of the Vietnam War and the overlapping courage men and women had not only to be soldiers and nurses but also but also to speak out against what they saw and did to wake-up a broader public to the truth of the real "face of battle".
Summation of the film:
"In the 1960's an anti-war movement emerged that altered the course of history. This movement didn't take place on college campuses, but in barracks and on aircraft carriers. It flourished in army stockades, navy brigs and in the dingy towns that surround military bases... And by 1971 it had, in the words of one colonel, infested the entire armed services. Yet today few people know about the GI movement against the war in Vietnam."
http://www.sirnosir.com/
I watched this documentary earlier this year on the Sundance channel - powerful stuff.
ReplyDeleteI was right along side these GI's in the 60's and early 70's. God bless them all. I have always been and always will be anti-war. It isn't healthy for any living thing.The only way I would take up arms is if I or my family were attacked here on American soil, in my yard, in my home...otherwise, we need to STOP THE WAR! and bring our servicemen and women home.
ReplyDeleteNever had America seen a group of its own comeback and not support a war. There was no national pride in this conflict Even in this day and age there is far more support from ex-military than there was in Vietnam. They knew we had no chance to "win" and we were just over there getting people killed.
ReplyDeleteDoug that was very interesting. I had no idea that GI's felt like that.
ReplyDeleteI think that war proved that if you had to base our reason for being there on a "theory" and it wasn't self-evident to the average Joe, then we shouldn't have been at war, and ask our young men to kill and to die.
ReplyDeleteThe average man had no idea what they were doing there and how they were to proceed.
ReplyDeleteGlad you were...and ditto.
ReplyDeleteNor did I until I read about the "Winter Soldier" testimonies and a little later saw this film.
ReplyDeleteI know my father and mother didn't understand it, and they weren't exactly counter-culture Berkeley peaceniks.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree.
ReplyDeleteI saw this a while back on Free Speech TV (I think it was.) Powerful is right! Yes Yes Yes! Do you all support the folks at Courage To Resist? http://www.couragetoresist.org ?
ReplyDeleteThank you for the courage to resist web link, bringing this issue up to date pertaining to the terrors of the Iraq War. These are our modern "winter soldiers" and deserve attention and support.
ReplyDelete