[00:01.50]Before the longest war in American history
[00:05.48]Before the longest war in American history
[00:11.67]In 1965, Vietnam seemed like just another foreign war
[00:15.87]But it wasn't,
[00:17.19]It was different in many ways
[00:18.85]And so were those who did the fighting
[00:21.03]In World War II
[00:21.84]The average age of the combat soldier was 26
[00:25.23]In Vietnam, he was 19
[00:27.10]In-in-in-in-in Vietnam, he was 19
[00:30.18]In-in-in-in-in Vietnam, he was 19
[00:33.07]In-in-in-in-in Vietnam, he was 19
[00:36.10]N-n-n-n-nineteen
[00:38.42]The heaviest fighting of the past two weeks
[00:40.42]Continued today 25 miles northwest of Saigon
[00:44.36]I really wasn't sure what was going on
[00:46.33]N-n-n-n-nineteen, nineteen
[00:48.07]Nineteen, nineteen
[01:02.73]In Vietnam, the combat soldier
[01:04.80]Typically served a twelve month tour of duty
[01:07.73]But was exposed to hostile fire almost everyday
[01:11.12]N-n-n-n-nineteen
[01:14.96]N-n-n-n-nineteen
[01:18.91]N-n-n-n-nineteen
[01:23.10]N-n-n-n-nineteen
[01:31.79]In Saigon, a US miltary spokesman said today ,
[01:34.32]More than 720 troops were killed last week
[01:37.36]In that sensitive border area
[01:39.59]In all of South Vietnam
[01:41.51]The enemy lost a total of 2,689 soldiers
[01:53.17]N-n-n-n-nineteen
[02:28.90]All those who remember the war
[02:32.68]They won't forget what they've seen
[02:36.42]Destruction of men in their prime
[02:41.02]Whose average age was 19
[02:44.87]D-d-d-d-d-destruction
[02:48.95]D-d-d-d-d-destruction
[02:57.15]According to a Veteran's Administration study
[02:59.63]Half of the Vietnam combat veterans
[03:01.68]Suffered from what psychiatrists call
[03:03.50]Post traumatic stress disorder
[03:05.63]Many vets complain of alienation, rage, or guilt
[03:09.12]Some succumb to suicidal thoughts
[03:11.50]Eight to ten years after coming home
[03:13.68]Almost 800,000 men
[03:15.45]Are still fighting the Vietnam War
[03:25.60]D-d-d-d-d-destruction
[03:29.70]D-d-d-d-d-destruction
[03:33.75]None of them received a hero's welcome ...
[03:58.38]Nineteen
[04:00.85]Saigon, Saigon
[04:02.48]S-s-s-s-s-Saigon
[04:04.55]S-s-s-s-s-Saigon
[04:06.38]N-n-n-n-n-ninteen
[04:10.68]N-n-n-n-n-ninteen
[04:14.46]N-n-n-n-n-ninteen
[04:19.00]N-n-n-n-n-ninteen
[04:47.07]Vietnam, S-s-saigon
[04:48.98]Vietnam, S-s-saigon
[04:50.99]Vietnam, S-s-saigon
[04:53.07]Vietnam, S-s-saigon
[04:54.80]Purple heart,Saigon
[04:56.50]Purple heart,S-saigon
[04:58.50]I really wasn't sure what was going on
[05:00.85]I really wasn't sure what was going on