Unlike contemporary documentaries or specials, the language used is upbeat, positive, forceful, determined, and unapologetic. You see, back then, we fought wars to WIN them, and in 1967 the bulk of our nation's media resources were not yet aligned against the conflict: I imagine this playing in place of cartoons at the movie houses. Some of the scenes shown are recreations of on-ship situations but the majority of it is actual from the era footage shot by battlefield photographers or newsreel cameramen, and this is where the effect gets really strange. With history perched on one's shoulder, the obvious question is DEFEND ITSELF FROM WHAT? Nonetheless, the tone of the 'documentary' is button-down, narrated by the biggest square the department of defense could cajole into doing it, and played out with a straight poker face as hard working Yankee sailors are seen going about their job of helping to pave the way to victory in Vietnam. It's almost the stuff of doublethink to hear Lyndon Johnson spell out in his cornpone Texan politicianspeak (Dubya is ten times more eloquent, believe it or not) how the United States would not stand for such aggression and would take whatever steps were necessary to defend itself. This was one of the more bizarre of the six 'episodes' included on the DVD, a jingoistic, flag-waving, LBJ fawning look at how the gallant men of the US Navy faced down scurrilous communist aggression first in 1964 and then as American combat forces were deployed. There was a time, according to this movie, when we were actually enthusiastic about the war. Like, wow: Imagine that? My best estimate is that most were made before 1969, or more specifically before the Pentagon Papers and the My Lai massacre became headlines during 1970/1971, polarizing popular opinion against the war beyond any repair. Though now the reels are probably for the most part forgotten, long considered passe or 'inflamatory' in their flag waving pride in America and our armed forces.

Made up of what appear to be for the most part 'public domain' department of defense public relations films meant to explain and, ultimately, glorify the war in Vietnam to the public during the pre-counterculture years of the 1960s when the military industrial complex was still a way of life. I found this roughly 25 minute long special on a double sided DVD release in the bargain bins called 'Combat Vietnam: To Hell And Beyond'.

Us navy in vietnam war