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Vietnam War

About THE VIETNAM WAR: In an immersive narrative, Ken Burns and Lynn Novick tell the epic story of the Vietnam War as it has never-before been told on film. THE VIETNAM WAR features testimony from nearly 100 witnesses, including many Americans who fought in the war and others who opposed it, as well as Vietnamese combatants and civilians from both the winning and losing sides.

WXXI Programs:

Check out video clips from the series, upcoming programs and other on-demand Vietnam War public media programs: See more video on-demand programs here.

Veteran Support Resources Listing

The Veterans Crisis Line connects Veterans in crisis and their families and friends with qualified, caring VA responders through a confidential, toll-free hotline, online chat, and text-messaging service. Call 1-800-273-8255 or Text 838255


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Vietnam War Stories

Vietnam War
These stories from WXXI News help to shape an understanding of the reasoning and impact from The Vietnam War in Rochester, NY.Listen, Watch and Learn More about the Vietnam War Experiences of 17...
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WXXI Veterans Voices Project
WXXI is gathering stories told by local men and women who have served their country. Click here to meet Elmer Pankratz, a WWII fighter pilot.
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On-Demand Vietnam War Programming

Tom's War: Storycorps Animated Short On-Demand
"Tom's War," the newest animated short from StoryCorps, brings a new dimension to our current remembrance of Vietnam. See this animated short on-demand
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Jeremiah On-Demand
On July 18, 1965, U.S. Navy Commander Jeremiah Denton took off from the aircraft carrier USS Independence leading a 28-plane mission over the city of Thanh Hoa in North Vietnam. Denton’s plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire during the attack, and for the next eight long years, he would battle the North Vietnamese as a prisoner of war in the infamous Hanoi Hilton.
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Women Serving in War On-Demand
Three generations of Minnesota's military women share their stories of service from WWII to Vietnam to Afghanistan. 
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On-Demand: American War Stories: Vietnam Part 1-3
On-Demand: A 3 part series features the U.S. involvement in Southeast Asia in the '50s and '60s.
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Unsung Heroes: The Story of America’s Female Patriots On-Demand
The service of  women in the armed forces has been heroic, their sacrifices profound and their enormous accomplishments largely ignored.
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MAKERS: Women in War On-Demand
Track American women’s increasing participation in war — from Vietnam to the present — as nurses, soldiers, journalists, diplomats and spies.
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The Draft: On-Demand
On-Demand
Hear how a single, controversial issue—who serves in the military—continues to define America. Watch On-Demand
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Into Harm's Way On-Demand
A collection of West Pointers poignantly share, sometimes with great emotion, their first-hand stories about the carnage of war, the war's impact on their lives and beliefs, and their enduring bonds of brotherhood.
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They Were Our Fathers On-Demand
Over 20,000 American children lost their fathers during the Vietnam War. Their stories serve as powerful testimonies about the true cost of war. Watch On-Demand
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Veterans Crisis Line

The Veterans Crisis Line connects Veterans in crisis and their families and friends with qualified, caring VA responders through a confidential, toll-free hotline, online chat, and text-messaging service. Call 1-800-273-8255 or Text 838255


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Vietnam War WXXI News Coverage

Local advocate for Vietnam veterans Ken Moore has died
Ken Moore served with the U.S. Army in Vietnam, after being drafted in 1965. Like a lot of Vietnam veterans, he went through some tough times...
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Community members recall Cray's tireless dedication to local veterans
Members of the Rochester community say local veterans owe a debt a gratitude to Tom Cray, founder of the Veterans Outreach Center. Cray died of brain...
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Veterans Outreach Center founder Tom Cray has died
A key figure in local efforts to help Vietnam and other veterans has died. Tom Cray died Friday at the age of 67. It was disclosed in January that he...
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Veterans organization urges vets to seek help if Vietnam documentary triggers difficult memories
The Ken Burns and Lynn Novick documentary "The Vietnam War" , which debuted on WXXI-TV this week, could trigger symptoms for some veterans who suffer...
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WATCH: Finding family roots; preserving stories of the Vietnam War
https://youtu.be/bJiwXdaaL7A Everyone from Whoopi Goldberg to Samuel...
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Tom Richards: 'When I finished ... I was better for it'
Tom Richards had to make a decision after graduating from college. It was 1965, and the Vietnam War was being fought. He could have applied for...
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Miguel Llano: 'Sometimes it was last night I was there'
As Miguel Llano puts it, for much of his young life, he was stuck between different worlds. He was born in Puerto Rico but was raised in Ontario...
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Juil Robinson Jr.: 'In my opinion, it was a disaster'
Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War was not a happy experience for Juil Robinson Jr. “It was basically, in my opinion, it...
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Ginny Nguyen: 'We wanted democracy, we wanted freedom'
As a child, Ginny Nguyen went from a life of privilege in Vietnam to one of poverty in the United States. Through hard work, she and her family...
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John White: 'There's no greater honor'
“The military experience was something that I looked at as a calling,” John White said. “So my intention all through school was to join the armed...
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Ken Moore: 'It was bad, but I would do it again'
For Ken Moore, the hardest part about serving in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War didn’t even happen there. “This country was a disaster when we...
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Lam Le: 'When I came here, basically I had nothing'
During the Vietnam War, Lam Le served in the South Vietnamese navy, working on a ship to support the combat troops on the ground. Everything changed...
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Henrietta and Max Levine: 'We've seen some big problems in the world'
Max and Henrietta Levine met more than 70 years ago on a blind date — but it wasn’t with each other. “Some other guy was my date,” Henrietta Levine...
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Stirlin Harris: 'I started to wonder what I had gotten myself into'
In the 1960s, Stirlin Harris was living as a landed immigrant in Canada. And once his draft notice came through, he decided that he was going to stay...
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Tai Le: 'We have a great life here'
Tai Le was 6 years old when he almost died. It was 1968, and he and his family could hear the sounds of war outside their home in Saigon, Vietnam....
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Pat Mannix: 'I was becoming more aware'
“I was not what you would call an activist during Vietnam. I was what you would call a Republican fundamentalist.” During the Vietnam War, Pat Mannix...
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George McVey: 'We were all active locally'
When you think of an anti-war protester, what comes to mind? Students, carrying signs? The word “hippie?” So-called leftists? In the 1960s, George...
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Doug Escher: 'It just didn't seem right'
Doug Escher’s 8-year-old grandson, Rafael, calls him “Pow.” He also calls him his hero. “We went to one of his plays in the morning,” Escher said,...
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Alan Levin: 'I have many dead brothers'
Many years before he became known as Brother Wease to local radio fans, Alan Levin made a big decision. It was 1966. He was 19. One of his best...
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Barry Culhane: 'I wanted to do something for them'
After completing U.S. Army basic and medical training in 1969, Barry Culhane had orders to be sent to Vietnam. He was ready. “I'd already written my...
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Bob Good: 'It tore society in half'
Paul Good was 19 when he was drafted to serve in the Vietnam War. Less than two months after he arrived in country, he was killed. “In many ways,”...
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Brent Downing: 'I'm not sorry I was there'
A doughnut almost led to disaster while Brent Downing was serving with the U.S. Navy's Seabees during the Vietnam War. He was on a mortar crew, which...
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Connections: Vietnam War conversations, part 2
During this special broadcast from The Little Theatre, we delve into the history of the Vietnam War with members of the Vietnamese community. It’s a...
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Connections: Vietnam War conversations, part 1
During this special broadcast from The Little Theatre, we delve into the history of the Vietnam War with veterans and activists. It’s a preview of...
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Connections: Previewing the Vietnam War series
Filmmakers Ken Burns and Lynn Novick believe now is the time to turn back to the Vietnam War. They say to understand war, we need the passage of time...
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Connections: Local veterans honor Gold Star families
This Memorial Day, we hear from two local veterans who served our country during the Vietnam War, and who are now serving Gold Star families in...
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Vietnam Veterans honored at Memorial Day ceremony in Highland Park
The bright sun and warm temperatures this Memorial Day reminded everyone at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Highland Park that summer is right...
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Local author and historian recalls toll Vietnam War took on the village of Holley
The Vietnam War claimed 58,000 American lives, and a small community in Orleans County had what officials there believe was one of the highest death...
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