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Project Jenny KLIK - 1st Inf Di v Women in Vietnam RELATED-- To AFVN To Saigon To Vietnam Further Afield Index
From: Jim White
Dated: December 7, 2017
Subject: AFVN radio - Vietnam documentary for Smithsonian Channel Message
Dear Ms. Dola,
First of all, I'd like to ask you to tell me more about Chuck Kinney. The AFVN website's roster shows "Kinney, Charles E-5 (68-69)" but I have no other information about him. Therefore, I don't know if he is the same person or not. Would you please ask him to contact me if he was once with AFVN. I would like to know more about him as well as possibly help him get in contact with others who were with the organization.
Regarding your "public domain" question, none of the material produced by AFVN was ever copyrighted so it is in the public domain. However, AFVN also broadcast programs received from the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) and these could well have been copyrighted or, at a minimum all of the music and TV dramas received were copyrighted and used with permission of the holder of the copyright.
Since the documentary is about TET '68, the story of AFVN Detachment 5, Hue, may be of interest to you. To the best of my knowledge, It is the only AFRTS facility to ever be overrun by an enemy force. What information I have is at https://www.afvnvets.net/afvn-org-det5hue.html
I am also sending this message to the members of our group to see if they have any further comments or ways in which they might be able to help.
Please write if you have any more questions,
Respectfully,
Jim White
From: Chris Morcom
Dated: December 8, 2017
Subject: AFVN radio - Vietnam documentary for Smithsonian Channel Message
Hi Jim White,
Thanks for your help. I reached out to my contact who supplied me with the AFVN CDs that he said Chuck Kinney gave him. I’m hoping he has contact info for him, but based on the information we have “Kinney, Charles E-5 (68-69) would be a good bet.
If we get in touch with him we will gladly send him your way.
Yes, I am aware of the AFVN story at Hue. It’s really extremely powerful and I would have loved to include it or maybe someday do an entire project on it. The main problem is that there’s just no media out there (that I have found) to sufficiently tell the story — at least in the style of the Lost Tapes series that we are currently doing at 1895 Films right now. But yeah, in the future maybe if we could do a show with interviews and tasteful re-enactments, what happened there is really quite intense.
Obviously all the copyrighted material that was provided to the station for air would still retain its original copyright, but we were only interested in the stuff made by the AFVN - specifically two security alert/PSAs for the Saigon Cholon area during Tet. Since those were made by the station reporters who were service members, I’m pretty sure they would be public domain. But what about the station sign-ons? I could send you exactly the one we’re thinking of but I’m wondering if you know how those were made. For example, there underlying music and then the voice over says, “From Saigon, this is the American Forces Vietnam Network…Where this hits just keep on coming.” Do you know anything about how those little pieces were made?
Best, Chris Morcom
From: Rick Fredericksen
Dated: December 10, 2017
Subject: AFVN radio - Vietnam documentary for Smithsonian Channel Message
Hi Karen,
This is Fredericksen. I have no guidance on the inquiry regarding rights to PSA's, etc. I see no specific request for Vietnam Magazine's story on Detachment 5 in Hue. I can put you in touch with them. Or let me know exactly what, if anything, you need. The Det 5 story is also the opening of my digital book Broadcasters: Untold Chaos, which has a slightly different take on the incident. Link below.
Rick
"Broadcasters: Untold Chaos"
From: Bob Morecook
Dated: December 10, 2017
Subject: AFVN radio - Vietnam documentary for Smithsonian Channel Message
Karen, Chris, Rick, Jim
So far as I know all PSA were products of AFVN, but i cant swear to that.
If they are AFVN products then they are in the public domain since they were created by government employees
Since you intend to use all the materials for a MUSEUM TEMPORARY NOT FOR PROFIT motive, I suggest that
even IF anything it copyrighted that you have right to fair use of the materials. Consult your attorney about that.
I am playing junior lawyer here, but honestly whenever you want a legal opinion, you ask a lawyer, and then you get
an opinion! but it will be better informed than mine.
Chuck Kinney may or may not have violated copyright law when he may or may not have sold old AFVN materials. I am not a lawyer and don't know.
I am sending you the most recent addresses I have for Chuck but I have not corresponded with him in years.
The addresses may not be good
Best wishes,
Bob
From: Karen Dola
Dated: December 8, 2017
Subject: AFVN radio - Vietnam documentary for Smithsonian Channel Message
Hi Jim,
We would like to use an AFVN audio bite that we originally got from Texas Tech University. Please see the attached clip, featuring the audio.
It’s a station sign-on where they say “This is the Armed Forces Vietnam Network… Where the hits just keep on coming”.
Texas Tech is unable to license this audio to us. Can you please advise who owns the copyright to the video?
Please let me know at your earliest convenience.
Thank you,
Karen
PS:
Just to clarify - we only need you to advise on the audio of that clip. We got the footage in that video (of the AFVN station in Saigon) from a National Archives film.
AFVNVETS.net Contacts - Page 4
From: Jim White
Dated: December 10, 2017
Subject: AFVN radio - Vietnam documentary for Smithsonian Channel Message
Dear Karen and Chris,
I am a little slow in writing but even so you should get this on Monday. Apologies. It may be a rather complicated response to both of your messages.
I am adding Bob Morecook to the addressees because I am fairly sure he was instrumental in Texas Tech getting the AFVN audio files Bob was the original webmaster for the AFVNVETS.net site and I took it over from him in late 2012.
Bob may be able to clarify this some, but I think that all of the Sign-ons and Public Service Announcements (PSAs) were made by AFVN personnel, sometimes at the initiative of the station and sometimes at the request of the MACV Office of Information. I'm sure that none of the material produced by AFVN was ever copyrighted and it is only since we started corresponding that I learned that Chuck Kinney had prepared some CDs of AFVN material and was possibly even putting them up for sale. The background music in the Station sign-on might be copyrighted, but only a small portion of is heard. (Bob Morecook-- More comments?)
Speaking of Chuck, I agree that "Kinney, Charles E-5 (68-69)" is adequate but only minimally so as we had personnel from every branch of the service (including the Coast Guard) with AFVN, we had, in addition to the Saigon Station, seven detachments scattered throughout South Vietnam, plus we many different specialties/professions, so knowing his branch of service, rank rather than just pay grade, location(s), and what he did we be nice. However, if you don't know any of this, please don't worry about it. I may have another source.
The story of the Hue Detachment is quite powerful. I don't know if you have seen it yet, but another member of our group, Rick Fredericksen, has just had the story of Detachment 5, Hue, published in Vietnam Magazine. His blog version of the story is at https://oldasiahands.blogspot.com/2017/12/tv-stations-final-days.html and you may like reading it and/or contacting Rick for more information.
In closing, I was with AFVN for a year, but only as an Administrative NCO. Therefore, I didn't get into the nitty-gritty of the actual broadcasting. Both Bob and Rick were announcers and therefore in a much better position to possible give more definitive answers.
Respectfully,
Jim
From: Greg Waters
Dated: December 01, 2017
Subject: AFVN Museum Exhibit
Hi Jim,
The files came through fine and we are excited to have them as part of the exhibit. Thanks again for all of your help and please do stop by the museum if you ever find yourself in New Jersey.
Best,
Greg
From: Greg Waters
Dated: November 15, 2017
Subject: AFVN Museum Exhibit
Greetings, My name is Greg Waters and I am the museum curator at the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Foundation. We are currently preparing for an upcoming museum exhibit that will explore the history of music during the Vietnam era. As part of this exhibit we want to tell the story of the AFVN. I am writing to ask if we can use some of the audio found on your website in our exhibit. Our plan is to have a radio and headphones set up in the exhibit space. Visitors would be able to put on the headphones and listen to a looping audio track of original AFVN recordings. Please let me know if you have any questions and I look forward to hearing from you.
Best,
Greg Greg Waters, M.A. Curator PO Box 648, Holmdel, NJ 07733 732-335-0033 x 109 www.njvvmf.org
From: Rick Fredericksen
Dated: December 10, 2017
Subject: AFVN radio - Vietnam documentary for Smithsonian Channel Message
Hi Karen,
This is Fredericksen. I have no guidance on the inquiry regarding rights to PSA's, etc. I see no specific request for Vietnam Magazine's story on Detachment 5 in Hue. I can put you in touch with them. Or let me know exactly what, if anything, you need. The Det 5 story is also the opening of my digital book Broadcasters: Untold Chaos, which has a slightly different take on the incident. Link below.
Rick
"Broadcasters: Untold Chaos"
From: Jim White
Dated: December 01, 2017
Subject: AFVN Museum Exhibit
Greg,
I haven't used Dropbox for some time but I think I got all of the below in a box called AFVNWebmaster which you can use. Have also included two versions of the AFVN Badge/Logo. I usually call it a badge because we all wore a small version on the left breast pocket of our uniforms and I don't know how often (of if ever) it might have appeared as an "on air" logo.
The larger of the two versions has a solid blue background while the smaller version has a lighter blue background. The badge was not an "official US military item" but was purchased on the local Saigon market whenever we needed more. Therefore, there could have been some variances in color, etc., over the years.
Let me know if I can help or erred in any way.
Jim
From: Jim White
Dated: November 22, 2017
Subject: AFVN Museum Exhibit
Greg,
Attached are some screen shots of the audio files I have collected. I would be glad to send you any of them you think you might be able to use to you. DropBox might be a good way to do this.
Jim W
PS: FYI, Bob was the webmaster for an earlier version of the site I am running.
From: Karen Dola
Dated: December 10, 2017
Subject: AFVN radio - Vietnam documentary for Smithsonian Channel Message
Thank you very much for this detailed response, Jim.
Rick, Bob - I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience. We would very much like to use AFVN material, but we need guidance on permission/clearance matters.
Thank you,
Karen
From: Frank Uffner
Dated: February 1, 2018
Subject: Can I Purchase a Copy...
I was in Vietnam, assigned to Tuy Hoa & Phu Cat from Jun 70-Jun 71. I listened to Les Jacoby on my radio. The cassettes I had of the AFVN shows I taped will no longer play. I'd like to purchase a CD of the opening. AFVN serving the American fighting man from............Is this possible? Sincerely,
Frank Uffner
From: Danielle Guthrie
Dated: March 11, 2018
Subject: Correct spelling and survived by
Thank you so much. I sure do wish I could have gotten to know him. My youngest son looks so much like him, and both of my boys have his eyes. We always carry him with us because he is a part of us.
Danielle
From: Karen Dola
Dated: December 8, 2017
Subject: AFVN radio - Vietnam documentary for Smithsonian Channel Message
To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing to you on behalf of 1895 Films, producer of the documentary series, "The Lost Tapes" for the Smithsonian Channel. One of our documentaries will be on the Tet Offensive. We have acquired AFVN Radio material by Chuck Kinney, who we believe worked at at a radio station while in Vietnam. Can you please confirm if this material is in the public domain, or if there are any additional permissions I need to address? Thank you very much for your time and consideration to this request.
Best, Karen Dola
Clearance Supervisor 818.849.1551
From: Frank Uffner
Dated: November 24, 2018
Subject: Can I Purchase a Copy...
After receiving your request last February, I looked but I don't have a copy of what you are looking so I sent your request on to a friend to see if he could help (message below). He has never replied, and unfortunately I rather forgot about your request. Have you tried going through the files and recordings on the Audio Archives pages? If not, perhaps you could listen to them. If you find what you want somewhere and have the software to copy it, please do so. If you don't have the necessary software, then please write giving me the URL address (at the top of your browser, i.e., https://www.....) and perhaps about how many minutes from the beginning of the recording it is located. I could then possibly copy it out for you and send it to as as an MP3 file.
Sincerely,
Jim White Webmaster, AFVNVETS.NET
PS: I would like to help more, but my time is limited due to the demands of trying to keep the AFVNVETS.net up-to-date.
Message of February 4, 2018, referenced above:
Bob,
Here is a request which came through the website contact page. He is looking for "AFVN serving the American fighting man from....." It seems like I have heard it--but maybe that was in 1970-71 when I was in Saigon. I looked at some of the audio files on our site but didn't find it. Do you have a copy? If so, can you send it to me so I can reply to this? Of, if you wish, please reply directly but send me an info copy of your message.
Thanks, Jim W
From: Greg Waters
Dated: December 01, 2017
Subject: AFVN Museum Exhibit
Hi Jim, Thanks for the list of audio files. I listened to many of them through the website and picked a handful of shows/recordings that I think would be great for our exhibit. They are:
Songs of War in Vietnam
Dawnbuster with Pat Sajak
Purple Grotto Jazz with Manny Harper
Soul 70
AFVN Sound of Home
AFVN November 27, 1970
A Date With Chris
AFRS Saigon Curfew Notice
Public Service Announcements
I know that you guys are much more familiar with these recordings and the history of the AFVN than I am. I welcome your suggestions regarding other recordings that the general public and especially our Vietnam Veteran visitors would enjoy. Dropbox would work great for me. Let me know if you need anything from my end to set it up. Thanks again!
Greg
From: Karen Dola
Dated: December 7, 2017
Subject: AFVN radio - Vietnam documentary for Smithsonian Channel Message
Hi Jim,
Thank you very much for your email.
I am adding producer, Chris Morcom to the conversation, as we will have questions about your material. We may need your assistance in sourcing any material that is not in the Public Domain. Chris will be able to provide you with the information of what we would like to use.
I don’t have any information on Chuck Kinney, but we can look into this.
I look forward to working with you on this project.
Thank you, Karen Dola
From: Greg Waters
Dated: December 01, 2017
Subject: AFVN Museum Exhibit
Hi Jim,
The files came through fine and we are excited to have them as part of the exhibit. Thanks again for all of your help and please do stop by the museum if you ever find yourself in New Jersey.
Best,
Greg
From: Danielle Guthrie
Dated: March 11, 2018
Subject: Correct spelling and survived by
Hello. I noticed that my father’s name is misspelled on the roster category but not the bio. His name is Robert Guy Stricklin, but the spelling has an a instead of an i on the roster. The bio spelling is correct. Also, he was survived by three children. My mother was pregnant with me when he was killed. He was survived by Damon, Dawne, and Danielle. I did not have one of the pictures on his bio and I’m so thankful to have it now!
Thank you,
Danielle
From: Dale Nicholson
Dated: February 15, 2018
Subject: Top 25 Songs for 1998
I am looking for a recording of the top 25 songs of 1968 that was played on AFVN radio.
Note: I replied by directing him to the 100 songs for 1968 on the AFVN History page. Jim White
From: Greg Waters
Dated: November 22, 2017
Subject: AFVN Museum Exhibit
Hi Jim and Bob,
Thanks for the quick responses and your suggestions. The focus of our AFVN section of the exhibit will be less on commercial music and more on the radio disc jockeys themselves. We would like to include news and weather reports as well as the Public Service Announcements. Would it be possible to get copies of a small selection (3-5) of the recordings that are on your website? We would then be able to incorporate them into a playlist app that we are developing for the exhibit.
I am also trying to find a high resolution image of the AFVN logo (the one in Jim’s email signature). Do either of you happen to have one that we can use?
Greg
The following is a selection of the contacts received by the Webmaster
November 2017 through March 2018
From: Jim White
Dated: November 14, 2017
Subject: AFVN Museum Exhibit
Greg.
I see no problem with the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Foundation using anything available on the AFVNVets.net website. One problem, is avoiding copyright problem if entire versions of commercial recordings are used. We usually get around that by cutting the song short to only a sample.
One big problem, however, might be trying to use "original AFVN recordings." Most of the music we used were commercial recording provided to us by the Armed Forces Radio and TV Service. There were some instances of "original AFVN recordings," but these were usually made using either "home grown" musicians and singers (I.E., musically-inclined military personnel in Vietnam who would form a group for entertaining their own and surrounding units) or sometimes inviting a USO tour or similar group to one of our studios for a recording session. And, I, personally, don't know if any such recordings still exist or not. I doubt it because putting a 15" reel of 2" videotape in your hip pocket for the flight back to the states was rather difficult.
Respectfully,
Jim
From: Jerry Nelson
Dated: March 11, 2018
Subject: Correct spelling and survived by
Thanks for contacting us. I'll make the correction on the AFVNVETS.net site The MACOI site is run by Joe and Chu Green. I will send him an info copy of this message asking that he add your name after Damon and Dawn. It may be a few days before this correction shows up.
I'm sorry that you lost your father before you even had a chance to know him.