From:  Dickie Ellis

   Dated:  November 7, 2017

Subject:  Forrest and the "100-Thousand"

​Press...
One of those nights during "Mini-Tet" a bunch of us were on the roof of the Key Son Hotel watching the fires and watching the choppers pour it to the sites across the river where the rockets came from.   I am sure you don't remember waving the Zippo around and the snipers buzzing Bumble Bees over our heads...   We threatened to throw you off the hotel if I recall!!!   I took a series of photos of the fires...one about every 20-minutes for a couple of hours....
The two mistakes I saw in the only Burns "movie" I watched were the mispronunciation of Police Chief,  General Loan's name and the weapon he used to shoot the VC.  That was a couple of blocks from our hotel by the way!   He used a S&W Police Special :38 not a military :45 as they guy in the film said.
dickie

    From:  Ken Kalish
   Dated:  November 11, 2017
Subject:  Forrest and the "100-Thousand"

I think the best portrayal of that unfortunate group is in Forest Gump, in the section featuring Bubba and the fire fight. 
Ken


Nixon and the Vietnam War / 100-Thousand

November 2017

    From:  Dick Ellis

   Dated:  November 6, 2017

Subject:  ANALYSIS/OPINION: Ken Burns PBS "Vietnam"

Here is what Colonel North has to say about the Burns video.

Click Here

​Dickie

All the various changes in font size in the text have been removed.  [Webmaster]


    From:  Preston Cluff

   Dated:  November 6, 2017

Subject:  ANALYSIS/OPINION: Ken Burns PBS "Vietnam"​

If so, I was oblivious to it.  Of course, I was oblivious to most things when not on duty, caring for my health, killing germs by devouring as much alcohol as possible!  Ruined most of the rest of my body as that little 120cc Honda I had never wanted to stay upright. 

Preston


    From:  Rick Fredericksen

   Dated:  November 6, 2017

Subject:  ANALYSIS/OPINION: Ken Burns PBS "Vietnam"​

I'm still watching, and enjoying, the Burns series which I recorded. Just finished the Tet Offensive segment and noticed real doozie. The narrator mentioned a second Tet offensive in May '68 which was called "Mini Tet." I was not there at the time. Here is the exact quote: "There was new fighting in Saigon. Half the city was now leveled." Does anyone remember half of Saigon being destroyed? 
Rick


    From:  Dickie Ellis

   Dated:  November 11, 2017

Subject:  Forrest and the "100-Thousand"

​Lt... My brother Frank was one of those.  He was delivered with forceps by the hometown doctor which caused some sort of brain aneurism.  He dropped out of school in the 8th grade and lived with my mom for 50-years.  He was drafted and sent to cooks school.  Finally, brought to Ft. Gordon to help the creation of the 1st Air Cav.   He was sent to Vietnam via an old WWII troop ship through the Panama Canal on a 30-day voyage.  He was flown by chopper to An Khe where they strung wire and pitched pup tents to establish  the  first base camp in 1965.  He was in country for 3-months and 3-days, which makes him eligible for benefits which help me keep him in a retirement facility here in Raleigh at age 77.   Most people have never heard of "McNamara's  Hundred Thousand". And look at me like I am crazy when I try to explain it to them.  Thank you four recognition!   

Dickie


AFVN Group Conversations

    From:  Forrest Brandt

   Dated:  November 7, 2017

Subject:  Forrest and the "100-Thousand"

​My biggest disappointment with the program was the failure to talk about McNamara’s hundred thousand. By cunningly reducing the “go” score on the AFQT by 15 points the ability to grant deferments to “college kids”  at the expense of rural whites and inner city blacks, perhaps the most shameful aspect of US policy in the war. 
Forrest


    From:  Preston Cluff

   Dated:  November 6, 2017

Subject:  ANALYSIS/OPINION: Ken Burns PBS "Vietnam"​

Oliver North is full of it!!!!  Audio tapes, as heard during the Vietnam series, speak for themselves.  Nixon cared about nothing more than re-election, and Kissinger backed him up.  'Nuff said on my part. 

Preston 
P.S. Peter Arnett piece a great read.  I've forwarded [it] to many not associated with our Vietnam group.