MENTION THE VIETNAM WAR and the reaction will be mixed, depending. Some served. Some supported. Others protested. And some, like me, viewed the war as teens not quite old enough to vote, but old enough to care.
Fifty years ago on April 30, 1975, Communist forces seized control of the South Vietnamese capital, ending the war in what became known as “The Fall of Saigon.” Two years prior, with the signing of the Paris Peace Accords, the U.S. ended its direct military involvement in the conflict.
But those two events did not end the pain and suffering or the issues which still linger and swirl regarding the Vietnam War.
At 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 29, American Legion Post #43, Unit #43 Auxiliary and Operation: 23 to Zero are hosting a showing of the 47-minute documentary film, “Truths and Myths About the Vietnam War,” at the Legion in Faribault. The film was produced by the Atlanta Vietnam Veterans Business Association “to honor those who served in the Vietnam War, by providing factual information to address the decades of misinformation that has presented a skewed historical perspective of the war,” according to the AVVBA website. “We believe this a very important and long overdue film, one that captures the information and lessons learned most Vietnam War veterans want reported about the war.”
Now I’m always interested in learning and considering different viewpoints. And it seems this 2024 documentary by Emmy Award-winning film producer David Naglieri will offer me some new insights and perspectives via a Medal of Honor recipient, those who served, and historians. The film promises to address many facets of the Vietnam War from media coverage to anti-war protests to politics to the treatment of returning soldiers and more.
I well remember how poorly returning American soldiers were treated by many who opposed the war. They were not respected for their service. Rather, they were met with protests and disdain. I’m all for free speech and expressing our opinions via protests. But it had to be hard, really hard, for those Vietnam veterans, most of whom were drafted. I remember my own dad, who served on the front lines during the Korean War (“The Forgotten War”), sharing how he never felt supported and appreciated upon his return home.
Tuesday’s event at my local Legion, while focusing on the Vietnam War, will honor all veterans and offer them free wings during Wing Night. A social hour runs from 5:30-6:30 p.m. followed by the film screening from 6:30-8 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
I encourage you to attend, whether you are a veteran or friend/family member; were a war protester; were, like me, a Vietnam War-era teen (who wore a POW bracelet); or simply want to learn more about a war which claimed 58,220 American and millions of other lives and left countless traumatized.
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FYI: You can watch “Truths and Myths About the Vietnam War” online by clicking here.
If you served in the Vietnam War, lost a loved one in the war, protested or otherwise, please feel free to share your experiences/thoughts in a respectful comment.
© Copyright 2025 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
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