The 18th Airborne Corps Podcast, Episode 14: Ken Burns and the Vietnam War

There is no single truth in war. This is the central philosophy of Ken Burns’ sweeping 18-hour documentary “The Vietnam War.” The film asks a lot of its audience; aside from the time commitment, this is an emotionally draining 10-part series. In return, so much wisdom is gained from the series. The film studies the epic tragedy of Vietnam from all perspectives: the American foot soldier, American draft dodgers and protestors, the Pentagon and White House, the international reporter, the Viet Cong, the North Vietnamese regular, and the Southern Vietnamese peasant. The legendary filmmaker joins the 18th Airborne Corps Podcasts' host Joe Buccino to discuss the bold storytelling choices used in the film and what he learned about war and America in the decade-long process that went into making it. Ken discusses his own experience with the Vietnam War growing up in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Ken has made indelible documentaries about American life, bringing us closer to our history through subjects like jazz, baseball, the Civil War, the Roosevelt family, and World War II. The Vietnam War, perhaps more than these other films, speaks to what it means to be an American citizen and what American history means for us. This conversation with Ken touches deep. It covers a range of big topics: the increasing divisive nature of American politics, the importance of a shared humanity, and the notion of truth itself. Whether or not you’ve seen the Vietnam War (if you haven’t, you really should), you will find value in this 30-minute episode.