Ken Burns - Viet Nam War

Shadowfax

Shadowfax

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Is anyone watching this awesome documentary? 10 years in the making and so full of information most never knew about.

My good friend Ron Ferrizzi was the opening segment of last night's episode. He was a Machine Gunner and Crew Chief of the tiny choppers flown by the 1st Air Cav and was shot down at least 3 times and somehow survived with a Silver Star and Purple Heart.

Ironically, this aired during the after party of Ron and his wife's 50th anniversary celebration. Ron was married the day before leaving for Viet Nam and never had a real wedding. Yesterday he did and among the guests were about 10 VN Vets from around the country, most of them from the 1st Air Cav. During the ceremony portion, a gentleman and his wife sat behind us that my wife and I kept asking each other why we know him. It turned out to be the main narrator/interviewee for the series so far, Bill Ehrhart. I got to spend some time talking to Bill along with all the other lucky ones to still be alive that were at the affair.

The opening segment is my buddy Ron Ferrizzi
http://www.pbs.org/video/things-fall-apart-january-1968-july-1968-onbycj/

In 1971, Vets that returned home marched on Washington and many chucked their medals over the wall. Here is a shot of Ron throwing his.

21557864_10212469274519598_6313393603715262201_n.jpg


Also, here is a local News article about Ron and Bill.
http://www.philly.com/philly/entert...hilly-bill-ehrhart-ron-ferrizzi-20170914.html
 
It's just started on this side of the pond. I have recorded episodes 1 & 2 and will watch them with eager anticipation.

As a student of American history, I particularly enjoyed Ken Burn's previous contributions.

I have the DVD sets, The Civil War, The West and Jazz in my collection.

A very talented commentator and producer.
 
As noted above, my buddy Ron is in several episodes and while scanning thru Episode #9, I found the full video that the above still shot was taken from during the medal chucking in DC. Check out the 38:35 mark, he is also at the 32:30 mark in same episode.
 
i donate to PBS every year, but really do not watch TV and wanted to see this.

When I read this thread it reminded me and I turned on the TV and it was on.

Ken Burns does a great job presenting history. And what a time in history, right, wrong or indifferent and a reminder of what members of the service contribute, including the greatest sacrifice.
 
I have gotten all the way thru and the surprises keep coming. Of course I was too young at the time to have payed attention to all of what was happening, but only half of it was known to me until now. The US Politicians were so corrupt then and never seems to change.

Here is a picture of Ron Ferrizzi and Bill Ehrhart (and Bills's wife) from Sunday a week ago. It was Ron's 50th Anniversary with the Wedding and Reception he never had due to going to VN the day after getting married.

At the after party back at the house with a Grateful Dead Cover Band, Splintered Sunlight, many of us took a break to watch Ron's opening scene of Episode #6.

Unfortunately, Ron has been suffering from Pleural Effusions and was in the hospital for a month just before that day and still had a chest tube in. He is now back in the hospital with another tube in the other side.

Z
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