My Vietnam, Your Iraq

The bonds between parents and sons and daughters who have shared the experience of combat—although in different wars—are explored in the PBS-aired documentary My Vietnam, Your Iraq, which looks at how the painful, buried memories of Vietnam vets can resurface when their offspring sign up to serve in Iraq. For some, the connection is a point of pride; for others, it rekindles feelings of distrust and opposition to the government's role in these situations. While the scenarios in Vietnam and Iraq are different, what hasn't changed is the fact that young men and women barely out of their teens are called upon to fight and to die. Filmmaker Ron Osgood presents the reflections of eight eloquent Vietnam War veterans, including a female nurse whose three daughters have all followed her career path and served in Iraq. The Vietnam vets interviewed here know the risks, as all describe moments of anxiety, and talk about the wait for the dreaded phone call or chaplain's visit (and worst fears are sadly realized when one father loses a son in Iraq). DVD extras include bonus footage of another family's story, and the music video “Doubling Back.” With the Iraq War stretching into one of America's longest engagements, this moving production should find a receptive audience. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (S. Rees)