[00:01.50]Before the longest war in American history[00:05.48]Before the longest war in American history[00:11.67]In 1965, Vietnam seemed like just another foreign war[00:15.87]But it wasn't,[00:17.19]It was different in many ways[00:18.85]And so were those who did the fighting[00:21.03]In World War II[00:21.84]The average age of the combat soldier was 26[00:25.23]In Vietnam, he was 19[00:27.10]In-in-in-in-in Vietnam, he was 19[00:30.18]In-in-in-in-in Vietnam, he was 19[00:33.07]In-in-in-in-in Vietnam, he was 19[00:36.10]N-n-n-n-nineteen[00:38.42]The heaviest fighting of the past two weeks[00:40.42]Continued today 25 miles northwest of Saigon[00:44.36]I really wasn't sure what was going on[00:46.33]N-n-n-n-nineteen, nineteen[00:48.07]Nineteen, nineteen[01:02.73]In Vietnam, the combat soldier[01:04.80]Typically served a twelve month tour of duty[01:07.73]But was exposed to hostile fire almost everyday[01:11.12]N-n-n-n-nineteen[01:14.96]N-n-n-n-nineteen[01:18.91]N-n-n-n-nineteen[01:23.10]N-n-n-n-nineteen[01:31.79]In Saigon, a US miltary spokesman said today ,[01:34.32]More than 720 troops were killed last week[01:37.36]In that sensitive border area[01:39.59]In all of South Vietnam[01:41.51]The enemy lost a total of 2,689 soldiers[01:53.17]N-n-n-n-nineteen[02:28.90]All those who remember the war[02:32.68]They won't forget what they've seen[02:36.42]Destruction of men in their prime[02:41.02]Whose average age was 19[02:44.87]D-d-d-d-d-destruction[02:48.95]D-d-d-d-d-destruction[02:57.15]According to a Veteran's Administration study[02:59.63]Half of the Vietnam combat veterans[03:01.68]Suffered from what psychiatrists call[03:03.50]Post traumatic stress disorder[03:05.63]Many vets complain of alienation, rage, or guilt[03:09.12]Some succumb to suicidal thoughts[03:11.50]Eight to ten years after coming home[03:13.68]Almost 800,000 men[03:15.45]Are still fighting the Vietnam War[03:25.60]D-d-d-d-d-destruction[03:29.70]D-d-d-d-d-destruction[03:33.75]None of them received a hero's welcome ...[03:58.38]Nineteen[04:00.85]Saigon, Saigon[04:02.48]S-s-s-s-s-Saigon[04:04.55]S-s-s-s-s-Saigon[04:06.38]N-n-n-n-n-ninteen[04:10.68]N-n-n-n-n-ninteen[04:14.46]N-n-n-n-n-ninteen[04:19.00]N-n-n-n-n-ninteen[04:47.07]Vietnam, S-s-saigon[04:48.98]Vietnam, S-s-saigon[04:50.99]Vietnam, S-s-saigon[04:53.07]Vietnam, S-s-saigon[04:54.80]Purple heart,Saigon[04:56.50]Purple heart,S-saigon[04:58.50]I really wasn't sure what was going on[05:00.85]I really wasn't sure what was going on