I was in the military during the Vietnam War the first time I saw this film, and I saw it in a theater on base. There was a lot of laughter over the corny dialogue, and moaning and groaning about the worst of the propaganda. This is John Wayne's film from beginning to end, and it definitely expressed his views, so he has to take the blame -- or credit, depending on your point of view. There were more of us in the military at that time that you might imagine who were already questioning our involvement and the military leadership, but I never knew anyone of us who didn't back the fighting men 100%. I was in the Medical Corp, I cared for injured men returning from Vietnam, and and I know how many of them felt. Unlike the Gung-Ho attitude in the film, most of them were bitter. It was a disgrace when they returned home that they were treated like pariahs for simply doing what they were ordered to do.
Review of The Green Berets
