Ken Burns' Vietnam documentary already provoking comment

A promo image from "The Vietnam War" documentary from Ken Burns. (Courtesy photo)

ROCHESTER - Joe Dreinczyk of Somersworth thinks everybody should watch Ken Burns' 10-part, 18-hour documentary "The Vietnam War," but mostly the young people who might be able to learn from history what war is really all about.

"I really think everybody should look at it," said Dreinczyk, who spent a year in Vietnam in 1968. "Hopefully young people will watch it and ask questions. Course we were facing communism back then, that was the big scare in the '60s, but a lot of it was political."

The documentary was co-produced by Burns and Lynn Novick, but bears the trademark of a Ken Burns' production, which have historically been shown to seek all sides of a subject.

"The Vietnam War" explores the human dimensions of the War through an epic narrative shaped by the testimonies of nearly 80 witnesses - including American soldiers, war protestors, and Vietnamese combatants and civilians.

In advance of Sunday's debut on NHPTV, The Rochester Opera House will present a special hourlong screening of the documentary's preview tonight beginning at 7 p.m. A facilitated discussion will follow the film.

Dreinczyk, a Spec 4 who served in the National Guard out of Somersworth, delivered munitions to various gun batteries and was based in Phu Loi during his deployment.

He said he hopes young people will develop some healthy skepticism after watching the series.

"Sometimes it turns out the reasons we go to war weren't always there," he said.

Tickets for the ROH screening are $10, $5 for military.