On Two Fronts: Latinos & Vietnam | |
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![]() On Two Fronts: Latinos & Vietnam | |
Directed by | Mylène Moreno Susy Garciasalas Barkley (Assistant) |
Produced by | Mylène Moreno |
Cinematography | Claudio Rocha |
Production companies | Souvenir Pictures, Inc. |
Distributed by | Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) |
Release date |
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Country | United States |
Language | English |
On Two Fronts: Latinos & Vietnam is a Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) documentary by producer Mylène Moreno of Souvenir Pictures, Inc., which takes a comprehensive look at the Latino experience in both the home-front and the battle grounds during the Vietnam War. The documentary, which aired nationwide on PBS on September 22, 2015, is part of PBS Stories of Service.
The documentary was filmed in two locations, in the southwest of the United States and in Vietnam. It provides home movies, news footage and personal photographs. Plus, included are interviews of veterans, anti-war activists and historians. According to the documentary the vast majority of the Latinos who participated in the conflict were working-class youths, whose heritage of military service is a deep rooted part of their cultural identity in the U.S. [1] [2] [3] [4]
Discussed in the documentary is the fact that during combat in the Vietnam War, the differences between Latino soldiers and Marines and their Anglo-American and African-American counterparts were minimal, however racial tensions and stereotypes still persisted in Vietnam and even more so upon the Latino soldiers who survived the war and returned home. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
The documentary tells the story of 9 Marines who came from the small mining town of Morenci, Arizona. They were members of the Morenci High School graduating class of 66 who volunteered and joined the United States Marine Corps after meeting with a USMC recruiter. Nine were killed in the war and thus they became known as the Morenci 9. [6]
Anti-war activism began to spread among the Latino community who argued that Latinos were being exploited and as such included a high rate of combat participation and mortality. The documentary tells the case of Everett and Delia Alvarez, brother and sister who stood on opposite sides of the Vietnam War. Everett Alvarez Jr. was a Navy pilot who was shot down over Vietnam and spent 8 years as a POW (Prisoner of War). His sister Delia became an antiwar activist and protester. Hispanics began to organize antiwar demonstrations and events to address both the war and the impact it had on their homes and communities. [1] [2] [3] [4]
According to documentary producer Moreno: “With this film, we wanted to look back, five decades later, with the benefit of hindsight, at the Vietnam War — at its costs and consequences — and ask some difficult questions about the price of war and citizenship,” [7]
Among those who were interviewed for the making of the documentary are Everett Alvarez Jr., Delia Alvarez, Oscar Urrea, Tony Santiago, Steve Guzzo, Professor Kyle Longley and Dan Garcia. The documentary aired nationwide on PBS on September 22, 2015.
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In accordance to the Films Media Group, the documentary is divided into the following sections: [8]
On Two Fronts: Latinos & Vietnam | |
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![]() On Two Fronts: Latinos & Vietnam | |
Directed by | Mylène Moreno Susy Garciasalas Barkley (Assistant) |
Produced by | Mylène Moreno |
Cinematography | Claudio Rocha |
Production companies | Souvenir Pictures, Inc. |
Distributed by | Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) |
Release date |
|
Country | United States |
Language | English |
On Two Fronts: Latinos & Vietnam is a Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) documentary by producer Mylène Moreno of Souvenir Pictures, Inc., which takes a comprehensive look at the Latino experience in both the home-front and the battle grounds during the Vietnam War. The documentary, which aired nationwide on PBS on September 22, 2015, is part of PBS Stories of Service.
The documentary was filmed in two locations, in the southwest of the United States and in Vietnam. It provides home movies, news footage and personal photographs. Plus, included are interviews of veterans, anti-war activists and historians. According to the documentary the vast majority of the Latinos who participated in the conflict were working-class youths, whose heritage of military service is a deep rooted part of their cultural identity in the U.S. [1] [2] [3] [4]
Discussed in the documentary is the fact that during combat in the Vietnam War, the differences between Latino soldiers and Marines and their Anglo-American and African-American counterparts were minimal, however racial tensions and stereotypes still persisted in Vietnam and even more so upon the Latino soldiers who survived the war and returned home. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
The documentary tells the story of 9 Marines who came from the small mining town of Morenci, Arizona. They were members of the Morenci High School graduating class of 66 who volunteered and joined the United States Marine Corps after meeting with a USMC recruiter. Nine were killed in the war and thus they became known as the Morenci 9. [6]
Anti-war activism began to spread among the Latino community who argued that Latinos were being exploited and as such included a high rate of combat participation and mortality. The documentary tells the case of Everett and Delia Alvarez, brother and sister who stood on opposite sides of the Vietnam War. Everett Alvarez Jr. was a Navy pilot who was shot down over Vietnam and spent 8 years as a POW (Prisoner of War). His sister Delia became an antiwar activist and protester. Hispanics began to organize antiwar demonstrations and events to address both the war and the impact it had on their homes and communities. [1] [2] [3] [4]
According to documentary producer Moreno: “With this film, we wanted to look back, five decades later, with the benefit of hindsight, at the Vietnam War — at its costs and consequences — and ask some difficult questions about the price of war and citizenship,” [7]
Among those who were interviewed for the making of the documentary are Everett Alvarez Jr., Delia Alvarez, Oscar Urrea, Tony Santiago, Steve Guzzo, Professor Kyle Longley and Dan Garcia. The documentary aired nationwide on PBS on September 22, 2015.
External videos | |
---|---|
![]() external media: | |
![]() |
In accordance to the Films Media Group, the documentary is divided into the following sections: [8]