At the end of january 1968 saigon was alive with the festive spirit as everyone prepares for the tet lunar new year. For the people of vietnam tet is both a joyous and a sacred time of the year. It was supposed to be the first spring of the second republic of vietnam and the tet truce proposed by the communist north vietnamese seemed to promise people a holiday free from the everpresent anxiety of war. The people gathered to pay respects for their ancestors. On the eve of the new year, thousands of saigon families prayed before the altars of their ancestors. They prayed that peace might be restored to their homeland. This year, however, the traditional firecrackers of the tet celebration came the fireworks of war. The vietcong taking advantage of the noisy celebration and the savage attacks on saigon, violating the fruits that they themselves his proposed. Areas of the city became a blazing inferno. Columns of smoke rose skyward after block after block in the capital city burned with t
Good evening welcome to the u. S. New York Historical society i am thrilled to welcome you here to the auditorium. This Evenings Program is presented in conjunction with our exhibition of 1945 vietnam war that i hope you have had a chance to see but if not it is on view through april 22 so i hope you will return during using them hours to see that. Our story is a lecture on leadership and to create this series five years ago as a permanent way to honor too great americans including David Petraeus who want a history maker award in 2013 i would like to thank mr. Herzog from the new York Historical and general petraeus for his leadership and for the generous participation over the past four years when this illustrious lecture series. [applause] i would like to thank and recognize our trustees and the chair for all she has done on behalf of this Great Institution and also the chair susan. Also migrate colleague for the programs he will hear tonight at the close but this Evenings Program pr
U. S. New York Historical society i am thrilled to welcome you here to the auditorium. This Evenings Program is presented in conjunction with our exhibition of 1945 vietnam war that i hope you have had a chance to see but if not it is on view through april 22 so i hope you will return during using them hours to see that. Our story is a lecture on leadership and to create this series five years ago as a permanent way to honor too great americans including David Petraeus who want a history maker award in 2013 i would like to thank mr. Herzog from the new York Historical and general petraeus for his leadership and for the generous participation over the past four years when this illustrious lecture series. [applause] i would like to thank and recognize our trustees and the chair for all she has done on behalf of this Great Institution and also the chair susan. Also migrate colleague for the programs he will hear tonight at the close but this Evenings Program program will last about an hou
Fulfill that or not, they were prepared to take a chance. Announcer sunday night, addie eastern on q a at eight eastern on q a. North vietnam launched surprise attacks in South Vietnam in the lunar new year. Many people considered it to be a turning point of the war. Reel america, saigon target zero 1968. Tet. Ffensive this film contains graphic scenes that may be disturbing to some viewers. Saigon was alive as everyone prepared for the lunar new year. For the people of vietnam, it is a sacred time of year. This was to be the first spring of the second republic of fear not. Of vietnam. The troops opposed by the north vietnamese seemed to promise people a safe holiday, free from the anxiety of war. At the temples, people gathered to pay respects to their ancestors. On the eve of the new year, thousands of families prayed before the altars of their ancestors. They prayed peace might be restored. This year, the traditional firecrackers became the fireworks of war. The viet cong taking adv
On the vietnam war which i hope you have had a chance to see but it is on view through april 22 so i hope you return during regular museum hours. Our program is the lecture on leadership we created this series five years ago as a permanent way to honor too great americans including David Petraeus who is the history maker award in 2013. I like to think mr. Herzog for his leadership and support and as chair emeritus and general petraeus for his leadership and generous participation over the past four years. Thanks though very much a 17. [applause] i would like to thank the trustees in the audience this evening. To our chair and a chancellor for all she has done on behalf of this great institution. [applause] and the chair of the council, susan b17 and now my great colleague and Vice President of programs and you will hear from him at the close of the program. This Evening Program will last about an hour with a questionandanswer session. Q a will be conducted via written notecards. You sh