Eight weeks, american artifacts takes viewers into Historic Sites around the country. The vietnam war started on january 30th, 1968 with we had kong and north Vietnamese Forces attacking without 100 cities, towns and outposts across a broad swath of south vietnam. We visited the news ian in washington d. C. To tour an exhibit on the ted offensive and the battle of weighed, where some of the most intense fighting took place. We speak with john austin about the photos and the experiences in the battle. In 1967, i arrived in vietnam as a u. S. Army draft men. Scientists are coming to vietnam i was a highly motivated photojournalist. In fact, a combat photographer. I ended up with one of the best jobs that one could have in vietnam. I was only the target for their assigned to the newspaper stars and stripes, and they gave me total freedom to do what i wanted to do. I spent a year there photographing combats throughout the country. And january of 1968, the tet offensive broke out. If you ar
Thank you all for coming out tonight. We are hosting photographer howard ruffner, who during his College Years at Kent University was a photographer for the yearbook as well as the newspaper. His book moments of truth is a collection of more than 150 of his photos surrounding the kent state massacre of the 1970s in which 4 studentslives were lost. [applause] first of all, i have to say, its nice to see familiar faces out here. Lots of people from pasadena village and relatives. My daughter is out here with my soninlaw and his parents are here. Most of all, i have to thank my wife for being here. If she will just raise her hand. [applause] as most of you know, whenever you endeavor on a real good project, your spouse is the one who picks up the other stuff, and lark kept me organized, kept me going and made sure i did not lose too much focus of where i was going with this. So let me get started. The intention of my book is to let you know more about me in the beginning before i attended
People. Well, i dont know what im going to do now. Im going against my will, you know. And i might as well go in there and get it over with. Do you have any family . Yeah. I have a mother and father. Do they know youre going in today. Right. I talked to my mother last night. How did she feel about it . Upset. Yeah. What did she say. Well she said just take care and write me every day. Ive tried to. Theres no way. So what is your family going to do when youre away . Live. Worry, i guess. Well weve been hes been drafted before. And he just didnt go. And we tried everything. Medical excuse and everything and like right now im pregnant and i dont know what im going to do. The president said vietnam is in nations most anguishing problem but said the middle east is the most dangerous. He stressed that u. S. Military strength in the u. N. Now, ricky, do you want to eat something . What . Maybe ricky will. I really felt that way, too. I just feel that i cant possibly give another one of my boy
Well, i dont know what im going to do now. Im going against my will, you know. And i might as well go in there and get it over with. Do you have any family . Yeah. I have a mother and father. Do they know youre going in today. Right. I talked to my mother last night. How did she feel about it . Upset. Yeah. What did she say. Well she said just take care and write me every day. Ive tried to. Theres no way. So what is your family going to do when youre away . Live. Worry, i guess. Well weve been hes been drafted before. And he just didnt go. And we tried everything. Medical excuse and everything and like right now im pregnant and i dont know what im going to do. The president said vietnam is this nations most anguishing problem but said the middle east is the most dangerous. He stressed that u. S. Military strength in the u. N. Now, ricky, do you want to eat something . What . Maybe ricky will. I really felt that way, too. I just feel that i cant possibly give another one of my boys to t
In contrast, supporting those comprising him comprise at the silent majority, we want to look into that turned, the silent majority, enable that has brought world attention to those americans who are so demonstrative. Today, i am watching the demonstrator at the american policy in vietnam. These demonstrators were given permission to carry their protests, climaxing the three day demonstration is the rally at the washington monument. Many of the people observing the demonstration from the sidelines our members up that silent majority referred to by their present. Demonstrations here still attract audiences, even though protests and tickets have been and continue to be a common sight in washington. Almost every day, there are some americans who come from around the country to express their views because this is the seat of the federal government for all 50 states. Not all come to protest. Some come to promote a cause. But no matter how worthwhile or meaningless the issue, how popular or