First scene shows U.S. marines descending rope net ladder from side of the USS Pickaway (APA-222) in waters off Da Nang, South Vietnam. Next, marines of 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment are seen hitting the beach at Danang, from her Higgins boats on 7 July,1965. Scene shifts to U.S. Air Force C-130 aircraft carrying U.S. army troops who are photographed as they step from the aircraft. Trucks carrying some of these soldiers drive along a road in South Vietnam. Officer confer over tactical map of an area. Vietnamese civilian refugees are seen struggling to depart. Small Vietnamese children at a school or other institution, are photographed as they line up and wash themselves before eating a meal. Smallest children are seated in high chairs. President Johnson seen saying "I do not find it easy to send the flower of our youth, our finest young men, into battle." Pictures of young American men and women are shown in various places and circumstances. A young couple. A man in cowboy hat. A factory worker. A young man laughing. a steel worker on an I beam during construction of a high rise building. Young people assembled at some sort of occasion. Images of Chinese Chairman, Mao Zedong, and Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh. Bow of a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier cutting the water, and then broad view of entire ship, the USS Randolph (CV-15). (Note: the Randolph played no role in the Vietnam War.) Aircraft being catapulted from a carrier. USAF B-52 bombers dropping bombs in Arc Light missions over Vietnam. Bombs exploding on the ground. U.S. Marines operating a type of landing craft tracked. Troops deploying from a landing craft at a beach. American troops making their way through jungles. Scene reverts back to President Johnson still speaking (July 28, 1965).
2000 Buddhist monks and nuns carry placards and boards in their hands. They are revolting to unseat the regime of Premier Tran Van Huong in Saigon. Soldiers with guns in their hands and they try to control the people. Children demonstrate in front of soldiers. People are running. They get injured. They help the injured people and continue with the demonstration. Women and children are crying. Injured monk lying on the road. Soldiers take their position and try to control the revolt. More riots break out. Soldiers beat people. (Vietnam War period).
Dedication of the "John F. Kennedy Square" in Saigon, South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. South Vietnamese soldiers standing at attention at the side of the Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon (01 Công xã Paris, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam). United States Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge, and the South Vietnamese Prime Minister, Maj. Gen. Nguyen Khanh, inspect South Vietnamese troops. A military band plays music. View of the square in front of the Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon. Th Saigon Central Post Office (2 Công xã Paris, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 70000, Vietnam) is seen nearby. The square in front of Saigon's Roman Catholic Notre Dame Cathedral is renamed President John F. Kennedy Square, in honor of the late United States President John F. Kennedy. Vietnamese and White civilians witness the ceremony from across a street. ). Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge reads a speech behind a podium. Prime Minister Nguyen Khanh listens to the United States Ambassador’s speech. United States military officials in attendance. Ambassador Lodge and Prime Minister Nguyen Khanh jointly unveils a plaque to the memory of President John F. Kennedy. Plaque reads “Cong Truong Tong Thong John F. Kennedy”. Photographers take photos of the unveiling event. South Vietnamese soldiers standing at attention as a staff car drives away. Statue of the Virgin Mary in the square.
Activities of the U.S. Air Force personnel at Tan Son Nhut air base in Saigon, Vietnam. Airmen work on a camera mounted in nose of USAF RF-101C Voodoo. They are relieved as the shift changes. United States Air Forces F-105Ds Thunderchief on flight line at sunrise and day shift crew arrives in a truck. USAF C-123B Provider makes a low pass over the field at dawn. U.S. Air Force CH-3C aircraft taking off at dawn.
Aftermath of the Tet Offensive bombing on United States Embassy (4 Le Duan Blvd., District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam) in Saigon, Vietnam. Bullet holes in walls are seen. Extreme damage inside the building. Smashed building and broken windows. Rubble strewn about in the building. American and Embassy flags undisturbed in holders. United States Embassy Personnel walk about. Wrecked buildings across the street of Embassy.
Aftermath of Tet offensive bombing on the United States Embassy (4 Le Duan Blvd., District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam) in Saigon, Vietnam. Shattered windows of the Embassy. Wreckage of car which carried the explosives. Another damaged building. Wrecked cars in street. Burned-out motor scooter. U.S. Embassy seal above entrance. Smashed windows. U.S. Military Police on guard outside the building. Several people stand in front of the U.S. Embassy.