Documentary Explores Vietnam War

Mission Viejo residents were first to preview Dreadnaughts at War, a documentary focused on a tank batallion during the Vietnam War, during the premier at the Norman P. Murray Community Center.

The documentary featured San Juan Capistrano resident Pat Forster of the Second Batallion, 34th Armor Regiment, along with his comrades. 

Forster recorded footage from the war with his Super 8 video camera between 1969 and 1970, documenting the war from his perspective.

Dreadnought: a class of battleships during World War I that were known for being the biggest and most destructive forces of their time. The film was named Dreadnaughts at War because when the tanks would line up in formation, it reminded many of the soldiers of the World War I ships, afraid of no opposition.

The documentary featured experiences of a few soldiers of the Second Batallion, 34th Armor Regiment talking about how they got through the war.

"Thirty years later, after the war, we analyze our jobs," tank operator Forster said. "First [job] was to kill your enemy and the second was to die for your country."

Forster said many of the soldiers did not often think about the second part of their job, but everyone on the battlefield would learn the hard way by losing their friends.

The Vietnam veterans in the film came together to send a message to the public that they did not lose the war.

"We left," Forster said. "If you look at any of the reports from Vietnam, it will show that every engagement the U.S. military was in, was a success."

How do they remember details from events that happened decades ago? It comes from the focus required on the battlefield, Forster said.

"The five senses we have absorbed the war and it became part of our hearts and is embedded into our soul," Forster said, "That is something no one can ever take from us."

The Vietnam veterans offered a piece of advice for all servicemen before the end of the documentary.

"Listen to your commanders and you'll live," Rusty Adams, Second Batallion, 34th Armor Regiment said.

The documentary airs at 8 p.m. every night but Monday throughout June on .