​Thomas Leo Briggs
Thomas Leo Briggs is a former United Staes Army Officer and Central Inteligence Agency Veteran who served during the Communist War of Aggression ( The Vietnam War ) in Southeast Asia and Secret War in Laos. He is the Author of "Cash on Delivery | CIA Special Operations During the Secret War in Laos", He serves as our Coalition President.​  

​Steve Sherman
Steve Sherman is a former Special Forces Veteran who served in Vietnam as a 1st LT with 5th Special Forces as a Civil Affairs / Psychological Operations Officer from 1967 to 1968. He is known as the Dean of  the United States Army Special Forces history and the role they played during the Vietnam Conflict. He is an author and has edited numerous books and articles on the Veitnam Conflict. He is also the founder of Vietnam Veterans for Factual History www.VVFH.org.   https://www.vvfh.org/   He offers his cometary and expertise to our discussion. He is also an active member of Special Forces Association Chapter 78 https://www.specialforces78.com/.

Following is commentary on
the PBS film series "The Vietnam War"
​by Tom Briggs 

As the anniversary of the ending of the Vietnam War has passed in 2025, the CAVWV would like to expand the discussion of the Vietnam War to include our Asian allies who are so often ommitted from most discussions. We hope you will view the episodes below and add you thoughts on each episode. Our organization is primarily made of these allies who we fought along side during the War. Our allies in Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and other countries have been ommitted from the series and it is our intention to complete the record by adding thier commentary on what thier experiences were and what they witnessed during this time of conflict.
The Vietnam War Documentary Series ( ten episodes containing eighteen hours of footage )  is now being used in many educational settings. Our allies feel the omission of  thier service and sacrifices may lead to a distorted historical record of the war. We hope to contribute to the historical record and discussion by adding thier voices. Events never before told or known by these allies will be included and we hope thier contribution will expand the knowledge of the war an provide a resource for future generations to learn from.  We offer you an opportunity to view and contribute to the discussion about the war.
Our commentary can be found at each of the film links. Tom Briggs a United States Army Veteran who served in Vietnam and later as a CIA Case Officer in Pakse, Laos, during "The Secret War'"offers his commentary on each episode.
Your comments are also welcome. Please add your voice to the discussion.
Learn about our effort to fund " Completing the Record ". The first documentary on the Vietnam War as told by our asian allies. That story can be found here: 
Communist War of Aggression

PBS Documentary Series   

"The Vietnam War"
By Ken Burns & Lynn Novick

Series Previews 

Official Trailer "PBS The Vietnam War"   
Extended Preview : "The Vietnam War" ​

Table of Contents


​Table of Contents
Separate Nations: An Introduction to a Critique .......... ..................................2
Fake History, Episodes 1&2 ...............................................................................4
Fake History, Episode 3 /part1...........................................................................6
Fake History, Episode 3/part 2..........................................................................9
Fake History, Episode 4 ....................................................................................12
Fake History, Episode 5 ....................................................................................14
Fake History, Episode 6 ....................................................................................17
Fake History, Episode 7.....................................................................................21
Fake History , Episode 8 ..................................................................................25
Fake History, Episodes 9&10............................................................................27
Last Days in Vietnam .......................................................................................28


Introduction

Separate Nations: An Introduction to a Critique.    by Tom Briggs
 https://speechify.app.link/e/0fRSHlVeOYb
​Audio File - Duration -2:33:

Episode One - 

Episode Two - 

 Deja Vu (1858-1961)

Link to Episode 1 - Deja Vu:
https://youtu.be/T8LRSgEg4HI
https://www.pbs.org/video/deja-vu-1858-1961-7tmfea/

Riding the Tiger  (1961-1963)

Link to Episode 2 - Riding the Tiger:
https://youtu.be/CWdcRXvTpb4
https://www.pbs.org/video/riding-the-tiger-1961-1963-nmixl5/

Tom Briggs Comentary - Episodes 1-2

https://speechify.app.link/e/RiSrb6HyPYb
Audio File - duration - 3:23

Episode Three -

​River Styx  (January 1964 -Dec. 1965)
Link to Episode 3 - River Styx:
​https://youtu.be/aIpkUHlECbc
https://www.pbs.org/video/the-river-styx-january-1964-december-1965-p6cmza/

Tom Briggs Comentary - Episode 3
Part 1
https://speechify.app.link/e/gLwXzL6xPYb
Audio File - Duration - 3:36 
Part 2
https://speechify.app.link/e/Wdy5uDhyPYb
Audio File - Duration - 4:31

Episode Four -

Resolve (January 1966-June 1976)

Link to Episode 4 - Resolve:
​https://youtu.be/zIMeHe8Ujec
https://www.pbs.org/video/resolve-january-1966-june-1967-o1ogta/

Tom Briggs Comentary - Episode 4

https://speechify.app.link/e/g31lOWWxPYb
Audio File - duration - 2:30

Episode Five -

This is What We Do  (Jul 1967-Dec '67)

Link to episode 5 - This is What We Do:
​https://youtu.be/52T9bf4n-Vk
https://www.pbs.org/video/this-is-what-we-do-july-1967-december-1967-oaccnp/

Comentary by Tom Briggs - Episode 5

https://speechify.app.link/e/uu1GInMxPYb
Audio File - duration - 4:24

Episode Six -

Things Fall Apart  (January 1968-July 1968)
Link to episode 6 - Things Fall Apart:
Free episode Unavailable
Purchase the episode from PBS at the link below
https://www.pbs.org/video/things-fall-apart-january-1968-july-1968-onbycj/

Comentary by Tom Briggs - Episode 6

https://speechify.app.link/e/zOTh74AxPYb
Audio File - Duration - 7:16

Episode Seven - 

Veneer of Civilization  (June 1968-May 1669)
Link to episode 7 - Veneer of Civilization:
​https://youtu.be/tJp9Hb6CgvA?si=OuaRye0arA0ZUGxt
​https://youtu.be/tJp9Hb6CgvA?si=emg44gxnl_yv7Kok
https://www.pbs.org/video/the-veneer-of-civilization-june-1968-may-1969-fxrpl7/

Comentary by Tom Briggs - Episode 7

https://speechify.app.link/e/rkTAdIpxPYb
Audio File - Duration - 6:53

Episode Eight -

The History of the World  (Apl 1969-May 1970)
Link to Episode 8 - History of the World:
​https://youtu.be/2uY3Q7vaA6A?si=MW7XfMIK6tafcdQz
​https://www.pbs.org/video/the-history-of-the-world-april-1969-may-1970-bkyda2/

Comentary by Tom Briggs - Episode 8

​https://speechify.app.link/e/kBZlHQ7wPYb
Audio File - Duration - 2:01

Episode Nine - 

Episode Ten -

Disrespectful Loyalty  (May 1970-March 1973)

The Weight of Memory (March 1973-Onward)
Link to episode 9 -
​Disrespectful Loyalty:
​https://youtu.be/jHL0aeaK4io?si=FTO5DSm2ip1ooQN3
Link to episode 10 -
​The Weight of Memory:
​https://youtu.be/yN_kRIPNzUc?si=EXdGU79uSmizvQJ6

Comentary by Tom Briggs - Episodes 9-10

https://speechify.app.link/e/p8GK2UVyPYb
Audio File - Duration - 3:03

Special Feature

" Last Days in Vietnam "  (April 30, 1975)

Link to the film:  "Last Days in Vietnam"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRyiVgHw3fE

Conclusion and Additionl Observations

The omission of Laos, Cambodia and Thailand from the documentary series and resulting incomplete and distortion of the factual history about the War cannot be overlooked.
​In the PBS Documentary Series "The Vietnam War" our omitted Allies take the series as an insult and adds injury to those who fought along side the United States. It distorts the history and narrative of the conflict for future generations of Southeast Asians and Americans who will surely want to learn the true and complete historical events that their ancestors played during the War. Omitting them only fosters a sense of additional betrayal to those who fought and adds a sense of humiliation to second and third generations today. Their ancestors did not serve in defense of freedom or suffer the toils of war and a humiliating military defeat, their loss of homes, families and country only to be betrayed yet again and abandoned by film makers with a decidedly bias view of the war and role they played in it.
Omission is a tragedy beyond measure.

The Coalition of Allied Vietnam War Veterans is a former 501(c)3 non profit which ceased operating under that IRS status at the end of 2025 which was the 50th anniversary year of the ending of the Vietnam War.
It now operates as a Veteran Fellowship located in the State of Minnesota