The year was 1969 when Pat Forster left San Juan Capistrano to serve in the Vietnam War.
“I got on the airplane on Sept. 17 1969 at Travis Air Force Base a boy … a year later, I got off that plane a man,” Forster said.
Forster, who served as a tanker in A Company, 2nd Battalion, 34th Armor more than 40 years ago, shares his harrowing war experiences in the film “Dreadnaughts at War, Their Stories …” He is one of three other Vietnam veterans who vividly recount their stories in the documentary by Paul Higgins.
A special screening of the film will take place at 7 p.m. on May 31 at the Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center, 24932 Veterans Way. An onstage question-and-answer session with Higgins and Forster will follow.
The film is a candid and unscripted interview and features incredible Super 8 MM film footage of the war shot by Forster. “Dreadnaughts at War, Their Stories …” is an enlightening conversation with war heroes and men that received military honors, had a job to do, and did it well.
“These stories are stories that need to be told as we (Americans) need to constantly remember why we enjoy the freedom that we do,” said Higgins. “I am honored to be able to talk to our veterans and have them openly express their experiences of war in a fashion that all of us can learn from and appreciate their sacrifices made for us all.”
For folks who are unable to attend the May 31 screening, the film will air on MVTV Channel 30 for two weeks beginning on June 1. Click here to see the video preview. Stay tuned to the MVTV Programming Guide for more information. The free presentation is sponsored by MVTV.
