Vietnam War historian breaks down 8 Vietnam War scenes in movies and television

Military history professor Bill Allison rates Vietnam War movies, such as "Apocalypse Now," for realism.

Allison breaks down battle tactics used by the United States military; Viet Cong, or VC; and People's Army of Vietnam, or PAVN; during the Vietnam War, such as the use of helicopters and napalm in "Apocalypse Now" (1979), starring Marlon Brando; and the use of tunnels and firepower in "We Were Soldiers" (2002), starring Mel Gibson. He looks at the realism of urban and jungle warfare, such as the battle of Huế during the Tet Offensive in "Full Metal Jacket" (1987) and "Platoon" (1986), featuring Willem Dafoe, Charlie Sheen, and Johnny Depp. Allison also looks at the portrayal of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, or ARVN, in "Mùi Cỏ Cháy" ("The Scent of Burning Grass") (2012) and "The Green Berets" (1968), starring John Wayne. Additionally, he discusses the tragedies and aftermath of the Vietnam War, connecting the Mỹ Lai massacre to the civilian deaths in "Born on the Fourth of July" (1989), with Tom Cruise, and talking about the Vietnam War POW/MIA issue in "Rambo: First Blood Part II" (1985), starring Sylvester Stallone.

Allison is a professor of military history at Georgia Southern University. He has written several books about the Vietnam War, including "My Lai: An American Atrocity in the Vietnam War." He is also a Vietnam battlefield tour guide with the UK company The Cultural Experience.