UNCLAIMED - New documentary claims to have found US soldier in Vietnam

[dapaterson]

http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/2013/04/25/hot_docs_premiere_unclaimed_finds_a_vietnam_veteran_left_behind_for_44_years.html

Had Hollywood told the story of the discovery of a long-forgotten soldier, found miraculously still alive in Vietnam after surviving a horrific helicopter attack and crash, it would have involved a dramatic and dangerous jungle rescue followed by a homecoming parade.

Instead, in Emmy-winning Edmonton filmmaker Michael Jorgensen ’s documentary Unclaimed , we meet a slightly stooped, wiry 76-year-old man living in a remote village in south-central Vietnam who trembles with frustration or pounds his forehead when he is unable to remember his birthday or his American children’s names. He is only able to speak Vietnamese.

 

[Edward Campbell]

A very compelling and terribly sad story ... if it's true.  :dunno:  I imagine there will lots of backing and filling, but ...

 

[*star]

Here is the synopsis for Unclaimed:

After enduring a traumatic childhood and two years in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, Tom Faunce made an oath to spend the rest of his life helping those in need. Four decades later, he discovers a mysterious man in Southeast Asia claiming to be an American special-forces soldier listed as ‘killed-in-action’. Tom struggles to prove lost soldier’s identity and reunite him with his family.

An article was also written in the print edition (not online) of Maclean's magazine this week (copy below). The Maclean's article outlines some of the investigative techniques the film maker undertook and what the results indicate. A better quality copy of the Maclean's article can be found on unclaimed facebook page.

The film was also reviewed by The Globe and Mail (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/film-reviews/unclaimed-mystery-of-a-lost-and-found-vietnam-vet/article11498198/).

Unclaimed world premiere is 30 April 2013 at 9pm at Hot Docs International Film Festival (Toronto). You can buy tickets online: http://www.hotdocs.ca/film/title/unclaimed

To follow JHR's story and the Unclaimed, you may want to visit:

www.movieunclaimed.com
www.facebook.com/movieunclaimed
@movieunclaimed

I would be remiss if I didn't own up to the fact that I worked on the film (logo, poster, web design, invites). However I am also a long time army.ca member.

I believe dapaterson and ER Campbell, you knew my husband GO!!! (Cpl Jordan Anderson 3VP KIA 04 July 2007). http://forums.army.ca/forums/members/7366.

It has been very therapeutic for me to channel some of my grief into my work on Unclaimed; to use it to help another family who is suffering. I have seen the film, don't forget your kleenex! More importantly share the story. The family has needs support in figuring out what happened.

*star
(Mrs. GO!!!)

 

[*star]

Here is a direct link to the trailer: http://www.movieunclaimed.com/index.php/mnu-trailer

 

[Scott]

Thanks for being upfront, star. And keep on keeping on. Good to hear from you.

 

[Edward Campbell]

Thanks for being upfront, star. And keep on keeping on. Good to hear from you.

:ditto:

 

[exspy]

While I will admit that I don't know anything about the bona fides of the persons who made this documentary, the story of this 'person' who is claiming to be John Hartley Robertson has been around for a long, long time.  And he is a fraud.

I habituate another forum with a thread on the War in Vietnam that is the recipient of posts from prominent people who have studied this particular conflict for years.  Several of them posted on the subject of the Robertson documentary when it was brought to their attention last week.  Two of the websites that can provide information on the imposter are:

http://www.fakewarriors.org/phonies/phonies486.htm and http://www.macvsog.cc/john_hartly_rob.htm

Considering how long this faker has been posing as Robertson, it would seem to me that either the producers of the documentary didn't conduct any due diligence on their subject, or did but made a conscious effort to reject it.

If anyone is interested on the possibility of there still being American deserters living in Vietnam today, please see the following site created by Joe Schlatter.  Schlatter was the Chief of the Defense Intelligence Agency Special Office for POWs and MIAs.

http://www.miafacts.org/aa.htm

Cheers,
Dan.