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What is the personal cost of war? Soldiers
fight for us, and do not comprehend that their
memories will affect them the rest of their
lives. And as citizens of a country making
them fight, do we really understand that human
cost? Can these memories of killing ever
be erased?
All these questions and more serve as the
backbone of Killing Memories, a feature-
length documentary that follows five American
war veterans who served together in Vietnam
40 years ago as they reunite to tour
battlefields, meet former enemies, and
confront the ghosts of their past. Though the
film is focused on overcoming the wounds of
the past, it resonates loudly in the present,
as America continues fighting wars and sending
her children into battle. |
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Rich Luttrell, who kept a photo
of the first man
he killed and,
years later,
discovered that
he had become the
spiritual father
of the dead man’s
daughter. He will
reunite with her,
and also
investigate
his accidental
killing of a
French priest. |
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Terry Wren,
who survived a
massacre when he
hid while watching
his friends die.
He will go back
to where it
happened, try to
connect with the
dead and deal
with his guilt. |
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Tom Donhke,
who lost a hero
of his in the
same battle, a
medic who was
killed trying to
save others. In
honoring his
friend, Tom will
discover that
returning to
Vietnam is a lot
like going home. |
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Benito Garcia,
who is still
filled with rage
after serving
multiple tours
where he garnered
a reputation for
brutality by
beheading his
enemies and
posting their
heads on stakes.
This convicted
bank-robber,
gunrunner, and
drug smuggler will
meet men he would
have gladly
killed, and
establish a simple
human connection. |
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Pete Pepper,
who was their
commander and,
at age 23, known
as the “old man.”
Six years ago,
when his wife
committed suicide
with his gun from
Vietnam, his men
reconnected with
Pete out of the
blue when he
believed his life
was lost. He
brought these men
back to Vietnam
because they had
saved his life,
in the war, and now. They were his
responsibility
then, and they
remain his charge
today. |
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