Mark Basinger & Capt. Richard Basinger

On May 12^th, 1967, heavy rains swept across the De-Militarized Zone and beat down on the metal skin of Marine Capt. Richard Basinger’s UH-34 helicopter. Basinger was in Con Thien picking up body bags, off loading fuel and supplies and he had less than a minute to do it. Then the mortar shells rained in and Basinger himself became another casualty of the conflict in Vietnam. For him the war was over.

But it continued for his son, not even two years old that day in 1967. More than thirty years later Mark Basinger returns to a silent grove of banana trees where his Dad died. Vietnam: Time In The Barrel tells this father & son story, portrays their longing and shows an intimate memorial that attempts to pull a fragment of peace from an unending war.

Zach Ervin

Zach Ervin is 24 years old when he leaves for Vietnam with his father. He is uncertain about the war, uncertain about America’s involvement. But clear that this trip is something his Dad should do.

"Our fathers were boys when they entered into this reality of war --they were boys! And this experience changed them into men."

Zach walks with his father over the airfield at Khe Sahn, stands above the fighting hole his father dug 32 years ago at the DMZ and sees a humble generosity in the Vietnamese people he meets. And he learns so much more about the war he previously knew by only one word — "Vietnam."

Shane Birdsong

At 18, Shane Birdsong is only two years younger than his father when he joined the Marines. Shane has asked his Dad to take him to Vietnam for five years now. Before this trip Shane has relied on talking about the experience and listening while his Dad speaks to High School classes about the war.

"I just want to be by him when we're over there."

Shane Birdsong has considered joining the Marines.