The Kentucky Chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), declared KET’s Tom Bickel an honorary member of the VVA and nominated him as a Kentucky Colonel – a commission he received from Governor Matt Bevin earlier this year – in honor of his work as producer/director on the 2016 KET documentary Kentucky Veterans of the Vietnam War: In Their Own Words.

The Ohio Valley Regional Emmy-nominated documentary, narrated by Kentuckian Nick Clooney, shares the personal stories of more than 40 Kentucky Vietnam veterans, who recount their harrowing experience on the front lines of combat. Via interviews, archival photographs and home movies, the program explores the intimate, ground-level experiences of Kentucky troops in Vietnam.

“These soldiers are proud of their service, but they often felt that they were not appreciated for putting on the uniform of their country,” Bickel said. “To have them show me this respect after what they did is quite humbling. It was an honor to help them tell the story so many Americans have not heard.”

The film, which is available for online streaming at KET.org, is nominated for a 2017 Ohio Valley Regional Emmy Award in the “Military Program” category. Winners will be announced August 5.

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Contact:

Todd Piccirilli
Senior Director, Marketing and Communications
859-258-7242
tpiccirilli@ket.org