Comment on Vietnam episode - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

unsolved_on_film · 07-14-2004, 02:58 AM

Anyone remember an episode where a guy named Curt allegedly died in Nam, but his family REFUSED to believe he was dead. Then they were SO convinced he was alive, they made up stories about having been harrassed by the US Army. Then, as if that wasn't enough, his sis said she SAW him, years later. The family theorized that he had been used for covert operations. The Army said he wasn't even smart enough to be a candidate.

I'm sorry, but this story gets to me. I can't help but feel pity for the family. The fact that the poor kid was killed in combat was so obvious. It's actually pathetic how his mother was even wearing "Curt" pins and anti-goverment cover-up pins in the interview. Sad...

All the evidence they based these theories on was from two photos that they claimed had Curt in them. Can you imagine the audacity it takes to lie about the US Army, just because you think they are lying to you. The father even made up some ridiculous story about being solicited to sign papers declaring Curt dead....in the parking lot of a supermarket!!!

I'm serious...those pictures looked NOTHING like the guy. One of the guys in the pictures even appeared to be of Pacific Island descent. Unbelievable. I should capture those images, you guys tell me what you think. Remember, the family basically saw these pictures as PROOF there son was alive, so they deemed it neccesary to make believers of everyone else by coming up with half-witted stories about a govt. cover-up.

I hope I dont sound too insensitive. I really do love UM, it's just that it's segments like this that killed the momentum the show had in the early 90's. This segment has always particularly bothered me.

Does this story irritate anyone besides me?

JohnMill · 07-14-2004, 04:42 PM

Guy was "missing in action" right? - His sister later saw him at a gas station but heard he was a changed man and since she had her kids with her didn't approach him - That just doesn't wash with me if I saw someone who resembled my long lost brother who was MIA or believed killed in action I would have appraoched him not matter what the circumstances, the woman's story defies common logic.

A few other things which make me believe that the family is either making this up or is being mislead themselves, if indeed Kurt was in some covert operation he would not make any attempt to revisit his former life. I have read books on the subject with declassified agents and one thing they always say is they try to involve their families and personal relationship as little as possible with their "work" for fear of endangering loved ones.

Though you might want to consider that with The United States government anything is possible and UM being a show with a wide syndication would probably screen and weed out the cases they thought that were not plausible and if the story was so "out there" beyond the scope of possibility they would have refused to air the hoax.

Later.

nohwheregirl · 07-19-2004, 11:59 PM

I remember this one well b/c it always creeped me out. I would sit there thinking, "If you saw your brother, why didn't you go talk to him????"

Now that I'm an adult, the only explanation i can come up with is that the family has a wild collective imagination. I know grief can make you do weird things, but sheesh!

Leia · 07-21-2004, 11:48 AM

I just saw that one and I found it pretty fascinating.

One thing regarding the father being solicited by Military personnel in the parking lot. Wasn't it proved that the father did receive a check for a substantial sum of money after signing the piece of paper? (changing his son's status to dead instead of missing, which entitled him to get money?)

I don't know, I just can't see how a whole family would continue to perpetuate this thing for so many years?

magellan333 · 07-23-2004, 12:49 PM

I too found it bizarre that she would not approach him. If the family was distraught over his being missing, it makes no sense that the sister would not approach him. She saw him at the gas station too and on the freeway. Why not follow him at the exit? Just doesn't add up. I seem to recall him being a Marine and not in the Army.

07-14-2004, 02:58 AM	#1
unsolved_on_film Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Mar 01, 2004 Posts: 34	Comment on Vietnam episode Anyone remember an episode where a guy named Curt allegedly died in Nam, but his family REFUSED to believe he was dead. Then they were SO convinced he was alive, they made up stories about having been harrassed by the US Army. Then, as if that wasn't enough, his sis said she SAW him, years later. The family theorized that he had been used for covert operations. The Army said he wasn't even smart enough to be a candidate. I'm sorry, but this story gets to me. I can't help but feel pity for the family. The fact that the poor kid was killed in combat was so obvious. It's actually pathetic how his mother was even wearing "Curt" pins and anti-goverment cover-up pins in the interview. Sad... All the evidence they based these theories on was from two photos that they claimed had Curt in them. Can you imagine the audacity it takes to lie about the US Army, just because you think they are lying to you. The father even made up some ridiculous story about being solicited to sign papers declaring Curt dead....in the parking lot of a supermarket!!! I'm serious...those pictures looked NOTHING like the guy. One of the guys in the pictures even appeared to be of Pacific Island descent. Unbelievable. I should capture those images, you guys tell me what you think. Remember, the family basically saw these pictures as PROOF there son was alive, so they deemed it neccesary to make believers of everyone else by coming up with half-witted stories about a govt. cover-up. I hope I dont sound too insensitive. I really do love UM, it's just that it's segments like this that killed the momentum the show had in the early 90's. This segment has always particularly bothered me. Does this story irritate anyone besides me?

07-14-2004, 04:42 PM	#2
JohnMill Member Occasional Poster Join Date: May 22, 2001 Posts: 85	Yeah I remember it Guy was "missing in action" right? - His sister later saw him at a gas station but heard he was a changed man and since she had her kids with her didn't approach him - That just doesn't wash with me if I saw someone who resembled my long lost brother who was MIA or believed killed in action I would have appraoched him not matter what the circumstances, the woman's story defies common logic. A few other things which make me believe that the family is either making this up or is being mislead themselves, if indeed Kurt was in some covert operation he would not make any attempt to revisit his former life. I have read books on the subject with declassified agents and one thing they always say is they try to involve their families and personal relationship as little as possible with their "work" for fear of endangering loved ones. Though you might want to consider that with The United States government anything is possible and UM being a show with a wide syndication would probably screen and weed out the cases they thought that were not plausible and if the story was so "out there" beyond the scope of possibility they would have refused to air the hoax. Later.

07-19-2004, 11:59 PM	#3
nohwheregirl THE Mystery Machine Senior Member Join Date: Apr 23, 2004 Posts: 1,057	I remember this one well b/c it always creeped me out. I would sit there thinking, "If you saw your brother, why didn't you go talk to him????" Now that I'm an adult, the only explanation i can come up with is that the family has a wild collective imagination. I know grief can make you do weird things, but sheesh!

07-21-2004, 11:48 AM	#4
Leia Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jul 08, 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 13	I just saw that one and I found it pretty fascinating. One thing regarding the father being solicited by Military personnel in the parking lot. Wasn't it proved that the father did receive a check for a substantial sum of money after signing the piece of paper? (changing his son's status to dead instead of missing, which entitled him to get money?) I don't know, I just can't see how a whole family would continue to perpetuate this thing for so many years?

07-23-2004, 12:49 PM	#5
magellan333 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 26, 2003 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 822	I too found it bizarre that she would not approach him. If the family was distraught over his being missing, it makes no sense that the sister would not approach him. She saw him at the gas station too and on the freeway. Why not follow him at the exit? Just doesn't add up. I seem to recall him being a Marine and not in the Army.