NSFW (and potentially NSFL) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kj8qYd68rxE&feature=share

This is 'Winter Soldier', a documentary about an inquest into the American military during the Vietnam War. Veterans describe, in harrowing detail, extensive war crimes that they have witnessed, and taken part in. The impression one gets is that the American army was a machine of destruction, wreaking arbitrary misery upon anything that crossed its path, and staffed by young, brainwashed killers.

I have read a couple of books about the war. I was certainly aware of the very significant war crimes that American troops committed, but had not got the impression that the abuses and random killings were as extensive as they are portrayed in the documentary.

I'll try to be diplomatic, as I know this is a sensitive topic. However, it is clear that many of the soldiers have a socialist ('hippie') world outlook, or are somewhat traumatised. Many were simultaneously campaigning against the war. I'm also aware that there were moves at the time to discredit many of the accounts. So really, I'm asking: are the experiences of these veterans typical? Could some be exaggerating for political purposes, or misremembering events due to trauma? How is the documentary, and backing investigation, viewed by historians and other academics today?