"On Two Fronts: Latinos & Vietnam" shares the stories of Latinos who fought on the battlefield and the cost of war, especially for the families and communities left behind in the U.S.
Mylène Moreno, director of the film, said Latinos have served in all American wars.
"You can find Latinos in every American conflict dating back to the revolution," Moreno told KPBS Midday Edition on Wednesday. "They enlisted because there was a very strong tradition of serving proudly. The other side of that coin, they also did not have a lot of alternatives to service."
Moreno said history also shows that military recruiters often targeted minorities. Her film tells the story of working-class students in Arizona who were told they could skip a pop quiz if they talk to a recruiter.
Isidro Ortiz, a Chicano studies professor at San Diego State University, said the Vietnam War was a major influence on the Chicano movement.
"It led to extensive protests, much resistance," Ortiz said.
