# China Beach

China Beach is an American war drama television series set at an evacuation hospital during the Vietnam War. The title refers to My Khe beach in the city of Đà Nẵng, Vietnam, nicknamed "China Beach" in English by American and Australian soldiers during the Vietnam War. The series originally ran on ABC for four seasons from April 27, 1988 to July 22, 1991.

## Overview

Created by William Broyles Jr. and John Sacret Young, the series looks at the Vietnam War from the perspectives of the women, military personnel and civilians who were present during the conflict. John Wells and Lydia Woodward joined the writing staff for China Beach beginning with the second season. Many of the show’s cast members appeared later on another Wells production, ER.
Set at the fictitious 510th Evacuation Hospital and R&R facility (the "Five-and-Dime"), the series' cast of characters includes US Army doctors and nurses, officers, soldiers, Red Cross volunteers and civilian personnel (American, French, and Vietnamese). The series also features the experiences of the characters when they return to the United States, either on leave or at the end of their tours of duty. The show does not shy away from showing the brutality of war; it provides a gritty view of the experience and its aftermath.
The show was inspired in part by the book Home Before Morning (1983) written by the former U.S. Army Nurse Lynda Van Devanter. The show's character Nurse Colleen McMurphy roughly follows Van Devanter's experiences as a nurse in Vietnam. The book takes the reader from Van Devanter's wish to serve her country through the adventure she thought her deployment to Vietnam would be, her culture shock upon returning to "the States", and her struggles with PTSD. The show was cancelled before it could fully address McMurphy's PTSD issues. Van Devanter died in 2002.

## Cast

* Dana Delany as First Lieutenant (later Captain) Colleen McMurphy, USA – a Catholic girl from Lawrence, Kansas, and army nurse with the 510th Evac Hospital in Vietnam during the late 1960s. A composite of various real-life Vietnam War nurses, the character illustrates her courage, kindness, and sacrifices during the war, as well as the severe emotional scarring of noncombatant personnel during and following military service; several episodes feature the veterans in their own words, intercut with the storyline. Delany won two Emmy awards for the role.
* Nan Woods as Cherry White (seasons 1–2) – a naive Red Cross volunteer ("doughnut dolly") from Iowa, she comes to China Beach to search for her brother Rick, a Marine Infantryman, who was reported MIA. She dies midway through the second season during the Tet Offensive in January 1968.
* Michael Boatman as SP5 Samuel Beckett, USA – a draftee and a preacher's son from North Carolina, he works in the Graves Registration unit at China Beach. His job makes him unpopular with most of the other servicemen.
* Marg Helgenberger as Karen Charlene "K.C." Koloski – a cynical part-time prostitute and civilian volunteer, she comes to China Beach seeking to make her own wealth and fortune.
* Robert Picardo as Captain Dick Richard, USA – a head surgeon dealing with being drafted into Army and away from his family, he worked as an OB-GYN when he was a civilian.
* Tim Ryan as Captain Bartholomew "Natch" Austen, USAF (regular in season 1; recurring in season 2) – a jet fighter pilot and McMurphy's love interest.
* Concetta Tomei as Major Lila Garreau, USA – a World War II veteran, she is the career Army commanding officer of China Beach.
* Brian Wimmer as Corporal Boonwell "Boonie" Lanier, USMC – the friendly China Beach lifeguard and manager of the Jet Set Club.
* Jeff Kober as Sergeant Evan "Dodger" Winslow, USMC – a moody Marine Force Reconnaissance operative, he serves and fights in the jungle mainly to keep other servicemen in his platoon alive. He constantly displays the "thousand-yard stare", a blank facial expression common among soldiers who have seen too much death and destruction in battle. He is a friend of Boonie, McMurphy, and Cherry.
* Chloe Webb as Laurette Barber (season 1) – a USO singer from Paoli, Pennsylvania, she is determined to make it big.
* Megan Gallagher as Airman Wayloo Marie Holmes, USAF (season 2) – a reporter for the Armed Services Network, she is seeking a career as a world-famous reporter.
* Nancy Giles as Private Franklin "Frankie" Bunsen, USA (seasons 2–4) – a female private, she was assigned to the China Beach motor pool.
* Ned Vaughn as Specialist Jeff Hyers, USA (season 3; guest appearances in seasons 2 and 4) – a good-natured combat medic from Georgia, he is killed in action midway through the third season during a routine patrol.
* Troy Evans as Sergeant First Class Bob Pepper, USA (seasons 3–4) – a World War II veteran, he is a driver, mechanic, and non-commissioned officer in charge of the motor pool. He becomes romantically involved with Lila Garreau, whom he later marries.
* Ricki Lake as Holly "the Donut Dolly" Pelegrino, (season 3) – a sharp-witted Red Cross volunteer.

## Episodes

Over four seasons from 1988 to 1991, the series aired 61 episodes and one pilot movie.
| Season | Episodes | Episodes | Originally released | Originally released |
| Season | Episodes | Episodes | First released | Last released |
| Pilot | 1 | 1 | April 26, 1988 (1988-04-26) | April 26, 1988 (1988-04-26) |
| 1 | 6 | 6 | April 27, 1988 (1988-04-27) | June 8, 1988 (1988-06-08) |
| 2 | 17 | 17 | November 30, 1988 (1988-11-30) | May 3, 1989 (1989-05-03) |
| 3 | 22 | 22 | September 20, 1989 (1989-09-20) | April 30, 1990 (1990-04-30) |
| 4 | 16 | 16 | September 29, 1990 (1990-09-29) | July 22, 1991 (1991-07-22) |

## Production

The title sequence theme song was "Reflections" by Diana Ross & the Supremes (the episode "Phoenix" instead used "We Gotta Get out of This Place" by Eric Burdon with Katrina & The Waves).

## Reception

China Beach was a critically lauded, but poorly rated series. ABC persisted with the show for four seasons, but the final season was put on hiatus in December 1990 and did not air its finale until July 22, 1991. As a result of the scheduling, Dana Delany was eligible for (and ultimately won) a Best Actress Emmy Award in the fall of 1992, a year after the series broadcast its final episode and over a year and a half after many of the scenes were filmed.

## Awards and nominations

Awards and nominations for China Beach :
| Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result |
| 1989 | Casting Society of America's Artios Award | Best Casting for TV, Dramatic Episodic | Phyllis Huffman and John Frank Levey | Nominated |
| 1990 | Casting Society of America's Artios Award | Best Casting for TV, Dramatic Episodic | John Frank Levey | Nominated |
| 1991 | Casting Society of America's Artios Award | Best Casting for TV, Dramatic Episodic | John Frank Levey | Nominated |
| 1989 | Directors Guild of America Award | Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Specials | Rod Holcomb (for the pilot episode) | Nominated |
| 1990 | Golden Globe Award | Best Television Series – Drama | | Won |
| 1990 | Golden Globe Award | Best Actress – Television Series Drama | Dana Delany | Nominated |
| 1991 | Golden Globe Award | Best Television Series – Drama | | Nominated |
| 1991 | Golden Globe Award | Best Actress – Television Series Drama | Dana Delany | Nominated |
| 1991 | Golden Globe Award | Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film | Marg Helgenberger | Nominated |
| 1989 | Humanitas Prize | 60-minute Category | Patricia Green | Won |
| 1989 | Humanitas Prize | 60-minute Category | John Sacret Young and William Broyles Jr. (for episode "Lost and Found") | Nominated |
| 1990 | Humanitas Prize | 60-minute Category | John Wells (for episode "Dear China Beach") | Nominated |
| 1990 | Humanitas Prize | 60-minute Category | Georgia Jeffries (for episode "How to Stay Alive in Vietnam: Part I") | Nominated |
| 1991 | Humanitas Prize | 60-minute Category | John Wells (for episode "One Small Step") | Nominated |
| 1992 | Humanitas Prize | 90-minute Category | John Wells, John Sacret Young, Carol Flint, and Lydia Woodward | Nominated |
| 1988 | Motion Picture Sound Editors' Golden Reel Award | Best Sound Editing Television Pilots and Specials | Greg Stacy and Sync-Pop | Won |
| 1990 | Peabody Award | | ABC Television and Sacret Inc., in association with Warner Bros. Television (for episode "Vets") | Won |
| 1989 | People's Choice Award | Favorite New TV Dramatic Program | | Won |
| 1988 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series | John Sacret Young (for the pilot episode) | Nominated |
| 1988 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series | Rod Holcomb (for the pilot episode) | Nominated |
| 1988 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Editing for a Series - Single Camera Production | Erwin Dumbrille and Christopher Nelson (for the pilot episode) | Nominated |
| 1988 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Costuming for a Series | Paula Lynn Kaatz and Darryl Levine (for the pilot episode) | Won |
| 1989 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Drama Series | John Sacret Young, John Wells, Patricia Green, Geno Escarrega, Christopher Nelson, and Fred Gerber | Nominated |
| 1989 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series | Dana Delany (for episode "The World") | Won |
| 1989 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series | Chloe Webb (for episode "Chao Ong") | Nominated |
| 1989 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Editing for a Series - Single Camera Production | Randy Jon Morgan (for episode "Vets") | Nominated |
| 1989 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Achievement in Costuming for a Series | Paula Lynn Kaatz and Darryl Levine (for episode "The World: Part II") | Nominated |
| 1989 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Drama Series | Tim Cooney, Don Cahn, Artie Torgersen, and James G. Williams (for episode "Vets") | Nominated |
| 1990 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Drama Series | John Sacret Young, John Wells, Georgia Jeffries, Mimi Leder, Fred Gerber, and Geno Escarrega | Nominated |
| 1990 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series | Dana Delany | Nominated |
| 1990 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Marg Helgenberger (for episodes "The Unquiet Earth", "Skin Deep", "Nightfall") | Won |
| 1990 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series | Ruby Dee (for episode "Skylark") | Nominated |
| 1990 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Editing for a Series - Single Camera Production | Susan B. Browdy (for episode "The Unquiet Earth") | Nominated |
| 1990 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Costuming for a Series | Paula Lynn Kaatz and Le Dawson (for episode "Magic") | Nominated |
| 1990 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Drama Series | Lowell Harris, Don Cahn, Artie Torgersen, and Jim Cook (for episode "F.N.G.") | Won |
| 1991 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Drama Series | John Sacret Young, John Wells, Mimi Leder, Lydia Woodward, Carol Flint, and Geno Escarrega | Nominated |
| 1991 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series | Dana Delany (for episode "Fever") | Nominated |
| 1991 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Marg Helgenberger (for episodes "History, Part II - She Sells More Than Sea Shells", "100 Klicks Out") | Nominated |
| 1991 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series | Mimi Leder (for episode "You, Babe") | Nominated |
| 1991 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series | Penny Fuller (for episode "Fever") | Nominated |
| 1991 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Costuming for a Series | Paula Lynn Kaatz and Le Dawson (for episode "Juice") | Nominated |
| 1992 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series | Dana Delany (for episode "Through and Through") | Won |
| 1992 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Marg Helgenberger (for episodes "100 Klicks Out", "The Always Goodbye") | Nominated |
| 1992 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series | John Wells, John Sacret Young, Carol Flint, and Lydia Woodward (for episode "Hello Goodbye") | Nominated |
| 1992 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series | Mimi Leder (for episode "Rewind") | Nominated |
| 1992 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Costuming for a Series | Paula Lynn Kaatz and Thomas S. Dawson (for episode "Hello Goodbye") | Nominated |
| 1992 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Drama Series | Lowell Harris, Don Cahn, Artie Torgersen, and Jim Cook (for episode "Hello Goodbye") | Nominated |
| 1989 | Television Critics Association Award | Outstanding Achievement in Drama | | Nominated |
| 1989 | Viewers for Quality Television Award | Best Quality Drama Series | | Won |
| 1989 | Viewers for Quality Television Award | Best Actress in a Quality Drama Series | Dana Delany | Won |
| 1989 | Viewers for Quality Television Award | Best Supporting Actress in a Quality Drama Series | Marg Helgenberger | Won |
| 1989 | Viewers for Quality Television Award | Best Writing in a Quality Drama Series | | Won |
| 1990 | Viewers for Quality Television Award | Best Quality Drama Series | | Won |
| 1990 | Viewers for Quality Television Award | Best Actress in a Quality Drama Series | Dana Delany | Won |
| 1990 | Viewers for Quality Television Award | Best Supporting Actor in a Quality Drama Series | Robert Picardo | Nominated |
| 1990 | Viewers for Quality Television Award | Best Supporting Actress in a Quality Drama Series | Marg Helgenberger | Won |
| 1990 | Viewers for Quality Television Award | Best Writing in a Quality Drama Series | | Won |
| 1990 | Viewers for Quality Television Award | Best Directing in a Quality Drama Series | | Won |
| 1991 | Viewers for Quality Television Award | Best Quality Drama Series | | Won |
| 1991 | Viewers for Quality Television Award | Best Actress in a Quality Drama Series | Dana Delany | Won |
| 1991 | Viewers for Quality Television Award | Best Supporting Actress in a Quality Drama Series | Marg Helgenberger | Won |
| 1991 | Viewers for Quality Television Award | Best Writing in a Quality Drama Series | | Won |
| 1991 | Viewers for Quality Television Award | Founder's Award | Robert Picardo | Won |
| 1989 | Writers Guild of America Award | Episodic Drama | William Broyles Jr. (for episode "Home") | Nominated |
| 1990 | Writers Guild of America Award | Episodic Drama | Alan Brennert (for episode "Where the Boys Are") | Nominated |
| 1990 | Writers Guild of America Award | Episodic Drama | John Wells (for episode "X-Mas Chnbch VN '67") | Nominated |
| 1991 | Writers Guild of America Award | Episodic Drama | John Sacret Young (for episode "Souvenirs") | Won |
| 1991 | Writers Guild of America Award | Episodic Drama | Martin M. Goldstein, Neal Baer, and Dottie Dartland (for episode "Warriors") | Nominated |
| 1992 | Writers Guild of America Award | Episodic Drama | Paris Qualles, John Sacret Young, John Wells, Carol Flint, and Lydia Woodward (for episode "Escape") | Nominated |
| 1992 | Writers Guild of America Award | Episodic Drama | John Wells, John Sacret Young, Carol Flint, and Lydia Woodward (for episode "Hello Goodbye") | Nominated |

## Syndication

China Beach debuted in rerun syndication on Lifetime, on November 4, 1991.

## Home media

Before being released on DVD, the series' only home video release was the 97 minute pilot movie on Warner Home Video, in 1990 (cat no. 11971).
In December 2012, it was announced that the series, among the most-requested television shows not available through either VHS or DVD following its broadcast run, would be issued on DVD in a box set (including new interviews with cast members and various bonus features) and released on April 15, 2013, through StarVista Entertainment (affiliated with TimeLife). The collection includes 302 songs heard during the series. To mark the show's 25th anniversary, a 21-disc collector's set was released October 1, 2013.
Music rights long delayed the release on DVD. More than 250 songs were licensed; seventeen could not be, and were either deleted or replaced.

## Possible follow-up novel

John Sacret Young stated prior to the show's October 2013 DVD release that he was working on a follow-up novel, titled Reflections, in which Colleen, now in her 60s and recently widowed, returned to Vietnam and reconnected with the retired Dick Richard and venture capitalist K.C. Koloski. Young had also hoped to adapt it into a TV movie. However, the novel was never published.