Jim; I confess ... I was not aware that traitor Jane Fonda was even in the movie before I went to see it.
Having said that; her brief, insignificant, one-time, on-screen appearance, did not detract from the movie's powerful real-life civil rights historical story line struggle and the conflicting heart-felt relationships between a father, mother, and their two sons.

As for why any freedom loving American citizen would want to go see such a movie ... the theater was packed by such freedom loving Americans Jim... many of whom were veterans just like yourself ... and there was a thunderous audience applause at the end of the film.

Just my personal opinion ...