I went to see this movie with my dad in the theatre when it came out. My father was a Vietnam vet. At the end of the movie when I got up to leave I noticed my dad still sitting there. With tears being held back he asked me to give him a min. I looked up and noticed maybe 4 or 5 other men about his age, also staying seated. I could tell most were crying and I can only assume they were all vets too. It was a very moving experience.
my dad worked on redstone rockets and other artillery munitions and platforms for the army during that time. he was held back from combat both in the states and even while in country during the war (he went on to work with the mercury jupiter gemini and apollo systems). At the american legion or vfw posts we meet up at every so often, he never wants to be recognized or called out for recognition and honors, even just a hat or a pin. I often wondered was it because of not wanting to get bullshit from people who hated anyone in nam? Was he trying to respect the honor of his friends that he said goodbye to that never got home, and the fact that he was never able to share the risk with them or what was it? All the old vets hug bow and hug and squeeze him (he's in a wheelchair) but I never fully understood why he would react in what I thought was shame at the fact he was not directly in combat and it more was his humility and respect at those who barely made it out and maybe wishing he could have been there with them. It wasn't till I heard the lines "i'll never forgive myself... that my men died and I didnt" that it made sense, and only in a way that it could make sense for a person who was not there. my heart will never crack in that way, and I hope war becomes something of the past so that that none of us has to feel that ever again
It's interesting that your father was pulled into the war where country decided by voices of citizens to be communist country USA decided that it will not be... and than your father was sent as cannon meat to "defend" something against majority of that same country.
Joe Galloway called Hal Moore his best friend the day the day they laid the general to rest. Joe died in August of 2021. They co-wrote the book this movie is based on. The men of the 7th adopted Joe into their unit. He also was awarded a Bronze Star for carrying wounded troopers to the helicopters under heavy fire. He is only civilian to be decorated during the Vietnam war.
War correspondents that are embedded with military units are kind of in a grey area between soldier and civilian. They are officially attached as a part of the unit and are effectively temporarily enlisted and subject to military law for the duration of their assignments, so calling them civilians in the sense that most people think of the word in colloquial use is not really accurate. But the geneva convention uses the word civilian as an umbrella term to encompass all non combatants in war zones and affords them protections against being attacked, captured, tortured, etc. So calling them soldiers wouldn't really be accurate either.
@@Rowgue51 Iget your point, BUT it must be remembered that unlike wars in Europe, the Japanese 1933 - 1945 , North Korean 1952 - 1955, North Vietnamese 1954 to 1975 did not acknowledge,sign or abide by The Geneva Convention (unless it suited their needs) it didnt matter whether you carried a Weapon, a Camera or a Child, you were fair game, see japan (china campaign, Singapour, burma ), north korea (in general) north vietnam (its actions during 20yrs 54 -75), the only time they recognised Geneva convention was when captured. I THINK YOU WILL FIND Geneva convention also protects against direct attacks against unarmed civillians or mistreatment of POWs, both of which were broke by NAZIs, Itallians, Japan, North Korea and North Vietnam, Vietnam and Korea never signed the convention, Vietnam won, Korea is still only at cease fire for last 67yrs, Japan as it never signed never faced trial, italy signed and surrendered in 43/44, disovowed any wrong doing and was slapped on the wrist, Germany was the only one who signed and was tried under the convention as war criminals. the Geneva convention and rules of war only apply if the combatants are signataries, otherways its like standing in front of a tsunami with a placard saying "no flooding allowed" sentiment is good, but in practice its useless. and dont foget, if a signatary is a victor there is no case to answer, victors never beak the convention, just ask the soviet troops who never pillaged, murdered or terrorised their way to Berlin or the German civilians who werent Raped, beaten up orwatched family murdered by advancing Soviet troops, soviet union was on the winning side so none of it happened, nore did the rape and murder in finland when USSR and Nazi Germany were on the same side (1939- 41). the Geneva convention in Vietnam was like American man saying he is gong to fight vietnamese guy, fists only and vietnamese guy refuses the rule pulls a gun and shoots American, morally vietnamese is wrong but technically as he didnt agree he is within his right.
@@josephg.1.130 WTF ! 1973 America pulls out its combat troops ! 1975 armed resistance from ARVN collapses, Saigon is abandoned, South Vietnam Govt evacuates to USS Kennedy, U S embassy is evacuated, NVA enters Saigon, within weeks HANOI transferes Govt to Saigon/Ho chi min city and the whole coutry becomes Peoples Republic of Vietnam. America withdrew, south vietnam troops and Govt collapsed , North Vietnam won in the same way Nazi Germany lost or the Confederacy lost. maybe not palatable but fact. the ARVN Didnt negotiate a cease fire, UN didnt set up a DMZ, there was no shared power , to paraphrase monty python, by 1976 " south vietnam had ceased to be, it was no more, it was an ex country" unless you count alternate universes, shadow governments in exile, south vietnam lost the war visavee north vietnam won.
My Dad was in this and the subsequent battles that followed. He received the Bronze Star although I never knew about until seeing this movie and putting the pieces together. He never spoke of it. I remember the towers at Ft . Benning as a 7 year old kid. My Dad was the quietest man when it came to speaking of war despite being a WW2,Korea and Vietnam Vet. He was a good man. R I.P. Pops !
Sounds like a real man. My grandfather was just in WW2 and never spoke of it and I don't blame him he was in Okinawa when the whole island was a graveyard i can't imagine Korea and Vietnam on top of that I miss a time when those veterans were more prevalent sadly there's few left from all 3 conflicts
"We who have seen war will never stop seeing it." That's so accurate. My grandfather was forced to fight in WW2 for a dictatorship he didn't agreed with. He was one of the few that survived the battle of Stalingrad and the russian imprisonment after it. I only know him as a broken man, who woke up screaming every night. When I see pictures of him as a young, proud, strong man, I can't put the two pieces together as one person. He was never the same after it. Greets from Germany!
The movie is based on Colonel Hal Moore's book, "We Were Soldiers Once...And Young". He and Sergeant Major Basil Plumley are legends in the US Cavalry. Moore retired as a 3 star general and they both lived into their 90s. Plumley died in 2012 and Moore in 2017.
Joe Galloway's book, with Hal Moore. Joe Galloway is the Combat Photographer played by Barry Pepper. He was the primary author who cowrote it with Hal Moore.
@@Cg23sailor I hope that dementia was just nature taking its toll, and maybe a bad shot of the dice, so to speak, than anything his service did to him. I still wish I met him, even if the 1-7 CAV made themselves annoying during my time n the service. It still would have been an honor.
I totally agree with you from what I’ve been told about the Vietnam war, and what I have researched. God knows I was born in 1967 but I’ve been a military not since I was eight years old and started researching stuff about World War II it first and then world war one and then Vietnam. just heartbreaking!! When governments in liters get into a fight, they themselves should get in the boxing rings and knock it out, rather than sending innocent men and women to do their jobs that there too cowardly to do
Veteran (infantry) with both father and father-in-law who served in country. We watched this together many years ago. Not much was said out loud. I miss them both.
The soldier in picture on the cover of the book was Rick Rescorla. Not only was he an incredible soldier in this battle but his pre planning saved many lives on 9/11. He started the evacuation of the Morgan Stanley offices in the south tower before that tower was hit by the second plane. He helped save thousands of lives that day. R.I.P
It’s worth mentioning that these men, unlike those in Full Metal Jacket, had already been through basic training. They were simply being trained in the new tactic of mobile infantry afforded to the military by helicopters.
@@alcockell yeah and terms like vertical envelopment were used with the concept of putting troops deep behind enemy lines and pulling them out the same way.
True story: in 2006, after Hurricane Katrina, I worked a three-week rotation at Knight-Ridder Newspapers national offices, serving as an editor for stories coming in from dozens of reporters covering the disaster in Louisiana. Joe Galloway worked in that office, the reporter who was with the Calvary during this battle. At one point during my time there Gen. Hal Moore (played here by Mel Gibson) came in to visit with his old friend Joe and we all got the chance to sit with the two of them and listen to them talk about this battle, along with more contemporary military issues. It was a really special couple of hours in my life. Great men.
Rescorla was chief of security for his company which had 2500 employees in the World Trade Center. He made them practice evacuations and when the shit hit the fan he led them all out. All survived. Rescorla went back in the building to help other people, the building collapsed and he was the only person from his company who was killed. RIP.
Alot of people died because of the (((elites))) because of world trade center attack. If you've watched War by Deception, and Missing Links you'd know why.
The daughter of the man who was shot and killed right after he let his friend take his place on the helicopter bitterly blamed the friend for her father's death for years. She eventually attended a reunion to try to get some closure and talked to the man. From their conversation, she realized what close friends he and her father were and that he would have given his life to save her father if he could. This finally gave her some peace. Afterwards, she said that on her way to the reunion, she was apprehensive and expected to meet mentally unhinged killers (which was how Vietnam vets were stereotyped), but instead, she met a bunch of old guys who had mellowed with age who loved and respected her father greatly and treated her with the utmost kindness and consideration. She said that instead of a scary bunch of killers, they reminded her of a bunch of teddy bears.
@@LeviBulger That's really not fair, and I hope you never find yourself shrouded in ignorance due to an extremely emotional situation. Human. We're all human.
@@alaneskew2664 - Most "people". There - I've fixed that for you. Otherwise there wouldn't be any women in military at all, never - including the past history and present time, not on the front line anyway. Back then? Sure, most of military were men. But I dare anybody to go against the mother who is trying to protect her children. So at the end, when push comes to shove, people as a whole will do whatever is necessary to fight and survive. Men or women. Especially after military service and seeing combat in a real life at some point.
What a great movie. My Father fought under Lt Hal Moore 187 Airborne division in Korea. Dad re-enlisted in 1962-1967 in the beginning of the Vietnam war. The final scene was just in the movie was exactly how my father came home. My sister looked out of the window and told my mother that there was a taxi outside. My Dad came home and surprised us all. That’s how these Veterans came home. With NO Welcome home signs. My Dad was one of the Last Tough guys. RIP Dad!!!
Vietnam Vets we’re treated awful! The same yellow and pink blood run through the current BLM, Antifa and Democrat today and the Hippies of that era. I knew plenty of Vietnam Vets and it was the US government play PC and just did not want to win the war. Johnson was a Democrat a$$ and Nixon never got the credit he deserved getting us out of that war. I be straight, not much difference between a sorry Democrat and Communist. Both lie right in your face.
I had the honor to help host 32 MOH recipients in Nashville a number of years ago. One of those heroes was Bruce Crandall. A real gentleman and very humble.
There's such therapy in seeing you two ladies react so passionately. For those of us who've become jaded it's really a breath of fresh air to remember to consider the humanity of stories like these. Thank you!
The actual soldier portrayed by the guy who sang at the party before they left for war, not Greg Kinear, the other guy, Rick Rescorla survived the war. He later worked at the World Trade Center and died in the 911 terrorist attack. During the battle portrayed in We were soldiers, Rick Rescorla would sing to keep the soldiers spirits up.
Rick Rescorla is considered one of the Cornish-American community's greatest heroes. There aren't that many of us, but Rescorla was one of the tops. Richard Tregaskis, author of Guadalcanal Diary, is another.
Thank you for mentioning Rick Rescorla. His full story is amazing. Wikipeda has a good article on him. It's worth looking at just to see the picture that Joe took of him during the battle.
Hal Moore countered every early offensive attempt the enemy through at him. He was a hell of a guy. That helicopter pilot you all love was also awarded the Medal of Honor. Hell of a history, but all true.
I had the honor of meeting COL (Retired) Crandle in 2010. I was his driver for only a few minutes, but he left an impression. He was a good man, I can see why his pilots wanted to fly with him.
Fun fact: The young cameraman in the battle was a real man named Joe Galloway. He cowrote the story of this movie, and my father also had lunch with him several years back. They made one of the most accurate war movies to date, being they were there. What a legend.
One of a few war films to bring me to tears. The section where Col Moore's wife delivers the telegrams was so moving. I am 57 & it is through the actions & sacrifices of men like these from UK, where I am, & US, as well as others that support us, that I haven't had to live with the thought of having to live through scenes portrayed in films like this.
Those are actual combat pictures taken by Joe during that scene with the pics in the background. Joe has an incredible story of his own. He spent quite a while in various battles throughout Vietnam
Brutal fact, his daughter actually asked him "what is a war" the moment he left. They changed it as it was just too unbelievable to critics, who also criticized the "tell me wife I love her " line. The real Hal simply said "I'm sorry my men couldn't give more thought into their final words. " and walked away The cab driver's jacket was a hint he was a Korea war vet. The American colonel later became very close friends with the Vietnamese colonel. Hal wrote said officers widow a very personal letter following her husbands passing. The actor for the American whose legs burned off tried to meet the real reporter, but the actual guy couldn't look at him. He simply started sobbing and apologized saying "Jimmy is my nightmare " 1 final fact, no CGI fire was used. The director and stunt crew were determined that the only CGI was the bombs. But all fire and explosions were real, so you are actually watching dozens of stunt men on fire
@@mazuro-ni there's enough wild info behind the story and movie to fill a book, was trying to fill said book before Hal passed away and it didn't seem right to work on such a project so close to his passing.
The attention to detail that the actors displayed was astounding. The actor whom play Joe Galloway (the reporter) actually spoke with the real individual and asked if there was anything he had on him, he did. A small book (can't remember of what exactly) on his person throughout the battle. The actor requested the same for filming. THAT is commitment. Great reaction ladies, keep up the good work!
As a former medic, watching you two react to this (That is very realistic) choked me , although Ive seen this movie more than once. Somehow, your reaction made me realise how desensitised and numb I have been. The world needs to know how horrid war is. I'm afraid too many people have been disassociated with how bad war is as a means of resolving conflict. Thank you for sharing your raw emotion/reactions to this.
i have been an ER nurse for years. i remember seeing the scene with the burned legs the first time and i recoiled. all i could think this time was, yeah you shouldnt have picked him up like that. desensitisation is a hell of a thing.
I think this is exactly why I enjoy PIB's content as well. I've been watching action and war movies since I was probably 6 or 7. Almost 30 years of desensitization. Watching them react appropriately to how brutal these "favorite or awesome scenes" are helps put them back into perspective.
I have a good friend. Her father fought in this battle. He told her that this movie was amazingly accurate. After watching it, he was very quiet for a few weeks. He later said that Mel Gibson's portrayal of the Col. was spot on.
Hal Moore was actually on set. He yelled at them because there weren’t any latrines, and to be accurate there had to be latrines dug. He was focused on that level of detail. There’s a great feature about it in the special features on the DVD.
@@tommyarnold890 There's a scene where sergeant major plumley tells the colonel, "Custer was a pussy, but you ain't. " did the good sergeant major, played by sam elliot, actually say this?
The title is "Sgt. Mackenzie". Joseph Kilna MacKenzie wrote Sgt. Mackenzie in memory of his great-grandfather, Charles Stuart MacKenzie, a sergeant in the Seaforth Highlanders, who along with hundreds of his brothers-in-arms from the Elgin-Rothes area in Moray, Scotland went to fight in World War I. Sergeant MacKenzie was bayoneted to death at age 33, while defending one of his badly injured fellow soldiers during hand-to-hand trench warfare. His grave stone states that he died on 9 April 1917. The track was then included in his band Clann An Drumma's album Tried and True(2001).
My father was stationed at Fort Benning, the base the 1st Cavalry deployed from, before he deployed with the 7th Division to Korea in 1952. He and Col. Moore served in the same regiment in Korea. At the time Col Moore was a captain and company commander. I still cry for my dad every time I see the scene where Col. Moore is leaving his family for Vietnam, even though it has been almost twenty years since my dad died.
I give my wife major props for sticking it out while I was deployed 9 months in Afghanistan during our first year married. Now seven years in as an LEO, it’s like we have mini deployments everyday I go to work. Price of freedom and safeguarding the community is steep.
20 years in the Marine Corps, you couldn't pay me enough to be a LEO. If there is anyone shown less respect in this country than military members, it's LEO's.
General Moore fought for years to get Bruce Crandall (Snakeshit) and Ed Freeman (Too Tall), the Medal of Honor for their actions during the Battle of the Ia Drang. He finally succeeded. Hal Moore kept his promise. During Korea and in Viet Nam, he never had an MIA soldier. They all came home, dead and alive. Joe Galloway is the only civilian in the Viet Nam War who received the Bronze Star for his heroism in the battle. Here is some more on the battle, that lasted 5 days: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Ia_Drang
For his heroism “Too Tall” won the Congressional Medal of Honor. Colonel Moore because he would not stop fighting was relieved of his position. Moore was a true hero . He recently passed away. Sergeant Major Plummy fought as a paratrooper in World War 2 and Korea. He also passed away recently. The battle was the first major battle for the US. It was called the I Drang valley.
Both he and Crandall "Snakeshit" won the MoH for this battle. Joe Galloway as a civilian actually won a Bronze Star for helping to evacuate 2 wounded men in the battle. He's the ONLY civilian in the entire war to win such a medal for heroism.
It's simply, the Medal of Honor. The award was created by Congress but adding "Congressional" is incorrect. There is such a thing called the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.
If you dont count that US joined France in December 19, 1946, in the first battle of the Indochina war , the Battle of Hanoi ... making Indochina wars the longest war US was involved from 1946 to 1975 ... 29 years ,1st Indochina war and 2nd Indochina war also known as Vietnam war , but US troops never left they were just called military advisors , 21 000 of them .... Americans always think some word play alters reality .
Thanks Ladies for viewinng and sharing this movie! As a Vietnam Veteran and a Infantry Platoon Leader with the 12th Cavalry in Vietnam it means so much that these brave Brothers stories are told and not forgotten!! I'll admit watching this made me cry!
31:09 - This actually happened: the burned soldier's name was Jimmy Nakayama, and when Joe Galloway (the reporter) tried to pick him up by the legs his flesh came off all the way down to the bone. Nakayama died a couple days later in a military hospital. The film shows a medic (apparently Tommy Burlile) trying to help but Burlile was actually shot by a sniper before reaching Nakayama, so Galloway had to manage on his own.
I watched an interview of Mr Galloway a few years ago he said Jimmy still haunted his memory to that day, I have much respect for those men and women of the Vietnam War, they went though hell and got nothing from us in return which is saddening.
We built a memorial for Jimmy for my OCS class for the Idaho National Guard. We had his family attend. Jimmy was a commissioned officer in the Idaho National Guard and he resigned his commission to go active duty and go to Vietnam. It was a heavy and emotional project. We tried to get Joe Galloway to come, but he could not.
I was nine years old when my father died in combat at Thuong Duc, Vietnam. His platoon was ambushed while on patrol and he died saving others. I have lived my life thinking of him every day....and wondering how my family's lives would have been different had he lived. I'm thankful and grateful for every every soldier who returns from the horrors of war but it's also bittersweet knowing we never got to have that reunion. It's been 54 years since that horrible day when there was a knock on our door. Mom was devastated and never remarried. My sister and I are very thankful to have a few memories of dad but unfortunately our younger brothers have almost no memories of him, just old photos. This movie always brings my father's death home to me. It truly is hard to watch and I thank you for your kind words, tears and heartfelt, caring reactions for what our military personnel and their families go through.
My deepest respect and honor to your father and to all who suffered and died for our country. Every year at our local polling place I leave little notes that read, "People died so I could vote today." Bless you.
My strongest and most respectful wishes and salute to you and your dad. I myself have a 8 y.o. son and could never stand leaving him behind. Best regards from an Army Captain, Vitória Island, Brazil, South Atlantic Sea.
@@fbferrari1875 Thank you for your kindness and your words, you are much appreciated. Thank you also for your service and I know you will do your best to be there for your son as I have tried to do with my two children. Hopefully they will all live in a better world, a world where love, respect, caring, character and friendship matters most and is commonplace to all. The future has so much potential. Sending to You my Best Wishes!!!
Joe Galloway's most iconic photo from the battle was of Rick Rescorla, which appeared on the jacket of the book. Rescorla was last seen alive in the south tower of the World Trade Center, helping others to escape and going back for more.
One of the best days of my life was the day I got to meet Bruce Crandell (the helicopter pilot). A civilian co-worker of mine introduced my fellow shipmates and me to him. We got the honor of taking him out to dinner and getting to talk and here his stories. I knew he was a great man. "Earning" a Medal Of Honor gave me some idea. But after that night I realized just how great of a man he truly is. He does not see himself as a hero.
General Moore and Joe Galloway wrote a follow-up called We Are Soldiers Still. In the early 1990's the government of Vietnam allowed Moore and some of his men to meet with their Vietnamese counterparts on the actual battlefield at Ia Drang where they had fought decades earlier. Each side told stories of the events from their perspective. Moore and General An became friends on the same ground where they had once been enemies. Not all of the men felt the same. Time had not dulled their emotions. They were still resentful...and nobody can blame them. General Moore wrote another book, Hal Moore On Leadership. He was one of the finest officers the Army had during his time in uniform.
I recently had the honor of meeting an old man wearing a 1st of the 7th Vietnam 65-66 hat. It turned out he was one of the survivors of the "Lost Platoon". They were initially sent out on a patrol when they were attacked just a couple hundred yards after from their line. After the Lieutenant and acting platoon sergeant were killed, Sgt. Savage took command by being the closest sergeant to the radio. The gentleman said guys who raised up and tried to dig a hasty scrape (very temporary fox hole) were hit. Others tried using their entrenching tool, but the handles were shot up by incoming rounds. He said that they carried their canteens toward their backs and butts on the web gear, and since the canteens stuck up in the air when they were prone, almost all the canteens were hit by incoming rounds. The Lost Platoon had 9 killed, 13 wounded out of 29.
Sgt. Savage had an old angelfire or geocities website where his personal story from that day was posted many, ok 20+, years ago. I wish I could find it again. Was the first time I'd personally read a first hand account of the battle.
As a former British soldier of 2 conflicts. You ask why men go to war? It is so we can come back home to ladies like you. I adore your heart felt reactions to not just this film but to others. It givesome hope that there are genuine people still around. Bless you
Mrs. Moore is a legend in her own right. The scenes where she personally went to inform loved ones sparked what is the current process of notification of fallen service members to next of kin. I am sure you have seen videos of a 2 person team, in their finest dress uniform approach a home. She was the pioneer of that process.
Hal Moore was one of my professors at Auburn. He and Mrs. Moore were very well known around campus. She was a "mother hen" type and I remember, on holidays, she would always take in students who couldn't go home for the holidays or didn't have families to go home to. They we're both wonderful people and they both were very much admired.
@@andrewwebb3248 yea no shit, I had to take that course and was put on that duty for a few red phases. I spent 37 months in Iraq over 3 tours and I would have volunteered another 3 times to not be on that detail in the event I was the closest notifying person. I would have done it to the best of my ability but that has to be the most dreaded duty in all of military service.
I was a young sailor and I was voulenteered to be part of the Burial Detail. I had to present the flag to several people at a funeral. They may or may not remember me but i sure hall remember giving them a folded flag while they are crying their eyes out. This was 92 - 94 so i dont think Iraq 1 deaths eacactly....
I went to Nam when I was 18 and came home when I was 23 and served another 19 years in the military. I appreciate that you young ladies and your followers can get a glimpse of the hell we went through. Charlie ruled the night and it was hell in a firebase being overrun. When we came home we weren't appreciated and that was worse than anything we went through incountry.
It's a family thing, my family has served this country since the Revolutionary War, there's been a member or more in every conflict and quite a few have given the ultimate sacrifice. My nephew is currently serving in the Army as a pilot.
@@billweedmark6915 my grandfather served in the Navy during WW2 in the pacific, 5 uncle's served in Vietnam, both my father and stepfather were both multiple tour's in Vietnam 🇻🇳 and career military 🪖 intelligence, I know oxymoron! Who both died from agent-orange related cancers. And spent the first 13ish year's of my life traveling the world 🌎 on the Uncle Sam travel plan as an Army Bratt until we came back to the state's in 1986ish. I learned to LOVE my country, but to distrust my government!...from Wyoming USA 🇺🇸 🤠
I’m a two tour combat veteran of the war in Iraq, and love your videos. Several of your comments on this movie are very astute. One of the ones that struck me was “Lots of places to hide”. Thank you for reacting to this movie.
I am the proud father of two US Soldiers. My youngest my daughter, served in a deployment in Afghanistan. She was assigned to a unit which patrolled outside the wire each mission. Her mother and I worried as one would until she returned home. I think the two who may have worried the most was her brother, who being four years older, and had enlisted right out of high school new the risks first hand. But mostly her grandfather. He was a combat veteran from WW2. He would call regularly to me checking on her. He had been the same age as her when he left for war, 19. My daughter had a keepsake photo done before she deployed, and saw that he grandfather received one. She in turn, took the picture my dad had done before he left for Europe, and had it tattooed on her right arm. She knew he would watch over her. He also gave her his dog tag chain he had worn, she attached her tags to it. And wore it until she returned home safely. We all were happy to see them return home. Unfortunately one of the soldiers in her unit did not return home, lost to enemy action, IED. These young ladies get it. I applaud their honesty, emotion, and understanding. God bless America, all who serve, and all who have served.
War... War is hell... As a person who knows war since I was 10 years old, I always respect the people who willingly go to war for whatever reason they choose to, even the bad guys. Why? As I said war is hell, literally... Even the word hell is not close enough to describe that sh*t. I did not choose to go to war, war came to me and even my job in the united nations makes me be on war zones without weapons to defend myself. I hate war, but I respect the warfighters, because my experience of war has always been to evade the bullets, shells and other killing tools to go back to safety. The warrior go in the other direction, towards the danger.
My nephew in a Lt. Col in the army. He started out flying Blackhawks. He is retiring soon. He ferryed the dead back to base in Afghanistan and may e Iraq. It really affected him.
My dad was in this battle, he talked very little about it, but my mom said he came back a different person. Shame the world cant live in peace and everyone just love each other.
10:40 my daughter asked me the other day why I’m “gone”. She’s seen me gone before but I think it’s finally understood in her little mind. It also drives me forward. To make her proud as her father but it’s also heartbreaking that I can’t tell her what I’ve seen in the past, what I’m doing now, and why I have to be “gone”.
We filmed this in California at Fort Hunter Liggett. I had just joined the Army in 2000. A few months after I got to watch the film I play a soldier in, I was in Iraq for the invasion, and got to live war. Joe Galloway was right, we who have seen war will never stop seeing it. 23 years later, I’m still in the Army and I make films professionally as a military tactical advisor and actor. But every night, right as I fall asleep, I’m right back in Iraq and Afghanistan.
I spent the summer of '04 in LSA Anaconda/Balad Air Base as part of the 332 Air Expeditionary Wing during operation Iraqi Freedom that was flying F-16's. I was Munitions Maintenance. I don't see it as often as you do, but when I start thinking about it, It's as if I never left. I wish I could have gone back.
I wish people would not label these films as glorifying war or propaganda. There are real people with real experiences behind these films from a Mel Gibson film to Saving Private Ryan all the way to Dumbo Drop. Respect to you, you've done a great thing.
My dad did three tours in Vietnam. He volunteered before being drafted. He was the battle soldier that you imagine like from Heartbreak Ridge. He died in 1983 from wounds from the war that lingered and tore him down. I can't fathom the horrors he saw and then to come home and have someone spit in his face and call him baby killer. We forget that the battlefield was only part of their trauma. Never forget those that serve and sacrifice for our freedoms. 🇺🇸
FYI: The actual soldier who recovered the French bugle was Rick Rescorla. He was born in Cornwall, England. He met GI's encamped to prepare for D-Day. He became an American citizen AFTER serving in Vietnam. He also saved 2700 people at the WTC on 9/11/01. He went back in looking for stragglers. He was from Morristown, NJ. His picture is on the cover of the book that this movie is based on. You should Google him, IMHO. 🇬🇧 🇺🇸
The scene where the cab driver says, "I don't like this job ma'am, just tryin' to do it" brings tears to my eyes every time. I would like to see you and sister react to… "Life Is Beautiful" (1997). It's a film that will bring you two ladies so much joy and also make you cry. 🎥🍿
One of the most poignant and heartfelt moments in the entire movie. It's so authentic, you felt it in your bones that the Cabbie was so empathetic and distraught at the same time.
We had to study Life is Beautiful for 8th and 9th grade as part of our English Course. It didn't really impact me much then but if these two watch it I know which part is going to make me cry.
In fairness, the doctrine for helicopters was not to go in under heavy fire because you stood a good chance of being shot down and killing the people you were trying to save. It changed because brave pilots understood that, as dangerous as it was, it was a situation in which help could not be delayed.
Being a Marine Vietnam veteran I still get teary eyed when I watch films like this, coming home was not a great experience either we were not welcomed, like the scene of the wounded soldier being wheeled through the airport is so depressing, no parades, no yellow ribbons I was dropped off with no money, no way to get home, I called my brother collect and he came to pick me up. God bless all veterans.
I stumbled upon your channel with this flick you are watching. I have watched this movie ahhh 12 times over and read the novel. I tell you ladies something, watching you two take it in had me crying. I am now hooked on your channel and wish you to keep up the good work. Thank you.
My dad was a door gunner on a Huey and he only talked to me about it once after I came home from desert storm. Its a bond between me and my dad that very few will understand. Great review ladies. Hoorah
This movie was based on the book "We Were Soldiers Once... and Young" written by Hal Moore and Joe Galloway the reporter played by Barry Pepper. During production they even managed to get in contact with Colonel An (the Vietnamese commander) and collaborated to get the movie as close to the real events as possible. A lot if veterans from both sides also helped with the production. This was the first major battle of the war. The Vietnamese by this point had been at war for over twenty years, starting with the japanese in WWII, then the French who wanted to reclaim their lost colony during the French Indochina War in the 1950's. The US got involved after the French were defeated and backed a pro democratic government that formed in the south and tried to help the south Vietnamese unify the country under western democracy. But the north were communists and the US feared it since this also the height of the Cold War with the Soviet Union. Eventually the war escalated and the US took a more direct role. This was the first major battle of the war and it set the standard for how the remainder of the war would be fought. Which lasted for the United States for another 7 years. The north would eventually over take the south and unify the country under communism by 1975. And Vietnam has been an independent country ever since. We were the invaders in this war technically speaking. But i have nothing but respect for Vietnam vets. It was our government that led us to the war, and our vets didn't deserve the blame they got for the war's failure. I also have a deep respect for the Vietnamese people. Im glad our two nations are no longer enemies. Long live both our nations 🇻🇳 🇺🇸! I recommend you two watch hamburger Hill and platoon as well. Both were great movies about Vietnam.
Actually the war didn't fail because the U.S. WON the war by having the South and North sign a peace treaty under Nixon and he started pulling some soldiers out. It was under Ford that the Democrat Congress refused to abide by the very treaty and promises we made to South Vietnam and when the North found this out, they launched a full blown attack and pushed what few soldiers we had to the Saigon choppers and left all of South Vietnam to suffer torture and genocide under the Communist "re-education" camps. What's telling is, when the USSR fell and KGB files were de-classified, it was found out the Soviets had spies in EVERY branch of government, our military and "useful idiots" in Hollywood and the anti-war protestors. Pretty much proved McCarthy was right. The Soviets had our military code cracked, shared that to China and they shared that to the Viet Cong. That's why they were so quick in knowing where our military would be in the early years. But the U.S. didn't lose a SINGLE battle in Vietnam.
@@Akihito007 i know theres a lot nuance in the history. I was just trying to be brief in my summary. But technically, yes we did fail in Vietnam. We won every battle. But public support for the war or lack there of, forced us to drop out. The treaty that was signed was our promise to continue supplying the South in their efforts to hold the north back. Problem was we didn't hold our end of that treaty very well. Millions of dollars worth of equipment went without maintenance due to lack of mechanical knowledge in the ARVN forces. And they were practically abandoned. When the north launched a new offensive they overtook the country and the fall of Saigon was a monumental black eye that we never recovered from. Our mission was to stop the spread of communism. We failed that mission. Our military reigned Supreme but we lost because we were forced to fight a defensive war of attrition. We couldn't invade North Vietnam either, because we feared another Chinese intervention like what happened in Korea. So the apart from bombing the north our offensive capability was neutered and we couldn't make a significant victory without escalating the war.
@@Nickallsopp92 That's a VERY good assessment. That's why the declassified KGB records were so important because it PROVED that most of the anti-war protest leaders and groups were funded by the Russians, with said groups both knowing and unknowing this. The media bashed Nixon to no end when he conducted bombings in Cambodia but the files also proved Nixon to be RIGHT, as the Chinese WERE using Cambodia and Laos to funnel weapons and supplies in. What's sad is, after McNamara was kicked out, our military strategy was changed for the better. As before, we'd lose good men to "take a hill and win the battle" just to then dang up and leave and give everything back to the VC. Once the military started actually keeping men on won ground and making small bases, did the VC feel the hurt. But again, the politicians threw away the peace due to a lying media that was rife with communist sympathizers and outright spies. Sadly Vietnam and Laos are still poor Communist countries with lousy human records. Our vets and those people deserved better!
@@Akihito007 Agreed. Gotta hand it to the Vietnamese communists though. They are ornery little bast*rds. Even after they unified the country they were still stirring up trouble in the region. Not only did they defeat the japanese, they also defeated the French, the United States, Pol Pot's regime in Cambodia, and they even kicked China's ass during the Sino Vietnamese war in 1979. They are certified badasses! They may still be communists but I get the impression they had no intention of joining the Eastern block alliances. And we gave the soviets the exact treatment in kind we intervened in their war in Afghanistan in 1979, the Soviet Union's Vietnam War. Our CIA supplied and trained the Mujahideen and the Soviets got their asses by goat farmers in the mountains. Between their humiliating defeat there and Chernobyl disaster the Soviets lost all credibility and the cold war shortly after. Unfortunately it would seem Communist propaganda is still stirring up trouble here in the US. The fact that our youth is being indoctrinated and the current state of our country means the Soviets may get the final laugh afterall when they take over our political system. Sad state of affairs.
As a retired U.S.Marine I've seen this movie many times,and it gets to me every time,but I tuned in mainly for you two ☺️!! You girls are so Adorable and you always leave me with a huge smile 😊 !! Love it when both of you are reacting !!
good evening, Sir. thanks for your service. I don't know much on military strategy but is this movie an example of first efforts by our US military to use a calculated effort to disrupt command chain and supply chain? vs trying to use overwhelming numbers of less specialized and less trained opponents(like Russia losing in Ukraine). Right now it seems our military can win any conflict by our decades of protection of global reach. I'm really proud to American
@@johnrodriguez2013 Vietnam was a war full of learning lessons, this movie depicts alot of learning curves we had to get over, for example don't underestimate the enemy on the home turf, do not proceed until reinforcements arrive, stay out of LDA's linear danger areas, an area that does not provide cover or concealment. I was army infantry so that's how I know
@@Downtown.TonyBrown Thank You for your Service Brother ,no matter what branch of the Military we served we are a Band of Brothers,and that will never Change !! Semper Fi 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
As a military brat I can tell you that the parts showing the home life for the families is spot on. My father was a career Army man that spent most of his career connected to the DIA (Diplomatic Intelligence Agency) with postings all over the world. There were many nights we did not know if he would make it home. It was both a scary and wonderful way to grow up. We experienced so many amazing things, both good and bad, and it really gave us a sense of real appreciation for how truly blessed we are to live in the United States.
Military brat as well. My dad did 30 years and retired as a Colonel. Couldn't have asked for a better way to grow up. Yeah, it sucked leaving friends as a kid moving around so much, but now as an adult....I wouldn't change it for anything.
Military brat here as well. Dad was special operations through the 70's and 80's. Many deployments. To the families of our brave men and women... they served too.
The song is an ominous song Sgt. MacKenzie because it's written by Joseph Kilna MacKenzie. A lament written and sung in memory of his great-grandfather who was killed in combat during World War I.
You ladies are too cute, I loved watching your reactions here. I've seen this movie more times than I can count, and I'm still holding back sobs at the same places you are. The respect you give to these men is highly appreciated. FYI, if you want a little bit more in the way of backstory to some of the individual soldiers in the movie, check out the deleted scenes, there's gold to be found there. 😊
After the war, Hal Moore and the NVA Commander actually met each other and discussed the battle. Both of them had nothing but respect for the other man. Im so glad you finally got a chance to see this one. Now that you knocked this one out, If you are interested in watching another movie that shows both sides I recomend the movie Gettysburg. Its an extremly long movie but it does an amazing job covering the American Civil War. It really hammers home that the people on both sides on the conflict are good people, who in different times, could have been best friends. (in fact some of them are best friends) You both may find that one easier to watch as its not gory at all. If you do see it, fun note, the movie has several scenes film at location of Gettysburg and all the extras were civil war reenactors so the movie is very authentic to watch. .
I actually did a tactical briefing on Ia Drang (both the X-Ray and Albany landings) for the Maneuver Senior Leaders Course at FT Benning, GA. It was unreal how close those men came to losing that fight and being overrun. But outnumbered more than two to one they still forced the enemy to withdraw. Most of that was due to COL Moore’s extensive understanding of the enemy tactics and abilities. He was able to counter everything they tried because he put in the skull sweat prior to understand the enemy. While the war didn’t end up helping either side, that one battle changed the entire momentum. The Vietcong realized they couldn’t withstand a traditional fight against America. And we learned not to underestimate an opponent and the fact that draft armies wouldn’t be able to handle the modern battlefield.
I was in the army during the 1st gulf war. This movies deplictions of the pain the soldier and his whole family feel when they get deployed os soo damn real. It brought back some not soo fond of memories. This movie made me emotional watching it but you two ladies brought the emotion up a whole new level. Kudos.
My dad was also a vietnam veteran. My dad was an older man in that war.But my mom told me he was never the same when he came back. He spent over a year there, where he was awarded the silver star and two bronze stars and many other metals. My mom used to watch the evening news because, at the end of the newscast, they would put all the names of all of the KIA or missing an action. My mom was a nervous wreck the whole time he was there.
The ending where you see that soldier in a wheelchair and his head is bandaged, that's a slight glimpse of how Vietnam vets were treated when they returned home. "Born on the Fourth of July" and "First Blood" are strong examples of re-adjusting to civilian life after returning from Vietnam.
I will agree, but everytime i see or hear First Blood, i think about tge fact that Stallone was a Draft Dodger who hid out in Canada during the war and then had the audacity to portray a leading roll as,a,Vietnam War Hero and,Veteran. To me that stain will forever taint what was actually a good movie.
@@donaldriddle230 this story is false and always has been. He was in Switzerland for 2 years in the 60s and was in the US the rest of the time. He was never drafted.
To go off to war being told you're fighting the good fight against communism and protecting your country's way of life, then coming home to be spat on and called a murderer...I can't imagine. Australia also turned their backs on Nam Vets.
@@lauramartin7675 "To go off to war being told you're fighting the good fight against communism and protecting your country's way of life, then coming home to be spat on and called a murderer...I can't imagine." During the Vietnam Era, it was like if you wore a uniform(US Army, Army ROTC, etc) you were fair game for protesters. The events at Kent State University added more fuel to the fire.
As you all know, this is based on a true story. Sadly, the reporter, Joe. who had to carry the horribly burned Jimmy to the chopper happened, though he carried him with the medic. I have heard the reporter say that he dreamed of those legs coming off in his hands every night for his entire life.The real Jimmy survived the intense burns for three days then died.
@@kdsuibhne I don't think he ever publicly acknowledged that he had ptsd but he did a couple interviews with American history Channel and idr the other just youtube Joe Galloway interview and when he talks about the legs you can see that he is in the room but his mind is back in Vietnam all the emotions is fresh and raw
58,000 Americans died in Vietnam, an untold number came back alive but injured, and still came back with no internal injury but horribly injured mentally That was only the Americans; other allies honored their commitments, too and other nations buried their young men, too.
I have such strong and mixed feelings when I watch this film. On the one hand, I am American and that's what I automatically identify as. On the other, I was born in Vietnam. My father was a Captain in the South Vietnamese Army and fought alongside America. But I also have pain in my heart for my people on the other side. We all bleed the same, but for different reasons. Thank you for the great video ladies.
How do you have mixed feelings? You have no connection to the “otherside” lol…. The “otherside” was trying to kill your father and your family…. What’s so “mixed” about that?
@@melvinelder3587 because both sides are fighting for what their country says is right. Sons, fathers, brothers, dying for what their government tells them. Are you seriously that ignorant?
@@mikebarrett3982 yeah I understand that but I think you missed what the original commenter was saying. They said they have mixed feelings because they’re American and Vietnamese. But the part of Vietnam that fought alongside the US. Both of his connections are the same lol… what’s mixed about that. What’s the pain on the other side.. he has no connection with them.
@melvinelder3587 I don't understand how you don't understand what he means by what he said. I'm not trying to insult you, sorry if I came off that way, but I think it's pretty easy to understand what he meant.
Thank you for your service sir. I've worked with many men who were in Vietnam and shared horrific stories with me. They were all on the verge of retirement and that was 22 years ago. I miss working with those men. Super proud to have known them.
Just in case you don’t know, Hal Moore passed away in 2017, 3 days short of his 95th birthday. His wife, Julia, passed in 2004. Sergeant Major Basil Plumley passed in 2012. And Joseph Galloway, the reporter, passed in 2021. May God in Heaven watch over their souls for all eternity.
Thanks for watching and feeling and trying to understand. I was right there with ya the whole way trying to understand myself. God bless the soldiers who put down their lives.
So and added bit of trivia. Every American soldier shown on the field of battle was representing a real soldier that was there. Each one (even the extras) were given a backstory and biography of the soldier he was playing.
I remember my first drop in a “hot LZ” in Afghanistan, there is a talk that you have with yourself. A talk that is more like a prayer, my talk to myself was “please let me make the right decisions and return home well”. There is a breed of people that knows that the road ahead will be rough but still have the courage to keep moving forward. I love your content, didn’t mean to bring down the mood. Everyone take care
I was an Infantry NCO for 2 deployments to Iraq, and 2 deployments with SOCOM. I spent more than 60+ months, 5+ years in combat. My prayer was: "God don't let me F@ck up and get one of my men killed!" Some of my soldiers, and myself, were wounded, but none were killed. I was trained by some of the last veterans of Vietnam serving on active duty. They paid in Blood. We paid in sweat. The hard lessons they Learned and then Taught us Saved Many Lives! 🇺🇸
My thoughts were "What the hell am I doing here" as all hell broke loose. Apparently went into autopilot right after and the rest of the deployment didn't come to reality until the first morning I woke up stateside. Was a terrifying realization as every moment passed by the instant I realized I was back at Drum, that even though I was there, it was like I wasn't there through all of it while it happened.
I was infantry as well and hit multiple areas of conflict serving as a 10th MTN soldier. Global QRF was my uniit’s deal. I hate that 1-32 Chosin was disbanded but it is what it is
I was not called up for this war, but it was only by timing and circumstance that I was not. While I was not in favor of this war, I can honestly say that I never disrespected a veteran.
I had a cousin who was a helicopter pilot in Vietnam. His Army Reserve unit was attached to the Air Mobile Division, 1st Batallion, 7th Cavalry...the same unit that is profiled in this movie. His unit participated in the ferrying of troops into battle at LZ X-Ray. Though it was much later, He didn't come home. His helicopter crashed 6 months later while flying in formation. They were ferrying medical supplies to a field hospital. Thank you for this reaction video. This movie is one of my all-time favorites. 🙂
I know this will never be seen but having watched you watch this made me realize that not everybody hates our military. And once again I felt proud to have served
Fun fact, there was a second landing zone with a different company. LZ Albany was another company in the area, they were ambushed by the same enemy later and they almost completely destroyed that American company. The price they paid at LZ X-Ray to them was worth it, because they learned how to defeat the Americans, they had to get in so close that they couldn't use airpower or artillery. The NVA called it "grabbing them by the belt buckle". The S. Vietnamese army lost 403 killed and 150 wounded and the Americans lost 151 killed and 121 wounded (a crushing defeat considering they suffered about 70% casualties in that battle and 10% by modern standards is considered a bloodbath). Also worth noting is that the 7th Calvary suffered more casualties in the Vietnam war than any other single unit in the entire war.
It wasn't a defeat for the US. The NVA withdrew their units from the area, so the battle was a US victory..but a costly one. Given that they were outnumbered nearly 10 to 1, I'd say they did very well.
Thanks for reacting to this Cassie and Carley. Its one of a few movies that gives the perspective of family members. I was not in combat but I did 4 forward deployments as a married man. Each time I was amazed by my wife's strength and courage. she was both Mom and Dad to our girls. she took care of everything while I was gone, knowing that she might not see me again. I know how it feels to leave my babies before they woke up because I might not bear seeing them, watch me go and not understand why. this movie captured that so well. my wife and daughters are my heros.
I believe it was Fort Benning, Georgia, that was renamed to Fort Moore (the very real soldier Mel Gibson was depicting) very recently, and Moore's wife (the lady with the kia telegrams(Cathy Moore)) actually changed the whole way the military notifies loved ones of a fallen family member. Some heavy stuff. Also for anyone wondering the very ominious music played in the beginning and very end is "Sgt. Mackenzie's war" which is a WW1 song from Scotland.
I met a guy that was a machine gunner on the helicopters during this battle. He was so so so humble what a great man to meet and he was like 6’2 or so. He was a janitor In a research institution in San Antonio where I did security at.
A long-time family friend, whom I spoke with earlier today, was a Rifle Platoon Leader in Colonel Moore's 7th Cavalry. He has never spoken with me about his military experiences, but my Dad and I were fortunate to attend the ceremony at Fort Benning when he was inducted into the US Army's OTS Hall of Fame. BTW, your reaction videos are great!!
But not exactly as shown in the movie. Much of the movie is faithful to the book, and the book tries hard to be faithful to the facts (not always successfully.) Other parts of the movie are completely fictional. You shouldn’t just believe Mel Gibson, Cassie. His “true”, “historical” movies all engage in significant manipulation of history in order to manipulate you emotionally.
@@unknownsword9042 I meant what I wrote. Gibson goes beyond what is necessary to a good movie. He makes movies that push his own agenda so far that they are borderline propaganda.
The first time I watched this, I too was emotionally exhausted, I’ve watched it probably 50 times since, a true masterpiece, true courage and told with integrity
I do like how this movie, while it focuses on the Americans, has a few points where it shows the human side of their adversary. They were people with families. They had good leaders and visionaries as well, even though they were on opposite sides of a battlefield.
The Madeline Stowe/ Kerri Russell scene where they deliver the telegrams is a tear jerker. Imagine the anxiety and grief associated with each notice. Very powerful scene.
Any "delivering bad news" scene is powerful. Sometimes its not easy on either side, having to receive the bad news or having to deliver it. Someone's whole idea of the future just changes.
@@hutch3562 yeah, my dad didn't either. There were things that happened to him over there he didn't even tell my mom until after they'd been married over 40 years.
My dad was there in 69 I believe. I’d have to do a little looking around the house to find out his unit. I’ve always wanted to see if there was anything written about his time and unit but haven’t done it yet. He told me lots of stories about his time in the field. Supposedly they were dropped into a situation similar to this by mistake. They were put off at the wrong coordinates and right in the middle of 12000 nva soldiers. He said they were all scared as hell when they were told they had to get the hell out immediately and why. He always said platoon was his time in the field. He said it was basically spot on.
My unit was 3rd Brigade 1st Battalion 12th Cavalry 1st Cavalry Division. They were here at this battle in La Drang. Chu pong massif was the rock formation they needed to assault. However, my Company Delta was at LZ Albany in this Engagement not directly involved with Col Moores units at LZ X-Ray. ALOT of faces on my Battlion wall and Three Medal of Honors were awarded and Four Distinguished Service Crosses for this Campaign in Vietnam. from La Drang to A Shau Valley.
"SNAKESKIN?!" I had to pause the video 'cause I was laughing so hard!! This was a very good reaction. I've wanted to read Joe Galloway's book ever since I first saw this movie. Director Randall Wallace saw quote by Col. Hal Moore from the book in which he said that "Every damn Hollywood movie got the war wrong!" He was inspired to tell the story right. I'd say he nailed it.
The part of Ia Drang many Americans don't like to remember is: The very next day Moore's battle "ended", soldiers including those who were sent in to reinforce Moore's surrounded battalion at Landingzone X-Ray were ordered to move to another Landingzone nearby codnamed LZ Albany. They didn't all "leave" by helicopters because that would make the North Vietnamese think they are retreating, said General Westmoreland. And so they walk to this LZ, got ambushed and were massacred. More than twice as many dead as Moore's X-Ray battle in less than a day. Yes, the battle of Ia Drang was a five day battle and not three, the last day of which was spent finding and retrieving the 155 dead and 124 wounded at Albany. They also called in napalm strikes on friendly American positions, but this time they did it because they thought their friends were all dead already.
My dad was friends with some of the soldiers in this fight, he went to OCS with a couple of them. One of the being Henry Herrick, the LT who got cut off from the main group. His other friend, though not mentioned during this fight, was awarded the MOH for his actions in Ia Drang Valley, Joe Marm
I went to see this movie with my dad in the theatre when it came out. My father was a Vietnam vet. At the end of the movie when I got up to leave I noticed my dad still sitting there. With tears being held back he asked me to give him a min. I looked up and noticed maybe 4 or 5 other men about his age, also staying seated. I could tell most were crying and I can only assume they were all vets too. It was a very moving experience.
My dad too
He spent 5 years total there
It's one of the few movies that I've seen my father tear up for
my dad worked on redstone rockets and other artillery munitions and platforms for the army during that time. he was held back from combat both in the states and even while in country during the war (he went on to work with the mercury jupiter gemini and apollo systems). At the american legion or vfw posts we meet up at every so often, he never wants to be recognized or called out for recognition and honors, even just a hat or a pin. I often wondered was it because of not wanting to get bullshit from people who hated anyone in nam? Was he trying to respect the honor of his friends that he said goodbye to that never got home, and the fact that he was never able to share the risk with them or what was it? All the old vets hug bow and hug and squeeze him (he's in a wheelchair) but I never fully understood why he would react in what I thought was shame at the fact he was not directly in combat and it more was his humility and respect at those who barely made it out and maybe wishing he could have been there with them. It wasn't till I heard the lines "i'll never forgive myself... that my men died and I didnt" that it made sense, and only in a way that it could make sense for a person who was not there. my heart will never crack in that way, and I hope war becomes something of the past so that that none of us has to feel that ever again
It's interesting that your father was pulled into the war where country decided by voices of citizens to be communist country USA decided that it will not be... and than your father was sent as cannon meat to "defend" something against majority of that same country.
Your father and those men are heroes. I hope they never forget that.
Joe Galloway called Hal Moore his best friend the day the day they laid the general to rest. Joe died in August of 2021. They co-wrote the book this movie is based on. The men of the 7th adopted Joe into their unit. He also was awarded a Bronze Star for carrying wounded troopers to the helicopters under heavy fire. He is only civilian to be decorated during the Vietnam war.
I bet he had a hell of a story to tell when he met his grand papi's when he got to heaven
War correspondents that are embedded with military units are kind of in a grey area between soldier and civilian. They are officially attached as a part of the unit and are effectively temporarily enlisted and subject to military law for the duration of their assignments, so calling them civilians in the sense that most people think of the word in colloquial use is not really accurate. But the geneva convention uses the word civilian as an umbrella term to encompass all non combatants in war zones and affords them protections against being attacked, captured, tortured, etc. So calling them soldiers wouldn't really be accurate either.
@@Rowgue51 Iget your point, BUT it must be remembered that unlike wars in Europe, the Japanese 1933 - 1945 , North Korean 1952 - 1955, North Vietnamese 1954 to 1975 did not acknowledge,sign or abide by The Geneva Convention (unless it suited their needs) it didnt matter whether you carried a Weapon, a Camera or a Child, you were fair game, see japan (china campaign, Singapour, burma ), north korea (in general) north vietnam (its actions during 20yrs 54 -75), the only time they recognised Geneva convention was when captured. I THINK YOU WILL FIND Geneva convention also protects against direct attacks against unarmed civillians or mistreatment of POWs, both of which were broke by NAZIs, Itallians, Japan, North Korea and North Vietnam, Vietnam and Korea never signed the convention, Vietnam won, Korea is still only at cease fire for last 67yrs, Japan as it never signed never faced trial, italy signed and surrendered in 43/44, disovowed any wrong doing and was slapped on the wrist, Germany was the only one who signed and was tried under the convention as war criminals. the Geneva convention and rules of war only apply if the combatants are signataries, otherways its like standing in front of a tsunami with a placard saying "no flooding allowed" sentiment is good, but in practice its useless. and dont foget, if a signatary is a victor there is no case to answer, victors never beak the convention, just ask the soviet troops who never pillaged, murdered or terrorised their way to Berlin or the German civilians who werent Raped, beaten up orwatched family murdered by advancing Soviet troops, soviet union was on the winning side so none of it happened, nore did the rape and murder in finland when USSR and Nazi Germany were on the same side (1939- 41). the Geneva convention in Vietnam was like American man saying he is gong to fight vietnamese guy, fists only and vietnamese guy refuses the rule pulls a gun and shoots American, morally vietnamese is wrong but technically as he didnt agree he is within his right.
@@vogonpoet5860 north vietnam didnt actually win the Vietnam Conflict
@@josephg.1.130 WTF ! 1973 America pulls out its combat troops ! 1975 armed resistance from ARVN collapses, Saigon is abandoned, South Vietnam Govt evacuates to USS Kennedy, U S embassy is evacuated, NVA enters Saigon, within weeks HANOI transferes Govt to Saigon/Ho chi min city and the whole coutry becomes Peoples Republic of Vietnam. America withdrew, south vietnam troops and Govt collapsed , North Vietnam won in the same way Nazi Germany lost or the Confederacy lost. maybe not palatable but fact. the ARVN Didnt negotiate a cease fire, UN didnt set up a DMZ, there was no shared power , to paraphrase monty python, by 1976 " south vietnam had ceased to be, it was no more, it was an ex country" unless you count alternate universes, shadow governments in exile, south vietnam lost the war visavee north vietnam won.
My Dad was in this and the subsequent battles that followed. He received the Bronze Star although I never knew about until seeing this movie and putting the pieces together. He never spoke of it. I remember the towers at Ft . Benning as a 7 year old kid. My Dad was the quietest man when it came to speaking of war despite being a WW2,Korea and Vietnam Vet. He was a good man.
R I.P. Pops !
Sounds like a real man. My grandfather was just in WW2 and never spoke of it and I don't blame him he was in Okinawa when the whole island was a graveyard i can't imagine Korea and Vietnam on top of that I miss a time when those veterans were more prevalent sadly there's few left from all 3 conflicts
I thank God for men like him.
"We who have seen war will never stop seeing it." That's so accurate. My grandfather was forced to fight in WW2 for a dictatorship he didn't agreed with. He was one of the few that survived the battle of Stalingrad and the russian imprisonment after it. I only know him as a broken man, who woke up screaming every night. When I see pictures of him as a young, proud, strong man, I can't put the two pieces together as one person. He was never the same after it. Greets from Germany!
The movie is based on Colonel Hal Moore's book, "We Were Soldiers Once...And Young". He and Sergeant Major Basil Plumley are legends in the US Cavalry. Moore retired as a 3 star general and they both lived into their 90s. Plumley died in 2012 and Moore in 2017.
Joe Galloway's book, with Hal Moore.
Joe Galloway is the Combat Photographer played by Barry Pepper. He was the primary author who cowrote it with Hal Moore.
I met Hall Moore, before his death. Unfortunately dementia took a toll on him.
Plummet was a liar he wore medals he did not receive that’s the lowest type of soldier
@@Cg23sailor I hope that dementia was just nature taking its toll, and maybe a bad shot of the dice, so to speak, than anything his service did to him.
I still wish I met him, even if the 1-7 CAV made themselves annoying during my time n the service.
It still would have been an honor.
@@Cg23sailor Yep, Hal assisted Joe.
As a Vietnam vet this is the only movie I have found that comes reasonably close to reality. I cried too. Too many friends gone.
What about the Movie „Platoon „
Welcome Home Brother
I totally agree with you from what I’ve been told about the Vietnam war, and what I have researched. God knows I was born in 1967 but I’ve been a military not since I was eight years old and started researching stuff about World War II it first and then world war one and then Vietnam. just heartbreaking!! When governments in liters get into a fight, they themselves should get in the boxing rings and knock it out, rather than sending innocent men and women to do their jobs that there too cowardly to do
from a brit who has no military experience thank you for your service
Veteran (infantry) with both father and father-in-law who served in country. We watched this together many years ago. Not much was said out loud. I miss them both.
"In war, sometimes you forget you are human."
-A very wise man
The soldier in picture on the cover of the book was Rick Rescorla. Not only was he an incredible soldier in this battle but his pre planning saved many lives on 9/11. He started the evacuation of the Morgan Stanley offices in the south tower before that tower was hit by the second plane. He helped save thousands of lives that day. R.I.P
Was he also British?
@@jbs3144 yes he was and had originally served in the British Army.
@@markowsley4954 I work with 3 Brits, we talked about him a few weeks ago. He is not forgotten!
It’s worth mentioning that these men, unlike those in Full Metal Jacket, had already been through basic training. They were simply being trained in the new tactic of mobile infantry afforded to the military by helicopters.
@@IdealUser Not during Combat like this.
Not integrated in combat.
If im not mistaken.
@@joakimberg7897 and you'd be right. Airmobile was invented here
@@alcockell yeah and terms like vertical envelopment were used with the concept of putting troops deep behind enemy lines and pulling them out the same way.
@@IdealUser I don’t think the helicopters of the Korean War were up to the job of Air Cav.
@@IdealUser the whole point of that comment was to differentiate why their training was so much different than the basic training in the other film.
True story: in 2006, after Hurricane Katrina, I worked a three-week rotation at Knight-Ridder Newspapers national offices, serving as an editor for stories coming in from dozens of reporters covering the disaster in Louisiana.
Joe Galloway worked in that office, the reporter who was with the Calvary during this battle. At one point during my time there Gen. Hal Moore (played here by Mel Gibson) came in to visit with his old friend Joe and we all got the chance to sit with the two of them and listen to them talk about this battle, along with more contemporary military issues. It was a really special couple of hours in my life. Great men.
I am a combat veteran ( Vietnam ) you can not possibly know thr good you have just done . Thank you for this and God bless you
One of the officers at the battle was Rick Rescorla, he eventually became a security director at the World Trade Center. He died evacuating employees.
Rescorla was chief of security for his company which had 2500 employees in the World Trade Center. He made them practice evacuations and when the shit hit the fan he led them all out. All survived. Rescorla went back in the building to help other people, the building collapsed and he was the only person from his company who was killed. RIP.
He was what's know as a true man
@@johndubose1395 medal of honor?
@@calebsmitherman4427at the time of death he was a civilian.
Alot of people died because of the (((elites))) because of world trade center attack. If you've watched War by Deception, and Missing Links you'd know why.
The daughter of the man who was shot and killed right after he let his friend take his place on the helicopter bitterly blamed the friend for her father's death for years. She eventually attended a reunion to try to get some closure and talked to the man. From their conversation, she realized what close friends he and her father were and that he would have given his life to save her father if he could. This finally gave her some peace. Afterwards, she said that on her way to the reunion, she was apprehensive and expected to meet mentally unhinged killers (which was how Vietnam vets were stereotyped), but instead, she met a bunch of old guys who had mellowed with age who loved and respected her father greatly and treated her with the utmost kindness and consideration. She said that instead of a scary bunch of killers, they reminded her of a bunch of teddy bears.
there's a movie
Most men who are a bunch of teddy bears can turn into grizzlies when it's called for.
@@LeviBulger That's really not fair, and I hope you never find yourself shrouded in ignorance due to an extremely emotional situation.
Human. We're all human.
@@svperstar Now that you mention it, the story could make a heartwarming type of movie that Cassie would love.
@@alaneskew2664 - Most "people". There - I've fixed that for you.
Otherwise there wouldn't be any women in military at all, never - including the past history and present time, not on the front line anyway.
Back then? Sure, most of military were men. But I dare anybody to go against the mother who is trying to protect her children. So at the end, when push comes to shove, people as a whole will do whatever is necessary to fight and survive. Men or women. Especially after military service and seeing combat in a real life at some point.
What a great movie. My Father fought under Lt Hal Moore 187 Airborne division in Korea. Dad re-enlisted in 1962-1967 in the beginning of the Vietnam war.
The final scene was just in the movie was exactly how my father came home. My sister looked out of the window and told my mother that there was a taxi outside. My Dad came home and surprised us all. That’s how these Veterans came home. With NO Welcome home signs. My Dad was one of the Last Tough guys. RIP Dad!!!
roger that, had to sneak home
Thank you to your father for his service to his country. May he R.I.P.
Thanks for sharing and thanks to you and your Father.
May he rest in peace at last. Brave son of America.
Vietnam Vets we’re treated awful!
The same yellow and pink blood run through the current BLM, Antifa and Democrat today and the Hippies of that era.
I knew plenty of Vietnam Vets and it was the US government play PC and just did not want to win the war. Johnson was a Democrat a$$ and Nixon never got the credit he deserved getting us out of that war.
I be straight, not much difference between a sorry Democrat and Communist. Both lie right in your face.
I had the honor to help host 32 MOH recipients in Nashville a number of years ago. One of those heroes was Bruce Crandall. A real gentleman and very humble.
There's such therapy in seeing you two ladies react so passionately. For those of us who've become jaded it's really a breath of fresh air to remember to consider the humanity of stories like these. Thank you!
The actual soldier portrayed by the guy who sang at the party before they left for war, not Greg Kinear, the other guy, Rick Rescorla survived the war. He later worked at the World Trade Center and died in the 911 terrorist attack.
During the battle portrayed in We were soldiers, Rick Rescorla would sing to keep the soldiers spirits up.
Wow!
Rick Rescorla is considered one of the Cornish-American community's greatest heroes. There aren't that many of us, but Rescorla was one of the tops. Richard Tregaskis, author of Guadalcanal Diary, is another.
Thank you for mentioning Rick Rescorla. His full story is amazing. Wikipeda has a good article on him. It's worth looking at just to see the picture that Joe took of him during the battle.
Rescorla movie when? He only saved 2500+ people on 9/11. Maybe the last true adventurer.
The irony. The govt killed him eventually.
Hal Moore countered every early offensive attempt the enemy through at him. He was a hell of a guy. That helicopter pilot you all love was also awarded the Medal of Honor. Hell of a history, but all true.
"Snake"and "too tall" both were awarded the Medal of Honor.
Check out the story of Rick Rescorla
Two was also awarded the medal of honor along with his boss
There was three awarded the CMH for this battle. Walter Joe Marm. I interviewed them all
I had the honor of meeting COL (Retired) Crandle in 2010. I was his driver for only a few minutes, but he left an impression. He was a good man, I can see why his pilots wanted to fly with him.
Fun fact: The young cameraman in the battle was a real man named Joe Galloway. He cowrote the story of this movie, and my father also had lunch with him several years back. They made one of the most accurate war movies to date, being they were there. What a legend.
Joe married captain Metzger's (who was KIA in this battle) daughter later in life.
One of a few war films to bring me to tears. The section where Col Moore's wife delivers the telegrams was so moving. I am 57 & it is through the actions & sacrifices of men like these from UK, where I am, & US, as well as others that support us, that I haven't had to live with the thought of having to live through scenes portrayed in films like this.
Those are actual combat pictures taken by Joe during that scene with the pics in the background. Joe has an incredible story of his own. He spent quite a while in various battles throughout Vietnam
Most of them were, yes. but they added a few film prop photos as well, because you can make out some of the actors in a few shots.
Brutal fact, his daughter actually asked him "what is a war" the moment he left. They changed it as it was just too unbelievable to critics, who also criticized the "tell me wife I love her " line. The real Hal simply said "I'm sorry my men couldn't give more thought into their final words. " and walked away
The cab driver's jacket was a hint he was a Korea war vet.
The American colonel later became very close friends with the Vietnamese colonel. Hal wrote said officers widow a very personal letter following her husbands passing.
The actor for the American whose legs burned off tried to meet the real reporter, but the actual guy couldn't look at him. He simply started sobbing and apologized saying "Jimmy is my nightmare "
1 final fact, no CGI fire was used. The director and stunt crew were determined that the only CGI was the bombs. But all fire and explosions were real, so you are actually watching dozens of stunt men on fire
ruclips.net/video/-g64vdwflpw/видео.html this is a clip of Joe talking about Jimmy (the guy whose wife gave birth that week) It is heartbreaking
Damn
@@mazuro-ni there's enough wild info behind the story and movie to fill a book, was trying to fill said book before Hal passed away and it didn't seem right to work on such a project so close to his passing.
@@Captainkebbles1392 I see, this was I would have never known without you sharing it sir. Thank you.
That last part though Jesus Christ
The attention to detail that the actors displayed was astounding. The actor whom play Joe Galloway (the reporter) actually spoke with the real individual and asked if there was anything he had on him, he did. A small book (can't remember of what exactly) on his person throughout the battle. The actor requested the same for filming. THAT is commitment. Great reaction ladies, keep up the good work!
Barry pepper is great actor
As a former medic, watching you two react to this (That is very realistic) choked me , although Ive seen this movie more than once. Somehow, your reaction made me realise how desensitised and numb I have been. The world needs to know how horrid war is. I'm afraid too many people have been disassociated with how bad war is as a means of resolving conflict.
Thank you for sharing your raw emotion/reactions to this.
i have been an ER nurse for years. i remember seeing the scene with the burned legs the first time and i recoiled.
all i could think this time was, yeah you shouldnt have picked him up like that.
desensitisation is a hell of a thing.
I think this is exactly why I enjoy PIB's content as well. I've been watching action and war movies since I was probably 6 or 7. Almost 30 years of desensitization. Watching them react appropriately to how brutal these "favorite or awesome scenes" are helps put them back into perspective.
🙏🏽
I have a good friend. Her father fought in this battle. He told her that this movie was amazingly accurate. After watching it, he was very quiet for a few weeks. He later said that Mel Gibson's portrayal of the Col. was spot on.
Helps when General Moore was right there telling them what happened.
Hal Moore was actually on set. He yelled at them because there weren’t any latrines, and to be accurate there had to be latrines dug. He was focused on that level of detail. There’s a great feature about it in the special features on the DVD.
@@tommyarnold890 There's a scene where sergeant major plumley tells the colonel, "Custer was a pussy, but you ain't. " did the good sergeant major, played by sam elliot, actually say this?
The song “ Lay me doon “ was written by a Scottish soldier fighting in North Africa. The lyrics were found on his body after he was killed.
The title is "Sgt. Mackenzie". Joseph Kilna MacKenzie wrote Sgt. Mackenzie in memory of his great-grandfather, Charles Stuart MacKenzie, a sergeant in the Seaforth Highlanders, who along with hundreds of his brothers-in-arms from the Elgin-Rothes area in Moray, Scotland went to fight in World War I. Sergeant MacKenzie was bayoneted to death at age 33, while defending one of his badly injured fellow soldiers during hand-to-hand trench warfare. His grave stone states that he died on 9 April 1917. The track was then included in his band Clann An Drumma's album Tried and True(2001).
I stand corrected, thank you !
Did not know that ".
@@rone7104 Correst.
My father was stationed at Fort Benning, the base the 1st Cavalry deployed from, before he deployed with the 7th Division to Korea in 1952. He and Col. Moore served in the same regiment in Korea. At the time Col Moore was a captain and company commander. I still cry for my dad every time I see the scene where Col. Moore is leaving his family for Vietnam, even though it has been almost twenty years since my dad died.
I give my wife major props for sticking it out while I was deployed 9 months in Afghanistan during our first year married. Now seven years in as an LEO, it’s like we have mini deployments everyday I go to work. Price of freedom and safeguarding the community is steep.
20 years in the Marine Corps, you couldn't pay me enough to be a LEO. If there is anyone shown less respect in this country than military members, it's LEO's.
General Moore fought for years to get Bruce Crandall (Snakeshit) and Ed Freeman (Too Tall), the Medal of Honor for their actions during the Battle of the Ia Drang. He finally succeeded. Hal Moore kept his promise. During Korea and in Viet Nam, he never had an MIA soldier. They all came home, dead and alive. Joe Galloway is the only civilian in the Viet Nam War who received the Bronze Star for his heroism in the battle. Here is some more on the battle, that lasted 5 days: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Ia_Drang
For his heroism “Too Tall” won the Congressional Medal of Honor. Colonel Moore because he would not stop fighting was relieved of his position. Moore was a true hero . He recently passed away. Sergeant Major Plummy fought as a paratrooper in World War 2 and Korea. He also passed away recently. The battle was the first major battle for the US. It was called the I Drang valley.
Both he and Crandall "Snakeshit" won the MoH for this battle. Joe Galloway as a civilian actually won a Bronze Star for helping to evacuate 2 wounded men in the battle. He's the ONLY civilian in the entire war to win such a medal for heroism.
You should really read up on Plumley the guy was a fraud who made up a lot about his service record
It's simply, the Medal of Honor. The award was created by Congress but adding "Congressional" is incorrect. There is such a thing called the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.
You don't "win" the Medal of Honor you're a recipient of it.
If you dont count that US joined France in December 19, 1946, in the first battle of the Indochina war , the Battle of Hanoi ... making Indochina wars the longest war US was involved from 1946 to 1975 ... 29 years ,1st Indochina war and 2nd Indochina war also known as Vietnam war , but US troops never left they were just called military advisors , 21 000 of them .... Americans always think some word play alters reality .
Thanks Ladies for viewinng and sharing this movie! As a Vietnam Veteran and a Infantry Platoon Leader with the 12th Cavalry in Vietnam it means so much that these brave Brothers stories are told and not forgotten!! I'll admit watching this made me cry!
31:09 - This actually happened: the burned soldier's name was Jimmy Nakayama, and when Joe Galloway (the reporter) tried to pick him up by the legs his flesh came off all the way down to the bone. Nakayama died a couple days later in a military hospital. The film shows a medic (apparently Tommy Burlile) trying to help but Burlile was actually shot by a sniper before reaching Nakayama, so Galloway had to manage on his own.
I watched an interview of Mr Galloway a few years ago he said Jimmy still haunted his memory to that day, I have much respect for those men and women of the Vietnam War, they went though hell and got nothing from us in return which is saddening.
We built a memorial for Jimmy for my OCS class for the Idaho National Guard. We had his family attend. Jimmy was a commissioned officer in the Idaho National Guard and he resigned his commission to go active duty and go to Vietnam. It was a heavy and emotional project. We tried to get Joe Galloway to come, but he could not.
I was nine years old when my father died in combat at Thuong Duc, Vietnam. His platoon was ambushed while on patrol and he died saving others. I have lived my life thinking of him every day....and wondering how my family's lives would have been different had he lived. I'm thankful and grateful for every every soldier who returns from the horrors of war but it's also bittersweet knowing we never got to have that reunion. It's been 54 years since that horrible day when there was a knock on our door. Mom was devastated and never remarried. My sister and I are very thankful to have a few memories of dad but unfortunately our younger brothers have almost no memories of him, just old photos. This movie always brings my father's death home to me. It truly is hard to watch and I thank you for your kind words, tears and heartfelt, caring reactions for what our military personnel and their families go through.
My deepest respect and honor to your father and to all who suffered and died for our country. Every year at our local polling place I leave little notes that read, "People died so I could vote today." Bless you.
My strongest and most respectful wishes and salute to you and your dad. I myself have a 8 y.o. son and could never stand leaving him behind. Best regards from an Army Captain, Vitória Island, Brazil, South Atlantic Sea.
@@fbferrari1875 Thank you for your kindness and your words, you are much appreciated. Thank you also for your service and I know you will do your best to be there for your son as I have tried to do with my two children. Hopefully they will all live in a better world, a world where love, respect, caring, character and friendship matters most and is commonplace to all. The future has so much potential. Sending to You my Best Wishes!!!
Lost my father may 72 uncle June 72 I feel your pain .
Your Father is a true American Hero. RIP.
Joe Galloway's most iconic photo from the battle was of Rick Rescorla, which appeared on the jacket of the book. Rescorla was last seen alive in the south tower of the World Trade Center, helping others to escape and going back for more.
Holy hell i just went into the rabbit hole reading about this guy. This is a man I strive to emmulate. God Bless Him
@@TheWaltercovington I have no chance of emulating him. If I was three times the man I am now, I still wouldn't be half the man he was.
@@andrewcharles459 even so we strive forwards
A former British paratrooper, great man and hero
Cassie: "I will never get over that in one second they're alive, and in another second life is gone."
You and me both, Little Sister.
One of the best days of my life was the day I got to meet Bruce Crandell (the helicopter pilot). A civilian co-worker of mine introduced my fellow shipmates and me to him. We got the honor of taking him out to dinner and getting to talk and here his stories. I knew he was a great man. "Earning" a Medal Of Honor gave me some idea. But after that night I realized just how great of a man he truly is. He does not see himself as a hero.
General Moore and Joe Galloway wrote a follow-up called We Are Soldiers Still. In the early 1990's the government of Vietnam allowed Moore and some of his men to meet with their Vietnamese counterparts on the actual battlefield at Ia Drang where they had fought decades earlier. Each side told stories of the events from their perspective. Moore and General An became friends on the same ground where they had once been enemies. Not all of the men felt the same. Time had not dulled their emotions. They were still resentful...and nobody can blame them. General Moore wrote another book, Hal Moore On Leadership. He was one of the finest officers the Army had during his time in uniform.
I recently had the honor of meeting an old man wearing a 1st of the 7th Vietnam 65-66 hat. It turned out he was one of the survivors of the "Lost Platoon". They were initially sent out on a patrol when they were attacked just a couple hundred yards after from their line. After the Lieutenant and acting platoon sergeant were killed, Sgt. Savage took command by being the closest sergeant to the radio. The gentleman said guys who raised up and tried to dig a hasty scrape (very temporary fox hole) were hit. Others tried using their entrenching tool, but the handles were shot up by incoming rounds. He said that they carried their canteens toward their backs and butts on the web gear, and since the canteens stuck up in the air when they were prone, almost all the canteens were hit by incoming rounds. The Lost Platoon had 9 killed, 13 wounded out of 29.
Sgt. Savage had an old angelfire or geocities website where his personal story from that day was posted many, ok 20+, years ago. I wish I could find it again. Was the first time I'd personally read a first hand account of the battle.
“That’s a nice day, Sargent Savage” is my favorite line of this movie.
As a former British soldier of 2 conflicts. You ask why men go to war? It is so we can come back home to ladies like you. I adore your heart felt reactions to not just this film but to others.
It givesome hope that there are genuine people still around. Bless you
Mrs. Moore is a legend in her own right. The scenes where she personally went to inform loved ones sparked what is the current process of notification of fallen service members to next of kin. I am sure you have seen videos of a 2 person team, in their finest dress uniform approach a home. She was the pioneer of that process.
True.. Very True
After two tours to Iraq I'd take being shot at any day of the week over having to give that news. Hands down the worst job in the Army in my eyes.
Hal Moore was one of my professors at Auburn. He and Mrs. Moore were very well known around campus. She was a "mother hen" type and I remember, on holidays, she would always take in students who couldn't go home for the holidays or didn't have families to go home to. They we're both wonderful people and they both were very much admired.
@@andrewwebb3248 yea no shit, I had to take that course and was put on that duty for a few red phases. I spent 37 months in Iraq over 3 tours and I would have volunteered another 3 times to not be on that detail in the event I was the closest notifying person. I would have done it to the best of my ability but that has to be the most dreaded duty in all of military service.
I was a young sailor and I was voulenteered to be part of the Burial Detail. I had to present the flag to several people at a funeral. They may or may not remember me but i sure hall remember giving them a folded flag while they are crying their eyes out. This was 92 - 94 so i dont think Iraq 1 deaths eacactly....
I went to Nam when I was 18 and came home when I was 23 and served another 19 years in the military. I appreciate that you young ladies and your followers can get a glimpse of the hell we went through. Charlie ruled the night and it was hell in a firebase being overrun. When we came home we weren't appreciated and that was worse than anything we went through incountry.
I have 2 thing's to say to you! WELCOME HOME SOLDIER! And thank you for my freedom 🙏! God bless 🙌 you and yours...from Wyoming USA 🇺🇸 🤠
Thx for your service ❤️😖
It's a family thing, my family has served this country since the Revolutionary War, there's been a member or more in every conflict and quite a few have given the ultimate sacrifice. My nephew is currently serving in the Army as a pilot.
@@billweedmark6915 my grandfather served in the Navy during WW2 in the pacific, 5 uncle's served in Vietnam, both my father and stepfather were both multiple tour's in Vietnam 🇻🇳 and career military 🪖 intelligence, I know oxymoron! Who both died from agent-orange related cancers. And spent the first 13ish year's of my life traveling the world 🌎 on the Uncle Sam travel plan as an Army Bratt until we came back to the state's in 1986ish. I learned to LOVE my country, but to distrust my government!...from Wyoming USA 🇺🇸 🤠
Welcome Home & Thank you For Your Service!
I’m a two tour combat veteran of the war in Iraq, and love your videos. Several of your comments on this movie are very astute. One of the ones that struck me was “Lots of places to hide”. Thank you for reacting to this movie.
"Did you say 'Snake Skin' so you didn't have to swear?" That was much needed comic relief! LOL
Another alternative is his actual callsign "Ancient Serpent 6"
I am the proud father of two US Soldiers. My youngest my daughter, served in a deployment in Afghanistan. She was assigned to a unit which patrolled outside the wire each mission. Her mother and I worried as one would until she returned home. I think the two who may have worried the most was her brother, who being four years older, and had enlisted right out of high school new the risks first hand. But mostly her grandfather. He was a combat veteran from WW2. He would call regularly to me checking on her. He had been the same age as her when he left for war, 19. My daughter had a keepsake photo done before she deployed, and saw that he grandfather received one. She in turn, took the picture my dad had done before he left for Europe, and had it tattooed on her right arm. She knew he would watch over her. He also gave her his dog tag chain he had worn, she attached her tags to it. And wore it until she returned home safely. We all were happy to see them return home. Unfortunately one of the soldiers in her unit did not return home, lost to enemy action, IED.
These young ladies get it. I applaud their honesty, emotion, and understanding.
God bless America, all who serve, and all who have served.
Amen. I thank your family for their service.
War... War is hell... As a person who knows war since I was 10 years old, I always respect the people who willingly go to war for whatever reason they choose to, even the bad guys. Why? As I said war is hell, literally... Even the word hell is not close enough to describe that sh*t.
I did not choose to go to war, war came to me and even my job in the united nations makes me be on war zones without weapons to defend myself.
I hate war, but I respect the warfighters, because my experience of war has always been to evade the bullets, shells and other killing tools to go back to safety. The warrior go in the other direction, towards the danger.
Thank you’re family for their service
My nephew in a Lt. Col in the army. He started out flying Blackhawks. He is retiring soon. He ferryed the dead back to base in Afghanistan and may e Iraq. It really affected him.
My dad was in this battle, he talked very little about it, but my mom said he came back a different person. Shame the world cant live in peace and everyone just love each other.
Individuals can. Governments cannot, it seems
10:40 my daughter asked me the other day why I’m “gone”. She’s seen me gone before but I think it’s finally understood in her little mind. It also drives me forward. To make her proud as her father but it’s also heartbreaking that I can’t tell her what I’ve seen in the past, what I’m doing now, and why I have to be “gone”.
This is a leader we need today! A warrior, a father figure, a man who fights alongside the men..He is clear on his expectations; a straight shooter.
Cassie, as a twenty year Navy veteran, your statement about servicemen and their families is so true. Thank you for the movie and for your reaction.
We filmed this in California at Fort Hunter Liggett. I had just joined the Army in 2000. A few months after I got to watch the film I play a soldier in, I was in Iraq for the invasion, and got to live war. Joe Galloway was right, we who have seen war will never stop seeing it.
23 years later, I’m still in the Army and I make films professionally as a military tactical advisor and actor.
But every night, right as I fall asleep, I’m right back in Iraq and Afghanistan.
fkg killers. you destroyed the whole world.
I spent the summer of '04 in LSA Anaconda/Balad Air Base as part of the 332 Air Expeditionary Wing during operation Iraqi Freedom that was flying F-16's. I was Munitions Maintenance. I don't see it as often as you do, but when I start thinking about it, It's as if I never left. I wish I could have gone back.
@@PetraDarklander IYAAYAS!
The housing area part was filmed at Ft Knox KY
I wish people would not label these films as glorifying war or propaganda. There are real people with real experiences behind these films from a Mel Gibson film to Saving Private Ryan all the way to Dumbo Drop. Respect to you, you've done a great thing.
My dad did three tours in Vietnam. He volunteered before being drafted. He was the battle soldier that you imagine like from Heartbreak Ridge. He died in 1983 from wounds from the war that lingered and tore him down. I can't fathom the horrors he saw and then to come home and have someone spit in his face and call him baby killer. We forget that the battlefield was only part of their trauma. Never forget those that serve and sacrifice for our freedoms. 🇺🇸
FYI: The actual soldier who recovered the French bugle was Rick Rescorla.
He was born in Cornwall, England.
He met GI's encamped to prepare for D-Day.
He became an American citizen AFTER serving in Vietnam.
He also saved 2700 people at the WTC on 9/11/01. He went back in looking for stragglers.
He was from Morristown, NJ. His picture is on the cover of the book that this movie is based on.
You should Google him, IMHO.
🇬🇧 🇺🇸
The scene where the cab driver says, "I don't like this job ma'am, just tryin' to do it" brings tears to my eyes every time.
I would like to see you and sister react to…
"Life Is Beautiful" (1997). It's a film that will bring you two ladies so much joy and also make you cry.
🎥🍿
I cry at that part myself
One of the most poignant and heartfelt moments in the entire movie. It's so authentic, you felt it in your bones that the Cabbie was so empathetic and distraught at the same time.
We had to study Life is Beautiful for 8th and 9th grade as part of our English Course. It didn't really impact me much then but if these two watch it I know which part is going to make me cry.
That killed me..no one wanted that job. Can you imagine your whole day bringing death notices??
If you notice the way the cab driver is dressed he's most probably a veteran of WW2 or the Korean war.
In fairness, the doctrine for helicopters was not to go in under heavy fire because you stood a good chance of being shot down and killing the people you were trying to save. It changed because brave pilots understood that, as dangerous as it was, it was a situation in which help could not be delayed.
Being a Marine Vietnam veteran I still get teary eyed when I watch films like this, coming home was not a great experience either we were not welcomed, like the scene of the wounded soldier being wheeled through the airport is so depressing, no parades, no yellow ribbons I was dropped off with no money, no way to get home, I called my brother collect and he came to pick me up. God bless all veterans.
I stumbled upon your channel with this flick you are watching. I have watched this movie ahhh 12 times over and read the novel. I tell you ladies something, watching you two take it in had me crying. I am now hooked on your channel and wish you to keep up the good work. Thank you.
My dad was a door gunner on a Huey and he only talked to me about it once after I came home from desert storm. Its a bond between me and my dad that very few will understand. Great review ladies. Hoorah
This movie was based on the book "We Were Soldiers Once... and Young" written by Hal Moore and Joe Galloway the reporter played by Barry Pepper. During production they even managed to get in contact with Colonel An (the Vietnamese commander) and collaborated to get the movie as close to the real events as possible. A lot if veterans from both sides also helped with the production. This was the first major battle of the war. The Vietnamese by this point had been at war for over twenty years, starting with the japanese in WWII, then the French who wanted to reclaim their lost colony during the French Indochina War in the 1950's. The US got involved after the French were defeated and backed a pro democratic government that formed in the south and tried to help the south Vietnamese unify the country under western democracy. But the north were communists and the US feared it since this also the height of the Cold War with the Soviet Union. Eventually the war escalated and the US took a more direct role.
This was the first major battle of the war and it set the standard for how the remainder of the war would be fought. Which lasted for the United States for another 7 years. The north would eventually over take the south and unify the country under communism by 1975. And Vietnam has been an independent country ever since. We were the invaders in this war technically speaking. But i have nothing but respect for Vietnam vets. It was our government that led us to the war, and our vets didn't deserve the blame they got for the war's failure. I also have a deep respect for the Vietnamese people. Im glad our two nations are no longer enemies. Long live both our nations 🇻🇳 🇺🇸! I recommend you two watch hamburger Hill and platoon as well. Both were great movies about Vietnam.
Actually the war didn't fail because the U.S. WON the war by having the South and North sign a peace treaty under Nixon and he started pulling some soldiers out. It was under Ford that the Democrat Congress refused to abide by the very treaty and promises we made to South Vietnam and when the North found this out, they launched a full blown attack and pushed what few soldiers we had to the Saigon choppers and left all of South Vietnam to suffer torture and genocide under the Communist "re-education" camps. What's telling is, when the USSR fell and KGB files were de-classified, it was found out the Soviets had spies in EVERY branch of government, our military and "useful idiots" in Hollywood and the anti-war protestors. Pretty much proved McCarthy was right. The Soviets had our military code cracked, shared that to China and they shared that to the Viet Cong. That's why they were so quick in knowing where our military would be in the early years. But the U.S. didn't lose a SINGLE battle in Vietnam.
@@Akihito007 i know theres a lot nuance in the history. I was just trying to be brief in my summary. But technically, yes we did fail in Vietnam. We won every battle. But public support for the war or lack there of, forced us to drop out. The treaty that was signed was our promise to continue supplying the South in their efforts to hold the north back. Problem was we didn't hold our end of that treaty very well. Millions of dollars worth of equipment went without maintenance due to lack of mechanical knowledge in the ARVN forces. And they were practically abandoned. When the north launched a new offensive they overtook the country and the fall of Saigon was a monumental black eye that we never recovered from. Our mission was to stop the spread of communism. We failed that mission. Our military reigned Supreme but we lost because we were forced to fight a defensive war of attrition. We couldn't invade North Vietnam either, because we feared another Chinese intervention like what happened in Korea. So the apart from bombing the north our offensive capability was neutered and we couldn't make a significant victory without escalating the war.
@@Nickallsopp92 That's a VERY good assessment. That's why the declassified KGB records were so important because it PROVED that most of the anti-war protest leaders and groups were funded by the Russians, with said groups both knowing and unknowing this. The media bashed Nixon to no end when he conducted bombings in Cambodia but the files also proved Nixon to be RIGHT, as the Chinese WERE using Cambodia and Laos to funnel weapons and supplies in. What's sad is, after McNamara was kicked out, our military strategy was changed for the better. As before, we'd lose good men to "take a hill and win the battle" just to then dang up and leave and give everything back to the VC. Once the military started actually keeping men on won ground and making small bases, did the VC feel the hurt. But again, the politicians threw away the peace due to a lying media that was rife with communist sympathizers and outright spies. Sadly Vietnam and Laos are still poor Communist countries with lousy human records. Our vets and those people deserved better!
@@Akihito007 Agreed. Gotta hand it to the Vietnamese communists though. They are ornery little bast*rds. Even after they unified the country they were still stirring up trouble in the region. Not only did they defeat the japanese, they also defeated the French, the United States, Pol Pot's regime in Cambodia, and they even kicked China's ass during the Sino Vietnamese war in 1979. They are certified badasses! They may still be communists but I get the impression they had no intention of joining the Eastern block alliances.
And we gave the soviets the exact treatment in kind we intervened in their war in Afghanistan in 1979, the Soviet Union's Vietnam War. Our CIA supplied and trained the Mujahideen and the Soviets got their asses by goat farmers in the mountains. Between their humiliating defeat there and Chernobyl disaster the Soviets lost all credibility and the cold war shortly after.
Unfortunately it would seem Communist propaganda is still stirring up trouble here in the US. The fact that our youth is being indoctrinated and the current state of our country means the Soviets may get the final laugh afterall when they take over our political system. Sad state of affairs.
23:45
“You got the balls to face me, but not the balls to face the enemy”.
Freedom isn’t free we would not be here today without the American military and its soldiers, don’t forget to thank a vet
As a retired U.S.Marine I've seen this movie many times,and it gets to me every time,but I tuned in mainly for you two ☺️!!
You girls are so Adorable and you always leave me with a huge smile 😊 !!
Love it when both of you are reacting !!
good evening, Sir. thanks for your service. I don't know much on military strategy but is this movie an example of first efforts by our US military to use a calculated effort to disrupt command chain and supply chain? vs trying to use overwhelming numbers of less specialized and less trained opponents(like Russia losing in Ukraine). Right now it seems our military can win any conflict by our decades of protection of global reach. I'm really proud to American
@@johnrodriguez2013 doubtful..that is a fundemental stratgey of war
@@johnrodriguez2013 Vietnam was a war full of learning lessons, this movie depicts alot of learning curves we had to get over, for example don't underestimate the enemy on the home turf, do not proceed until reinforcements arrive, stay out of LDA's linear danger areas, an area that does not provide cover or concealment. I was army infantry so that's how I know
@@Downtown.TonyBrown Thank You for your Service Brother ,no matter what branch of the Military we served we are a Band of Brothers,and that will never Change !!
Semper Fi 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
@@larrysolis6952 thank you for your service 🇺🇸
As a military brat I can tell you that the parts showing the home life for the families is spot on. My father was a career Army man that spent most of his career connected to the DIA (Diplomatic Intelligence Agency) with postings all over the world. There were many nights we did not know if he would make it home. It was both a scary and wonderful way to grow up. We experienced so many amazing things, both good and bad, and it really gave us a sense of real appreciation for how truly blessed we are to live in the United States.
Military brat as well. My dad did 30 years and retired as a Colonel. Couldn't have asked for a better way to grow up. Yeah, it sucked leaving friends as a kid moving around so much, but now as an adult....I wouldn't change it for anything.
Military brat here as well. Dad was special operations through the 70's and 80's. Many deployments. To the families of our brave men and women... they served too.
The song is an ominous song Sgt. MacKenzie because it's written by Joseph Kilna MacKenzie. A lament written and sung in memory of his great-grandfather who was killed in combat during World War I.
You ladies are too cute, I loved watching your reactions here. I've seen this movie more times than I can count, and I'm still holding back sobs at the same places you are. The respect you give to these men is highly appreciated.
FYI, if you want a little bit more in the way of backstory to some of the individual soldiers in the movie, check out the deleted scenes, there's gold to be found there. 😊
After the war, Hal Moore and the NVA Commander actually met each other and discussed the battle. Both of them had nothing but respect for the other man. Im so glad you finally got a chance to see this one.
Now that you knocked this one out, If you are interested in watching another movie that shows both sides I recomend the movie Gettysburg. Its an extremly long movie but it does an amazing job covering the American Civil War. It really hammers home that the people on both sides on the conflict are good people, who in different times, could have been best friends. (in fact some of them are best friends) You both may find that one easier to watch as its not gory at all. If you do see it, fun note, the movie has several scenes film at location of Gettysburg and all the extras were civil war reenactors so the movie is very authentic to watch. .
I actually did a tactical briefing on Ia Drang (both the X-Ray and Albany landings) for the Maneuver Senior Leaders Course at FT Benning, GA.
It was unreal how close those men came to losing that fight and being overrun. But outnumbered more than two to one they still forced the enemy to withdraw. Most of that was due to COL Moore’s extensive understanding of the enemy tactics and abilities. He was able to counter everything they tried because he put in the skull sweat prior to understand the enemy.
While the war didn’t end up helping either side, that one battle changed the entire momentum. The Vietcong realized they couldn’t withstand a traditional fight against America. And we learned not to underestimate an opponent and the fact that draft armies wouldn’t be able to handle the modern battlefield.
I was in the army during the 1st gulf war. This movies deplictions of the pain the soldier and his whole family feel when they get deployed os soo damn real. It brought back some not soo fond of memories. This movie made me emotional watching it but you two ladies brought the emotion up a whole new level. Kudos.
My dad was also a vietnam veteran. My dad was an older man in that war.But my mom told me he was never the same when he came back. He spent over a year there, where he was awarded the silver star and two bronze stars and many other metals. My mom used to watch the evening news because, at the end of the newscast, they would put all the names of all of the KIA or missing an action. My mom was a nervous wreck the whole time he was there.
The ending where you see that soldier in a wheelchair and his head is bandaged, that's a slight glimpse of how Vietnam vets were treated when they returned home. "Born on the Fourth of July" and "First Blood" are strong examples of re-adjusting to civilian life after returning from Vietnam.
I will agree, but everytime i see or hear First Blood, i think about tge fact that Stallone was a Draft Dodger who hid out in Canada during the war and then had the audacity to portray a leading roll as,a,Vietnam War Hero and,Veteran. To me that stain will forever taint what was actually a good movie.
@@donaldriddle230 this story is false and always has been. He was in Switzerland for 2 years in the 60s and was in the US the rest of the time. He was never drafted.
To go off to war being told you're fighting the good fight against communism and protecting your country's way of life, then coming home to be spat on and called a murderer...I can't imagine. Australia also turned their backs on Nam Vets.
@@lauramartin7675 "To go off to war being told you're fighting the good fight against communism and protecting your country's way of life, then coming home to be spat on and called a murderer...I can't imagine." During the Vietnam Era, it was like if you wore a uniform(US Army, Army ROTC, etc) you were fair game for protesters. The events at Kent State University added more fuel to the fire.
As you all know, this is based on a true story. Sadly, the reporter, Joe. who had to carry the horribly burned Jimmy to the chopper happened, though he carried him with the medic. I have heard the reporter say that he dreamed of those legs coming off in his hands every night for his entire life.The real Jimmy survived the intense burns for three days then died.
Didn’t Joe end up with PTS because of that battle?
@@kdsuibhne I don't think he ever publicly acknowledged that he had ptsd but he did a couple interviews with American history Channel and idr the other just youtube Joe Galloway interview and when he talks about the legs you can see that he is in the room but his mind is back in Vietnam all the emotions is fresh and raw
If everyone said, "Why can't somebody else do it?", it never gets done
58,000 Americans died in Vietnam, an untold number came back alive but injured, and still came back with no internal injury but horribly injured mentally
That was only the Americans; other allies honored their commitments, too and other nations buried their young men, too.
I have such strong and mixed feelings when I watch this film. On the one hand, I am American and that's what I automatically identify as. On the other, I was born in Vietnam. My father was a Captain in the South Vietnamese Army and fought alongside America. But I also have pain in my heart for my people on the other side. We all bleed the same, but for different reasons. Thank you for the great video ladies.
How do you have mixed feelings? You have no connection to the “otherside” lol…. The “otherside” was trying to kill your father and your family…. What’s so “mixed” about that?
@@melvinelder3587 because both sides are fighting for what their country says is right. Sons, fathers, brothers, dying for what their government tells them. Are you seriously that ignorant?
@@mikebarrett3982 yeah I understand that but I think you missed what the original commenter was saying. They said they have mixed feelings because they’re American and Vietnamese. But the part of Vietnam that fought alongside the US. Both of his connections are the same lol… what’s mixed about that. What’s the pain on the other side.. he has no connection with them.
@melvinelder3587 I don't understand how you don't understand what he means by what he said. I'm not trying to insult you, sorry if I came off that way, but I think it's pretty easy to understand what he meant.
@@mikebarrett3982 no I understand what he said.
I was a Corpsman there......medevac Doc, saw more death and destruction than believable. Thank you ladies for your support, understanding and caring!
Thank you for your service sir.
I've worked with many men who were in Vietnam and shared horrific stories with me. They were all on the verge of retirement and that was 22 years ago. I miss working with those men. Super proud to have known them.
No you weren’t lmao, all your RUclips comments you are serving in some different war. I believe that’s called stolen valor.
Just in case you don’t know, Hal Moore passed away in 2017, 3 days short of his 95th birthday. His wife, Julia, passed in 2004. Sergeant Major Basil Plumley passed in 2012. And Joseph Galloway, the reporter, passed in 2021. May God in Heaven watch over their souls for all eternity.
Thanks for watching and feeling
and trying to understand. I was right there with ya the whole way trying to understand myself. God bless the soldiers who put down their lives.
So and added bit of trivia. Every American soldier shown on the field of battle was representing a real soldier that was there. Each one (even the extras) were given a backstory and biography of the soldier he was playing.
Man, If I was an actor that would be incredibly humbling and grounding to what I would be doing when the camera rolls.
Bruce Crandall, the helo driver played by Greg Kinnear won the Medal of Honor for his efforts during this battle. He survived the war.
I'm happy that so many prople mentioned Rick Rescorla in their comments. An absolute hero & a good man.
"You were wonderin' how Custer felt, Sir? Ask him."
I remember my first drop in a “hot LZ” in Afghanistan, there is a talk that you have with yourself. A talk that is more like a prayer, my talk to myself was “please let me make the right decisions and return home well”. There is a breed of people that knows that the road ahead will be rough but still have the courage to keep moving forward. I love your content, didn’t mean to bring down the mood. Everyone take care
I was an Infantry NCO for 2 deployments to Iraq, and 2 deployments with SOCOM. I spent more than 60+ months, 5+ years in combat. My prayer was: "God don't let me F@ck up and get one of my men killed!"
Some of my soldiers, and myself, were wounded, but none were killed.
I was trained by some of the last veterans of Vietnam serving on active duty.
They paid in Blood. We paid in sweat. The hard lessons they Learned and then Taught us Saved Many Lives! 🇺🇸
@@paladinsix9285 , as one veteran ( Mine was peacetime) to another, thank you.
My thoughts were "What the hell am I doing here" as all hell broke loose. Apparently went into autopilot right after and the rest of the deployment didn't come to reality until the first morning I woke up stateside. Was a terrifying realization as every moment passed by the instant I realized I was back at Drum, that even though I was there, it was like I wasn't there through all of it while it happened.
I was infantry as well and hit multiple areas of conflict serving as a 10th MTN soldier. Global QRF was my uniit’s deal. I hate that 1-32 Chosin was disbanded but it is what it is
@@michaelcalvillo328 when were they disbanded? I was 1-87 and remember them up until 06
I was not called up for this war, but it was only by timing and circumstance that I was not. While I was not in favor of this war, I can honestly say that I never disrespected a veteran.
I had a cousin who was a helicopter pilot in Vietnam. His Army Reserve unit was attached to the Air Mobile Division, 1st Batallion, 7th Cavalry...the same unit that is profiled in this movie. His unit participated in the ferrying of troops into battle at LZ X-Ray. Though it was much later, He didn't come home. His helicopter crashed 6 months later while flying in formation. They were ferrying medical supplies to a field hospital.
Thank you for this reaction video. This movie is one of my all-time favorites. 🙂
I know this will never be seen but having watched you watch this made me realize that not everybody hates our military. And once again I felt proud to have served
Fun fact, there was a second landing zone with a different company. LZ Albany was another company in the area, they were ambushed by the same enemy later and they almost completely destroyed that American company. The price they paid at LZ X-Ray to them was worth it, because they learned how to defeat the Americans, they had to get in so close that they couldn't use airpower or artillery. The NVA called it "grabbing them by the belt buckle". The S. Vietnamese army lost 403 killed and 150 wounded and the Americans lost 151 killed and 121 wounded (a crushing defeat considering they suffered about 70% casualties in that battle and 10% by modern standards is considered a bloodbath). Also worth noting is that the 7th Calvary suffered more casualties in the Vietnam war than any other single unit in the entire war.
that wasnt a fun fact, nothing fun about it at all, thats....just a fact
@@thamojster Tragic fact
It wasn't a defeat for the US. The NVA withdrew their units from the area, so the battle was a US victory..but a costly one. Given that they were outnumbered nearly 10 to 1, I'd say they did very well.
Thanks for reacting to this Cassie and Carley. Its one of a few movies that gives the perspective of family members. I was not in combat but I did 4 forward deployments as a married man. Each time I was amazed by my wife's strength and courage. she was both Mom and Dad to our girls. she took care of everything while I was gone, knowing that she might not see me again. I know how it feels to leave my babies before they woke up because I might not bear seeing them, watch me go and not understand why. this movie captured that so well. my wife and daughters are my heros.
I believe it was Fort Benning, Georgia, that was renamed to Fort Moore (the very real soldier Mel Gibson was depicting) very recently, and Moore's wife (the lady with the kia telegrams(Cathy Moore)) actually changed the whole way the military notifies loved ones of a fallen family member. Some heavy stuff. Also for anyone wondering the very ominious music played in the beginning and very end is "Sgt. Mackenzie's war" which is a WW1 song from Scotland.
No, it's Ft. Bragg, N.C.
I met a guy that was a machine gunner on the helicopters during this battle. He was so so so humble what a great man to meet and he was like 6’2 or so. He was a janitor In a research institution in San Antonio where I did security at.
A long-time family friend, whom I spoke with earlier today, was a Rifle Platoon Leader in Colonel Moore's 7th Cavalry. He has never spoken with me about his military experiences, but my Dad and I were fortunate to attend the ceremony at Fort Benning when he was inducted into the US Army's OTS Hall of Fame.
BTW, your reaction videos are great!!
Joe Galloway wrote the book, "We were Soldiers once ... and young" with Hal Moore about the battle of the Ia Drang Valley. It happened.
But not exactly as shown in the movie. Much of the movie is faithful to the book, and the book tries hard to be faithful to the facts (not always successfully.) Other parts of the movie are completely fictional.
You shouldn’t just believe Mel Gibson, Cassie. His “true”, “historical” movies all engage in significant manipulation of history in order to manipulate you emotionally.
@@markhamstra1083 You mean to make a good movie. Unless you believe all art manipulates.
@@unknownsword9042 Movies manipulate your emotions to make a good movie. One and the same thing, just semantics.
@@markhamstra1083 I read the book before I saw the movie.
@@unknownsword9042 I meant what I wrote. Gibson goes beyond what is necessary to a good movie. He makes movies that push his own agenda so far that they are borderline propaganda.
The first time I watched this, I too was emotionally exhausted, I’ve watched it probably 50 times since, a true masterpiece, true courage and told with integrity
These women see why men watch these movies. This movie portrayed a grim reality and the humanity and tragedy that those men experienced.
I do like how this movie, while it focuses on the Americans, has a few points where it shows the human side of their adversary. They were people with families. They had good leaders and visionaries as well, even though they were on opposite sides of a battlefield.
The Madeline Stowe/ Kerri Russell scene where they deliver the telegrams is a tear jerker. Imagine the anxiety and grief associated with each notice. Very powerful scene.
Any "delivering bad news" scene is powerful. Sometimes its not easy on either side, having to receive the bad news or having to deliver it. Someone's whole idea of the future just changes.
The worst job ever in the Army delivering that news and the slow walk up the steps.
This was my dad's unit in Vietnam. We went together to see it in theaters. We both loved it, also a veteran myself.
This was my Dad's unit also. He replaced an NCO killed in this fight. He never talked about it much until we saw this movie.
@@hutch3562 yeah, my dad didn't either. There were things that happened to him over there he didn't even tell my mom until after they'd been married over 40 years.
My dad was there in 69 I believe. I’d have to do a little looking around the house to find out his unit. I’ve always wanted to see if there was anything written about his time and unit but haven’t done it yet. He told me lots of stories about his time in the field. Supposedly they were dropped into a situation similar to this by mistake. They were put off at the wrong coordinates and right in the middle of 12000 nva soldiers. He said they were all scared as hell when they were told they had to get the hell out immediately and why. He always said platoon was his time in the field. He said it was basically spot on.
Thank you for your service 🙏
My unit was 3rd Brigade 1st Battalion 12th Cavalry 1st Cavalry Division. They were here at this battle in La Drang. Chu pong massif was the rock formation they needed to assault. However, my Company Delta was at LZ Albany in this Engagement not directly involved with Col Moores units at LZ X-Ray. ALOT of faces on my Battlion wall and Three Medal of Honors were awarded and Four Distinguished Service Crosses for this Campaign in Vietnam. from La Drang to A Shau Valley.
"SNAKESKIN?!" I had to pause the video 'cause I was laughing so hard!! This was a very good reaction. I've wanted to read Joe Galloway's book ever since I first saw this movie.
Director Randall Wallace saw quote by Col. Hal Moore from the book in which he said that "Every damn Hollywood movie got the war wrong!" He was inspired to tell the story right. I'd say he nailed it.
The part of Ia Drang many Americans don't like to remember is: The very next day Moore's battle "ended", soldiers including those who were sent in to reinforce Moore's surrounded battalion at Landingzone X-Ray were ordered to move to another Landingzone nearby codnamed LZ Albany. They didn't all "leave" by helicopters because that would make the North Vietnamese think they are retreating, said General Westmoreland. And so they walk to this LZ, got ambushed and were massacred. More than twice as many dead as Moore's X-Ray battle in less than a day. Yes, the battle of Ia Drang was a five day battle and not three, the last day of which was spent finding and retrieving the 155 dead and 124 wounded at Albany. They also called in napalm strikes on friendly American positions, but this time they did it because they thought their friends were all dead already.
The most amazing thing about this movie for me is the fact it's 20 years old. Time flies by faster than those helicopters.
My dad was friends with some of the soldiers in this fight, he went to OCS with a couple of them. One of the being Henry Herrick, the LT who got cut off from the main group. His other friend, though not mentioned during this fight, was awarded the MOH for his actions in Ia Drang Valley, Joe Marm
My oldest brother served in Vietnam he was a gunner and helicopter now he helps veterans with PTSD make it through life
I can't tell you two ladies how much I love this reaction. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.