Tuesday, November 11, 2014

HOLLYWOOD or HISTORY: We Were Soldiers


 

                I earlier reviewed “We Were Soldiers” and then reread We Were Soldiers Once… And Young by Harold Moore and Joseph Galloway.  The director and screenwriter of the movie, Randall Wallace, claimed the movie was as accurate as you could get.  But given his track record of “Braveheart” and “Pearl Harbor”, I was skeptical.  Here are some things that happened in the movie.  Which are true and which are Wallaceisms?

1.  The French Group Mobile 100 was ambushed in the Ia Drang Valley in 1954 and wiped out by a unit of Vietminh led by Nguyen Huu An
2.  During boot camp at Fort Bragg, a radio operator picked up a fire fight in Vietnam.
3.  Moore was a devout Catholic.
4.  Moore and Geogehegan had a heart to heart in a chapel after the birth of Geogehagen’s baby.
5.  Moore told his daughter that war was when some people in another country try to take the lives of other people and then soldiers like daddy have to go over and stop them.
6.  Moore’s unit was the 7th Cavalry – Custer’s old unit.

7.  Sgt. Plumley was a crusty veteran of WWII with a gruff personality and leadership style.
8.  The Lost Platoon got “lost” because Herrick chased after an enemy scout as soon as they landed.
9.  Herrick’s last words were:  “If I have to die. I’m glad to give my life for my country.”
10.  They blew up trees to create a new landing zone.
11.  Metzker was killed when he gave up his place on a medevac helicopter.
12.  Galloway arrived on the night of the first day.
13.  Mrs. Moore and Mrs. Geogehagen delivered the telegrams to the other wives.
14.  Moore prayed over the dead bodies.
15.  Geogehagen and a black soldier were killed out in front of the American lines.
16.  They peed on the mortar tubes to cool them down.
17.  Plumely told Galloway he could not take pictures lying down and soon after he told the wounded “Prepare to defend yourselves”.
18.  A soldier jumped on a grenade to save some of the woundeds lives.
19.  When the position was about to be overrun, Moore called for Broken Arrow.
20.  Jimmy Nakayama was mortally wounded by friendly napalm and never saw his new-born baby.  Some of his flesh came off in Galloway’s hands.
21.  The Lost Platoon was finally rescued when Nadal’s platoon fought its way to them.

22.  Westmoreland ordered Moore to leave the battlefield to brief him, but Moore refused.
23.  Moore went into no man’s land at night to recover Geogehagen’s body.
24.  Moore led a bayonet charge that forced the enemy to retreat and then helicopter gunships decimated the enemy before Moore’s men walked into a trap.
25.  Crandall took over medevacing the wounded because the assigned unit refused to come in under fire. 

 

 THE ANSWERS
 1.  The French Group Mobile 100 was ambushed in the Ia Drang Valley in 1954 and wiped out by a unit of Vietminh led by Nguyen Huu An.  HISTYWOOD  The French Mobile 100 was ambushed several times during the war but never was wiped out.  It is unclear whether An participated in any of these attacks.  An is a significant figure in Vietnamese history.  He ably commanded units in the siege of Dien Bien Phu and was in command in the Battle of Ia Drang.  He rose to generalship and was highly regarded by Giap.  His forces were instrumental in the capture of Saigon at the end of the war.
2.  During boot camp at Fort Bragg, a radio operator picked up a fire fight in Vietnam.  HISTYWOOD  They actually picked up a forward air controller directing an air strike.  This was apparently not omenous enough for Wallace.
3.  Moore was a devout Catholic.  HISTORY
4.  Moore and Geogehegan had a heart to heart in a chapel after the birth of Geogehagen’s baby.  HOLLYWOOD
5.  Moore told his daughter that war was when some people in another country try to take the lives of other people and then soldiers like daddy have to go over and stop them.  HISTORY
6.  Moore’s unit was the 7th Cavalry – Custer’s old unit.  HISTORY
7.  Sgt. Plumley was a crusty veteran of WWII with a gruff personality and leadership style.  HISTORY  “Old Iron Jaw” (which he is not called in the movie) served in WWII and made four combat jumps with the 82nd Airborne and another in the Korean War.  As far as I could tell, his personality is accurately depicted.
8.  The Lost Platoon got “lost” because Herrick chased after an enemy scout as soon as they landed.  HISTYWOOD  Fighting was already taking place when Herrick was sent into a support position and proceeded to chase several enemy.  Herrick was not killed as quickly as the movie indicates.  Sgt. Savage did take over leadership.
9.  Herrick’s last words were:  “If I have to die. I’m glad to give my life for my country.”  HISTORY  Most of the “cheesy” soldier lines were accurate.
10.  They blew up trees to create a new landing zone.  HISTORY
11.  Metzker was killed when he gave up his place on a medevac helicopter.  HOLLYWOOD  Metzker was killed as he was about to board Crandall’s ship.
12.  Galloway arrived on the night of the first day.  HISTORY  However, Moore had already met Galloway and had given him permission to come.
13.  Mrs. Moore and Mrs. Geogehagen delivered the telegrams to the other wives.  HISTORY  At least according to Wallace.
14.  Moore prayed over the dead bodies.  HISTORY  It’s unclear whether An did any praying.
15.  Geogehagen and a black soldier were killed out in front of the American lines.  HISTYWOOD  Geogehagen was not making a two man attack.  He was killed instantly when he got out of his fox hole to rescue a dead black soldier.
16.  They peed on the mortar tubes to cool them down.  HISTYWOOD  These types of things happened in warfare, but this incident was not mentioned in the book.
17.  Plumley told Galloway he could not take pictures lying down and soon after he told the wounded “Prepare to defend yourselves”.  HISTORY
18.  A soldier jumped on a grenade to save some of the wounded’s lives.  HISTORY  Sgt. Charlie McManus won the Medal of Honor for this act. 
19.  When the position was about to be overrun, Moore called for Broken Arrow.  HISTORY
20.  Jimmy Nakayama was mortally wounded by friendly napalm and never saw his new-born baby.  Some of his flesh came off in Galloway’s hands.  HISTORY
21.  The Lost Platoon was finally rescued when Nadal’s platoon fought its way to them.  HOLLYWOOD  The unit was actually reached by a reinforcing unit and there were no shots exchanged in getting to Savage and his men. 
22.  Westmoreland ordered Moore to leave the battlefield to brief him, but Moore refused.  HISTORY
23.  Moore went into no man’s land at night to recover Geogehagen’s body.  HISTYWOOD  Moore did find the body, but it was in daytime.
24.  Moore led a bayonet charge that forced the enemy to retreat and then helicopter gunships decimated the enemy before Moore’s men walked into a trap.  BULL CRAP  Moore did have the men fix bayonets before pushing the perimeter out after the battle was over and he did lead the movement, but there was no contact.  The whole movie charge and the intervention of Crandall is a painfully obvious attempt at a happy ending.  Keep in mind that a true ending would have included the ambushing of 2/7 as it marched to LZ Albany for egress after the fighting was seemingly over.  People who insist we never lost a battle in Vietnam conveniently overlook this disaster (which is covered in the book).  I do not insist that this downer of an ending should have finished the movie, but don’t substitute fantasy that is the total opposite.
25.  Crandall took over medevacing the wounded because the assigned unit refused to come in under fire.  HISTORY  Crandall started out bringing in troops, but switched to medevacing because of the circumstances.  He made a total of 14 trips and was awarded the DFC which was upgraded to the Congressional Medal Of Honor by Pres. G.W. Bush in 2007.  It is highly unlikely he pulled a pistol on another pilot like in the movie and he could not have led the counterattack because his chopper was unarmed.
RATING =   .72


 CONCLUSION:  ''We Were Soldiers" is above average in accuracy and surprisingly factual for a Randall Wallace and Mel Gibson.  This does not completely make up for their historical malpractice in "Braveheart", but at least shows they have some sense of shame.  However, it is most likely that what accuracy manages to sneak in is due to Moore and Galloway watching over their shoulders.  Unfortunately, nothing could stop Mel and Randall from tacking on the egregious happy ending that has John Wayne written all over it.  Hadn't we gotten past this type of jingoistic, crowd-sating trope by the 21st Century?   

26 comments:

  1. Was just talking with this movie about my dad (a Vietnam vet, FWIW) the other day. He likes it more than say, Platoon or Apocalypse Now, but still criticized a lot of things. The opening scene with the French Army seems to annoy him, for whatever reason.

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  2. I have much more problems with the closing combat scene than the opening combat scene. My Dad was a Vietnam War vet also, but he flew fighter-bombers so he had no opinion on most of the Vietnam War movies. I think he was glad that he was above it all.

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  3. Thanks for the analysis. I figured it was more accurate than Braveheart, although it would be hard to beat it.

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  4. Still, after being a Hollywood movie, it's my favorite for showing what soldiers during that time went through.
    Sgt. Fountain 71-78

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  5. If they'd only cut out that stupid charge up San Juan Hill...uh...Mt. Suribachi...uh...whatever that hill was named, this would probably be my favorite war movie. That stupid charge just ruins the whole movie!!!

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    1. Totally agree. The movie jumped the shark with that "happy ending". Another example of catering to the perceived wishes of the audience and believing we can't handle an unsatisfactory ending.

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  6. How in the world do you think this was a "jingoistic, crowd-sating" happy ending? Do piles of bodies make you laugh? Do you think those men were crying tears of joy? Do you think that mother pulled her children away from those soldiers in the airport because she was overwhelmed with respect for them?

    I appreciate your checks on the movie, but I am more ashamed of your conclusion than I am of The Patriot, and that's saying something.

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    1. You misunderstand me. I do not like the ending. I suggest it was put in for the people who love seeing our "enemies" get slaughtered. I am not one of those people.

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    2. Mate - you are fooling yourself - look up jingoistic in the dictionary - the ending of this movie is pure jingoistic BS - if you cant see it you are another brainwashed person who as read too many Biggles books.

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    3. I have no idea what a Biggle book is, so your prognostication is sorely lacking.

      You must be using a different dictionary than me, but I invite you to explain yourself.

      As for War Movie Buff, that ending was not about getting enemies slaughtered.

      Anyone who thinks this was a rah-rah movie about the superiority of the US military is blind.

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  7. I also studied the book (the week it came out) and watched the movie. Your analysis is spot on your conclusion at the end and feeling's about it are excellent. I was born in 56 watched the war on nightly news at dinner time. My parents couldn't explain it to me. Not proud of that time in American history or any other time for that matter.

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  8. just one other point. Gunships weren't developed 'till '66 by the crewcheifs and pilots (starting with flexguns wired losely to the pilots stick), so there would defo NOT have been any miniguns there anyway!

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    1. Thanks. I don't think reality was considered in the ending.

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  9. #11- Metzker was killed after he gave up his seat/ spot for Ray Lebvre Jr. https://erenow.net/ww/weweresoldiersonceandyoung/26.php
    #13- Julie Moore followed those who delivered the telegrams when possible for the 1st of the 7th. For the 2nd of the 7th The job was done by CSM James Scott's wife and XO Frank Henry's wife as McDade was not married. The only funeral Julie Moore missed was the first one for Jack Gell. Ironically when Julie Moore passed, Jack's wife Rebecca donated her own plot so that Julie Moore could be buried with the Men of the 1st of the 7th and then ultimately with Hal Moore when he passed.
    #14- Moore did pray over the dead.
    #18- Medal of Honor awards at LZ XRay were Walter Marm, Bruce Crandall and Ed Freeman. SSGT McManus did save the lives of others by using his own body to absorb the blast of a grenade but was not recognized with the MOH
    I agree with all the other points you made. The story was good enough to stand on its own merit without the BS ending for sure

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    1. Thanks. Where did you get your information? I would like to adjust my results.

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  10. Considering people receive their medals in the Olympics by completing accomplishments that no one else on Earth can do after a lifetime of training. It's pretty ignorant to say they don't earn them.

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  11. Are you fucking retarded? We fucked up the NVA in the IA drang valley. It's well documented, their casualties outweighed ours nearly 4 times over, despite them outnumbering us by an untold amount...someone simply has a case of hating the US military because of it's sheer might

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    1. I dont know why I'm bothering- and it will do no good- but its not WE - id bet a million dollars you were not present- read a book...

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  12. Crandall did pull a pistol on the guy but not after he got out of the chopper. In an interview Crandall said the guy woke him out of his cot and he pulled the pistol thinking it was an enemy

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  13. On 25 Bruce Crandall did actually pulls his gun at another officer during the la drang event : you can hear himself stating that in a interview you can find on youtube Medal of Honor Pilot Bruce Crandall, 1st Cavalry Veteran of Ia Drang (Full Interview)

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    1. https://youtu.be/v4Tnz-3in5s?t=1470

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  14. Just watched this again I think we should stop judging it as to weather it is accurate but about the lives that were lost war is hell as they say it shows that people are willing to give their lives for someone or what they believe God Bless Them all

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Please fell free to comment. I would love to hear what you think and will respond.