View Full Version : war films
Drone_pilot
24-06-04, 12:09
Given that there are so many film's about Vietnam, as Vet's of that conflict which in your opinion comes close to telling it as it was, and why.
Drone_pilot
24-06-04, 14:48
Forrest Gump
lolb; lolb; lolb; Life is like a box of chocolates
What a brilliant film, Lt. Dan (Gary Sinese) is way and above the best supporting actor in that film, apart from the lady who's name I can't remember! :oops:
We were soldiers once and young. Except for the last assault scene that's the way it was.
Agreed. The only problem I have with We Were Soldiers is the helicopter gunship. If it was such a pee bringer why wasn't it used sooner? I know that the real helicopter pilot was a techncal advisor on the film, I think I need to read more about the battle and connect it with the movie.
Here is a brief rundown of what I remember about why so many of them stink.
"Casualties of War" - take one real incident and present it like it was the norm, no stereotypes here. Nice helicopter gunships, though. Those teeth look familiar. No navy type would bring a swift boat up that small a waterway unless it was Kerrey looking for another purple heart.
"Born on the Fourth of July" Stereotypes.
"Coming Home" Stereotypes.
"Green Berets" Was this about Vietnam? I thought for sure some of those extras had come straight from the "Custer's Last Stand" set.
"Platoon" I was into it until the sergeant stands up and yells "Quiet down there!" Which idiot is giving away the position?
Help me out here, guys.
The flingwing kid
Bill Farnie
26-06-04, 03:41
Hamburger Hill …….. Although it had some good moments showing events and other things that were true, like the friendly fire incidents which were so bad that Lieutenant Colonel Honeycutt, who commanded the 3/187th, called in his artillery liaison officer and gave him a message to get back to the division staff. "I want you to make sure that everybody gets this. And I mean the artillery people and the gunship pilots and the liaison officers . . everybody. I don't want any more ARA out here if they can't shoot the enemy instead of us. I'm tired of taking more casualties from friendlies than from the enemy. The next goddamn sonofabitch who comes out here and shoots us up, we're gonna shoot his fuckin' ass down. And that's final. Now you go back and tell 'em that."
Most of the movie was Hollywood BS. They had the 3/187th riding in trucks into the Ashau Valley. Didn't happen. Couldn't have happened. There wasn't a passable road into the Ashau at the time. They CA'ed into the valley with us, the 1/506 and also the 2/506. And the scene where they were in some boom-boom bar. Frisco, if you read this, maybe you can tell me if I'm right, that ALL cities, towns and villes were off limits to the 101st. All, except for Phuoc Vinh when the 3rd Brigade was down south. Up in I Corp, you couldn't go anywhere on a pass. Also it made one to believe that the 3/187th took the hill all by themselves. Also not true. Nuff about it.
Frisco-Kid
27-06-04, 10:21
Bill
That's pretty much a true story. For my year with the 101st, I pretty much lived like a dog. In fact, I sometimes saw scout dogs living better than me. Most of our time was spent in Indian Country. We were almost never given any stand down time in a ville, town or city. I say "almost" because there was a couple of exceptions. Our Christmas '66 stand down was just outside of Kontum City in II Corps in the Central Highlands. I did have an opportunity to go into town for a little I&I :mrgreen: . The stand down was at an ARVN Airborne or Ranger base camp and, for the most part, was considered secure. The stand down was about a week. It was the longest one we had had since I joined them 6mos. earlier. They were probably glad to see us leave. One of our LRRPs got in a beef with some ARVNs in a bar and shot up 3 of them, killing one.
The other time was when we were pulled back to Phan Rang the end of JAN67 to get re-equipped. There was a Sin City just outside the gate. It was about a 2 block long main drag with bars and cat houses on each side of the street. Made it in there a couple of times with buddies to have a little down time, not necessarily authorized. Then, for me personally, I had my 2 weeks spent in Saigon where I had some SERIOUS I&I time. These were the only times that I was able to spend a little free time drinking on the local economy and spend some intimate time with the local ladies.
I had heard stories about an authorized 3 day in-country R&R. If I remember right, it was spent at Vung Tau on the coast at the mouth of the Saigon River. I NEVER met one grunt that ever got this. It must have been a perk for the REMFs. I guess the Marines had something similar at China Beach in Danang.
When I returned with the 82nd and ended up in I Corps, it was like you.....NEVER made it into a town. Later, when I was put on convoy security out of Cam Rahn, I convoyed to a couple of places that had Sin Cities nearby. Cam Rahn, which was HUGE, had one within it's perimeter. Ban Me Thuot was another one that had a "Strip" nearby. Yeah, I liked being a REMF ALOT more than being a grunt.
"We Were Soldiers" is probably the only really well made movie about VN.Yeah, some minor lapses concerning choppers an bayonets.Wish they'd left in the scenes they took out.
Bombardier
27-06-04, 22:39
Oh yes, We were soldiers was indeed a fantastic film. I obviously did not Know Lt Col Hal Moore but I think he would have been very very pleased with the way in which Mel gibson played him.
Mel Gibson like so many US actors is a fine actor and ranks in my top ten alongside others such as Clint Eastwood, John Wayne, Nicholas Cage. Oh and so many others :mrgreen:
Drone_pilot
27-06-04, 23:01
Mel Gibson like so many US actors he's an Aussie :lol:
Bombardier
27-06-04, 23:03
Oops your right you know! :oops: :roll:
Drone_pilot
27-06-04, 23:13
LOL :D
Frisco-Kid
28-06-04, 03:42
Mel Gibson
Actually, he was a Yank before he was an Aussie. He was born in Peekskill, NY, in '56. He's #6 out of 11 kids. His Dad was a railroad brakeman. His Mom is the Aussie of the family. His Dad moved the family to Mom's homeland in the mid '60s when it looked like one of the older sons was going to be drafted, possibly being sent to Vietnam. Always found his taking the role of Hal Moore interesting, given his family's feelings about the Vietnam War back in The Day.
Personally, I don't care one way or the other. I've always thought him a gifted actor and a genuinely nice guy.
You guys got somethin against Aussies?? :evil:
Drone_pilot
27-09-04, 17:25
nothing at all mate. :)
Bombardier
27-09-04, 17:43
Only that you live in a nicer place than me :mrgreen:
Drone_pilot
27-09-04, 20:18
Hay Bombardier there's less wild animals to. :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
Too right, i can at least shoot em without worryin about gettin myself mauled, although some females seem to be tryin to even that out
On the Aussie theme & movies, has anyone seen 'The Odd Angry Shot', about Australian SAS in Vietnam? It's always been one of my favourites and seems to me that for its time (1979), it was a realistic portrayal of behind-the-lines operations. camo;
My favoite was Siege of Firebase Gloria,
I have a friend who was at Hamburger Hill I will have to ask him, I was just across the Highway from him on Mutter's ridge. Lema 3/3 and India 3/3 in '69.
But all of them are from the view of Hollywood, IMHO any connection to a hollywood movie and reality is completely a accident.
They advertised that We were Soldiers was the first to treat Viet-Cong and Bac Biet well, Siege of firebase gloria did a better job and was made way before that movie. But I guess the reviewer. khong tieng biet...... There The VC regulars Co and young lt had some funny discussions.
We were soldier was a good movie. Problem is being there, you know who looks like what. I worked with Kit Carson scouts, and part of the job was telling by the looks of a person where they were from, South, North, Chinese, etc.
I have a friend who near me was a medic then.
On the Aussie theme & movies, has anyone seen 'The Odd Angry Shot', about Australian SAS in Vietnam? It's always been one of my favourites and seems to me that for its time (1979), it was a realistic portrayal of behind-the-lines operations. camo;
There suppose to be a very good Aussie movie out, not available in the States, Firebase..... Something...
REFERENCE TO HOLLIS,
One more observation from me. The correct spelling in the Marine Corps is
Lima company, not Lema. You also misspelled this in your Bio.
Spelling is not my forte'. I am USMC RETIRED, I am medically retired, 100% P = peminent & T= total disable.
You can google Mutter's ridge, it was west of Khe Sahn, sort of the cap going into the Ashau.
Looks sometimes, also dialect, features help
Kit Carson we had Three, Hoi, Trum and Ding. My counter part was Hoi. Hoi and Ding were find people.
I was 0353 and 0311 in RVN.
I was in RV in 1969, famous Marines, Captain Krulick of Lima Company.... Became CMC, a Boot Lt in Kilo, Lt North as in Oliver North..... Never realise North was there just another Lt.
My Co was Capt. Krulick when I was in Lima, then Captain Trott when I was in India.
I live in Oregon Now, I am retired and kind of old
edited, My avatar is 0353.
um tieng biet?
Semper Fi
H.
Bill Farnie
17-07-06, 11:54
Hey Hollis,
What's your friends name who was on Hamburger Hill? I was there, maybe I know him. What unit was he with, company, battalion and regiment. What highway are you talking about?
Hey Hollis,
What's your friends name who was on Hamburger Hill? I was there, maybe I know him. What unit was he with, company, battalion and regiment. What highway are you talking about?
The Highway is 9, I believe, runs east to west from Dong ha (approximate) to Khe Sahn or pass that. My understanding Hamburder Hill was south and slightly west of were our TAR was.
I'll have to ask him, I know him as Abe, he is a big guy. He is not doing very well, has leasion/tumors form AO (he is 100% P&T also). I wish I had a better memory, we talk over Telephone or internet for some time. I need to send him a email, and see how he is doing. He has told me that, but I never remember that stuff.
I will email him right away, and let you know the responce.
Bill Farnie
21-07-06, 03:05
Hey Hollis,
Heard from Abe yet???????????
Hey Hollis,
Heard from Abe yet???????????
Bill I have not, I know he has been having a lot of problems with A/O, he is 100 P%T too. He could be on trip. I will send him another email, if I don't hear from him in a day or two.
H.
Hey Hollis,
Heard from Abe yet???????????
Bill, I sent him another email, If I get nothing, I will give him a call.
H.
Eagledriver
21-07-06, 09:43
Bill, I've got the movie "Hamburger Hill" on DVD. I don't know which one you've got but in mine they did a CA and not by truck. My movie is vintage 1987.
Eagledriver
21-07-06, 09:49
Andy, FYI. General Moore(Ret.) was one of the advisors for the movie. If you haven't already, get the DVD. It has the edited scenes in the special section. Hal Moore and his wife Julie(Who has since passed away) are in the chapel scene. By the way, Julie Moore is buried at Fort Benning beside Sgt. Jack Gell, one of the many casualties of the Ia Drang Campaign.
Hey Hollis,
Heard from Abe yet???????????
I called him, and he said your name sounds familiar, his last name was Christensen, AKA Crazy Swede. He was in the 3/5 Cav, Blacknights.
He told me he was the first person to drive a APC into the Ashau Valley, They tried to drive the APC up hamburger hill, but could not do it. They stayed back and supported the infantry.
Sorry for the delay, He has been having a bunch of health problems.
H.
Bill Farnie
23-07-06, 23:56
I doubt if he knows me. I don't know anyone from the 3/5 Cav., although they were in the A Shau with us and are cited in the PUC for Dong Ap Bia. What role they played I have no idea because I only saw them at FSB Currahee. They actually could have had nothing to do with the taking of the hills for some of the units cited on the PUC are a joke and only played a supporting role. Armor didn't get to go up Hill 937 until well after it was taken. They went up, got mortared and left. I guess when he says he was on Hamburger Hill it must have been then.
Now, Hamburger Hill and your being across a highway on Mutters Ridge from Abe couldn't have happened. QL-9 passes nowhere near the A Shau Valley. In fact, it isn't even in the same province. You say Mutters Ridge was west of Khe Sahn, well that's not true. Mutters Ridge was well east of Khe Sahn, northeast actually, and north of The Rockpile. So what's the story Hollis?
Oh yea, almost forgot. I see you list two MOS's. Which one was your primary MOS?
[quote=Bill Farnie]I doubt if he knows me. I don't know anyone from the 3/5 Cav., although they were in the A Shau with us and are cited in the PUC for Dong Ap Bia. What role they played I have no idea because I only saw them at FSB Currahee. They actually could have had nothing to do with the taking of the hills for some of the units cited on the PUC are a joke and only played a supporting role. Armor didn't get to go up Hill 937 until well after it was taken. They went up, got mortared and left. I guess when he says he was on Hamburger Hill it must have been then.
Now, Hamburger Hill and your being across a highway on Mutters Ridge from Abe couldn't have happened. QL-9 passes nowhere near the A Shau Valley. In fact, it isn't even in the same province. You say Mutters Ridge was west of Khe Sahn, well that's not true. Mutters Ridge was well east of Khe Sahn, northeast actually, and north of The Rockpile. So what's the story Hollis?
I am not bothering with a responce, I deleted what I type. Your right about Khe Sahn. My error.
Bill Farnie
24-07-06, 02:04
I'm not surprised at all.
I'm not surprised at all.
just be sure you sweep under you bed at night, um moui mo ang
Bill Farnie
24-07-06, 03:11
I'll sleep just fine gia
Lets go over a few things
First you say you have a friend who was on Hamburger Hill, turns out he wasn’t, and you claim that you were across the highway from him on Mutters Ridge, but you couldn’t have been. You misspelled Lima twice, but you claim that spelling isn’t your forte` but strangely, for someone who’s a crummy speller you knew enough to include the ` in forte. Back to the word Lima though, anyone who was in the Corp and even more then that, anyone who was in Vietnam knows it’s not spelt Lema and would never write it as such. Lima was such a big part of a military person’s vocabulary that it would be very hard to forget the spelling. You referred to a Kit Carson Scout as a counterpart. Kit Carson Scouts were not counterparts and would never be called by that name.
You didn’t answer my question about what was your primary MOS when you went to RVN. What was the condition that made the Corp medically retire you?
I’m not impressed with your trying to write in Vietnamese, for anyone can just use an on line translator.
So what's the story Hollis?
Hollis..Ong tich nuoc mam khong? Ong yeu ong, ba o co?
Hollis..Ong tich nuoc mam khong? Ong yeu ong, ba o co?
Toi tieng titi biet, zin loi. Toi ba, son va con? Nuoc mam nhi? Nguyen chat ca com tuoi? Thom ngon bo tihn khet? Cai do nuoc mam?
John A Silkstone
24-07-06, 13:45
Gentlemen, gentlemen. Lets not get into a slinging match, at the end of the day it does no one any good
Below are two paragraph taken from my book of anecdotes. Please read and take them to heart.
Silky
In telling, many details are left out or taken for granted. The tales themselves are honed on the storytellers’ stone to suit the audience.
Items or events are deleted or added to enhance the tale in its best light. In reality, after many recitations by others and myself. The truth is often a million miles away from the actual facts.
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