We Were Soldiers (VHS, 2002)

Interesting issues but needed further research on the subject. Bought this video seeking information on specific subject matter and was satisfied to find enough to begin a more indepth search...

very rare hard to aquire vhs closed captioned w/dolby version video cassette tape in its orig sleeve w/artwork! true story covers the vietnam war!! the 1st aircav! excellent movie!! review by used1goods a half.com and ebay seller and buyer

First the films is in VHS format which is what I needed. I bought it at the request of a friend who isn't computer savvy but wanted to have the film if it didn't cost too much. I found it used in good condition on eBay for a reasonable price so I bought it.

The film is about the US Air Cavalry in Viet Nam - helicopter-borne soldiers. The tactic had not been used before - this battalion was the test group. After training intensely they are sent to Viet Nam. - in 1965. They are ordered to proceed to the Ia Drang Valley where enemy activity has been noted. They fly in and set up a perimeter and then are almost immediately attacked by North Vietnamese regulars. The Americans are badly outnumbered but fight valiantly. The situation rapidly becomes critical and the battalion commander calls in artillery and air strikes almost on top of his men. The American soldiers fight bravely as do the North Vietnamese. After 2 days of ferocious fighting, some of it almost hand to hand the North Vietnamese withdraw with heavy losses. The Americans have losses too but are considered to have won. Mel Gibson is the battalion commander - he says he will be the first one in in any operation and the last one out and that he won't leave anyone behind - he is tough, brave, smart, etc. - everything good we want to see in our army. Sam Elliott is the sergeant-major - the non-com who runs the battalion - he is great as the toughtest SOB you are ever going to run across in life - when the fighting gets close he pulls out his .45 and blazes away at the enemy. The film is mostly a single battle that goes on and on - horrifically. US and North Vietnamese soldiers get shot, blown-up, wounded and killed in terrible fashion. All fight braveley on both sides. In the end the Americans get on their helicopters and return to their base - the North Vietnames withdraw but their commander says that they will fight the Americans again and eventually they will leave the country.

The film does not glorify war. It does show US soldiers in a good light - the battalion commander, the sergeant-major, the helicopter pilot flying out the wounded. The situation is bad, as bad as it can get - the battalion was put into it by rear-echelon officers in Saigon who are clueless and worse. When it appears that the North Vietnamese will overrun the battalion the commander in Saigon (Westmoreland?) orders the battalion commander to get on a helicopter and get out - but he refuses because he wont't leave his men. The North Vietnames are also portrayed positively - it is their country, the Americans are just the latest in a string of foreign invaders they must drive out.