" We Were Soldiers" IA DRANG Battle in Viet Nam

Icon Productions and the book ", We Were Soldiers Once.. and Young" | Lt. Col. Hal Moore

[Mudboy Slim]

De nada, mi amiga...MUD

[Snow Bunny]

Thank you for responding. This is only my second thread I ever did so I was a tiny bit nervous to make it right to honor those that served in Viet Nam , had read the book and experienced the true bravery that you and others have.

Welcome Home. And thank you again.

[Swede Girl]

I cannot thank you enough for posting this. It is still a miracle to me that this movie is being made. I only hope that it can teach those who have never understood what went on during this time.

As the daughter of a retired Army officer, I lived right outside of Ft. Benning, Georgia at this time. (For those who know the terrain, yes, it was Colunbus.) When Johnson made the decision to strengthen the troops in VN in June or July of 1965, both Ft. Benning and Columbus became on big cauldron of activity. Families had to prepare, in short notice, for the departures of thousands of men. Nametags and insignia had to be changed to Army green. They ran out of green dye and there was not a box to be found in the vicinity.

The men (and boys)were shipped over in boats in August and that was the beginning of the big build-up. The Ia Drang battle took place in November, so most of these men had been there just 3 months.

I can tell you that it hit Ft. Benning and Columbus hard. At this time, we had no idea that the war would be as bloody or lengthy as it turned out to be. I believe that the initial feeling was that it was just going to be a quick police-type action. I still have the Columbus papers detailing the battle as it went on.

The rest of the country was mostly oblivious at this time. But, for all of us in the Ft. Benning area, it was earth shattering. Almost everyone knew of a family that it affected.

So, my perspective is certainly not the same as the soldiers who lived this, but I have always felt that I lived it on a certain level. This one Ia Drang battle represented a pivotal time in my life and I have never forgotten it.

I knew about Col. Moore and Joe Galloway and many of the others at that time. This book was truly a masterpiece. I am just praying that the movie can teach the general public what some of us have known all along. Good men went off to do a good job on behalf of duty and freedom....and they sacrificed so very much.

Joe Galloway said it so well that Hollywood got it wrong every time. I say that is true, but they also got it wrong on purpose. I think this movie will get it right.....on purpose!

[Lent]

Looks good. Looking forward to the movie although it sounds like a book I'm going to get.

[Snow Bunny]

Yes please read the book for sure. The film will mean even more I am sure if you do.

ALOHA RONNIE is the one that told me about the book and the battle.

Thank you Fred Mertz so much for responding.

[PrivateIdaho]

WeWereSoldiersFilm.com has a Message Board discussing the film. Looks like a pretty active discussion group.

They're saying the movie release has been pushed back to Memorial Day 2002... dang... I was all hyped up for seeing it in December.

[Snow Bunny]

Thank you for responding my friend. The Wall is hard to be sure. The first time I went to The Wall, I went with several Viet Nam Vets that I had been writing to and their wives. After we left there was a prayerful silence among all of us for several hours. No one could speak, and the tears flowed, and the hugs were many.

Thank you again.

[Snow Bunny]

Thank you so much for the image you posted. I really appreciate it. And thank you for responding to the thread.

[Swede Girl]

Thanks for posting Galloway's speech at the VHPA reunion and dinner in DC! My hubby and I were there! He was with C Troop 1/9 CAV '69-'70...Huey lift pilot.

That entire experience was too much for words. When Galloway spoke at the wall there was not a sound to be heard.....and then the sound of the helicopters coming in from a distance gave chills to everyone. I taped the speech and the flyover and am so glad I did. A member of our group also made a tape of the weekend.

Joe Galloway's speech at the dinner was also touching. He was funny when he said that all of the old pilots were probably too drunk or too deaf to listen so he might as well talk to the ladies.

Did you march in the 4th of July parade? If so, you know the reception from the crowd. We had non-stop cheers and applause from the crowd all the way down Constitution Avenue as we marched (wives, too) behind the banner of "Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association."

Again thanks for posting this! I am glad you were able to be at that incredible reunion. What unit were you with and when?

[ALOHA RONNIE]

GARRY OWEN (U.S. 7th Air Cavalry Salute)

...4-More ..please see my Bookmarked Freerepublic Thread titled =

'WE WERE SOLDIERS ONCE...& YOUNG...4-FREEDOM'

...4-Purchasing the Book go to our U.S. 7th Air Cavalry IA DRANG-1965 website = www.lzxray.com ..

...4-More on ..'WE WERE SOLDIERS'..The Movie .. go to.. www.WeWereSoldiersFILM.com ..especially the Movie Forum...

...Snow Bunny,I am so deeply touched by your Loving Thread in Honor of the Heroism of Others that I witnessed in the -Valley of Death- that was IA DRANG-1965. You have honored them greatly.

Signed:..ALOHA RONNIE,Vet/Battle of IA DRANG-1965 ...S-1 Personnel Clerk, IA DRANG Landing Zone Falcon... ...I will NEVER FORGET typing up Lt. Col. HAL G. MOORE's (MEL GIBSON) -Letters of Condolances- to the Families and Love Ones of our Young Hero Soldiers who were killed or wounded there, some of whom I personally carried from helicopter to helicopter in the stench of our Battle.

GARRY OWEN (U.S. 7th Air Cavalry Salute)

[Snow Bunny]

Thank you so much for responding to the thread. I am glad you also viited my profile page. I wanted to make it to honor the Viet Nam vets and to thank them all.

Thanks again so much.

[Poohbah]

Bump for the brave lads of the 1st Cav.

Instead of spa, we'll drink brown ale
And pay the reckoning on the nail;
No man for debt shall go to jail
From Garryowen in glory.

[Snow Bunny]

Thank you so much for the link. I really appreciate it so much. How very kind of you.

[Snow Bunny]

Hi there Cagey, thank you so much for responding. Hope you have a wonderful day and weekend my friend.

[stumpy]

While the reception most of us got when we got home was not as pleasent as what we had imagined, I need to set the record straight. Shortly before getting out of the service, Regimental Landing Team 26 U.S.M.C. rotated back to the states on troopships to San Diego, Ca. My Battalion Commander realized some of us had served with RLT 26 when we were overseas, and sent those of us who had once been part of RLT 26 to San Diego, and the City of San Diego put on a ticker tape parade for us. I had been back in the "real world" for a year, and full of bitternes for the things said to me on my return, but that day, the people of San Diego took a great deal of the bitterness away. (in fact, I'm crying now remembering the emotions I had that day). Thanks Snow Bunny for reminding me of a time I should never forget.

[Snow Bunny]

The Thin Man, thank you so much for responding to the thread. And if you want further information about the book ALOHA RONNIE was the one that told me about it. He served there and knows this battle very well.He was very helpful to me. p> Thank you again so much , I am so glad you you came to the thread.

[PrivateIdaho]

"As the daughter of a retired Army officer, I lived right outside of Ft. Benning, Georgia at this time...
I think this movie will get it right....."

From what I've heard about this movie, it will not only portray the heroism and valor of the soldiers, but will also focus on the courage and hardships of the families at home in Ft. Benning.

[Snow Bunny]

Thank you Redrock so much.

I just had to do this thread. To thank ALOHA RONNIE for his service and so many others.

[onedoug]

You just keep on servin'.

Great post. Thanks.

And thanks for the rest of our lives....

[patent]

Bump and ping.