"We Were Soldiers.." IA Drang Battle THREAD II

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

[Snow Bunny]

With Mel Gibson as Lt. Col. Hal Moore

PRODUCERS ; Mel Gibson , Bruce Davey , Randall Wallace
Director : Randall Wallace
Screenplay : Randall Wallace

Release Date: Summer 2002 or earlier
Australian Release: Early 2002 (source: THR, 8/16/01)
Distributor: Paramount Pictures (picked up out of turnaround from Revolution Studios)
Production Companies: Icon Productions (Mel Gibson), The Wheelhouse (Randall Wallace)

Cast overview:
Mel Gibson .... Lt. Col. Hal Moore
Greg Kinnear .... Maj. Bruce 'Snakeshit' Crandall
Madeleine Stowe .... Julie Moore
Sam Elliott .... Sgt-Maj. Basil Plumley
Chris Klein .... Lt. Jack Geoghegan
Josh Daugherty .... Ouelette
Barry Pepper .... Joe Galloway
Keri Russell .... Barbara Geoghegan
Joshua McLaurin .... Greg Moore
Edwin Morrow .... Godboldt
Mike White (IV) .... SFC Haffner
Mark McCracken .... Ed "Too Tall" Freeman
Jsu Garcia .... Capt. Nadal
Tim Abell .... Army Intel Officer
Vincent Angell .... Doc Carrara
Robert Bagnell .... Charlie Hastings
Dan Beene .... Cab Driver
Luke Benward .... David Moore
Marc Blucas .... Lt. Herrick
Sean Bunch .... Trooper #4
Brian Carpenter (I) .... Robert McNamara
Doug C. Cook .... Capt. Ray Lefebvre
Alan Dale (III) .... Westmoreland
Don Duong .... Ahn
Cliff Fleming .... Mills
Brendan Ford .... Jump Coordinator
Michael Giordani .... French Lt.
Clark Gregg .... Capt. Metsker
Jim Grimshaw .... Gen. Kinnard
Jon Hamm .... Capt. Dillon
Desmond Harrington .... Beck
Blake Heron .... Bungum
Joseph Hieu .... NVA Major
Vien Hong .... Mr. Nik
Nicholas Hosking .... French Captain
Ryan Hurst .... Sgt. Savage
Jonathan Parks Jordan .... White Pvt.
Derrell Keith Lester .... Black Pvt.
Simbi Khali .... Alma Givens
Shepard Koster .... Reporter #1
Matthew Lang .... Lt. John Arrington
Maia Lien .... Army Wife
Kate Lombardi .... Reporter #2
Erik MacArthur .... Adams
Sloane Momsen .... Cecile Moore
Taylor Momsen .... Little Julie Moore
Steven Nelson .... Charlie Lose Randy Oglesby .... Lt. Col. List Jay Powell .... Sergeant
Lee Reynolds (III) .... Chopper Crew
John Paul Rice .... Pvt. John Perry
Daniel Roebuck .... Medivac C.O.
Forry Smith .... Sgt. Palmer
Patrick St. Esprit .... General #2
Keith Szarabajka .... Diplomatic Spook
Brian Tee .... Nakayama
Keni Thomas .... Sergeant
Michael Tomlinson (IV) .... Col. Brown
Billinjer C. Tran .... Viet Minh St.
Joseph Tran .... NVA Prisoner
Dylan Walsh .... Capt. Edwards
Devon Werkheiser .... Steve Moore
Bellamy Young .... Cathy Metsker

Based upon: The book, We Were Soldiers Once.. and Young: Ia Drang: The Battle That Changed the War in Vietnam,
by Lt. General Harold G. Moore (Ret.) and Joseph L. Galloway, about the battle of Ia Drang, which lasted over a month, from October 23rd to November 26th, 1965.

Title Notes: When this was first announced, it was with the title, Lost Patrol, but it's since changed to match the title of the book upon which it's based. (5/21/01) The Wall Street Journal mentioned this last week as just We Were Soldiers, but that hasn't been confirmed by Paramount yet. (6/4/01) Variety reports today that this project is currently untitled altogether. (7/13/01) The title has been confirmed as We Were Soldiers.

Premise: This is the true story of 450 U.S. soldiers, early in the Vietnam War, who found themselves surrounded by 2,000 North Vietnamese regulars in the Ia Drang Valley, in what became the first major battle of the extended conflict. The story will focus on Lt. Colonel Harold Moore (Gibson), commander of the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, and Joseph Galloway, a reporter.
Filming: Fort Benning, Georgia (where the soldiers were based). Filming of the Vietnam battle scenes was done at Camp Roberts and Fort Hunter Liggett in California. Filming wrapped by early July.
Official Photography Site: WeWereSoldiers.net
Official Cavalry Site: US7thCavlary.com
Official Director Site: TheWheelhouse.net
Official Book Site: LZXRay.com

Interview of Randall Wallace was done by John Chadwell who after attending USC's cinema school, John served with the U.S. Navy' elite Combat Camera Group, writing and producing documentaries and news stories, as well as top secret projects with Navy SEALS.

Cast Training Note: Director Randall Wallace

RW: My movie is based on the book "We Were Soldiers Once and Young." The title of the movie will be something else like "The Lost Patrol." It is an incredible book. Probably the greatest book on infantry combat ever written. It is a collection of personal experiences of the soldiers who fought [in Vietnam]. It is a story about incredible leadership and the men who went and fought knowing that they would probably never get out alive. Everyone of them went into battle because their leader would never have left them and they wouldn't leave him. In the end, they did not fight for the flag, the ideas of patriotism, mom and apple pie. They fought and died for each other. That's a story America needs to know about Vietnam. It's never been told in that way. I bought the movie rights to the book from the authors who are both absolute heroes. General Harold Moore and Joseph Galloway who is the only journalist in the actual battle. He flew into the battle when it was raging and ended up with a rifle in his hands, shooting and killing the enemy.
I've been to the Vietnam wall with survivors of the battle on the 30th anniversary of their fight. I've been to Ranger training at Ft. Benning, Georgia. I crawled through the mud and got my butt severely kicked and I'm going to ask a lot of the actors who play these roles to go through the training.

JC: Having served three tours, I'll certainly be looking forward to seeing this film. Thank you.

More than 600 California Army and Air Guardsmen will have supporting roles in the Vietnam era movie, We Were Soldiers Once and Young.
Produced by Icon Productions and Paramount Pictures, movie producers sought Department of Defense and California National Guard support for the movie. In addition to renting an assault vehicle land bridge, hueys, and trucks, producers are paying more than 600 soldiers and airmen to play extras.

The Guardsmen recreate a battle known as the “Valley of Death” in Vietnam. The producers filmed the scene at Ft. Hunter Liggett April 1-June 1, 2001.

Surrounded by more than 2000 North Vietnamese Army soldiers, the movie portrays a force led by Lt. Col. Hal Moore (played my Mel Gibson) that recreates one of the most savage battles in U.S. history. The extras reenacted the uncommon valor, loyalty, and love that the young men displayed that day while fighting in a small clearing near a landing zone.

Based on a novel written by Lt. Gen. Harold G. Moore (Ret.) and Joseph L. Galloway, the movie is a tribute to the bravery and nobility of the men that fought at the battle. Casting Director Christopher Gray said that more than 600 soldiers rotated in at various times during the two-month filming scene. Gray said that producers also looked for people to play ground crews for the Army Aviation scene and for a motor platoon.

The Department of Defense sanctioned the movie and producers have contracted the services and equipment from the California National Guard for this film. Department of Defense Instruction 5410.16 allows military personnel in “an off-duty, non-official status” to accept jobs as actors, extras, etc., “provided there is no conflict with any existing service regulation. Contractual arrangements are solely between those individuals and the production company; however, the military encourages the producers to ensure payment is consistent with current industry standards.”

Entertainment Interview of Mel Gibson about the film….

"Many of them sacrificed themselves..."
April 05, 2001

ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT: You actually had to go through boot camp for this, right?
MEL GIBSON: Yeah, but it wasn't real boot camp, it was like celebrity sort of wimp boot camp. What the real Rangers go through is pretty heavy. They put them through sheer misery.
ET: What was the hardest part?
MEL: Oh, for an old 45-year-old like me, it was trying to keep up with the 24-year-olds.
ET: I would think the wisdom and experience would make a difference.
MEL: No, it doesn't do much for your lungs or limbs. But, it was fun. The effect that it had was that it bonded us a little, because we sort of hung out and accomplished a little something together.
ET: Which of the guys that you have with you in boot camp would you most want to go into battle with?
MEL: The ones with the most jokes. No, they're all good kids. They're great.
ET: THIS IS SUCH AN INTENSE STORY.
MEL: ABSOLUTELY,IT HAS NEEDED TO BE TOLD FOR AWHILE.
. There's a paragraph in JOE GALLOWAY's book, where this story comes from. It says, "Hollywood got it wrong every time. They were sharpening their twisted political knives on the bones of our dead brothers." That's the aspect that's been overlooked. It's the truth. There's some truth in some of those other films, but they tended to focus on the negative, and not show the other side. Not that there's anything positive about war, I don't think there is, and whether you agree with that conflict or not, and I don't know that I do, it doesn't change the fact that men had to go and deal with it. Many of them sacrificed themselves.
ET: You've gotten to meet Hal Moore, the character you're playing.
MEL: Yeah, I've spent a fair amount of time with him -- a tremendous and extraordinary man. You read the book and you hear about his exploits, and it's phenomenal what he was able to achieve. He was undermanned and outnumbered and he prevailed. But, to meet him, he's more extraordinary than what you would imagine. But there's a simplicity and earnestness, and he's just an ordinary guy, you know. You think he's going to be some big warhorse, and he is a warrior, but he's just a regular family guy.
ET: Do you find that it's a greater responsibility playing a role when the person is standing right there while you're doing a scene?
MEL: Yeah, it doesn't make me edgy or nervous or anything. I kind of feel like I hooked up with him. I kind of know fundamentally what I need to know. I'm sure I don't know everything, and he wasn't going to reveal everything. He doesn't need to; I think I can sort of fill in the blanks a little bit. I think I'm a human being and capable of understanding. Whether I'd be capable of what he did, I have no idea, I will never know, I hope. But I can certainly imagine what that's like.
ET: Can you give us a 15-minute synopsis of what this movie is about?
MEL: There was a new kind of warfare. They had choppers; this was air cavalry which had never been tried before. It was revolutionary, and it was the first major battle of the Vietnam war, in the Ia Drang Valley. They went in, and the landing zone wasn't big enough to accommodate all the choppers. They were in the foot of the mountain in the Ia Drang Valley and they were vastly outnumbered by a big force. They were uniformed and weaponed up and AK-47ed out and they were just way outnumbered. They had just one agenda -- attack and take them out.

BATTLE PLAN FOR THE FILM…….

LETTER FROM RANDALL WALLACE…….
7 February 2001

To all men who fought in the Ia Drang Valley, November 1965, and their families.

Gentlemen,
As many of you have already heard, we are preparing to make a film version of Hal Moore and Joe Galloway's book WE WERE SOLDIERS ONCE...AND YOUNG.

I am the writer of the screenplay for the film, and also the director. Mel Gibson is set to play the lead role as Lt. Col. Moore, and Mel's company, Icon, and mine, The Wheelhouse, are producing the film, in association with Paramount Pictures.

As you can imagine, this is an enormously ambitious undertaking. As the prologue of Hal and Joe's landmark book states, "Hollywood has gotten the story of the Vietnam veteran wrong every damn time, whetting the knives of twisted politics on the bones of our dead brothers."

Well this time we mean to get it right.

Whether we achieve that goal will be judged by many people: a worldwide audience; a collection of film critics; our families and friends; but most of all we will be judged by you whose lives were so personally intertwined with the events of the Ia Drang Valley.

For whatever success we achieve, there will be many people to thank; but blame for however we fall short will rest on my shoulders since I'm the director of the film and the one who first asked Hal and Joe to let me make this movie. I accept this responsibility; I welcome it; I'm deeply proud of their trust, and I hope to earn yours.

Therefore, I want to be up front with all of you. This film is not a documentary. The story of what happened in the Ia Drang Valley in 1965 has been documented in many ways already. What we are making now is a dramatization that sets out to do what those other ways of telling your story could not: to capture the subjective experience of that war. It is not meant to tell the story of each individual, or to capture the same kind of truth a documentary would.

This is not to say that any of us making the film are unconcerned with accuracy. Some of the finest film making talents in the world are involved with this production, and we are going to great length to capture the real experiences of you and your buddies and loved ones. The main difference in our approach and that of other media is that in making feature films, we are out to communicate on an emotional level, to communicate emotional truth. Most stories of Vietnam emphasize tragic dimensions, dimensions which are true. But there is more truth than just the tragedy, and this story celebrates the truth of love, loyalty, and heroism.

To tell the story of all, I must leave out the details of some. The book documents the heroism of many; the movie will focus on a few particular characters, and even those characters will be combinations of traits and actions that existed among many characters.

An example of this is the fact that the movie will focus on LZ X-Ray. The events of LZ Albany, its heroism and its tragedy, are alluded to, but are not the focus of the narrative of this movie. And even within the telling of the events of LZ X-Ray, the heroic acts of so many of you cannot be specifically detailed.

This is not because any of us lack reverence for your courage, or have any desire whatsoever to celebrate some and ignore others. It is simply the only effective way, in my judgment, to make a film that will communicate clearly and most powerfully the greater message that those who fought in Vietnam, and those who fought the emotional wars at home by loving and longing and grieving for those who fought, were heroes.

So that is our goal. From you who have already given so much, I ask more: I ask for your understanding, your faith, and your prayers.

And if you feel over-looked or slighted because your name or your particular acts of heroism are not specifically portrayed in this film, I ask your forgiveness.

But I will take what comes. I am inspired by your example, by you who gave your fullest measure of courage and commitment and have lived by the light of your own example.

I salute you.
Best regards,

Randall Wallace

The photograph to the right pictures battalion group command just before the battle of X-Ray, the battle in which Captain Metsker lost his life. Pictured, standing from left to right are: Basil Plumley, Matt Dillon, Hal Moore (author of the book), and Tom Metsker. Kneeling from left to right are and unidentified trooper and radio operator Bob Ouellette.

Bruce Crandall (CO A/229th Assault Helicopter Company) …….

Lt. Col. Hal Moore……..

[Lexington Green]

I fear that the movie will receive heavy criticism, ala PEARL HARBOR. I also expect 60 MINUTES to feature Ia Drang vets debunking this Hollywood tripe. Too bad. It breaks my heart.

[Snow Bunny]

I always answer pings to me and I am sorry I missed your earlier one, it was not on purpose to not post back to you.

I am sitting here and I do not know what to say,
I want this film to be true to the book so badly.

The book is the best I have ever read about the Viet Nam war.
And I have met thousands of Viet Nam Vets that would as I do want a film made that shows the bravery and truth of our wonderful fighting men (and women too that served ) that went to Viet Nam.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

I first heard BG Burkett talk about his book and the years of research that proved the lies of Hollywood and the left, with their disrespectful and unwarrented scorn and/or pity of our Vietnam Vets. They clearly have trouble understanding the concept of honor, loyalty and true freedom on the left. Reminds me of Nero and Rome. Nero jumped at the chance to blame the Christians for Rome's destruction/ burning - and it worked, for a time. Jesus had been crucified and rose from the dead in their generation and the Christians did not respect Roman authority. For three hundred years Christians were brutally tortured, fed to the lions and crucified in Rome partly because the Romans chose to believe Nero's lies and blame the Christians. Today, no textbook, movie or documentary claims that Christians burned Rome. Early texts survived and proved otherwise. "Stolen Valor" will survive, as will FR, and the truth. Bless you.

Short cut version:

THREAD ONE
Stolen Valor: Shattering the Myths of Vietnam ; Exclusive to NewsMax.com! Excerpts from: Stolen Valor: How the Vietnam Generation Was Robbed of its Heroes and its History by B.G. Burkett and Glenna Whitley.

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Seventy-eight percent were homeowners, paying mortgages on traditional, single-family homes -- and more likely to own a home than their peers who did not go to Vietnam. Eight of every 10 surveyed were married and 90 percent had children.

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About one-third of Vietnam-era veterans entered the military through the draft, far lower than the 67 percent drafted in World War II.

---

The force that fought in Vietnam was America's best educated and most egalitarian in the country's history....In World War II, only 45 percent of the troops had a high school diploma.... Proportionately three times as many college graduates served in Vietnam than in World War II.... 30 percent of the KIAs came from the lowest third of the income range; but 26 percent of the combat deaths came from families earning in the highest third.

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About 5 percent of those who died were Hispanic and 12.5 percent were black -- making both minorities slightly under-represented in relation to their proportion of draft-age males in the national population.

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Except for the last couple of years of the war, drug usage among American troops in Vietnam was lower than for American troops stationed anywhere else in the world, including the United States. Even when the drug use started to rise in 1971 and 1972, almost 90 percent of the men who had ever served in Vietnam had already come and gone. ...drug use was more common among non-veterans than Vietnam-era veterans.

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- Seventy-four percent said they "enjoyed their time in service."
- Eighty percent disagreed with the statement "the United States took unfair advantage of me."
- Fifty-six percent of Vietnam veterans said they benefited in the long run by going to Vietnam. Only 29 percent said they were set back.
- Ninety-one percent of those who served in Vietnam were "glad they served their country."

[Deadeye Division]

bttt

[Snow Bunny]

Thank you so much.

[JudyB1938]

Oops. I posted before I got to the end of Thread I. I'll repost here what I said there, because I want people to realize what a heroine you were/are ...

Snow Bunny, YatchClub thanked you for all of them (Nam Vets). May I thank you for the rest of us who could only be there with our kids in spirit and prayer. You are worth a zillion Jane Fondas and will be foremost in the hearts of those who had the priviledge of seeing you. Thanks again for YOUR service to our country. You did good.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

from Thread I
"Thank you for the thread link. I hope you know how I appreciate it."

Your Welcome my dear friend!

[Poohbah]

Bump for the brave men of the Seventh United States Cavalry Regiment.

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

Garryowen, ALOHA RONNIE.

[Snow Bunny]

You do magic. LOL Thank you so much for the graphics you are posting. I love the size you have them. I have no idea how to do that.

THANK YOU SOOOOOO MUCH!

[Snow Bunny]

I am so glad you post this, thanks again.

[swheats]

[Snow Bunny]

BEAUTIFUL Swheats, thank you so much.

When the movie comes out lets tell our hubby's we want to all go together. I would love that. Let me know.

[swheats]

You betcha bump.

[daisyscarlett]

This is a great thread and you are doing a good job managing it. I look forward to reading the book and seeing the movie.

My cousin's son died in Viet Nam. He was a 20 year old Marine and he was ambushed while on patrol. It had a profound effect on his family and they have never gotten over it. His mother has devoted her time since his death working with Gold Star Mothers at the National level. A very sad time..Many of the Vietnam Vets I know have had sequelae.

The Dept. of Veterans Affairs is improving the benefits to the Viet Nam Vets and hopefully, the new Secretary of the VA, will do even more, as he too is a Viet Nam Vet. It was not so long ago that Viet Nam vets were denied treatment at the VA Hospitals unless they were indigent or service connected. That has changed so all Viet Nam vets that were previously denied care at the VA hospitals should recheck their status. They may be eligible now.

[Semaphore Heathcliffe]

Rescued a 12 man team from Viet Cong - over 40 wounds

Bump for Roy. He passed, in what couldn't have been but a few minutes, into that transcendent place where former mortals go to be Warriors of the Ages. I got the same sense when looking at the headstones on Oosterbeek Cemetery, where the British and Polish paratroopers killed in Market -Garden are buried. They didn't ask to be jumped into an armored division, as Benevidez did in fact write the script on his own. But they spent three days dying in a place that still reeks of their efforts. All I could think about them (and Benevidez and the countless throughout history who made the grade) was, rest easy and content, for we've no need of you today. Today we're fat, dumb, and happy. The likes of you would be wasted on it all.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

...The Enemy is now Within ...The War has Come Home...

...and The Enemy Within has always been CBS News'.. ..'CBS Nightly News'.. with LIBERAL LIARS ~WALTER CRONKITE~ / ~DAY RATHER~.. and CBS News'.. ..'60 Minutes'.. along with the man who produced them all...

...one LIBERAL LIAR DRAGON ~DON HEWITT~...!

Signed:..Vet/1st Battalion U.S. 7th Air Cavalry/IA DRANG-1965 www.lzxray.com / www.WeWereSoldiersFilm.com

[Snow Bunny]

BraVO AND THANK YOU.

[Snow Bunny]

Daisyscarlett thank you for sharing that on here. You are such a dear person . God bless you and your family. I am so very sorry about your cousins son.
I agree about the benefits for the vets and there are many VA hospitals that are total nightmares too. Our Vets should be treated so much better and like the Heroes they are.

Thanks so much. It means a lot to me that you came to the thread and posted and what you shared means a lot to me.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

bump for one of the Viet Nam HEROINES!

[SKYDRIFTER]

Snow Bunny,

Your efforts on this topic are particularly dear to a cause of mine. Without getting off-topic, let it suffice to say that American Heroes and individual leaders are not permitted in our culture. There is method to the madness. Hence those such as the Kennedy's and Martin King are methodically taken out - it's no coincidence.

Mankind has a primal NEED for heroes

Celebrities are substituted to meet that need; nobody notices. It's quite methodical.

As with ordinary news, the media plays quite a role in the suppression of the traditional norm of national leaders and heroes.

Conversely, if you go into Clinton's past, to the massive cocaine running through the Mena Arkansas Airport during his term as governor, he was zero-chance for election. Yet, with the media suppression of such despicable information, Clinton was elected - twice. He was a criminal from the beginning.

Thus, the truth and heroism of the true "Great" in our society, requires us to sneak onto the Internet to either discover the combat heroes AND to honor them.

Again, thank you.