My face is on fire! Help!
Foster, hold still! Hold still!
I'll cut your face! Hold still!
Doc, Doc, is Foster!
Okay.
Does anybody have any more bandages?
Ernie, you hit too? You hit?
No, no, I'm okay.
Our guys are gonna come for us, aren't they?
Yeah.
When?
Plug his wound.
Thas the main LZ, but is closed.
Go! Move!
Go, Parker! Get up in there! This is too Tall. I'm clear..
Crandall's clear..
Colonel!
Go over and reinforce that company! On that ridge there! Look!
Yes, sir! Okay! Keep your head down!
To the top of the ridge! Move it!
Come on, les move! Move!
Run! Come on!
Captain Nadal, we've got to break through to that cutoff platoon!
We got an American platoon out there.
An Air Cav platoon cut off out there!
Air Cav!
Garry Owen!
He said, "Really? Me too." I said, "I know.
Your mama asked me to give you $600."
Good luck to you.
Hey, you got enough room for one more?
Ifyou're crazy enough, get in. Yes, sir.
Hey, what are those lights down there?
Enemy soldiers.
They use candles on the trail.
They're moving into position to attack.
Here we go!
Unload that shit! Les go, les go, les go, les go!
You and your boys have done a hell of a job today, Snake.
Is the last flight for the night, but you need us, you call us.
Who in the hell are you? I'm a reporter, sir.
Yeah.
Joe Galloway, UPI. How's it going, Colonel?
We've been flat to the boards since last night, and we're outnumbered.
More enemy coming too. I saw a chain of lights coming down the mountain.
Is that so? Yes, sir.
Well, I can't guarantee your safety.
Yes, sir, I know.
Where you from, son? Refugio, Texas, sir.
Well, thas the first thing I heard all day that makes any sense.
Captain, you see those lights coming down the trails on the mountain?
On it right now, sir. You fry them sons of bitches.
Whiskey-Six, this is Trojan-Three. Fire mission.
Tango Foxtrot: 4-niner-6-5-6-niner.
All operations are suspended for the evening.
Morning operations will be scheduled for 0530 hours.
Where's Crandall?
He's right there, sir.
You led my men into a hot LZ.
Somebody had to fly out the wounded.
Don't you play hotshot with me. You know the rules.
You suckered us in there. Do it again, I'll have you busted!
You got the balls to face me, but not the balls to face the enemy?
Get outta here. Whoa!
I ever see you again, I'll kill you.
Thas right.
Quite a day, huh?
Tomorrow will be worse.
If they make it to tomorrow.
Ernie, is pitch black. I can't see anything, but I can smell 'em.
Dead bodies stink, Bungum.
No, is not the dead ones. I can smell them crawling up on us.
I'm telling you.
I need illumination, 6-5-0, 1-5-0.
I need artillery on previously established targets!
Alpha, Bravo and Charlie! Fire for effect!
Fire for effect!
Save your ammo! Cease fire!
Is anybody hit?
Captain, ifyou guys are coming you gotta let us know.
Is pitch black out here. I don't wanna shoot any of our own guys.
Savage...
we can't make it tonight.
Don't worry. You're gonna make it.
We'll come get you in the morning.
Yes, sir.
Out.
You're doing a fine job, son.
Don't worry. We gave them more than they gave us today.
How you boys doing? Fine, sir.
You keep doing what you're doing, we'll be fine.
Your men have done a hell of a job today, Lieutenant Geoghegan.
They won't get through us, sir. You can count on it.
I know that, Jack.
Keep it up, son.
Is Rear Headquarters, sir.
How is it out there, Colonel?
We're surrounded, but we're holding on, sir.
Sir, I need a confirmed count of our dead and wounded.
I got to know where all my boys are.
You'll get it, Hal.
Here they come.
Captain Edwards.
We need illumination on the perimeter.
Whiskey-Five, this is Hot Wire-Six-Alpha.
We need illumination now.
Kathy?
A telegram.
A cab delivers a telegram.
"The Secretary of the Army...
regrets..."
Mrs. Moore?
Colonel Moore's wife?
Yes.
I need help finding an address.
I'm looking for... You jackass!
Do you know what this is? Do you know what you just did to me?
I don't like this job, ma'am.
I'm just trying to do it.
Wait.
I'll take it to her.
And if there are any others, just bring them to me.
Julie.
I just went by to see Catherine.
Everybody knows.
No chaplains or counselors? Cab drivers?
The Army wasn't ready.
I'll go with you.
Thanks. Who's it for?
I thought she would hate me.
Your husband didn't start the war.
They all knew this could happen, and so did we.
I'll take care of this.
I'll go with you.
We'll do one at a time. Okay?
We won't look.
Okay.
Julie...
do you think there'll be more telegrams tomorrow?
If there are, come and get me.
In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, amen.
Out of the depths I cry unto Thee, O Lord.
Lord, hear my voice.
Let Thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.
Thou, O Lord, shall mark our inequities.
Lord, who can abide them?
With Thee there is mercy.
Grant them eternal rest, O Lord...
and may perpetual light shine upon them.
And through the mercy of God, may they rest in peace. Amen.
In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.
Do you got a death wish, Galloway?
No, sir.
Well, then why are you here?
'Cause I knew these dead boys would be here, sir.
Why aren't you a soldier?
You got the guts for it.
My daddy was a soldier.
My granddaddy, two of my great-granddaddies was soldiers.
Hell, thas how I came to be.
Each of them lost a leg in the Civil War.
My Great-granddaddy Galloway, he lost his left...
and my Great-granddaddy Reid lost his right.
They met in a shoe store in Galveston.
Every year after that, same date, same store, they'd get together...
and pick out a new pair of shoes for the two of them.
You are shittin' me. No, sir.
I swear to God.
Anyway, one had a daughter, one had a son... my grandparents.
What do you suppose the odds of them having the same shoe size was?
I don't know, Colonel. It was meant to be, I guess.
Yeah.
Meant to be.
Sir, Galloways have been in every war this country's ever fought.
But when it came to this one, I didn't think I could stop the war.
I just thought maybe I might try and understand one.
Maybe help folks back home understand.
I just figure I could do that better...
shooting a camera than I could shooting a rifle.
Well...
I sure hope you make it through this one.
You too, Colonel.
Right 20!
Put it right on 'em!
Colonel, sir.
Captain Nadal. Sir.
What is it, sir?
Nothing's wrong, except there's nothing wrong.
Best get back to the termite mound. You'll be fine. Go on.
Roger that, sir. Come on!
All right, pass the word on.
Every man fire three rounds at anything that looks suspicious.
On my signal.
They're gonna hit us like this along the whole perimeter.
We gotta get back to that termite mound.
Better hang here, sir!
Shit.
We need a medic!
Sir! Sir!
Captain Edwards, Charlie Company, on the ridge.
Bob.
They're inside the artillery!
I need...
I need a grenade!
Go, Willie! Come on, les go!
Godboldt down!
I'll get him!
Willie!
Get those guys help!
Captain Dillon, get Bravo Company to send a platoon across the LZ...
and support Charlie Company.
Bravo-Six, this is Trojan-Three.
And tell Charlie Company to get real small in their holes.
I'm gonna drop some artillery right on top of'em!
Charlie Company, get small.
We got AT coming right on top of your position.
We're being overrun!
Nah, boys! We're gonna win this fight.
Yes, sir, they brought a main force ofVC battalion against us too.
Colonel, I request you dispatch another company of reinforcements...
for movement as soon as it can be accomplished without undue risk.
Done. How bad is it, Hal?
Is getting pretty sporty down here, sir.
Get out of the way!
Medic! Get a medic over here!
Whas your name, soldier? Jimmy Nakayama.
I got a baby being born today.
Oh, wow! Congratulations! Thanks!
Medic!
Can't take no pictures lying down there, sonny.
Down, right there.
I'm a noncombatant, sir.
Ain't no such thing today, boy.
Shit.
Why aren't those mortars firing?
Whas the problem here?
These tubes are red hot, sir.
I'm afraid we're gonna cook a round off and blow us all up.
We can't cool 'em off 'cause we're all out of water.
Come on! What are you waiting for?
Jimmy, come on.
Go, go, go.
Yeah, one more.
Gentlemen...
prepare to defend yourselves.
Grenade!
Negative! Negative! Stand by!
My pilots do not see the enemy. They cannot pick out our friendlies.
Bravo-Six, say again.
You gotta tell your company commander to pop smoke now.
They need to mark the lines now! We have no lines!
We have enemies and friendlies mixed in all over the place.
Sir, our perimeter is collapsing.
Alpha Company and Bravo Company cannot hold.
Charlie Company is being overrun.
Net call! Net call!
Keep this net clear!
Hastings!
Broken arrow!
I say again! Broken arrow!
We have br.oken ar.r.ow!
Confirm. Broken arrow.
Broken arrow confirmed.
Broken arrow?
That means that an American unit has been overrun.
It calls in every combat aircraft for support.
My God, there's no hiding it now.
Charlie Company, report! Signal is out!
Bravo Company, report!
Roger that! Planes are on their way, Colonel!
Sir!
Roger that!
We have planes at every 1,000 feet...
from 7,000 to 35,000... we'll get 'em, sir!
Advancing north on our position at 1 -5-0.
Nine-six-two-five-zero-seven--
They're getting closer in on 3-1 -5 degrees!
Thas 0-5-0! Repeat, 0-5-0!
Goddamn it.
Company sighted out in the open, advancing north on our position.
They're advancing on 3-1 -5 degrees at 1 -5-0.
Bring it closer in on 3-1 -5 degrees at 0-5-0...
Charlie, call that son of a bitch off!
Call an abort now!
Pull up!
Get down!
Charlie, listen to me. You're keeping us alive now.
You forget about that one and you keep 'em coming in.
You're doing well, son.
Seven-oh-two...
Attack against the tree line.
Medic! Medic!
Oh, God! Jimmy. You know this guy?
You know him? Talk to him. Just talk to him!
Jimmy, do you hear me?
Is Joe. Is Joe Galloway.
Doc's giving you morphine. We're gonna get you out of here.
We gotta get him to the landing zone. Grab his legs!
You gotta get him out of here. Hey! Hey!
I can't help you! You gotta do it by yourself!
Get him on that chopper, okay? Yes, sir.
Tell my wife I love her...
and my baby!
You tell'em!
Captain Nadal. Sir...
Now that we put 'em back on their heels, we got us a lull.
I want you to attack.
I want you to go overthere and rescue that cut off platoon.
Yes, sir! First Squad, move out!
Come on, guys. Move it!
Add fifty.
Keep moving the artillery forward!
Keep walking the artillery forward!
Spread it out!
Move it!
Keep moving forward!
Sergeant Savage, you guys still here?
We have 40 KIA, we have two MIA.
These are the latest numbers. Over.
Thas a nice day, Sergeant Savage.
Forty dead, two unaccounted for, sir.
Right.
All right, boys, les get 'em up and get 'em out.
Les get 'em out of here and get 'em on the chopper!
Since most of the men being loaded on the chopper...
are from Charlie Company...
I want you to take their place.
I'll show you where. Follow me. Yes, sir! Les go!
Captain, have your men dig some firing steps.
Throw some dirt on those bodies, keep the smell down.
Roger, Sergeant Major.
Kind of makes you wish you'd signed up for submarines, don't it?
Brigade headquarters wants you out on the first chopper at dawn.
What idiot would keep ordering that in the middle of a goddamn battle?
Gen. Westmoreland wants a briefing. Give me the horn.
I am in a fight...
and I object to this order to return to Saigon.
Now, I will not leave my men.
Is that clear? Out.
There's two of my men unaccounted for out there...
and is where the worst of the fighting was...
so they'll be out there someplace.
Les go out and get 'em. I'm with you, sir.
All right.
Les go.
They...
brought another...
Oh, God. Julie, is yours.
He died keeping my promise.
Sir, they're ordering us all out.
All of us.
They're gonna march reinforcements in.
They don't understand a damn thing, do they?
Can't get out.
He's waiting up there in a cave, and thas what he wants.
The minute he sees live soldiers hopping on a helicopter...
he'll be all over us and then he'll get what he wants.
He'll get his massacre.
Requesting permission to rejoin the lines, sir.
All right, son.
Garry Owen, sir.
I wonder what was going through Custer's mind when he realized...
he'd led his men into a slaughter.
Sir, Custer was a pussy.
You ain't.
Goddamn.
Hell.
Right now they're planning their final attack...
the one that will finish us off.
They'll nibble at us all night, then...
come dawn they'll hit us with everything they got.
Thas what I'd do if I was him.
Sergeant Major, hand out the last of the ammunition.
Yes, sir.
Fix bayonets.
You were wondering how Custer felt, sir.
You ought to ask him.
Sergeant Savage!
Checking the dead enemies for documents...
and I found this on the guy that tried to bayonet you.
Translated some of it, mostly personal.
Thought you might wanna have a look at it.
What was that? Is American artillery.
Friendly fire.
How many casualties?
What the hell happened here, Joe?
Hey, Joe.
Colonel Moore!
Colonel! Colonel Moore!
What is the key to your victory? Sir, tell us how you feel.
Do you feel the States will be forced...
to take the North Vietnamese more seriously?
How do you feel about the loss ofyour men, sir?
Have you notified the families, sir?
I'm glad you made it, son.
Thankyou, sir. You too.
I'll never forgive myself.
For what, sir?
That my men...
That my men died and I didn't.
Sir, I don't...
I don't know how to tell this story.
Well, you got to, Joe.
You tell the American people what these men did here.
You tell 'em how my troopers died.
Yes, sir.
Thank you.
All of our men, living and dead, are off the field, sir.
Well done, Sergeant Major.
In Saigon, Hal Moore's superiors congratulated him...
for killing over 1800 enemy soldiers.
Then ordered him to lead the men of the 7th Cavalry...
back into the Valley of Death.
He led them...
and fought beside them...
for 235 more days.
Kids, go to bed. Isn't there someone at the door?
Go to bed!
Children, your daddy's home! Daddy!
Some had families waiting.
For others, their only family would be the men they bled beside.
There were no bands, no flags...
no honor guards to welcome them home.
They went to war because their country ordered them to.
But in the end they fought not for their country or their flag.
They fought for each other...
Dear Barbara...
I have no words to express to you my sadness of the loss of Jack.
The world is a lesser place without him.
But I know he is with God and the angels.
And even heaven is improved by his presence there.
I know you, too, are sure of this...
and yet this knowledge can't diminish his loss...
and your grief.
With abiding respect and affection, Hal Moore.
We who have seen war...
will never stop seeing it.
In the silence of the night, we will always hear the screams.
So this is our story...
for we were soldiers once...
and young.