Ready...
Aim...
Fire!
Ready...
Aim...
Fire!
Present Arms!
Excuse me.
I had come to say good-bye.
Vietnam tore us apart.
We went there believing in freedom and democracy
but somehow we lost our moral compass.
How did we let it happen?
A decade ago things seemed so much clearer.
There are extraordinary times.
And we face an extraordinary challenge.
Our strength, as well as our convictions,
have imposed upon this nation the role of leader in freedom's cause.
It is a contest of will and purpose.
As well as, force and violence.
And in that contest, we cannot stand aside.
Gentlemen, to West Berlin and next year Moscow.
Moscow.
West Berlin, shit.
You boys'll never fire a shot.
Vann, you wanna tell me what you did so wrong to pull Vietnam?
I'm gonna see combat, boys.
Oh, a bunch of goofs with shotguns.
Hey, those goofs beat the French.
Oooh, beat the French.
Who hasn't?
The French.
Mark my words, gentlemen.
Vietnam's the war of the future.
Oooh, war of the future.
Right, yeah. Oh, yeah. Yeah.
Howdy, darlin'.
Hi.
Same again for me and my uh, constituents over there.
Right, two whiskeys, two beers.
And a coke, please.
A coke.
That's right. We're the good boy over there, huh?
That's me, honey.
I don't drink and I don't smoke.
What else don't you do?
Keep the change.
Thanks.
Oh, yeah.
Hey, I bought you some flowers.
What's to celebrate?
I got it. I got it.
The pentagon?
Vietnam.
Vietnam!
Vietnam?
...What?
Well, what happened to Washington?
Mary, don't you see?
I'm goin' to war.
You know what happens in a war?
Guys like me get promoted.
Now I can fight my way to the top.
Oh, we are going to Washington.
But I'm goin' as a soldier, not a goddamn clerk.
Wait a minute, John.
You kinda smell like perfume.
Oh, hell, honey. It's the flowers.
This is the chance we've been waitin' for. This is it.
Restack the bale, yeah. And cock it.
It musta been over here.
Yeah!
Enlisted men, over here.
Okay, right over there, sir.
Good mornin', sir.
Vann, John P., Lieutenant Colonel.
Colonel Vann, Colonel!
Vann... uh, I don't have you on manifest, sir.
I was supposed to be on yesterday's flight. I missed it.
That flight crashed, sir.
Well, I'm glad I missed it.
Go ahead and take that jeep right there, sir.
Thank you.
Steven Burnett, Times.
Go ahead.
Hey... you're a lucky man...
You should be dead.
I shoulda been dead long before yesterday.
What's your name?
Uh, Steve Burnett, Times.
Hey, you don't say. You need a ride.
Sure.
Hop in.
Welcome, Colonel.
Thank you. Do you mind getting' in the back, soldier.
I like to do my own driving.
Let the man from the Times sit up front.
Just point me in the right direction.
An exotic little war in an Asia paradise.
That's how one of my colleagues described it.
After the French were defeated in 1954,
Vietnam was divided between Ho Chi Mein's communist north...
and the southern regime of Noding Tiem.
The communist launched a insurrection to capture the south,
so America sent 11,000 advisors
to bolster Tiem's Army.
Look at this place!
Man, this is a place worth fightin' for.
Can you imagine what it's gonna be like if the communist get it?
God, look at that.
Where do they get all the water from?
Oh, they tarries the fields at different levels I think
and then they have a bunch of canals and dikes and bring it all down.
Oh, that's fantastic.
Yeah.
Gentlemen...
Each one of you will be assigned to a division of the south Vietnamese army
to act as a Senior Advisor.
The south Vietnamese soldier is a magnificent fighter.
Highly motivated, tough and intelligent.
The body counts... given at this office are nothin' short of remarkable.
Just take a look.
Their's is a splendid effort and it is ourjob to support 'em.
I know you're all experienced soldiers,
but we have been sent here as ad-vis-ors.
The President Diem, is decent and God fearin'.
Our God by the way.
He's emphatic that this is a war
between the legitimate Vietnamese government and their communist invaders.
Now, we all know that...
Red China and Moscow are behind this, huh?
So we have every right to supply and support these people.
But... it is their fight.
And they are in charge.
Give 'em your best cause they are givin' us theirs.
Colonel Cao?
Over there.
Sir.
Lt. Colonel John Vann.
Uh, Frank Drummond, sir. S-2
Uh, Ron Dray.
Sergeant.
What the hell's goin' on here, Major?
Well, uh... this is just a little,
uh... positive thinkin', really.
Let me introduce the Division Commander, Colonel Cao.
Colonel.
Welcome, welcome, Colonel Vann.
Thank you.
Yesterday we killed many VC.
But they take some of the body.
I must send photo to my President.
It is good for morale, no?
Ah, come.
Uh, let me show you my command.
How many men did you say you had attached to your Division?
About five hundred.
Impressive.
Yes, we have a very strong fighting force here, Colonel Vann.
Thanks to your government's assistance,
we are arming the people to fight along side us.
Soon, you and I will defeat the Vietcong.
I look forward to it, Colonel.
Good morning, General.
Good morning, Colonel. What's going on?
We have received important intelligence.
Frank, what do you got?
Colonel, a village elder's confirming that...
...a Vietcong instructor has infiltrated
...and is training new recruits right here at the village of Than Bin.
Okay, what's the plan?
We will attack here... and here.
Shouldn't we bring a team around behind the village...
...to cut off any retreat to the mountains?
Yes, yes.
But uh, all in good time, Colonel.
Shall we commence battle?
Let's go.
Uh, Colonel...
I thought we fight a battle together.
Yeah.
No, no.
We must command from here.
This is where I fight many battles.
Gee, Colonel. That's not how I do things.
Colonel, please. Join me, by my side.
Tiger Center, we're approaching Than Bin.
Over.
Sir, we should cut off their retreat now.
Patience, Colonel. We mustn't hurry
Tiger Center approaching from south of village,
appears to be movement up ahead, over.
...gun fire here.
One man down.
Repeat, one man down.
Hold the advance, I send helicopter now.
I'll take care of that.
Colonel Vann!!!
Hold the advance!
I will send a helicopter to you now.
Do not advance. Repeat, do not advance.
Okay, Frank. I've got a chopper, I'm on my way.
What's your situation? Over.
John, we've got one ARVN with a leg wound,
he's stabilized. Over.
Roger that, Frank.
John, my hands are tied here.
The enemies's getting' out the back door.
I'll come around from the south, cut off their escape route.
See if I can't put a scare in 'em. Over.
I see 'em!
I see one, two,
three right in front of us, Colonel!
Go around. Circle around, fast!
Roger that.
Get down low behind 'em. Force 'em out of that tree line.
Shoot, don't let 'em get away.
Go lower.
Alright, there they are.
I'm comin' up behind 'em fast and low.
Don't worry, I'm right on top of 'em, sir.
Hold it! Stay on the back!
Look out, he's pullin', pullin'!
Geez!
Great shootin'.
Let's go!
Outstanding, man! Outstanding!
Alright, let's get up to the rest.
Looks like we got a reception committee.
We got prisoner's here. Let's go!
This is over, Colonel!
I am in charge! You hear!?
I am in charge!
Your plan worked, Colonel.
You killed a communist recruiter.
Congratulations!
Good work, Colonel.
I will radio headquarters that Than Bin has been cleared.
Good work!
Very good.
Man, look at the scars on this old guy.
They gotta be years old.
This man was a warrior.
Probably been fightin' all his life.
The Japs, French and now us.
For recognition of his outstanding victory of Than Bin,
President Diem has awarded Colonel Cao the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry.
We're honored to have his sister-in-law, Madame Nhu,
who will make the presentation.
Madame.
I am so proud of Colonel Cao
I hope he will kill many, many more of these communist traders!
And together, we will kill them all!
That's one tough lady.
Yeah...
Heard the men aren't so tough.
Bullshit.
Like there's been talk that Diem's men are unwilling to fight.
These men are kickin' the Vietcong's ass.
All we're doin' is supply intelligence and logistics.
Isn't that right, Major?
Yes, sir.
Photographs, please.
Can we have a smile right here, sir?
Thanks very much.
General, move in, please.
Excuse me...
Do any of you ladies speak English?
We all speak English.
Oh, you're students at this school?
They are the students. I am the teacher.
You're the teacher?
Well, I hope this is my lucky day.
I need a good translator and well, I'd be honored if you'd help me.
Soon I must go. Do you still want me to translate?
Yes, I do.
Would you read the last entry?
The Americans are here.
They have brought tanks and helicopters...
The young men are afraid but,
I tell them do not fear
because the Americans are huang phi.
Huang phi, it's a word that means soft...
Actually decadent.
Do you understand?
They can never win because
they use only those of our people who are also huang phi.
The peasants are with us because they hate the huang phi.
What do you believe?
Oh, I'm not interested in politics, Mr. Vann.
What are you interested in?
My school... I enjoy it.
You know, it allows me to decide my own life
and that's a very rare thing for a woman here.
I have to say this...
I think you're one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen.
You did not bring me here to translate, did you?
He does not go for the immediate kill.
He disables his enemies, then he kills him.
These men are kicking the Vietcong's ass.
It wasn't so much a lie as something he knew he could make happen.
There he is!
Tiger of the Delta.
Colonel Vann.
Congratulations, Commander.
Thank you.
That's a beautiful metal. I must have a photo.
Vann would charm, coax, cajole, anything to rally the South Vietnamese.
At first it worked.
My God, the best US/Vietnamese team for fighting communists.
American advisors work
to bring the level of training and combat readiness of these forces
...as high as possible.
Superior equipment and mobility are used
to full advantage to carry the fight to the enemy... swifty.
Wherever his presence becomes known.
The Vietnamese soldier is quick to grasp the techniques involved in copter born
counter-action to guerilla raids on country villages.
And he uses his new knowledge well.
Colonel Cao...
What is the mission?
We are mounting an assault on Than Bin.
Than Bin? We've already cleared Than Bin.
No, no. We must cleanse the village thoroughly.
This is ridiculous.
Colonel, please...
You have to understand. I must follow the order of my President.
If I do not, then my family is in danger.
He has told me no casualties.
But you are at war with the Vietcong.
You want us to fight the Vietcong. So, we fight them.
My president needs your money and your guns
because he has many enemies.
Things are not as simple as in America.
Jesus H. Christ. We're eyeball to eyeball with the communists all over the world
and these guys are out shootin' rabbits.
General Giap's instructions for us
to steal back the rice on behalf of the peasants has paid great dividends.
This General Giap is a very clever man.
Tell me about your wife.
We're separated.
What does that mean?
Well... it means that she lives on one side of the ocean and I live on the other.
The Russians are taking their missiles out of Cuba.
I knew it!
These are dangerous times, John.
But they're exciting times, Lee.
Exciting times.
Saigon Command has located the enemies radio transmitter here at Ap Bac.
We will land the first airborne force here,
and the second here.
Advance here and here, and capture the objective.
I have to brief my men, Colonel.
Alright, here's the drill.
Frank, I want you to take the lead armored.
Ron, you take the first infantry chopper.
I'm goin' up in the spotter plane.
What about Cao?
The hell with him. I'm gonna check this one out for myself.
Go!
We're comin' up on the target sight now. Over.
Roger that, Colonel Bogie.
No signs of movement below. Over.
Ap bac, January 2nd, 1963.
For a year the Vietcong had studied the Americans
and their tanks and helicopters.
Studied and learned.
Now they were ready to stand and fight.
Vietnam's exotic little war was about to turn into a quagmire.
Fox Trot Alpha, banking right 45 degrees, heading 1524 south, over.
Roger that.
Thumper, this is Colonel Bogie,
what's your ETA? Over.
Roger, Colonel Bogie.
This is Thumper, we're about thirty seconds away from objective. Over.
Roger that.
Uh, there's a big tree line east of the LZ.
Tell your pilot to stay at least 300 yards away from that.
Roger.
Okay. Over.
Okay, reposition. Come back around.
Hawkeye, get those tracks up on line
and be ready to move fast when I give the order. Over.
Roger that.
Okay, you're headed for the tree line.
Pull over, stake your three birds out to the west behind the tree cover. Over.
Colonel Bogie, this is chopper four's outlook.
We're swingin' west of the target zone. Over.
Thumper, I want you to put your two birds down to the east. Over.
We're comin' through the east toward the LZ now.
One hundred yards,
at one hundred feet droppin' down to fifty.
Thumper, you're too goddamn close!
You're too close, get back!
You're overshooting the LZ, go around!
Shit, we got hit and landed in the line of fire!
Goddamnit!
Are you comin'? Over.
Hawkeye, what the hell's keepin' ya!?
Get those tracks in there, we got two birds down!
We're takin' heavy fire here, John.
Shit! Tiger Center, Tiger Center,
we got two birds down!
Move on the objective, now!
Move up to the tree line, now!
Shit! Damn it!
Come on! Come on, get outta there!
Come on, Frank, move!
He doesn't understand English, now, John.
Go!
Shit!
Goddamnit!
Hawkeye, come in!
Thumper, come in!
Goddamnit, take her down, now! Now!
Give me a hand!
Hold his neck, hold it!
What the hell is goin' on here!? This isn't a game!
We have lost helicopter.
Yes, you lost helicopters.
Now get your goddamn infantry into that field!
No, no! We must withdraw!
You will not withdraw!
We have men down out there. You will hold the line!!
Second chopper comin' in!
Let's move it! Move it!
Get thatjeep over here!
Shh, come on.
It's okay, you're gonna be alright! Hang in there.
Stay awake! Stay awake!
Come on! How you doin' there?
He's gonna make it.
What the hell happened, John?
Give us a hand. Let's get him loaded up.
Almost there. Get him on the jeep.
Charlie kicked our ass!
They knew these guys wouldn't fight,
so they stood their ground.
Move it out! Move it out!
Come here.
Ah, Jesus.
What a waste.
Goddamn stupid waste.
It's uh, 6-5-9.
Attention!
Carry on.
Gentlemen, you wanted to see me?
Yes, sir.
Well, sir, given the set-backs we suffered at Ap Bac,
I thought you'd be interested to know the current...
Just what in the hell is this?
Well, sir, the red areas indicate current Vietcong concentration.
We control these areas.
Sir..., I'd have to argue that.
Who've you talked to about this?
No one, sir.
Now you get this straight, Ap Bac was a victory.
We took the objective. We drove off the enemy.
Every body knows that ours beat theirs.
We lost 88 men, sir. 15 of them were...
Don't lecture me!!
You spread defeatist nonsense outside this room,
I will have you court - martialled.
And the charges this time will stick!
I want that overlay.
Steve!
Hey, John.
Thanks for meeting me.
My pleasure.
Did you see this?
An important victory, 101 VC dead.
So what's the truth?
It was the most miserable damn performance I've ever seen.
Would you be willing to talk about this?
Somebody has to.
Look, John, I know you have a military career,
and if we do this thing, a lot of people are gonna read it.
I understand.
Start writing.
South Vietnamese command has no interest in fighting the communist.
The ordinary soldiers are willing
but they're officer's priority is to protect Diem's regime
rather than to stop communist insurgence.
What about all those things that we get, the casualty figures,
battle reports, the briefings.
The numbers are all phony,
they, they make'em up.
These battles are ajoke!
And they, they attack areas that the VC have already vacated or,
or they attack from one side
and they leave the enemy a wide open back door escape route.
But surely American assistance has made some difference.
Oh, yeah. That's helped.
It's helped the communist.
We supply guns to the peasants
and they turn straight around and give 'em to the VC.
At Ap Bac we were being shot down by our own weapons.
The U.S. Army advisory program...
is a complete shame.
Totally ineffective.
What's goin' on?
Uh, two days ago in Hue,
Diem's forces opened fire on the buddhist protest.
He killed nine of 'em.
Can't get this guy to fight the communist but he's willin' to kill his own people.
Hey, I should cover this.
No.
It's okay. It's okay.
No!
Yes!
No! No! No! No! No!
Yes! Yes! Yes!
Okay! Okay!
Can you believe that?
Come on. You have no idea what the hell is goin' on around here.
...miserable Vann performance.
Heh! That is Vann, I can just hear him say it.
I want him busted, now.
Get him out!
General, he's got a month to go.
Let's not stir up the press.
Let him finish out. Then we'll take care of him.
Shit.
I gotta go.
Give me your hand.
What is it?
It's for good luck.
I'll be back.
Thanks a lot.
Hey-hey, John.
Where's the story, boys?
The story's the shit-storm you caused back at home.
We got cables from the Pentagon.
Washington.
We picked up some new friends.
Who are those guys?
Diem put his boys on us for reporting Ap Bac.
Well the truth hurts.
We got somethin' for ya, here.
To Lieutenant Colonel, John Paul Vann,
from his good friends and admirers,
The American Press Corps.
I don't smoke,
But you can use it to light a fire under the brass back at home.
You can depend on that.
Bobby, thank you.
Nick.
John.
John... I hope nothing I've written hurts you.
Nothing can hurt me.
Okay.
Gentlemen...
Give'em hell, John.
He was our hero.
An officer willing to risk his career to tell the truth about Vietnam.
He set out to spread the word to everyone and anyone who would listen.
Yeah, Dad!
Oh, God, Katy. Oohhh, good to see you.
Man, you have grown!
Honey, you look... mmmm, great!
It's good to be home.
Boy, have I got work to do.
I'm gonna give them the clearest, most precise kick-ass report
in the history of the U.S. Army.
South East Asia.
Rubber, timber and man power.
South East Asia.
The communist want it.
And we wanna stop 'em.
Oh, the communist want it. We wanna stop'em.
Stop 'em.
And in my hand I hold
the secret weapon to win the war in South Asia.
The secret weapon to win the war in South Asia.
In my hand I hold
the secret weapon to win the war in South Asia.
Rice!
Rice, gentlemen.
Rice.
To the Vietnamese peasant it is everything.
They fought the Chinese,
the Japanese, they fought the French for their rice fields.
Communists have hijacked that rebellion.
They hijacked that rebellion.
This man, Ho Chi Minh, and his General Giap,
have promised the farmers they will give them back their rice.
While our man, President Diem...
While our man, President Diem continues stealing it.
We must regain the good will of the peasants.
We must restore the good faith of the people.
To win the war in Vietnam, we must take back the rice revolution.
Throw out the rice stealers and give them back their rice.
We must wage war for the peasants.
Not against them
Build their houses.
Don't destroy them.
Kill the enemy with this.
Instead of this.
In short, we must harness the peasant revolution.
To defeat the communist revolution.
Thank you.
Outstanding, Colonel.
Thank you, sir.
I'm gonna recommend that the Joint Chiefs hear this briefing as soon as possible.
That's great news, sir.
Lieutenant Colonel Vann to see the Joint Chiefs.
Please have a seat, sir.
Thank you.
Lieutenant Colonel Vann to see you, sir.
Great to meet you, Colonel Vann.
Thanks, it's a real pleasure to be here.
Uh, I'm sorry I didn't get in touch with you sooner,
but your briefing's been cancelled.
Must be some mistake.
I was assured that I would have an audience with the Joint Chiefs.
It appears there was a conflict in scheduling and uh,
the Chairman is anxious to hear your briefings at a later date.
The old guard closed ranks and shut him out.
Vann resigned.
His military career was ruined.
That's what he lead us to believe.
But John Paul Vann had no career.
He was outcast.
A man who's dark past had denied him the General stars he thought he deserved.
Where the hell were you last night?
I was over with...
No, don't tell me. I know where you were!
Wait a minute, honey. Come on, now.
Damn it!
Honey, wait.
No! You are a liar, a goddamn cheat and you will never change!
Don't do this. Don't do this now.
Look, you know, we are finished!
I am so sick of putting up this front for you.
For your career.
Heh! Your career!?
You screwed yourself out of your career years ago!
We are gonna do somethin' or I am outta here!
Come in, Mrs. Vann.
I think we've made some progress here.
Good.
Your husband has been quite forthright about his lapses.
If I could just explain something?
Often when military men get put in pressure situation,
uh, they find themselves in a difficult position,
they see sex as a kind of an outlet, it's a release.
Um... it's almost unconscious you might say.
I thought we came here to be honest with each other.
I am being honest.
Did he tell you about the housemaids in Japan?
Well, uh, Mrs. Vann, we didn't go into every specific case.
Oh, not every specific case. Okay.
How about the baby sitter in Kansas?
Go on. Tell him.
Uh, Mrs. Vann, I, I don't think it's productive.
This is a very specific case.
He slept with our baby sitter.
She was fifteen years of age.
She told the army.
He was gonna be court marshalled until he asked me to lie for him.
No more lies. Please.
Tell him about your mother.
That's enough.
Please. Tell him about Myrtle.
This is where it all came from.
We can talk it out. Please.
Mr. Vann, maybe you would like to talk a little bit about this.
That's it.
Please!
I, I can't do this.
Just, just tell me what it will take to make you stay.
I want a life for us.
I don't want to be warehoused in some army base.
You got it. Just don't bring Myrtle up again.
Come on.
Hey, you're gonna be late for school.
Come on. Take your toast with ya.
Here's your lunch.
Thanks, Mom.
I love ya!
Well, the regime of South vietnam's President Diem,
Hey, I wanna hear that!
Comes to an end in a wave of violence.
Damn it.
A few days before the army revolt, these...
Honey, leave him alone.
He's just playin'.
Oh, I love this song.
What?
Oh, my God.
We interrupt this program for an important news flash.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy, President of the United States,
shot by an assassin as he drove through the streets of Dallas Texas.
He is three years old on this day, November 25th.
He moves a pace apart from his mother and lifts his hands...
What is that boy doing?
Saluting his father and his flag one last time.
He's saying goodbye to his daddy.
Renewed hostile actions against United States ships
on the high seas in the gulf of Tonkin have today required me
to order the military forces of the United States to take action in reply.
We intend to convince the communists that
we cannot be defeated by force of arms, or by superior power.
General Williams, please.
Lieutenant General John Vann calling.
Hello, sir...
Uh, yes sir, I resigned my commission
but I knew I couldn't get through.
Everybody's fine, thanks.
I'm doin' great, just great.
Well, no, I'm not...
Fred, I'm dyin' here.
I need to be in on the action.
Anything Fred. I mean anything.
There must be somethin' I can do. Anything at all.
I understand. You can't fight this war without me, Fred.
Okay, I appreciate it.
Goodbye.
John, you were supposed to be at the productivity meeting.
Oh, yeah. Uh, right.
I'll be right along, Don.
Hello?
Hello, sir?
Boys! Throw it here!
Shoot, Dad! Shoot!
Yeah, baby he shoots! And it's nothin' but in!
Nice shoot! Eh!
Hey.
What's up?
Hey, honey...
You guys go ahead.
The army called me today...
Guess what?
They offered me ajob in the Civilian Aid program.
What is that?
It's back in Vietnam.
Vietnam.
Oh, oh, I see.
Once again we're gonna get dumped!?
No, listen.
This is another chance for me.
I can't let it go.
I know how to win that war.
I've tried.
I thought maybe you could have been the kind of father you never had.
Make sure I can have a decent home for these kids.
Hey, Dad!
Hey!
Shoot!
Let's go! Let's move, let's move!
Move it out! Move, move, move!
Let's go! Let's go!
Tow the line, gentlemen! Let's move out!
John Paul Vann with the Aid Program. Where's my ride?
Your ride's right there, sir!
Thank you... Move over, soldier. I'll drive.
Yes, sir.
Thank you.
Fred!
John!
How the hell are ya?
Goddamn, it's good to be back.
Good to see you, Vann. Have a seat.
Thank you, sir.
Man, that's a lot of hardware they're unloadin' out there.
Oh, that's Phase One of General Westmoreland's three stage plan.
We've put together a superior force,
then engage the enemy on the battlefield.
Three, wipe them out.
Well...
Well, hell Fred,
I don't, I don't know if the enemies gonna go along with that plan.
Hell, we're not fighting a conventional war here.
You, you can't roll out the tanks like it's World War II.
I mean, goddamn, hasn't the Pentagon learned anything in three years.
John, you gotta learn to keep your mouth shut.
It was a helluvajob to get you over here, even as a civilian.
Now, you're here to work with the Aid Program, right?
You're right, Fred.
Well, I read your briefing.
And I agree with you.
We got to try and win these people over.
That's why I want you to take charge of the Aid Program in the region around Bau Trai.
I'll get a good man to work with you.
Let's try to put your ideas into practice.
Okay. You're the boss.
No, John. Westmoreland's the boss.
Is that Vann?
John Vann!
Hell, I thought they buried you!
They tried, Steven.
Hey, Nick.
Hey, John. What's goin' on?
Are you part of this US Aid Program?
We sure are.
Doug Ellsberg, Steve Burnett from the times.
Oh, it's a pleasure.
The pleasures mine.
And hut!
Gentlemen, General Westmoreland.
Fred.
At ease, gentlemen.
The Aid Program is a uh,
noble effort to bolster the civilian population in the Hamlets
and particularly to help them resist Vietcong infiltration.
Gentlemen, you are part of a great new mobilization.
We now have at our disposal, the best army that the world has ever known.
We have the men, we have the materials
and we are going to stomp the Vietcong into the ground!
Thank you.
We'd now like to take this opportunity to uh,
introduce you to your various counterparts.
Fred.
I'd like you to meet John Paul Vann,
and Doug Ellsberg. Colonel Chinch.
Mr. Vann, Mr. Ellsberg, welcome.
Thank you.
I am your Regional Commander.
We have a very good region, you and I.
We will do well together.
I look forward to it.
Thank you.
Hi.
How are you?
I'm fine, thanks.
What's your name?
My name is...
Can I help you?
Goodbye.
What happened to the school girls?
Times change, John.
They have more needs now.
It's good to see you again.
Look at you.
You look different.
You too.
Howdy! Welcome to Bau Trai, guys. Terry Pike.
John Vann.
Doug Ellsberg.
Nice to meet you.
Did you know there's ajeep outside of town with a body in it?
Nobody buries them?
They're too afraid to go out there.
Now, I don't mean to discourage you guys, but...
This place is gone.
See that bunch of kids standin' over here?
They're Vietcong.
And our defenders either work for 'em or pay 'em off.
So who's in charge?
Well, that'd be Colonel Chinch.
I don't know if Charlie works for him,
or he works for them.
Don't matter much though, cause nobody works for us.
Well, maybe we should just hand it over to the communists right now.
Mr. Vann, these people don't have any money.
And they don't get a chance to vote.
That sounds communist to me.
Now, if you don't mind
it cost me fifty bucks to get Colonel Chinh
to get me a military escort so I can get outta here.
I better get before the price goes up.
It's all yours.
Stay alive, gentlemen.
Geez, what a mess.
Okay, each family of six or more gets
one five gallon can of cookin' oil,
one hundred pound sack of flour per month.
Yes, sir.
Doug, would you check the Manifest and see when this stuff's due in Tam Huang.
Alright, we do what we call an inventory.
That means everything that goes in and out of here gets counted for...
Sorry.
Sorry!
Okay, you tell these men to put these ladders right here.
Climb on up there and pull down any lose tile.
Yes, sir.
We're gonna replace it with this corrugated.
Hammer, nails, bang, bang, bang.
Alright, we got two holes in the ceiling, one there and one there.
Rip out all the tiles around and leave.
What'd she say?
She said to stop, she cannot pay.
You tell her she does not have to pay.
What was that?
She say, somebody always has to pay.
Who needs a treat, huh?
Okay...
Here you go.
Chicklett's gentlemen.
Secret of the children's revolution.
No, no, it's just candy.
No, no. It's okay.
It's just gum. Look.
Hey.
For you. For the school.
Presents for the teacher, aye?
What's going on?
You have used my material without pay.
I'm sorry, Colonel.
But this is Aid material.
Yes. My aid material.