This is my region.
It is my aid material and you must pay.
Put that down!
Colonel, if you do not leave,
I will disgrace you in front of your men and this village.
Tell the men.
Jesus, John.
What the hell is it?
It's blood!
What the hell is it?
It's a tongue.
Come on.
Cali.
Get Chinch.
He's not here.
Where is he?
Bau Tri, he's gone to punish the village.
He knows goddamn well the VC are part of the village.
What the hell's he playin'!?
Whoa, whoa, whoa! Slow down!
What's goin' on?
Colonel Chinch called in an air strike.
Goddamn, call it off!
Wait, wait, wait, wait!
Hey-hey! Don't go!
No, I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
Fred!
Goddamnit, I want that murderin' bastard arrested!
Look, I just came back from la Drang where four companies...
of Air Cav ran right smack into the North Vietnamese Army! We lost 230 men!
So don't come here tellin me about one corrupt RV Colonel.
Two hundred and thirty?
Look, it's all over in the boonies.
I want you back here in Saigon. Workin' here!
Now, you know the locals, get together your own squads and clean out these villages.
I'll give you all the authority you want.
Excuse me, gentlemen. I need a shower.
Our casualties in Vietnam in a single week
had exceeded the average weekly rate of dead and wounded in the Korean war.
Two hundred and forty Americans killed, four hundred and seventy wounded.
Most of these casualties were suffered in the battle of la Drang Valley.
The United States is indeed at war.
A full dress war against a formidable enemy.
Vann threw himself into the war effort
with a passion and brilliance few others could mustered.
He ran pacification programs.
Mobilized his alleys among the South Vietnamese forces.
Coordinated American support and
still found time to bombard friends and
foes alike with his theories on how to turn the war around.
December 23rd, 1966.
Dear Sir,
despite the fact that
we now have three hundred and eighty five thousand American soldiers on the ground,
the Saigon government remains corrupt on all levels.
If it were not for the fact that Vietnam has been...
Vann worked twenty hours, slept four.
He never stopped on all fronts.
Ben yoi ya. May I be of assistance?
What happened here? Wrecked bicycle?
Yes?
Orchids, this is what you need.
For you.
That's a picture.
I'm in love.
How old is she, 17?
17? She's 18.
Goes to college.
Are you gonna have your teacher friend translate for you?
Well, you know me. I can't help fallin' in love.
Yeah...
What?
My mother's dead.
John... Come on.
If you don't get movin' you're gonna miss the Tokyo connection.
It's your mother, John.
You owe it to her.
That's funny. I owe her.
My mother was a whore and I'm her bastard son.
Do you know what my birth certificate says on it?
John Le Gay, a son of a bitch.
That's why those goddamn wasps at West Point wouldn't let me in.
Fuckin' bunch of hippocrates.
When I was a little kid growin' up in Norfolk...
I used to see her screwin' 'em.
In their cars.
Gruntin' and carryin' on.
You know how she died?
Somebody cracked her skull open with a whiskey bottle.
Go home and bury her, John.
...and whosoever believeth shall not parish but have every lasting life.
The Father loveth the Son and have given all things into his hand.
Amen.
Thank you.
My condolences.
Thanks for coming.
Hey, you need some money for a haircut.
What's the matter with him?
He's against the war.
You don't say?
Well, I better have a word with him before I head back tomorrow.
Hey, I um...
What is it?
John, I wanna file for a divorce.
I just need to be free from you.
Baby, come on. I need you.
You don't need anybody, Myrtle made sure of that.
And you have the war.
I'm truly sorry.
Thank you.
Your mama was very special to me.
We're all gonna miss her.
I appreciate that.
Johnny, you don't remember me.
I'm your cousin, Arty.
Oh, yeah. Yeah.
Well, I'd like to introduce you to some friends of mine.
Danny Dikes.
Our condolences.
Thanks for comin'.
Paul Gillis.
Sorry for your loss.
Thank you.
And this here's my wife, Bella.
How do you do.
I've been tellin' 'em how I've been readin' about you in the Norfolk Leer.
All those battles you been winnin'.
It's a great thing you're doin' over there, son.
I appreciate it.
God Almighty knows it's a great thing.
Imagine, Myrtle's boy.
Advisin' the United States Army.
Who woulda ever thought.
You need anything, you know who to call now.
1967, the year of delusion.
Four hundred and sixty-five thousand American Troops
fought major battles from the Delta to the DMZ while...
Westmoreland declared the end was coming into view.
Vann knew better.
I thought we cleared this area.
We had sir, then we discovered these tunnels.
Here... here...
and here.
And over here, sir, is where we found the documents.
What do they say?
Last month we destroyed the Vietcong in this region.
But according to this document...
Another VC battalion has replaced them.
Where the hell'd they get the manpower to do that?
I don't know, sir.
I thought we have killed them all.
I'm afraid we are back to where we started, Mr. Vann.
Well, goddamnit, we'll just have to clear it out again.
Hey! Hey, get away!
Jesus, John.
Now we're fighting school teachers.
She was never VC
until her village got bombed.
Uh, John, how the hell are we supposed to have a Thanksgiving dinner with these things?
Let's see, Spenser Tracy died.
Who said this?
I don't have no personal quarrels with those Vietcong.
Cacius Clay.
Mohammed Ali, his new name's Mohammed Ali.
Well, I don't care what he calls himself.
He dodged the draft. No negro soldier's gonna fight.
Lock his ass up.
Hey, can I just say John, uh,
what an extraordinary pad you've got here.
It's called, Harnessing the best houses in Saigon.
Oh, it's the new US Aid Program.
What the hell's that supposed to mean?
It's odd to see you in this context, that's all.
You know, when I met you with the rice paddies and peasants and now...
Well, what are you sayin'?
You accusin' me of sellin' out?
I read your articles.
Oh, have you?
Yeah, you're damn near ready to surrender.
Since when is criticism surrender?
Hey, screw that.
Nobody's been more critical how this war's been thought than me.
But you seem to think it's your duty
to spread this defeatist loser crap.
Oh! Winning and losing that's what it's all about, isn't it?
A soldier's whole purpose is to win.
I got no argument.
But you're not a soldier, John.
You're a civilian.
Come on, guys.
Mr. Vann?
Excuse me.
What sort of a man are you?
She was a good student!
Now, she's pregnant!
I love your daughter. I will take care of her.
Shall we?
I've asked General Westmoreland what more he needs to meet this mounting aggression.
He has told me and we will meet his needs.
There is an incipient uprising in this country in opposition of this war.
And it's gonna get worse.
This talk about sending over 100,000 to 200,000 more troops.
You're going to create a very serious difficulty in this country
if you people in the administration go through with that.
Captain, can you tell me where I can find Doug Ellsberg?
He's right over there.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
Hey, Doctor Doug!
Geez, you look like shit.
Thanks.
Brought you somethin'.
For the revolution.
I'm goin' home, John.
Home? What are you talkin' about.
It's only jaundice. You'll be out in a week.
Did you see this shit?
Those are marines.
Now we're the ones burning them out.
Just one damn photo.
It's more than one photo.
We're losing our souls here.
Hell, you think I agree with it?
I don't want to fight with you, John.
Come on, man. We've been through a lot together.
John, I'm goin' home.
Okay.
Well, I'm not real good at goodbyes.
Don't get killed.
Gentlemen, as you all know,
until now the Fifth Division of the Vietcong
have had sole control of the Saigon Operational Area.
These captured VC documents indicate...
Attention!
Carry on, gentlemen.
Fred.
Please continue, Mr. Vann.
I was saying that the intelligence
we now have indicates clearly that division's formerly position
in the paroot's beak area on the Cambodian border have been moved.
To here... here... here
...and here.
And now all share the Saigon theater of operation.
General, there's aerial evidence of advance movement to support this.
And what is your conclusion?
Well, sir, our conclusion is
the enemy is about to strike at the capital.
Gentlemen, that is exactly what the enemy wants us to think.
Because they're going to lay siege to the Marines here at Khe Sanh
with regular forces to trick us into believing that they're going to uh,
invade the capital with the Vietcong.
We hold back our forces,
they overrun the marines for a spectacular
victory just like they did the French.
Well that's not gonna happen on my watch, gentlemen.
Fred, I want you to have every available man ready to move up
to Khe Sanh at a moments notice.
Sir, I don't believe a strategist like General Giap
would risk his troops openly against us.
Appreciate your input, Mr. Vann.
Hundred and first, 199.
You have 'em ready, Fred.
Lee, what's wrong?
I haven't seen you for so long. I'm worried.
Look, there's a lot goin' on right now.
Let's go away together, for Tet.
We can go to my family's home, by the sea.
Please come, John.
I can't.
Who is it?
General Weyand.
Look, I'm sorry, Lee. I gotta go.
Be careful.
Yeah, go Fred.
Happy New Year.
Happy New year.
Good evening, Mr. Ambassador.
Hey, John.
Can I have a word with you, sir?
Sure.
Sir, did you receive General Weyand's alert?
No.
Are you sure?
Absolutely.
Our intelligence indicates the enemies about to plan a major offensive.
Where?
Here in Saigon, sir.
Why didn't General Westmoreland tell me this?
General Westmoreland doesn't agree with our analysis.
And I feel he is about to make a grave error in judgement.
I'll take this up with you in the morning.
Welcome, Major.
Good to see you.
Try to relax, John.
Good evening.
Help yourself to a drink, enjoy yourself.
Nice party, huh?
All that's missing is Nero and his fiddle.
Did you see who's here?
They made him a general.
Rising star at the palace, inspiring, huh?
Hi... me?
Hello, hello.
Hi, G.I.
Hello, G.I.
I really, really like you.
Shit!
Let's go. Head for the embassy.
Let's go! Let's go!
Hey, get us outta here!
You know what the hell's goin' on?
Give me that radio.
Lightening Six, this is Vann. Over.
The airport's under attack. He's up on the roof!
Well, get him on the horn, goddamnit. Over!
Wait, don't come in and out,
I'm gonna cover the south side of the field.
Come on, get those bags up here!
We have a fire! Eh!
Hey guys, we got Charlie up our ass here, where the fuck...
Holy shit!
Our guys are firin' into the embassy!
Charlie's takin' the fuckin' embassy, man!
Come on, let's go! Let's go!
Who's in charge?
Somebody down there.
Fuck this, man!
John!
Yes, sir.
I was, I was in bed...
It's unbelievable, John.
They've taken the radio station,
they're in the process of takin' over the palace.
We better get General Weyand on the horn.
It's John Vann, sir!
John, we're holding them here,
what about there?
Looks like their men are pushin' to take the whole city.
We got any troops to fight 'em with, Fred?
I kept six battalions in reserve.
I'm going to send four into the city.
Over!
That's great news!
Keep that line open.
What's happening?
We got some men. We can hold 'em.
Now CIA men and MP's have gone into the embassy
and are trying to get the snipers out.
We've got uh... two more alert forces that are trying to push him out this way,
but he's got uh, he's heavily fortified.
He's got a lot of ammo.
Two hundred and thirty-two G.I.'s killed and nine hundred wounded.
Forty one thousand in the cities attacked by the Vietcong.
Snipers and suicide commandos have the palace,
the radio stations, the Philippine Embassy, four American Villas.
...sniper fire still coming from some building...
...civilians who were caught in the bomb fire.
Annie!
Hi, baby.
You okay? The baby, okay?
Don't you worry about a thing, Gran,
I'm gonna take care of all of you.
I gotta go.
Gotta go, alright.
The official explanation that it's all an attempt to divert American forces from Khe Sanh.
The Vietcong paid dearly for the likes of rapid terrorism.
The enemy is mounting some last desperate campaign.
We're just moppin' up here.
What's the word at the radio station. Over?
I see. Real good.
Well, keep us posted. Over.
Keep this line open.
John!
We did it, Fred.
They threw their best at us and we beat 'em.
Yeah. Got a bit of training in for ya.
Just our guys uh, cleanin' up some unexploded M79 rounds.
General, the enemy appears to be trying to take over South Vietnam.
The Vietcong has very deceitfully...
taken advantage of the Tet truce in order to create maximum consteration in S. Vietnam.
Particularly in the populated areas.
John.
Mr. Ambassador.
Good work. Thank you very much.
Well, I think General Weyand is the one who should take the credit, sir.
I'm aware of that.
Thank you, Fred.
I'll tell you this, you throw a hell of a party.
A real blow out.
Yes, yes. Let's get a picture.
Yes, sir.
Get a picture.
Look at that. Come on.
I shall not seek, and I will not accept the nomination of my party
for another term as your President.
I Richard Milhous Nixon do solemnly swear
that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States.
North Vietnam cannot defeat or humiliate the United States.
Only Americans can do that.
I get really stoned and then you know,
like who cares about the war.
Gentlemen, and ladies.
As you know, General Westmoreland has returned to Washington
and General Abrahms has replaced him as Commander of ground forces.
This uh, reorganization is part of the President's Vietnamization Strategy.
Now, the new Second in Command, General Weyand
is here to brief you on the implementation of this, this phase of the war.
Gentlemen.
Excuse me.
Ambassador.
With Abrahms in and Westy out,
is this an official admission that Westmoreland's strategy was a failure.
General Westmoreland was promoted.
Ladies and gentlemen,
we now believe that the south Vietnamese are ready to take on a primary role
in driving back the enemies forces, their divisions.
North Vietnamese regulars across the Western border.
Is this an American withdrawal?
No, no.
No way can this be interpreted as a withdrawal.
Just a change of strategy.
And I have appointed the former Lieutenant Colonel, John Vann,
whom you all know.
John, please step up here.
To act as my Deputy for military functions
who will help me implement this strategy.
He will serve as a Commanding Officer for the Central Highland's Region.
But Sir, help me clarify this.
You're placing a U.S. Civilian
in command of ten divisions of south Vietnamese troops in the Central Highlands,
which is a fairly sizeable area.
While the rest of the U.S. Troops pull back?
We're not pulling back.
The South Vietnamese are moving forward.
If it's not a withdrawal, what does Vietnamization mean?
Well. That's what we're trying to explain to you if you just uh, pay attention.
John, in all fairness,
you've always been an advocate that the U.S. Take control here in Saigon, yes?
That's correct.
The Tet has proved that...
...the south Vietnamese are capable and willing to take control of this war.
The American people have been completely demoralized by recent developments.
Not at all. Not at all.
On the contrary.
Our intelligence, in fact,
indicates that it is the Vietcong who have been demoralized since Tet.
Wait. I'm highly confused
and I find this contradictory because in fact,
with this restructuring the south Vietnamese
are not in command but you are, Mr. Vann,
while the U.S. Forces go out the back door.
No one is going out the back door, I can assure you.
Will any American soldiers be going home?
Certainly, if the Vietnamese people assume greater responsibility for the war effort,
there will be some reassignment of U.S. Support personnel.
John, did you meet with President Nixon and discuss Vietnamization.
I met the President, yes.
So, was it his policy, or your policy?
The policy of the United States government.
U.S. Policy has not changed from day one in terms of our involvement
in helping the people of the Republic of Vietnam.
Nixon ordered all American Combat
troops out of Vietnam by June of 1972.
The south Vietnamese, although backed by American air support and advisors
would have to fight the war themselves.
Ten years down the road, we were back to where we started.
But this time, John Paul Vann was in charge.
Intelligence said that the enemies's moved large numbers of troops.
Maybe five divisions down the Ho Chi Minh trail to here.
We also know that there's heavy artillery,
even tanks further north.
I see what they're after.
If they can break through the line here and head for the sea,
they'll have cut our forces in half
and have a clear shot at Saigon.
The south Vietnamese troops can't hold the line, so.
South Vietnamese are good soldiers,
they just need some goddamn leadership.
Oh, they'll hold the line.
We'll do one better.
We might turn this whole goddamn thing around.
I think ol' General Giap's about to mistake we've been makin' all along.
He's gonna try to fight this thing in a conventional fashion.
If we can persuade him to send his troops out of these hills around Kontum...
He'll be vulnerable and that's where we can crush him.
I don't know, John.
I do, Fred.
I do!
...I've never seen anything so clear.
I've been waitin' for a moment like this all my life.
Yeah, what can I do for you?
I would like to have a word with Vann, please.
General.
It's okay, let him through.
I'd like an interview, John.
I don't have time.
Okay, I'll make it quick.
Do you intend to carpet bomb around Kontum with B-52's?
That's operational information.
That was a line of bullshit you fed us.
About the peasants and the revolution,
and I bought it.
I still believe it.
But you're gonna bomb with B52's?
How can you say that?
It's wrong, John. It's wrong!
Wrong?
It's the same goddamn war it was back in 62',
you were there.
Why didn't you say it was wrong then?
Shit.
You and the fuckin' Kennedy's.
The good old boys who sent us here.
Now you all wanna change your minds,
because there's blood and guts on TV.
Well, I don't have that luxury.
I've got 50,000 people in Kontum who's lives are on the line because of us.
They can't change their minds, can they?
I gave those people my word.
And I'm gonna do everything I can to save 'em.
Let's go.
Colonel Ba.
Welcome, sir.
Rank Drummond's, I thought they retired you.
Well, retirement seems to be sittin' pretty good with you, John.
Thanks for requesting me, buddy.
My pleasure.
Major Deryl Jones, sir.
Major Jones.
Finally, I got a fighting team I can be proud of.
Well, gentlemen. Let's get to work.
This way.
And hut!
Gentlemen, Senior Advisor.
At ease, men.
Alright, listen up everyone.
We are gonna hold the line here at Tan Canh.
Then mount a stage retreat back to where we are at Kontum.
That will pull these north Vietnamese divisions out of the hills
and when they do, we are gonna call in the B-52's
and carpet bomb each of these squares.
We are gonna wipe out the second, third
and fifth division of the north Vietnamese army.
My old colleague, Colonel Ba
will conduct the forward command defense and withdrawal.
This is General Giap. Commander of the NVA.
He's a genius.
He's never been beaten.
Until now.
I've studied this man for ten years.
And we are gonna whip his ass, you know why?
Because he wastes his men.
Pours 'em away like piss in the wind.
There's not a man in this room,
not a man on that line out there I wouldn't die for.
No matter what we've done with our lives,
you and I can be proud today
because we have the noblest of all professions.
We are soldiers.
The good Lord said it all about us.
He said, No greater love has a man,
than he lay down his life for another.
And by God, this day will not end
that I will see you all safely through it,
and we will hold this ground!
Redirect that fire at fifteen!
Yeah.
Yes, sir.
Sustained border and small arms fire. Over.
Get me a sit rep from forward command.
Kontum forward. Kontum command. Sit rep. Over.
The enemies's still five hundred yards from our immediate front.
We're holdin' 'em here.
Roger that, Major.
Good work.
Tell Colonel Ba we will withdraw in one hour. Over.
Ba, what the hell are you doin' here?
Why aren't you at your post!?
I've been replaced, sir.
Who the hell's in charge of the ARVN?
Who's the General?
It's General Chinch, sir.
Tell him I'm on my way!
Yes, sir.
This is contact forward.
The six hatch on route to you fix. Out.
Contact says Vann's on the way out.
Let's go!
Forward command! Step on it!
What the fuck was that!
Okay, we've got an enemy tank here. We have an enemy tank.
There's a tank! There's a fuckin' tank!
Got an enemy tank on our rear.
There are no enemy tanks reported in this sector.
Fuck you, son!
I'm tellin' you there's goddamn tank up here!
How long to the LZ?
We're two minutes, out.
Well, let's go.
Get a move on!
They may be cut off up there, goddamnit!
Hey, get back here!
Frank, how long you think you can hold us there?
Chinch is runnin', he's runnin' like a sonovabitch.
Get out, Frank!
Yep. Yep. We're fixin' to do that.
Goddamn that asshole!
Goddamnit!
Let's go!
Everybody's out!
Go!
Pull back!
Let's go!
Blow this fuckin' place!
Blowin' it, Frank!
Go!!!!
Go! Go!
My God, they've blown it, sir!
There! There!
Jesus Christ, it's a mine field!
Jesus Christ!
Take her down!
But, sir.
I said, take her down!
There!
Right here, put her down!
Comin' around. Comin' around!
Frank!
Kontum, goin' down into a mine field.
Enemy 300 yards,
we need support. Over.
Frank, come on!
Get up there, son!
Come on, get him in!
Come on! Come on!
Frank!
Frank, hold on.
Grab his arm.
Frank, let's see...
You're okay.
Let's get him up!
Okay. Got it?
Okay, let's go! Let's go! Let's go!
Damnit! Hold on!
Hold on, Frank!
It's a tank!
They're comin' around on us.
Come on! Come on!
Come on, let's move it! We gotta go!
Okay!
Hold on!
Ba, get these man back to their posts!
What's the meaning of this?
Sir, we've been ordered to withdrawal.
Withdrawal, nothin'!
Get Bomber Command on the horn!
Sir, the enemy has already passed the coordinates.
Give 'em these new coordinates.
Standby.
1586/1580.
Sir, that, that's us.
Call it in!
1-5-8-6, 1-5-8-0.
Soldier, let me have a look.
That's correct.
Yes, we know.
Sir, they want confirmation.
We don't have time for this horseshit,
we're about to be overrun, just do it!
Senior advisor says, Go.
Recon, Skyhawk.
Enemy is now one mile.
Recon, Skyhawk.
Enemy now eight hundred yards, over.
Major, here they come.
Colonel, let's get ready.
Come on. Come on. Come on.
Come on. Come on.
Where you get your luck?
Ba, let's get these men organized.
Get out there and see what's left.
Here he is now.
What is all this?
Congratulations, John.
That was a hell of an action.
Mr. Ambassador.
John, the President asked me to come
and convey his and our country's appreciation.
Thank you, sir.
John, step right this way.
We have a little surprise here for you.
John, President Thiew.
Mr. President.
The people of Vietnam are grateful for your help in defending our country.
I'm honored. Thank you.
Congratulations, John. You deserve it.
Well, this was great, Fred.
But I better be getting' back.
You sure?
Yeah... Duty calls.
Good luck, John.
You know, Fred. We can win this thing.
You bet.
I'm not here to supply gossip for your newspaper.
Yes. But...
Excuse me one moment.
John!
Congratulations.
Thank you.
I have something that might interest you.
Former Vietnam veteran,
Douglas Ellsberg claimed
the US government has conspired to deceive the American people
in order to pursue an illegal war in Vietnam.
Well, I'll be damned.
Well, at least someone's prepared to stop pedaling the lie.
Well, now, what lie would that be?
That we're here to solve Vietnam's problems.
We're the problem and that's the truth.
Well, you see, Steven,
there's your truth and there's my truth.
And they're two different things.
All I know is up that road is old General Giap,
and when he and I speak to each other, we never lie.
General Giap and you?
John,
John, the war's not about warriors anymore.
It's about children and women and rice paddies.
And you know who told me that?
You did.
I gotta go.
I got men holdin' the line up there.
...repeat, frequent winds and rain storms. Over.
Boss, we really don't have the weather.
Come on. Let's go.
Hello?
No.
He's dead?
How, I was just...
Oh, man.
John Paul Vann, was America's warrior.
He personified our good intentions,
our arrogance, our courage,
and ultimately our folly.
He had fought to redeem the unredeemable.
To salvage the doomed enterprise called south Vietnam.
In death, he had triumphed over defeat
while the rest of us are left to ask, Why?