...We Were Soldiers vs. Platoon After watching both of these films I noticed how combat was portrayed in the movie Platoon was different from the movie we were soldiers In the movie we were soldiers it was portrayed around several different officers it was focused on them and how they carried out their mission and how they took care of their men also they showed how on a platoon level and squad level were able to follow the battalion commander on the battlefield some example of the officers such as Lieutenant Colonel Hal Moore, Sergeant Major Basil L. Plumley EST. However you tend to lose track of the different officers such as Lt. Herrick that charged up the hill and leads his platoon after a scout and then got himself shoot and his platoon sergeant shoot also and then it focuses the action around Sergeant Ernie Savage how assumes command of what’s left of his platoon after almost being slaughtered and calls in artillery and uses the cover of night to keep the Vietnamese from over-running their small defensive position. In the movie Platoon the movie really centered on the enlisted man the officers were not seen in the movie a lot like we were soldiers and the officers did not to be takecare of their men and in the movie as much as we were soldiers it mainly focused on that one platoon or the squad of soldiers, the interaction between the members of the squad, the squad leader and the platoon sergeant within just that squad I believe that one of the most...
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...We Were Soldiers vs. Platoon After watching both of these films I noticed how combat was portrayed in the movie Platoon was different from the movie we were soldiers In the movie we were soldiers it was portrayed around several different officers it was focused on them and how they carried out their mission and how they took care of their men also they showed how on a platoon level and squad level were able to follow the battalion commander on the battlefield some example of the officers such as Lieutenant Colonel Hal Moore, Sergeant Major Basil L. Plumley EST. However you tend to lose track of the different officers such as Lt. Herrick that charged up the hill and leads his platoon after a scout and then got himself shoot and his platoon sergeant shoot also and then it focuses the action around Sergeant Ernie Savage how assumes command of what’s left of his platoon after almost being slaughtered and calls in artillery and uses the cover of night to keep the Vietnamese from over-running their small defensive position. In the movie Platoon the movie really centered on the enlisted man the officers were not seen in the movie a lot like we were soldiers and the officers did not to be takecare of their men and in the movie as much as we were soldiers it mainly focused on that one platoon or the squad of soldiers, the interaction between the members of the squad, the squad leader and the platoon sergeant within just that squad I believe that one of the most...
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...Movie Review We Were Soldiers Burt Thomas Liberty University CRIS303 – B01 Movie Review We Were Soldiers We Were Soldiers is a movie written and directed by Randall White. It is based on a book, We Were Soldiers Once…and Young: Ia Drang, the Battle That Changed the War in Vietnam by Lt. Col. Hal Moore and Joe Galloway. It details the account of both men, as well as the men under Moore’s command during the battle of the Ia Drang Valley. The battle takes place early in the Viet Nam War and the movie provides a historical, as well as dramatic recount of the battle and the lives of the men who fought it. Movie Synopsis A narrator begins the movie by retelling the story of the French involvement in the early days of the Viet Nam War. There is a graphic depiction of violence as the French soldiers are killed, and the viewer is briefly introduced to Lt. Col. Nguyen Huu An. Lt. Col An would later command the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) soldiers during the battle with Moore’s soldiers. Eleven years later, the army is establishing an air cavalry division and Lt. Col. Moore is selected to command them. Mel Gibson, in the role of Lt. Col. Moore enlists the help of Maj. Bruce “Snake” Crandall, played by Greg Kinnear. Crandall’s crew of pilots is made up of a motley group of men and his pilots and equipment are considered to be some of the best in the Army at the time. The division is redesignated as the 7th Cavalry, and Moore notes the irony in its designation - this is the same...
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...Essay Patrick Rogers Patrick Rogers Compare and Contrast Essay 27 June 2015 The Two books that I have chosen to write about in my compare and contrast essay are “Chickenhawk,” by Robert Mason and “We Were Soldiers Once...and Young: Ia Drang - The Battle That Changed the War in Vietnam,” by BG Harold G. Moore (Ret) and Joseph L. Galloway. These two books focus on the Vietnam War and more importantly the 1st Cavalry Divisions time in the Vietnam war. Both books are autobiographies written from a soldier’s point of view and both offer a unique look at life for different types of soldiers during the Vietnam War during the same period of time (1965) and even during the same Battles (Ia Drang Valley). Chickenhawk, by Mason, is written from the point of view of a huey “slick” pilot in the army’s first use of air assault or airmobile techniques. The book begins with Mason starting his career in the army and his transition through flight school and eventually making his way to the Vietnam War. The majority of the book focuses on his time in Vietnam and the daily life of an Army Huey pilot in the 1st Cav as well as his transfer to the “Blue Stars”, which occurs at the end of his tour. The last few chapters of the book discuss his time after Vietnam. “We Were Soldiers Once...and Young: Ia Drang - The Battle That Changed the War in Vietnam,” by Moore and Galloway is written from the point of view of Moore, an army infantry Lieutenant Colonel and Galloway a combat photographer...
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...Joseph L. Galloway and the Realities of War Corresponding Abstract War corresponding is an essential part of journalism in today’s society. War correspondents risk their lives to report the events of war. It is a very challenging job, and not everyone is cut out for it. One significant war correspondent of the 20th century is Joseph L. Galloway. He spent most of his working career dealing with war, with his most notable achievements being reporting from the front lines of the battle at Landing Zone X-ray in the Ia Drang Valley during the Vietnam War, being a best selling author, and receiving the Bronze Star Medal with Valor for his courage at the aforementioned battle. Joseph L. Galloway and the Realities of War Corresponding War correspondents have been around as long as the journalism career and as long as there have been wars to report. The first war correspondent is said to be Willem van de Velde. In 1653, he took a small boat across the sea to observe a naval battle between the English and the Dutch (War correspondent). War corresponding has come a long way since those days. With every war comes more and more correspondents to cover the news, battles, and outcomes. “War correspondents help the public understand the consequences of government policy, military strategy, and battlefield tactics (Steele, B)”. Without them, the rest of the world would be left in the dark and be unaware of the events of major wars. War correspondents play a crucial yet dangerous...
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...War is a military response to a political situation. War and the battles which comprise those wars are often recorded in history, and those wars seem to be embedded into the human condition. Plato said, "Only the dead have seen the end of war." So as long as humans are around, there will be war, and therefore, people to tell the stories of the wars and the battles that are part of our history. The broad specter of war is often recorded as sterilized and impersonal narration dealing with politics, strategies and reasoning to explain the how and the why of battles. Such accounts are often written by historians that were not present at the battle or were safely experiencing it from a safe remote command center far from the killing. "We Were Soldiers Once...And Young" is a historical biography written by retired Lieutenant General Hal Moore and UPI Reporter Joe Galloway that recalls the events of the first major battle of the Vietnam War. The battle took place in the Ia Drang Valley between November 14 and November 18, 1965 at two landing zones northwest of Plei Me in the central Highlands of South Vietnam (approximately 35 miles south-west of Pleiku). The battle derives its name from the Drang River which runs through the valley northwest of Plei Me, in which the engagement took place. "Ia" means "river" in the local Montagnard language. The battle was fought between the US 7'th Cavalry's newly established Air Mobile forces and a mixture of Viet-Cong guerilla's and highly trained...
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...However, while war is sometimes necessary to acquire lasting peace, the immediate after-effects of war are both physically and mentally devastating to the soldiers and to their families who mourn over them. While war affects all people in an individual different sense, the biggest number of people that are touched by war are those on the front lines: the soldiers. The brutality and destruction of war can be easily shown though the movie “We Were Soldiers” in which American forces face off against the Vietnamese in Ia Drang Valley. The battle depicted in the film lasts multiple days and illustrates the deaths and maiming of hundreds of American and Vietnamese soldiers. The brutal, physical pain shown in the film and endured by the soldiers is unparalleled, as many of them almost did not come home alive at all. A small fraction of the original number of soldiers returned home alive after the battle, as the biggest sacrifices of war falls on the shoulders of those who serve. Yet while a large portion of those...
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...Page 1 English 101 Sec 80655 4 April 2014 The Deer Hunter vs. We were Soldiers: The Evolution of War in Films In The Deer Hunter directed by Michael Cimino and We were Soldiers directed by Randall Wallace, both have plots that take place during the Vietnam War, involve the military, societal changes, and familial bonds. The message of each film essentially is sacrifice. The Deer Hunter and We were Soldiers use a group of three protagonists to convey its theme of sacrifice. When we take a closer look at them though we can see past the explosions and carnage that accompany most epic war films and see how war is depicted in a changing society. Society has dramatically changed since the post-Vietnam era of the 1970’s when The Deer Hunter was made, to the ultra patriotic times of an immediate post- 9/11 era when We were Soldiers was made . By demonstrating the differences between these films in the way that the military, society and family are depicted we see an evolvement of the way war is portrayed on film. First let’s take a look at the way the military is portrayed in The Deer Hunter. Having been made in a time of post-Vietnam The Deer Hunter depicts the military with the attitude of the times, in that the military was not looking out for our nation’s and soldier’s best interests. Cimino‘s depiction is of an army made up of men drafted into service. They are fulfilling their duty and making the sacrifices...
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...A good story about war doesn't just tell the war side of the story, yet the human and individual side of the story. Tim O'Brien's book, The Things They Carried, and the film, We Were Soldiers, coordinated by Randall Wallace, both make an extraordinary showing of telling a good war story. Despite the fact that O'Brien's is in print regardless he made an extraordinary showing with getting a lot of point of interest into the book and painting a picture for the reader. One comparison that can be made is the relationship between O'Brien and his girl in the book, and Mel Gibson and his little girl in the film. The little girl in the movie helped me to remember Kathleen from the book in light of the fact that she asked plenty of...
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...difficulties when deciding whether soldiers served honorably or dishonorably during the Vietnam War. Lt. Gen. Harold G. Moore, Joseph L. Galloway, and John Kerry depict the service of U.S. soldiers through conflicting viewpoints. Vietnam Veterans against the War, written by John Kerry, depicts the war accurately because it displays the negative manner in which soldiers served. Soldiers served dishonorably during the Vietnam War because highly decorated soldiers were accused of war crimes, body counts soared, and soldiers were unable to sympathize with the people of Vietnam. The Vietnam War brought dishonor upon U.S. soldiers as several highly decorated veterans were accused of crimes against the Vietnamese. Many reflected on the times they had raped, cut off heads, and even tore through villages in a manner similar to Genghis Khan. Soldiers imposed their will upon the Vietnamese by bombing and destroying the countryside of Vietnam. Destroying the countryside brought disgrace to U.S. soldiers as they failed to realize the significance of farming to the Vietnamese. Thousands of jobs were lost and the farmers of Vietnam were unable...
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...20th century were enthusiastic. Everyone believed the war would last a few short months and the soldiers would be home by Christmas. However, as the war progressed, the soldiers quickly realized that these high expectations were not going to be met. Soldiers were dying at a rapid pace and with much of the war being fought in trenches, muddy areas, and cold weathers, diseases were killing soldiers just as quickly as the war was. The enthusiasm quickly faded and the results showed the reality of how ruthless the war was for the soldiers and the countries they were fighting for. As thousands of soldiers died and several of those who survived, suffered from shell shock, the reality of the war and...
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...‘All Quiet on the Western Front’, by Erich Remarque tells the story of life for a soldier on and off of the battlefield. This novel has left many people rethinking war and how it has impacted on people today. The close bonds with the dead comrades, the lost generation and the realisation of who they are fighting are all things impacting the soldiers emotionally and physically. The way Remarque writes this novel shows that it is a powerful anti-war novel filled with physical horrors, blood, sweat and tears. In this novel, Remarque describes the war as horrific as it affects many soldiers physically due to the constant fighting against the enemy. For Paul and his friends, it is extremely common to walk by dead soldiers and have the scent of blood fill...
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...Amamie Obebieruan Jason Schaaf Modern Themes in History November, 18 2014 Paper 2: Diary of a Napoleonic Foot Soldier In his “Diary of a Napoleonic Foot Soldier” Jakob Walter writes about his experience as a foot soldier of Napoleon’s army during the campaign of 1806 and 1807, 1809, 1812 and 1813. As a diary, his purpose is not to expose his experience to the public, and as a result appears too simple to be written for historical purposes. Walter wrote it more like he was writing to his family, informing them of his hardship and his troubles; his every day experience and activity as a soldier. Being forcefully taken from his home, Walter is indifferent about the victories and failures of Napoleon’s army. He survives mainly because he wanted to reunite with his family; and not for the honor of being a soldier who fought alongside with the great Napoleon’s army. Walter’s diary is used to analyze the historical battles of Napoleon because in details shows the lives of the lowly soldiers and how they were treated during this time; however it doesn’t show credibility because only the perspective of an indifferent religious soldier is seen. We know from Walter’s diary that he is a Catholic. It is even surprising that he is fighting a war which is against his religion; however we could say he was forced into the army but the things he did while he was in the army, those he was not forced to. All the time him and his comrades invade the houses of the poor villagers and steal...
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...Amamie Obebieruan Jason Schaaf Modern Themes in History November, 18 2014 Paper 2: Diary of a Napoleonic Foot Soldier In his “Diary of a Napoleonic Foot Soldier” Jakob Walter writes about his experience as a foot soldier of Napoleon’s army during the campaign of 1806 and 1807, 1809, 1812 and 1813. As a diary, his purpose is not to expose his experience to the public, and as a result appears too simple to be written for historical purposes. Walter wrote it more like he was writing to his family, informing them of his hardship and his troubles; his every day experience and activity as a soldier. Being forcefully taken from his home, Walter is indifferent about the victories and failures of Napoleon’s army. He survives mainly because he wanted to reunite with his family; and not for the honor of being a soldier who fought alongside with the great Napoleon’s army. Walter’s diary is used to analyze the historical battles of Napoleon because in details shows the lives of the lowly soldiers and how they were treated during this time; however it doesn’t show credibility because only the perspective of an indifferent religious soldier is seen. We know from Walter’s diary that he is a Catholic. It is even surprising that he is fighting a war which is against his religion; however we could say he was forced into the army but the things he did while he was in the army, those he was not forced to. All the time him and his comrades invade the houses of the poor villagers and steal...
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...thousands of child soldiers are put on the front lines each day. Their lives put at risk for values most of they don't even believe in. We don’t allow child soldiers in the U.S., let alone, capturing and beating children to become soldiers. Child soldiers have been around for hundreds of years. Why has it taken us so long to notice that we should do something. So why have we let other countries capture kids and use them on the battlefield? Ten-year-olds in the U.S. are running around on the playground, playing cars and enjoying childhood while other ten-year-olds are being scarred for life with gruesome images of war. Child soldiers are robbed of their childhood and of their childlike qualities; one of the...
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