Metsker we were soldiers book

Hal moore ret and the movie of the same name starring mel gibson, tell the story of the assault on the ia drang valley, vietnam, by the 1st battalion, 7th cavalry, on november 14th, 1965. In we were soldiers, a 2002 film based on his 1992 book, galloway is portrayed by actor barry pepper. Ive written many a story, and a couple of books, about wars and rumors of wars, but this is my first real love story. More than any other movie of its kind, we were soldiers does justice to the veterans and families. Then, nguyen huu an orders the execution of all surviving french soldiers to discourage any further french involvement. Galloway published by harperperennial in 1993 in november 1965, some 450 men of the 1st battalion, 7th cavalry, under the command of then lieutenant colonel harold g. Capt thomas curtis metsker vietnam veterans memorial. Galloway, it dramatizes the battle of ia drang on november 14, 1965.

Almost as soon as they arrived, american forces were engaged in a series of constant contact. Moore retired and upi reporter joe galloway played in the film by barry pepper. A great follow up to their book we were soldiers once. The war cliches are laid on a bit thick, but the movie succeeds at putting a human face on soldiers of both sides in the vietnam war.

Harold moore, were dropped into a small clearing in the ia drang valley. He is featured in the book and movie we were soldiers once and young. Joe galloways awardwinning account of a bloody vietnam battle became a book and. We were soldiers 49 movie clip moving into the valley of. The story of the first major battle of the american phase of the vietnam war, and the soldiers on both sides that fought it, while their wives wait nervously and. We were soldiers starts out with a french unit on patrol during the final year of the first indochina war in the year 1954. If you are the publisher or author of this book and feel. The second author, joe galloway, was a upi the book opens with five pages listing those killed in the pleiku campaign in october and november 1965 when the war in. We are soldiers still goodreads meet your next favorite book. Ia drang the battle that changed the war in vietnam harold g. Galloway, this compelling war drama depicts the true story of the first major battle between the united states and north vietnamese forces.

We were soldiers 49 movie clip moving into the valley. Apr 29, 2019 the battle of ia drang inspired the critically acclaimed book we were soldiers once and young, which was turned into a similarly titled movie, we were soldiers, in 2002. Armys 7th air cavalry in 1965, when american troops were first becoming directly involved in fighting north vietnamese soldiers. We were soldiers is a 2002 american war film directed by randall wallace and starring mel gibson. Marine corps selects one book that he believes is both relevant and timeless for reading by all marines. With mel gibson, madeleine stowe, greg kinnear, sam elliott.

We all shave in my outfit reporters included, he snapped. When the citadel foundation hosted a fundraising dinner and screening of we were soldiers to benefit the thomas c. The army field morgues were choked with the bodies of more than 230 soldiers wrapped in their green rubber ponchos. They were immediately surrounded by 2,000 north vietnamese soldiers. We were soldiers hangs on to the less problematic figures of the war movie the concerned commander, the tough, loveable sergeantmajor, the dedicated subaltern. Galloway and moore wrote a second book, we are soldiers still, which he said grew out of a journey back to the battlefields of vietnam 25 years later. Metsker, bob ouellette, al bosse, and interpreter mr. We didnt want any live enemy between us and the platoon like the day before. Tom met catherine laplante on a blind date and they fell madly in love and got married. Moore retired and upi reporter joe galloway played in.

Like the war stories, it is something i have lived. Previous credits for pepper include his roles as a sharpshooter in saving private ryan and as yankee slugger roger maris in the hbo film 61. In november 1965, some 450 men of the 1st battalion, 7th. Actor edward burns portrayed him in the miniseries vietnam in hd, and tommy lee jones played him in the 2017 film shock and awe. The film chronicles the famous battle of ia drang valley in south vietnams central highlands. A journey back to the battlefields of vietnam and moore and galloway gave an interview on the book at the pritzker military library on september 17, 2008.

Three days later, only two and a half miles away, a sister battalion was brutally slaughtered. Galloway the random house publishing group, 1992 steve heiser u. Joe galloways award winning account of a bloody vietnam battle became a book and. The story of the first major battle of the american phase of the vietnam war and the soldiers on both sides that fought it. Directed and written by randall wallace, based on the book we were soldiers once. Feb 22, 2002 we were soldiers the commencement of the united states direct combat role in vietnam is painted in a mixture of brutal, personal, heroic, tragic and, at times, corny and cliched terms in we were. Hal moore, were dropped by helicopter into a small clearing in the ia drang valley. The battle of ia drang inspired the critically acclaimed book we were soldiers once and young, which was turned into a similarly titled movie, we were soldiers, in 2002. Galloway is known for his work on we were soldiers 2002, small town boy, real american hero 2011 and there must be some kind of way outta here. When the book that i coauthored with my friend and captaininbattle, lieutenant general ret hal moore, we were soldiers once and young, was turned into a movie last year, millions came to know a great deal about the battle of landing zone xray in the ia drang valley in november 1965. Having served with an infantry unit in vietnam 173rd air. After we were soldiers was released, some claimed that it was a waste to make a film about a war that simply was a waste of lives. During midnovember 1965, moore then a lieutenant colonel led 450 officers and men from the us armys 1st cavalry division into the ia drang valley, a trackless waste near vietnams border with cambodia that served as a communist sanctuary and infiltration route into vietnams central highlands. We used grenades extensively and radioed savage that we were doing so.

Based on the bestselling book which details the events of the battle of lz xray in the ia drang valley. He tom metsker risked his life, ultimately gave up his life up, that someone else. We were soldiers, directed by randall wallace and starring mel gibson, takes us along with the u. Introduction in november 1965, the 7th cavalry regiment of the u. We were soldiers is a 2002 american war film that dramatized the battle of ia drang in november 1965, the first major engagement of american forces in the vietnam war. Galloway immediately repurposed his coffee water for shaving. The unit gets ambushed by north vietnamese army forces who kill the commanding officers and the unit is overrun. He wrote the oscarnominated script for 1995s braveheart, which starred and was directed by gibson. Atlantic broadband tv on the go movies we were soldiers. Meet the cast and learn more about the stars of we were soldiers with exclusive news, pictures, videos and more at. The film was directed by randall wallace and stars mel gibson. Galloway, this compelling war drama depicts the true story of the.

In november 1965, some 450 men of the first battalion, seventh cavalry, under the command of lt. We were soldiers the commencement of the united states direct combat role in vietnam is painted in a mixture of brutal, personal, heroic, tragic. From a letter written by randall wallace, director of we were soldiers, to joe. Their baby girl, karen doranne metsker, was just 17 months old when tom was killed in the ia drang valley. Based on the book we were soldiers once and young 1992 by lieutenant general ret. Oct 20, 1991 the lead author, hal moore, was a lieutenant colonel in the 1st calvary division, one of the units at the front of the battle about which we were soldiers once and young is written. Thanks to joe galloway, who was the only reporter at the battle of the ia drang, in 1965, and who, in conjunction with the commanding officer, lt.

Capt thomas curtis metsker 19391965 find a grave memorial. In reality, there were 304 americans kia in the pleiku campaign ia drang valley. Feb 24, 2012 we were soldiers is based on the book we were soldiers once. I am amazed that armchair warriors are often so far off of the mark on describing combat. Is the film we were soldiers an accurate depiction of. It is a film about uncommon valor and nobility under fire, loyalty among soldiers, and the heroism and sacrifice of men and. During the 80s and early 90s, he researched and wrote a book, we were soldiers once. More than 240 maimed and wounded troopers moved slowly along the chain from battlefield aid station to medical clearing station to field hospital, and onto the ambulance transport planes. As a result of this book, in 2002, a we were soldiers, the movie was and the story was retold to a greater audience grossing over us 144 million worldwide. Moore, a devout catholic who is as devoted a commander as he is a father. This picture is in the book, we were soldiers once, and young. Biography notes director randall wallace worked with mel gibson before, on another movie about men at war.

The lead author, hal moore, was a lieutenant colonel in the 1st calvary division, one of the units at the front of the battle about which we were soldiers once and young is written. Based upon the bestselling book we were soldiers once. Based on the book we were soldiers once and young 1992 by. Joseph lee galloway born november, 1941 is an american newspaper correspondent. These 304 americans are listed in the book we were soldiers once. I smiled when i saw that apocalypse now and platoon being accurate depictions of combat in vietnam. We were soldiers is a 2002 film about the battle of ia drang in vietnam in november, 1965 the first clash between a force of us troops and the peoples army of vietnam and the start of americas commitment to the vietnam war directed and written by randall wallace, based on the book we were soldiers once. We were soldiers is a 2002 american war film that dramatizes the battle of ia drang on november 14, 1965. Metsker leadership education fund, writers, family members, and classmates alike marked the occasion. Moore was asked to develop the air cavalry, a system for using helicopters in combat. We grenaded our way up to the 2nd platoon position. The story of the first major battle of the american phase of the vietnam war, and the soldiers on both sides that fought it, while their wives wait nervously and anxiously at home for the good news or the bad news.

According to hal moore, we were soldiers is the only movie to get it right. Reviews of the book versus movie illustrated some differences and although there was some artistic license taken when creating the movie, many vietnam veterans claimed that they got it. The new york times bestseller, hailed as a powerful and epic story. Citadel foundation hosts program to honor thomas metzger. Rather than being a characterdriven narrative that reads almost like a novel, like stephen ambroses books, we were soldiers is a painstaking, minutebyminute, personbyperson account of the battle.

Basil plumley, matt dillon, hal moore, tom metsker. The real story of mel gibsons we were soldiers, the battle. The whisky was flowing, along with the tears and laughter, and these veterans, most nearing 50, some missing an arm or leg, many with the combat infantrymans badge pinned to lapels, were fumbling. Citadel graduates heroic death ends in love story by joseph l. Is the film we were soldiers an accurate depiction of the. He led the americans into their first major engagement in viet nam. Rescuing the lost platoon ia drang the battle that. A total of three soldiers were awarded the medal of honor for the battle represented in this film. The commandants choice for 1993 was we were soldiers once. When the book that i coauthored with my friend and captaininbattle, lieutenant general ret hal moore, we were soldiers once and young. We were soldiers is based on the book we were soldiers once. Metsker leadership education fund was created to honor the late tom metsker, 61. In november 1965, some 450 men of the 1st battalion, 7th cavalry, under the command of lt. Hal moore, wrote the book we were soldiers once, and young, which was published almost three decades after the battle, we now have a fairly accurate and objective picture of the battle.