He had been wounded and was aboard a helicopter leaving the lz when he saw stretcher bearers bringing gravely wounded capt. Based upon the bestselling book we were soldiers once. In 1965, my dad had just graduated from high school in wichita, kansas. The story of the first major battle of the american phase of the vietnam war and the soldiers on both sides that fought it. Galloway, about the battle of ia drang, which lasted over a month, from october 23rd to november 26th, 1965. 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.
Ai 26jun2001 state and main 26aug2000 doug mackenzie magnolia 8dec1999 the adventures of sebastian cole 11sep1998 the spanish prisoner 8sep1997. The north vietnamese army regulars were the most experienced and hardened vietnamese soldiers. Some of the medevac choppers refused to go into the battle because it was so dangerous. The men, women, and children of this story are americas neighbors, living quiet lives in every corner of the nation they served. More than any other movie of its kind, we were soldiers does justice to the.
Metsker leadership education fund was created to honor the late tom metsker, 61. Tom got out, gave his place to captain ray lefebvre, and, as he stood in the doorway, tom metsker was shot in the back by an enemy sniper. He tom metsker risked his life, ultimately gave up his life up, that someone. During the vietnam war, despite having reached retirement age while managing to survive two wars, army capt. We were soldiers, fuimos soldados, wir waren helden description. Capt thomas curtis metsker 19391965 find a grave memorial. Sgm plumley was a soldiers soldier, with five combat jumps in three wars and an astounding three combat infantry badges.
It comprised two main engagements, centered on two previously scouted helicopter landing zones lzs, known as lz xray and lz albany. Randall wallace actiondramamovie usa,germany 2002 cast. It is a film about uncommon valor and nobility under fire, loyalty among soldiers, and the heroism and sacrifice of men and. Basil plumley, matt dillon, hal moore author of the book, and tom metsker. When the citadel foundation hosted a fundraising dinner and screening of we were soldiers to benefit the thomas c. Tom met catherine laplante on a blind date and they fell madly in love and got married. This is the story of the battle at ia drang which tom died in.
Over 55,000 american soldiers died in the vietnam war as well as 70. The story of the first major battle of the american phase of the. Overview the story of the first major battle of the american phase of the vietnam war and the soldiers on both sides that fought it. Galloway, this compelling war drama depicts the true story of the. We were soldiers fino allultimo uomo streaming gratis.
It is based on the book we were soldiers once and young by lieutenant general hal moore and reporter joseph l. 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. Tom got out to help load ray onto the huey and while doing that was shot and mortally wounded. We were soldiers 2002 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. We were soldiers the commencement of the united states direct combat role in vietnam is painted in a mixture of brutal, personal, heroic, tragic. We were soldiers hit close to home because my dad and his friend donald were in this very same battle. Metsker leadership education fund, writers, family members, and classmates alike marked the occasion. Clark gregg 1962 film deaths we were soldiers 2002 capt. We were soldiers is a 2002 war film that dramatizes the battle of ia drang on november 14, 1965. Based on the book we were soldiers once and young 1992 by lieutenant general ret. Though there is some hollywood embellishment, surprisingly realistic telling.
From a letter written by randall wallace, director of we were soldiers, to joe galloway when the citadel foundation hosted a fundraising dinner and screening of we were soldiers to benefit the thomas c. He is featured in the book and movie we were soldiers once and young. But in we were soldiers we see a hierarchical military unit. When the book that i coauthored with my friend and captaininbattle, lieutenant general ret hal moore, we were soldiers once and young. Introduction in november 1965, the 7th cavalry regiment of the u. Kneeling from left to right are and unidentified trooper and radio operator bob ouellette. Your donation to the vietnam veterans memorial fund will help expand our mission to honor, educate and heal. Galloway, this compelling war drama depicts the true story of the first major battle between the united states and north vietnamese forces. In 1994, moore, galloway and men who fought on both the american and north vietnamese sides, traveled back to the remote jungle clearings where the battle took place. From a letter written by randall wallace, director of we were soldiers, to joe galloway. Although most of the focus is on the american troops and, unusually for a vietnam combat movie, their families.
We were soldiers ia drang battle in viet nam icon productions and the book, we were soldiers once and young lt. The battle of ia drang was the first major battle between the united states army and the peoples army of vietnam pavn, also referred to as the north vietnamese army nva, and was part of the pleiku campaign conducted early in the vietnam war. He fell forward into the helicopter, and, as it took off, toms legs dangled out of that bird. The film was directed by randall wallace and stars mel gibson. Tom metsker josh daugherty sp4 robert ouellette duong don lt. Ia drang the battle that changed the war in vietnam by harold g. 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. Atlantic broadband tv on the go movies we were soldiers. We were soldiers not only has respect and admiration for the u. Perhaps you have heard of the recently released movie, we were soldiers. Based on the book we were soldiers once and young 1992 by. Their baby girl, karen doranne metsker, was just 17 months old when tom was killed in the ia drang valley. 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.
The story of the first major battle of the american phase of the vietnam war, and the soldiers on bo. We were soldiers 2002 hd1080p action movie site title. These 304 americans are listed in the book we were soldiers once. Based on the bestselling book which details the events of the battle of lz xray in the ia drang valley. We were soldiers is a 2002 american war film directed by randall wallace and starring mel gibson. Wws is about a distinct event that actually happened. I for one am someone who was inspired to read the book we were soldiers once and young after seeing this movie. This picture is in the book, we were soldiers once, and young. We were soldiers deleted scene a letter from behind the lines 2002 mel gibson war movie hd duration. It is a part of the film that galloway cannot watch, nor can he or his wife, karen, watch the scene in which her father, capt.
He volunteered to enlist in the army because there was practically nothing waiting for him there. Galloway, it dramatizes the battle of ia drang on november 14, 1965. 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. We were soldiers 2002, mel gibson action movie videospace.
Upon arrival in the area with a platoon of soldiers, 2nd lt. Tom attended school in tokyo from second grade through his freshman year and had many friends between his class, 57, and mine, 54. A battalion of 400 american soldiers is dropped in the midst of 4000 north vietnamese. Citadel foundation hosts program to honor thomas metzger. The battle at lz xray was documented in the cbs special report battle of ia drang valley by morley safer and the critically acclaimed book we were soldiers once. In reality, there were 304 americans kia in the pleiku campaign ia drang valley. With mel gibson, madeleine stowe, greg kinnear, sam elliott. Tom metsker was killed in action in the ia drang valley, in november 1965. 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. An army captain, the citadel grad was one in the battalion that led the first. Together, we can make sure our heroes will get the reverence they deserve and the stories and sacrifices of our heroes will never be forgotten.