Greatest War Films

[Kingswood Village]

Full Metal Jacket is one of my favourites

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a light hearted favourite would have to be memphis belle, again is on most xmas's!!

[bucksred]

Ia Drang Valley

I am currently about two chapters away from finishing the book - 'We were soldiers once ..... and young' - very compelling read. Where the book surpasses others i have read commenting on war is its fast pace and ability to highlight that every soldier that dies is an individual human being.

Due to its high tempo it does begin to give you some kind of impression of how individuals killed in a battle cannot be initially mourned, in a battle their is no time for sentimentality.

The Americans were caught in a hastily arranged ambush when marching from landing zone X-Ray (where the initial fighting took place) to landing zone Albany. They pretty much sprung the ambush before it could be implemented to full effect, however the confusion and death toll that ensued was devastating.

In regards to the leadership of the battalions;

that of Lt. Col. Hal Moore for the battle of LZ X-Ray is portrayed as exceptional. Leading his men with great courage, his comment that he would be the first person to set foot in the Valley and the last person to step out appears to sum the man up well.

The leadership during the fatal ambush on the way to LZ Albany (that of Lt. Col. Bob Mcdade) is open to question on one major incident, one that effectively sealed the fate of the 2nd Batallion 7th Cavalry. Two Vietnamese scouts where captured by a leading element of the batallion, what they (the Americans) did not know at the time was that another scout with the group had escaped to report the American movements to Vietnamese command. Mcdade ordered a meeting of the company commanders at the head of the column. When the attack broke out virtually none of the company commanders where with their respective outfits and thus choas and confusion ensued.

The book is extremely captivating whilst, or perhaps because of its harrowing nature. Personal accounts of soldiers hiding from the Vietnamese in the tall grass, hearing their injured comerades being executed, knowing they have no power to do a thing, are really quite immense.

Those of us who have not fought in a battle will never know what it is like, however as the Wall street journal comments 'This book makes you almost smell it' - i strongly recommend it to all.

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For further reading try David Hackworths book, (cant remember the title of it-About Face, I think)Hackworth was the most decorated US soldier of his generation, but was scathing in his comments of the US Armies performance since WW2, particularly the Vietnam War-He rates Col moore very highly, but is sharply critical of the High Command in putting Moores unit in that position. He served three tours between 65 and 73, seeing combat in numerous skirmishes, including the Tet Offensive, and pioneered exchange tours with the Aussie professional soldiers, to improve his own troops skills, morale and comnfidence to fight in an alien environment, in the jungles of the central highlands and Mekong Delta. He also worked with a young Lieutentant Norman Schwartzkopf, whom he also highly rated, and said (back in the mid 80's- before Gulf War 1) would be a fine combat commander. He could not keep his opinions to himself on where the Army was going wrong, which cost his his generals stars, which due to his combat record, would have been garanteed, and left the Army in the early 70's

Since Hackworth left the US Army, he moved to Australia, was a part of the anti nuclear movement. He moved back to the US, and was a contributer to various papers an TV stations on military topics, including gulf War 1, Kosovo, and Bosnia.

He died last week in Mexico, from Bladder cancer, a disease which is becoming very common in Viet Nam vets, arising from use of Agents Orange and Blue during the Vietnam War.Always a soldiers soldier, he was hated by the establishment, pen pushers, and ass kissers, but loved by his soldiers to a man.

Hackworths book is similarly highly recommended-a product of his generation, and the genuine article-and proof, if you work hard, you can go all the way in the USA, regardless of background, or education, an example of the very best kind of American.