By: Glenn - 7th June 2002 at 00:24
RE: We Were Soldiers
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 07-06-02 AT 00:29Â AM (GMT)]Thanks Kev,
Yes, the Long Tan battle was even tougher by all accounts but obviuosly not as long (Company vs. Regiment engagement), and it was air support, artillery and re-supply AGAIN that saved the day for the Aussies that time. Wonderful stuff modern air support is! I think I may have that book somewhere, but if I have I have not read it, but the account of the battle I am aware of.
Cheers, Glenn.
By: kev35 - 5th June 2002 at 16:38
RE: We Were Soldiers
Glenn,
I haven’t seen the film yet but read the book a few years ago when it first came out. It is a book I can thoroughly reccomend to you. Another one along the same lines involving Australian troops in Vietnam is the Battle of Long Tan by Lex McAuley, riveting stuff.
Regards,
kev35
By: tomel - 5th June 2002 at 14:28
RE: We Were Soldiers
The movie -a good potrayal of those men who gave their lives/and those who did not give up in order to uphold the trust given to them.Apart from the computer graphics a/c(Skyraider real though)-the valley do not really depict the harsh SEA jungle.They could have shot it somewhere in the tropics for added realism.Mell Gibson is the perfect actor fit for the role.I’ve never been to any war-but i’ve spoken to those who were involved in a similar conflict.
During the insurgency years-in 1979 Malaysia conducted the biggest combined arms ops against the CT codename OPS GUBIR.RMAF used for the first time -F5E + the CL41G TEBUAN.2 infrantry batt.fought the CT for 4 days in a row-in order to capture their basecamp.1 S61A4 were shot downed by the CT killing all the crew/passengers.Pilots remained in their seats while their a/c were rearmed/refueled.In the end after 6 days -the CT fled to the bordering Thailand.1 a/c lost,25 soldiers/airmen lost their life.The only things that these veterans could spelt out for me clearly-WE WON.They were soldiers once …..and young.
By: Glenn - 5th June 2002 at 13:42
RE: We Were Soldiers
Yeah, I forgot about the F-100s! 🙂
By: GZYL - 5th June 2002 at 10:13
RE: We Were Soldiers
I saw it when it first came out. I enjoyed the film, but was, like you, moved. The friendly fire napalm incident hit me the hardest I think. That was dropped by F-100’s (computer generated of course, but it was nice to see such a variety of types).
Sign In
March 10, 2002 at 9:07 pm