"Ready..." "Aim..." "Fire!" "Ready..." "Aim..." "Fire!" "Present Arms!" "Excuse me." "I had come to say good-bye." "Vietnam tore us apart." "We went there believing in freedom and democracy but somehow we lost our moral compass." "How did we let it happen?" "A decade ago things seemed so much clearer." "There are extraordinary times." "And we face an extraordinary challenge." "Our strength, as well as our convictions, have imposed upon this nation the role of leader in freedom's cause." "It is a contest of will and purpose." "As well as, force and violence." "And in that contest, we cannot stand aside." "Gentlemen, to West Berlin and next year Moscow." "Moscow." "West Berlin, shit." "You boys'll never fire a shot." "Vann, you wanna tell me what you did so wrong to pull Vietnam?" "I'm gonna see combat, boys." "Oh, a bunch of goofs with shotguns." "Hey, those goofs beat the French." "Oooh, beat the French." "Who hasn't?" "The French." "Mark my words, gentlemen." "Vietnam's the war of the future." "Oooh, war of the future." "Right, yeah." "Oh, yeah." "Yeah." "Howdy, darlin'." "Hi." "Same again for me and my uh, constituents over there." "Right, two whiskeys, two beers." "And a coke, please." "A coke." "That's right." "We're the good boy over there, huh?" "That's me, honey." "I don't drink and I don't smoke." "What else don't you do?" "Keep the change." "Thanks." "Oh, yeah." "Hey, I bought you some flowers." "What's to celebrate?" "I got it." "I got it." "The pentagon?" "Vietnam." "Vietnam!" "Vietnam?" "...What?" "Well, what happened to Washington?" "Mary, don't you see?" "I'm goin' to war." "You know what happens in a war?" "Guys like me get promoted." "Now I can fight my way to the top." "Oh, we are going to Washington." "But I'm goin' as a soldier, not a goddamn clerk." "Wait a minute, John." "You kinda smell like perfume." "Oh, hell, honey." "It's the flowers." "This is the chance we've been waitin' for." "This is it." "Restack the bale, yeah." "And cock it." "It musta been over here." "Yeah!" "Enlisted men, over here." "Okay, right over there, sir." "Good mornin', sir." "Vann, John P., Lieutenant Colonel." "Colonel Vann, Colonel!" "Vann... uh, I don't have you on manifest, sir." "I was supposed to be on yesterday's flight." "I missed it." "That flight crashed, sir." "Well, I'm glad I missed it." "Go ahead and take that jeep right there, sir." "Thank you." "Steven Burnett, Times." "Go ahead." "Hey... you're a lucky man..." "You should be dead." "I shoulda been dead long before yesterday." "What's your name?" "Uh, Steve Burnett, Times." "Hey, you don't say." "You need a ride." "Sure." "Hop in." "Welcome, Colonel." "Thank you." "Do you mind getting' in the back, soldier." "I like to do my own driving." "Let the man from the Times sit up front." "Just point me in the right direction." "An exotic little war in an Asia paradise." "That's how one of my colleagues described it." "After the French were defeated in 1954," "Vietnam was divided between Ho Chi Mein's communist north... and the southern regime of Noding Tiem." "The communist launched a insurrection to capture the south, so America sent 11,000 advisors to bolster Tiem's Army." "Look at this place!" "Man, this is a place worth fightin' for." "Can you imagine what it's gonna be like if the communist get it?" "God, look at that." "Where do they get all the water from?" "Oh, they tarries the fields at different levels I think and then they have a bunch of canals and dikes and bring it all down." "Oh, that's fantastic." "Yeah." "Gentlemen..." "Each one of you will be assigned to a division of the south Vietnamese army to act as a Senior Advisor." "The south Vietnamese soldier is a magnificent fighter." "Highly motivated, tough and intelligent." "The body counts... given at this office are nothin' short of remarkable." "Just take a look." "Their's is a splendid effort and it is ourjob to support 'em." "I know you're all experienced soldiers, but we have been sent here as ad-vis-ors." "The President Diem, is decent and God fearin'." "Our God by the way." "He's emphatic that this is a war between the legitimate Vietnamese government and their communist invaders." "Now, we all know that..." "Red China and Moscow are behind this, huh?" "So we have every right to supply and support these people." "But... it is their fight." "And they are in charge." "Give 'em your best cause they are givin' us theirs." "Colonel Cao?" "Over there." "Sir." "Lt. Colonel John Vann." "Uh, Frank Drummond, sir." "S-2" "Uh, Ron Dray." "Sergeant." "What the hell's goin' on here, Major?" "Well, uh... this is just a little, uh... positive thinkin', really." "Let me introduce the Division Commander, Colonel Cao." "Colonel." "Welcome, welcome, Colonel Vann." "Thank you." "Yesterday we killed many VC." "But they take some of the body." "I must send photo to my President." "It is good for morale, no?" "Ah, come." "Uh, let me show you my command." "How many men did you say you had attached to your Division?" "About five hundred." "Impressive." "Yes, we have a very strong fighting force here, Colonel Vann." "Thanks to your government's assistance, we are arming the people to fight along side us." "Soon, you and I will defeat the Vietcong." "I look forward to it, Colonel." "Good morning, General." "Good morning, Colonel." "What's going on?" "We have received important intelligence." "Frank, what do you got?" "Colonel, a village elder's confirming that a Vietcong instructor has infiltrated ...and is training new recruits right here at the village of Than Bin." "Okay, what's the plan?" "We will attack here... and here." "Shouldn't we bring a team around behind the village to cut off any retreat to the mountains?" "Yes, yes." "But uh, all in good time, Colonel." "Shall we commence battle?" "Let's go." "Uh, Colonel..." "I thought we fight a battle together." "Yeah." "No, no." "We must command from here." "This is where I fight many battles." "Gee, Colonel." "That's not how I do things." "Colonel, please." "Join me, by my side." "Tiger Center, we're approaching Than Bin." "Over." "Sir, we should cut off their retreat now." "Patience, Colonel." "We mustn't hurry" "Tiger Center approaching from south of village, appears to be movement up ahead, over." "...gun fire here." "One man down." "Repeat, one man down." "Hold the advance, I send helicopter now." "I'll take care of that." "Colonel Vann!" "Hold the advance!" "I will send a helicopter to you now." "Do not advance." "Repeat, do not advance." "Okay, Frank." "I've got a chopper, I'm on my way." "What's your situation?" "Over." "John, we've got one ARVN with a leg wound, he's stabilized." "Over." "Roger that, Frank." "John, my hands are tied here." "The enemies's getting' out the back door." "I'll come around from the south, cut off their escape route." "See if I can't put a scare in 'em." "Over." "I see 'em!" "I see one, two, three right in front of us, Colonel!" "Go around." "Circle around, fast!" "Roger that." "Get down low behind 'em." "Force 'em out of that tree line." "Shoot, don't let 'em get away." "Go lower." "Alright, there they are." "I'm comin' up behind 'em fast and low." "Don't worry, I'm right on top of 'em, sir." "Hold it!" "Stay on the back!" "Look out, he's pullin', pullin'!" "Geez!" "Great shooting'." "Let's go!" "Outstanding, man!" "Outstanding!" "Alright, let's get up to the rest." "Looks like we got a reception committee." "We got prisoner's here." "Let's go!" "This is over, Colonel!" "I am in charge!" "You hear!" "?" "I am in charge!" "Your plan worked, Colonel." "You killed a communist recruiter." "Congratulations!" "Good work, Colonel." "I will radio headquarters that Than Bin has been cleared." "Good work!" "Very good." "Man, look at the scars on this old guy." "They gotta be years old." "This man was a warrior." "Probably been fightin' all his life." "The Japs, French and now us." "For recognition of his outstanding victory of Than Bin," "President Diem has awarded Colonel Cao the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry." "We're honored to have his sister-in-law, Madame Nhu, who will make the presentation." "Madame." "I am so proud of Colonel Cao" "I hope he will kill many, many more of these communist traders!" "And together, we will kill them all!" "That's one tough lady." "Yeah..." "Heard the men aren't so tough." "Bullshit." "Like there's been talk that Diem's men are unwilling to fight." "These men are kickin' the Vietcong's ass." "All we're doin' is supply intelligence and logistics." "Isn't that right, Major?" "Yes, sir." "Photographs, please." "Can we have a smile right here, sir?" "Thanks very much." "General, move in, please." "Excuse me..." "Do any of you ladies speak English?" "We all speak English." "Oh, you're students at this school?" "They are the students." "I am the teacher." "You're the teacher?" "Well, I hope this is my lucky day." "I need a good translator and well, I'd be honored if you'd help me." "Soon I must go." "Do you still want me to translate?" "Yes, I do." "Would you read the last entry?" "The Americans are here." "They have brought tanks and helicopters..." "The young men are afraid but," "I tell them do not fear because the Americans are huang phi." "Huang phi, it's a word that means soft..." "Actually decadent." "Do you understand?" "They can never win because they use only those of our people who are also huang phi." "The peasants are with us because they hate the huang phi." "What do you believe?" "Oh, I'm not interested in politics, Mr. Vann." "What are you interested in?" "My school..." "I enjoy it." "You know, it allows me to decide my own life and that's a very rare thing for a woman here." "I have to say this..." "I think you're one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen." "You did not bring me here to translate, did you?" "He does not go for the immediate kill." "He disables his enemies, then he kills him." "These men are kicking the Vietcong's ass." "It wasn't so much a lie as something he knew he could make happen." "There he is!" "Tiger of the Delta." "Colonel Vann." "Congratulations, Commander." "Thank you." "That's a beautiful metal." "I must have a photo." "Vann would charm, coax, cajole, anything to rally the South Vietnamese." "At first it worked." "My God, the best US/Vietnamese team for fighting communists." "American advisors work to bring the level of training and combat readiness of these forces ...as high as possible." "Superior equipment and mobility are used to full advantage to carry the fight to the enemy... swifty." "Wherever his presence becomes known." "The Vietnamese soldier is quick to grasp the techniques involved in copter born counter-action to guerilla raids on country villages." "And he uses his new knowledge well." "Colonel Cao..." "What is the mission?" "We are mounting an assault on Than Bin." "Than Bin?" "We've already cleared Than Bin." "No, no." "We must cleanse the village thoroughly." "This is ridiculous." "Colonel, please..." "You have to understand." "I must follow the order of my President." "If I do not, then my family is in danger." "He has told me no casualties." "But you are at war with the Vietcong." "You want us to fight the Vietcong." "So, we fight them." "My president needs your money and your guns because he has many enemies." "Things are not as simple as in America." "Jesus H. Christ." "We're eyeball to eyeball with the communists all over the world and these guys are out shootin' rabbits." "General Giap's instructions for us to steal back the rice on behalf of the peasants has paid great dividends." "This General Giap is a very clever man." "Tell me about your wife." "We're separated." "What does that mean?" "Well... it means that she lives on one side of the ocean and I live on the other." "The Russians are taking their missiles out of Cuba." "I knew it!" "These are dangerous times, John." "But they're exciting times, Lee." "Exciting times." "Saigon Command has located the enemies radio transmitter here at Ap Bac." "We will land the first airborne force here, and the second here." "Advance here and here, and capture the objective." "I have to brief my men, Colonel." "Alright, here's the drill." "Frank, I want you to take the lead armored." "Ron, you take the first infantry chopper." "I'm goin' up in the spotter plane." "What about Cao?" "The hell with him." "I'm gonna check this one out for myself." "Go!" "We're comin' up on the target sight now." "Over." "Roger that, Colonel Bogie." "No signs of movement below." "Over." "Ap bac, January 2nd, 1963." "For a year the Vietcong had studied the Americans and their tanks and helicopters." "Studied and learned." "Now they were ready to stand and fight." "Vietnam's exotic little war was about to turn into a quagmire." "Fox Trot Alpha, banking right 45 degrees, heading 1524 south, over." "Roger that." "Thumper, this is Colonel Bogie, what's your ETA?" "Over." "Roger, Colonel Bogie." "This is Thumper, we're about thirty seconds away from objective." "Over." "Roger that." "Uh, there's a big tree line east of the LZ." "Tell your pilot to stay at least 300 yards away from that." "Roger." "Okay." "Over." "Okay, reposition." "Come back around." "Hawkeye, get those tracks up on line and be ready to move fast when I give the order." "Over." "Roger that." "Okay, you're headed for the tree line." "Pull over, stake your three birds out to the west behind the tree cover." "Over." "Colonel Bogie, this is chopper four's outlook." "We're swingin' west of the target zone." "Over." "Thumper, I want you to put your two birds down to the east." "Over." "We're comin' through the east toward the LZ now." "One hundred yards, at one hundred feet dropping' down to fifty." "Thumper, you're too goddamn close!" "You're too close, get back!" "You're overshooting the LZ, go around!" "Shit, we got hit and landed in the line of fire!" "Goddamnit!" "Are you comin'?" "Over." "Hawkeye, what the hell's keepin' ya!" "?" "Get those tracks in there, we got two birds down!" "We're takin' heavy fire here, John." "Shit!" "Tiger Center, Tiger Center, we got two birds down!" "Move on the objective, now!" "Move up to the tree line, now!" "Shit!" "Damn it!" "Come on!" "Come on, get outta there!" "Come on, Frank, move!" "He doesn't understand English, now, John." "Go!" "Shit!" "Goddamnit!" "Hawkeye, come in!" "Thumper, come in!" "Goddamnit, take her down, now!" "Now!" "Give me a hand!" "Hold his neck, hold it!" "What the hell is goin' on here!" "?" "This isn't a game!" "We have lost helicopter." "Yes, you lost helicopters." "Now get your goddamn infantry into that field!" "No, no!" "We must withdraw!" "You will not withdraw!" "We have men down out there." "You will hold the line!" "Second chopper comin' in!" "Let's move it!" "Move it!" "Get thatjeep over here!" "Shh, come on." "It's okay, you're gonna be alright!" "Hang in there." "Stay awake!" "Stay awake!" "Come on!" "How you doin' there?" "He's gonna make it." "What the hell happened, John?" "Give us a hand." "Let's get him loaded up." "Almost there." "Get him on the jeep." "Charlie kicked our ass!" "They knew these guys wouldn't fight, so they stood their ground." "Move it out!" "Move it out!" "Come here." "Ah, Jesus." "What a waste." "Goddamn stupid waste." "It's uh, 6-5-9." "Attention!" "Carry on." "Gentlemen, you wanted to see me?" "Yes, sir." "Well, sir, given the set-backs we suffered at Ap Bac," "I thought you'd be interested to know the current..." "Just what in the hell is this?" "Well, sir, the red areas indicate current Vietcong concentration." "We control these areas." "Sir..., I'd have to argue that." "Who've you talked to about this?" "No one, sir." "Now you get this straight, Ap Bac was a victory." "We took the objective." "We drove off the enemy." "Every body knows that ours beat theirs." "We lost 88 men, sir." "15 of them were..." "Don't lecture me!" "You spread defeatist nonsense outside this room," "I will have you court - martialled." "And the charges this time will stick!" "I want that overlay." "Steve!" "Hey, John." "Thanks for meeting me." "My pleasure." "Did you see this?" "An important victory, 101 VC dead." "So what's the truth?" "It was the most miserable damn performance I've ever seen." "Would you be willing to talk about this?" "Somebody has to." "Look, John, I know you have a military career, and if we do this thing, a lot of people are gonna read it." "I understand." "Start writing." "South Vietnamese command has no interest in fighting the communist." "The ordinary soldiers are willing but they're officer's priority is to protect Diem's regime rather than to stop communist insurgence." "What about all those things that we get, the casualty figures, battle reports, the briefings." "The numbers are all phony, they, they make'em up." "These battles are ajoke!" "And they, they attack areas that the VC have already vacated or, or they attack from one side and they leave the enemy a wide open back door escape route." "But surely American assistance has made some difference." "Oh, yeah." "That's helped." "It's helped the communist." "We supply guns to the peasants and they turn straight around and give 'em to the VC." "At Ap Bac we were being shot down by our own weapons." "The U.S. Army advisory program... is a complete shame." "Totally ineffective." "What's goin' on?" "Uh, two days ago in Hue," "Diem's forces opened fire on the buddhist protest." "He killed nine of 'em." "Can't get this guy to fight the communist but he's willin' to kill his own people." "Hey, I should cover this." "No." "It's okay." "It's okay." "No!" "Yes!" "No!" "No!" "No!" "No!" "No!" "Yes!" "Yes!" "Yes!" "Okay!" "Okay!" "Can you believe that?" "Come on." "You have no idea what the hell is goin' on around here." "...miserable Vann performance." "Heh!" "That is Vann, I can just hear him say it." "I want him busted, now." "Get him out!" "General, he's got a month to go." "Let's not stir up the press." "Let him finish out." "Then we'll take care of him." "Shit." "I gotta go." "Give me your hand." "What is it?" "It's for good luck." "I'll be back." "Thanks a lot." "Hey-hey, John." "Where's the story, boys?" "The story's the shit-storm you caused back at home." "We got cables from the Pentagon." "Washington." "We picked up some new friends." "Who are those guys?" "Diem put his boys on us for reporting Ap Bac." "Well the truth hurts." "We got somethin' for ya, here." "To Lieutenant Colonel, John Paul Vann, from his good friends and admirers," "The American Press Corps." "I don't smoke," "But you can use it to light a fire under the brass back at home." "You can depend on that." "Bobby, thank you." "Nick." "John." "John..." "I hope nothing I've written hurts you." "Nothing can hurt me." "Okay." "Gentlemen..." "Give'em hell, John." "He was our hero." "An officer willing to risk his career to tell the truth about Vietnam." "He set out to spread the word to everyone and anyone who would listen." "Yeah, Dad!" "Oh, God, Katy." "Oohhh, good to see you." "Man, you have grown!" "Honey, you look... mmmm, great!" "It's good to be home." "Boy, have I got work to do." "I'm gonna give them the clearest, most precise kick-ass report in the history of the U.S. Army." "South East Asia." "Rubber, timber and man power." "South East Asia." "The communist want it." "And we wanna stop 'em." "Oh, the communist want it." "We wanna stop'em." "Stop 'em." "And in my hand I hold the secret weapon to win the war in South Asia." "The secret weapon to win the war in South Asia." "In my hand I hold the secret weapon to win the war in South Asia." "Rice!" "Rice, gentlemen." "Rice." "To the Vietnamese peasant it is everything." "They fought the Chinese, the Japanese, they fought the French for their rice fields." "Communists have hijacked that rebellion." "They hijacked that rebellion." "This man, Ho Chi Minh, and his General Giap, have promised the farmers they will give them back their rice." "While our man, President Diem..." "While our man, President Diem continues stealing it." "We must regain the good will of the peasants." "We must restore the good faith of the people." "To win the war in Vietnam, we must take back the rice revolution." "Throw out the rice stealers and give them back their rice." "We must wage war for the peasants." "Not against them" "Build their houses." "Don't destroy them." "Kill the enemy with this." "Instead of this." "In short, we must harness the peasant revolution." "To defeat the communist revolution." "Thank you." "Outstanding, Colonel." "Thank you, sir." "I'm gonna recommend that the Joint Chiefs hear this briefing as soon as possible." "That's great news, sir." "Lieutenant Colonel Vann to see the Joint Chiefs." "Please have a seat, sir." "Thank you." "Lieutenant Colonel Vann to see you, sir." "Great to meet you, Colonel Vann." "Thanks, it's a real pleasure to be here." "Uh, I'm sorry I didn't get in touch with you sooner, but your briefing's been cancelled." "Must be some mistake." "I was assured that I would have an audience with the Joint Chiefs." "It appears there was a conflict in scheduling and uh, the Chairman is anxious to hear your briefings at a later date." "The old guard closed ranks and shut him out." "Vann resigned." "His military career was ruined." "That's what he lead us to believe." "But John Paul Vann had no career." "He was outcast." "A man who's dark past had denied him the General stars he thought he deserved." "Where the hell were you last night?" "I was over with..." "No, don't tell me." "I know where you were!" "Wait a minute, honey." "Come on, now." "Damn it!" "Honey, wait." "No!" "You are a liar, a goddamn cheat and you will never change!" "Don't do this." "Don't do this now." "Look, you know, we are finished!" "I am so sick of putting up this front for you." "For your career." "Heh!" "Your career!" "?" "You screwed yourself out of your career years ago!" "We are gonna do somethin' or I am outta here!" "Come in, Mrs. Vann." "I think we've made some progress here." "Good." "Your husband has been quite forthright about his lapses." "If I could just explain something?" "Often when military men get put in pressure situation, uh, they find themselves in a difficult position, they see sex as a kind of an outlet, it's a release." "Um... it's almost unconscious you might say." "I thought we came here to be honest with each other." "I am being honest." "Did he tell you about the housemaids in Japan?" "Well, uh, Mrs. Vann, we didn't go into every specific case." "Oh, not every specific case." "Okay." "How about the baby sitter in Kansas?" "Go on." "Tell him." "Uh, Mrs. Vann, I, I don't think it's productive." "This is a very specific case." "He slept with our baby sitter." "She was fifteen years of age." "She told the army." "He was gonna be court marshalled until he asked me to lie for him." "No more lies." "Please." "Tell him about your mother." "That's enough." "Please." "Tell him about Myrtle." "This is where it all came from." "We can talk it out." "Please." "Mr. Vann, maybe you would like to talk a little bit about this." "That's it." "Please!" "I, I can't do this." "Just, just tell me what it will take to make you stay." "I want a life for us." "I don't want to be warehoused in some army base." "You got it." "Just don't bring Myrtle up again." "Come on." "Hey, you're gonna be late for school." "Come on." "Take your toast with ya." "Here's your lunch." "Thanks, Mom." "I love ya!" "Well, the regime of South vietnam's President Diem," "Hey, I wanna hear that!" "Comes to an end in a wave of violence." "Damn it." "A few days before the army revolt, these..." "Honey, leave him alone." "He's just playin'." "Oh, I love this song." "What?" "Oh, my God." "We interrupt this program for an important news flash." "John Fitzgerald Kennedy, President of the United States, shot by an assassin as he drove through the streets of Dallas Texas." "He is three years old on this day, November 25th." "He moves a pace apart from his mother and lifts his hands..." "What is that boy doing?" "Saluting his father and his flag one last time." "He's saying goodbye to his daddy." "Renewed hostile actions against United States ships on the high seas in the gulf of Tonkin have today required me to order the military forces of the United States to take action in reply." "We intend to convince the communists that we cannot be defeated by force of arms, or by superior power." "General Williams, please." "Lieutenant General John Vann calling." "Hello, sir..." "Uh, yes sir, I resigned my commission but I knew I couldn't get through." "Everybody's fine, thanks." "I'm doin' great, just great." "Well, no, I'm not..." "Fred, I'm dyin' here." "I need to be in on the action." "Anything Fred." "I mean anything." "There must be somethin' I can do." "Anything at all." "I understand." "You can't fight this war without me, Fred." "Okay, I appreciate it." "Goodbye." "John, you were supposed to be at the productivity meeting." "Oh, yeah." "Uh, right." "I'll be right along, Don." "Hello?" "Hello, sir?" "Boys!" "Throw it here!" "Shoot, Dad!" "Shoot!" "Yeah, baby he shoots!" "And it's nothin' but in!" "Nice shoot!" "Eh!" "Hey." "What's up?" "Hey, honey..." "You guys go ahead." "The army called me today..." "Guess what?" "They offered me ajob in the Civilian Aid program." "What is that?" "It's back in Vietnam." "Vietnam." "Oh, oh, I see." "Once again we're gonna get dumped!" "?" "No, listen." "This is another chance for me." "I can't let it go." "I know how to win that war." "I've tried." "I thought maybe you could have been the kind of father you never had." "Make sure I can have a decent home for these kids." "Hey, Dad!" "Hey!" "Shoot!" "Let's go!" "Let's move, let's move!" "Move it out!" "Move, move, move!" "Let's go!" "Let's go!" "Tow the line, gentlemen!" "Let's move out!" "John Paul Vann with the Aid Program." "Where's my ride?" "Your ride's right there, sir!" "Thank you..." "Move over, soldier." "I'll drive." "Yes, sir." "Thank you." "Fred!" "John!" "How the hell are ya?" "Goddamn, it's good to be back." "Good to see you, Vann." "Have a seat." "Thank you, sir." "Man, that's a lot of hardware they're unloading' out there." "Oh, that's Phase One of General Westmoreland's three stage plan." "We've put together a superior force, then engage the enemy on the battlefield." "Three, wipe them out." "Well..." "Well, hell Fred," "I don't, I don't know if the enemies gonna go along with that plan." "Hell, we're not fighting a conventional war here." "You, you can't roll out the tanks like it's World War II." "I mean, goddamn, hasn't the Pentagon learned anything in three years." "John, you gotta learn to keep your mouth shut." "It was a helluvajob to get you over here, even as a civilian." "Now, you're here to work with the Aid Program, right?" "You're right, Fred." "Well, I read your briefing." "And I agree with you." "We got to try and win these people over." "That's why I want you to take charge of the Aid Program in the region around Bau Trai." "I'll get a good man to work with you." "Let's try to put your ideas into practice." "Okay." "You're the boss." "No, John." "Westmoreland's the boss." "Is that Vann?" "John Vann!" "John Vann!" "Hell, I thought they buried you!" "They tried, Steven." "Hey, Nick." "Hey, John." "What's goin' on?" "Are you part of this US Aid Program?" "We sure are." "Doug Ellsberg, Steve Burnett from the times." "Oh, it's a pleasure." "The pleasures mine." "And hut!" "Gentlemen, General Westmoreland." "Fred." "At ease, gentlemen." "The Aid Program is a uh, noble effort to bolster the civilian population in the Hamlets and particularly to help them resist Vietcong infiltration." "Gentlemen, you are part of a great new mobilization." "We now have at our disposal, the best army that the world has ever known." "We have the men, we have the materials and we are going to stomp the Vietcong into the ground!" "Thank you." "Thank you." "We'd now like to take this opportunity to uh, introduce you to your various counterparts." "Fred." "I'd like you to meet John Paul Vann, and Doug Ellsberg." "Colonel Chinch." "Mr. Vann, Mr. Ellsberg, welcome." "Thank you." "I am your Regional Commander." "We have a very good region, you and I." "We will do well together." "I look forward to it." "Thank you." "Hi." "How are you?" "I'm fine, thanks." "What's your name?" "My name is..." "Can I help you?" "Goodbye." "What happened to the school girls?" "Times change, John." "They have more needs now." "It's good to see you again." "Look at you." "You look different." "You too." "Howdy!" "Welcome to Bau Trai, guys." "Terry Pike." "John Vann." "Doug Ellsberg." "Nice to meet you." "Did you know there's ajeep outside of town with a body in it?" "Nobody buries them?" "They're too afraid to go out there." "Now, I don't mean to discourage you guys, but..." "This place is gone." "See that bunch of kids standing' over here?" "They're Vietcong." "And our defenders either work for 'em or pay 'em off." "So who's in charge?" "Well, that'd be Colonel Chinch." "I don't know if Charlie works for him, or he works for them." "Don't matter much though, cause nobody works for us." "Well, maybe we should just hand it over to the communists right now." "Mr. Vann, these people don't have any money." "And they don't get a chance to vote." "That sounds communist to me." "Now, if you don't mind it cost me fifty bucks to get Colonel Chinh to get me a military escort so I can get outta here." "I better get before the price goes up." "It's all yours." "Stay alive, gentlemen." "Geez, what a mess." "Okay, each family of six or more gets one five gallon can of cooking' oil, one hundred pound sack of flour per month." "Yes, sir." "Doug, would you check the Manifest and see when this stuff's due in Tam Huang." "Alright, we do what we call an inventory." "That means everything that goes in and out of here gets counted for..." "Sorry." "Sorry!" "Okay, you tell these men to put these ladders right here." "Climb on up there and pull down any lose tile." "Yes, sir." "We're gonna replace it with this corrugated." "Hammer, nails, bang, bang, bang." "Alright, we got two holes in the ceiling, one there and one there." "Rip out all the tiles around and leave." "What'd she say?" "She said to stop, she cannot pay." "You tell her she does not have to pay." "What was that?" "She say, somebody always has to pay." "Who needs a treat, huh?" "Okay..." "Here you go." "Chicklett's gentlemen." "Secret of the children's revolution." "No, no, it's just candy." "No, no." "It's okay." "It's just gum." "Look." "Hey." "For you." "For the school." "Presents for the teacher, aye?" "What's going on?" "You have used my material without pay." "I'm sorry, Colonel." "But this is Aid material." "Yes." "My aid material." "This is my region." "It is my aid material and you must pay." "Put that down!" "Colonel, if you do not leave," "I will disgrace you in front of your men and this village." "Tell the men." "Jesus, John." "What the hell is it?" "It's blood!" "What the hell is it?" "It's a tongue." "Come on." "Cali." "Get Chinch." "He's not here." "Where is he?" "Bau Tri, he's gone to punish the village." "He knows goddamn well the VC are part of the village." "What the hell's he playin'!" "?" "Whoa, whoa, whoa!" "Slow down!" "What's goin' on?" "Colonel Chinch called in an air strike." "Goddamn, call it off!" "Wait, wait, wait, wait!" "Hey-hey!" "Don't go!" "No, I'm sorry." "I'm sorry." "Fred!" "Goddamnit, I want that murderin' bastard arrested!" "Look, I just came back from la Drang where four companies... of Air Cav ran right smack into the North Vietnamese Army!" "We lost 230 men!" "So don't come here tellin me about one corrupt RV Colonel." "Two hundred and thirty?" "Look, it's all over in the boonies." "I want you back here in Saigon." "Workin' here!" "Now, you know the locals, get together your own squads and clean out these villages." "I'll give you all the authority you want." "Excuse me, gentlemen." "I need a shower." "Our casualties in Vietnam in a single week had exceeded the average weekly rate of dead and wounded in the Korean war." "Two hundred and forty Americans killed, four hundred and seventy wounded." "Most of these casualties were suffered in the battle of la Drang Valley." "The United States is indeed at war." "A full dress war against a formidable enemy." "Vann threw himself into the war effort with a passion and brilliance few others could mustered." "He ran pacification programs." "Mobilized his alleys among the South Vietnamese forces." "Coordinated American support and still found time to bombard friends and foes alike with his theories on how to turn the war around." "December 23rd, 1966." "Dear Sir, despite the fact that we now have three hundred and eighty five thousand American soldiers on the ground, the Saigon government remains corrupt on all levels." "If it were not for the fact that Vietnam has been..." "Vann worked twenty hours, slept four." "He never stopped on all fronts." "Ben yoi ya." "May I be of assistance?" "What happened here?" "Wrecked bicycle?" "Yes?" "Orchids, this is what you need." "For you." "That's a picture." "I'm in love." "How old is she, 17?" "17?" "She's 18." "Goes to college." "Are you gonna have your teacher friend translate for you?" "Well, you know me." "I can't help fallin' in love." "Yeah..." "What?" "My mother's dead." "John..." "Come on." "If you don't get movin' you're gonna miss the Tokyo connection." "It's your mother, John." "You owe it to her." "That's funny." "I owe her." "My mother was a whore and I'm her bastard son." "Do you know what my birth certificate says on it?" "John Le Gay, a son of a bitch." "That's why those goddamn wasps at West Point wouldn't let me in." "Fuckin' bunch of hippocrates." "When I was a little kid growin' up in Norfolk..." "I used to see her screwing' 'em." "In their cars." "Gruntin' and carrying' on." "You know how she died?" "Somebody cracked her skull open with a whiskey bottle." "Go home and bury her, John." "...and whosoever believeth shall not parish but have every lasting life." "The Father loveth the Son and have given all things into his hand." "Amen." "Amen." "Thank you." "My condolences." "Thanks for coming." "Hey, you need some money for a haircut." "What's the matter with him?" "He's against the war." "You don't say?" "Well, I better have a word with him before I head back tomorrow." "Hey, I um..." "What is it?" "John, I wanna file for a divorce." "I just need to be free from you." "Baby, come on." "I need you." "You don't need anybody, Myrtle made sure of that." "And you have the war." "I'm truly sorry." "Thank you." "Your mama was very special to me." "We're all gonna miss her." "I appreciate that." "Johnny, you don't remember me." "I'm your cousin, Arty." "Oh, yeah." "Yeah." "Well, I'd like to introduce you to some friends of mine." "Danny Dikes." "Our condolences." "Thanks for comin'." "Paul Gillis." "Sorry for your loss." "Thank you." "And this here's my wife, Bella." "How do you do." "I've been tellin' 'em how I've been readin' about you in the Norfolk Leer." "All those battles you been winning'." "It's a great thing you're doin' over there, son." "I appreciate it." "God Almighty knows it's a great thing." "Imagine, Myrtle's boy." "Advisin' the United States Army." "Who woulda ever thought." "You need anything, you know who to call now." "1967, the year of delusion." "Four hundred and sixty-five thousand American Troops fought major battles from the Delta to the DMZ while..." "Westmoreland declared the end was coming into view." "Vann knew better." "I thought we cleared this area." "We had sir, then we discovered these tunnels." "Here... here... and here." "And over here, sir, is where we found the documents." "What do they say?" "Last month we destroyed the Vietcong in this region." "But according to this document..." "Another VC battalion has replaced them." "Where the hell'd they get the manpower to do that?" "I don't know, sir." "I thought we have killed them all." "I'm afraid we are back to where we started, Mr. Vann." "Well, goddamnit, we'll just have to clear it out again." "Hey!" "Hey, get away!" "Jesus, John." "Now we're fighting school teachers." "She was never VC until her village got bombed." "Uh, John, how the hell are we supposed to have a Thanksgiving dinner with these things?" "Let's see, Spenser Tracy died." "Who said this?" "I don't have no personal quarrels with those Vietcong." "Cacius Clay." "Mohammed Ali, his new name's Mohammed Ali." "Well, I don't care what he calls himself." "He dodged the draft." "No negro soldier's gonna fight." "Lock his ass up." "Hey, can I just say John, uh, what an extraordinary pad you've got here." "It's called, Harnessing the best houses in Saigon." "Oh, it's the new US Aid Program." "What the hell's that supposed to mean?" "It's odd to see you in this context, that's all." "You know, when I met you with the rice paddies and peasants and now..." "Well, what are you sayin'?" "You accusing' me of selling' out?" "I read your articles." "Oh, have you?" "Yeah, you're damn near ready to surrender." "Since when is criticism surrender?" "Hey, screw that." "Nobody's been more critical how this war's been thought than me." "But you seem to think it's your duty to spread this defeatist loser crap." "Oh!" "Winning and losing that's what it's all about, isn't it?" "A soldier's whole purpose is to win." "I got no argument." "But you're not a soldier, John." "You're a civilian." "Come on, guys." "Mr. Vann?" "Excuse me." "What sort of a man are you?" "She was a good student!" "Now, she's pregnant!" "I love your daughter." "I will take care of her." "Shall we?" "I've asked General Westmoreland what more he needs to meet this mounting aggression." "He has told me and we will meet his needs." "There is an incipient uprising in this country in opposition of this war." "And it's gonna get worse." "This talk about sending over 100,000 to 200,000 more troops." "You're going to create a very serious difficulty in this country if you people in the administration go through with that." "Captain, can you tell me where I can find Doug Ellsberg?" "He's right over there." "Thank you." "You're welcome." "Hey, Doctor Doug!" "Geez, you look like shit." "Thanks." "Brought you somethin'." "For the revolution." "I'm goin' home, John." "Home?" "What are you talkin' about." "It's only jaundice." "You'll be out in a week." "Did you see this shit?" "Those are marines." "Now we're the ones burning them out." "Just one damn photo." "It's more than one photo." "We're losing our souls here." "Hell, you think I agree with it?" "I don't want to fight with you, John." "Come on, man." "We've been through a lot together." "John, I'm goin' home." "Okay." "Okay." "Well, I'm not real good at goodbyes." "Don't get killed." "Gentlemen, as you all know, until now the Fifth Division of the Vietcong have had sole control of the Saigon Operational Area." "These captured VC documents indicate..." "Attention!" "Carry on, gentlemen." "Fred." "Please continue, Mr. Vann." "I was saying that the intelligence we now have indicates clearly that division's formerly position in the paroot's beak area on the Cambodian border have been moved." "To here... here... here ...and here." "And now all share the Saigon theater of operation." "General, there's aerial evidence of advance movement to support this." "And what is your conclusion?" "Well, sir, our conclusion is the enemy is about to strike at the capital." "Gentlemen, that is exactly what the enemy wants us to think." "Because they're going to lay siege to the Marines here at Khe Sanh with regular forces to trick us into believing that they're going to uh, invade the capital with the Vietcong." "We hold back our forces, they overrun the marines for a spectacular victory just like they did the French." "Well that's not gonna happen on my watch, gentlemen." "Fred, I want you to have every available man ready to move up to Khe Sanh at a moments notice." "Sir, I don't believe a strategist like General Giap would risk his troops openly against us." "Appreciate your input, Mr. Vann." "Hundred and first, 199." "You have 'em ready, Fred." "Lee, what's wrong?" "I haven't seen you for so long." "I'm worried." "Look, there's a lot goin' on right now." "Let's go away together, for Tet." "We can go to my family's home, by the sea." "Please come, John." "I can't." "Who is it?" "General Weyand." "Look, I'm sorry, Lee." "I gotta go." "Be careful." "Yeah, go Fred." "Happy New Year." "Happy New year." "Happy New year." "Good evening, Mr. Ambassador." "Hey, John." "Can I have a word with you, sir?" "Sure." "Sir, did you receive General Weyand's alert?" "No." "Are you sure?" "Absolutely." "Our intelligence indicates the enemies about to plan a major offensive." "Where?" "Here in Saigon, sir." "Why didn't General Westmoreland tell me this?" "General Westmoreland doesn't agree with our analysis." "And I feel he is about to make a grave error in judgement." "I'll take this up with you in the morning." "Welcome, Major." "Good to see you." "Try to relax, John." "Good evening." "Help yourself to a drink, enjoy yourself." "Nice party, huh?" "All that's missing is Nero and his fiddle." "Did you see who's here?" "They made him a general." "Rising star at the palace, inspiring, huh?" "Hi... me?" "Hello, hello." "Hi, G.I." "Hello, G.I." "I really, really like you." "Shit!" "Let's go." "Head for the embassy." "Let's go!" "Let's go!" "Hey, get us outta here!" "You know what the hell's goin' on?" "Give me that radio." "Lightening Six, this is Vann." "Over." "Lightening Six, this is Vann." "Over." "The airport's under attack." "He's up on the roof!" "Well, get him on the horn, goddamnit." "Over!" "Wait, don't come in and out," "I'm gonna cover the south side of the field." "Come on, get those bags up here!" "We have a fire!" "Eh!" "Hey guys, we got Charlie up our ass here, where the fuck..." "Holy shit!" "Our guys are firing' into the embassy!" "Charlie's takin' the fuckin' embassy, man!" "Come on, let's go!" "Let's go!" "Who's in charge?" "Somebody down there." "Fuck this, man!" "John!" "Yes, sir." "I was, I was in bed..." "It's unbelievable, John." "They've taken the radio station, they're in the process of takin' over the palace." "We better get General Weyand on the horn." "It's John Vann, sir!" "John, we're holding them here, what about there?" "Looks like their men are pushin' to take the whole city." "We got any troops to fight 'em with, Fred?" "I kept six battalions in reserve." "I'm going to send four into the city." "Over!" "That's great news!" "Keep that line open." "What's happening?" "We got some men." "We can hold 'em." "Now CIA men and MP's have gone into the embassy and are trying to get the snipers out." "We've got uh... two more alert forces that are trying to push him out this way, but he's got uh, he's heavily fortified." "He's got a lot of ammo." "Two hundred and thirty-two G.I.'s killed and nine hundred wounded." "Forty one thousand in the cities attacked by the Vietcong." "Snipers and suicide commandos have the palace, the radio stations, the Philippine Embassy, four American Villas." "...sniper fire still coming from some building civilians who were caught in the bomb fire." "Annie!" "Hi, baby." "You okay?" "The baby, okay?" "Don't you worry about a thing, Gran," "I'm gonna take care of all of you." "I gotta go." "Gotta go, alright." "The official explanation that it's all an attempt to divert American forces from Khe Sanh." "The Vietcong paid dearly for the likes of rapid terrorism." "The enemy is mounting some last desperate campaign." "We're just mopping' up here." "What's the word at the radio station." "Over?" "I see." "Real good." "Well, keep us posted." "Over." "Keep this line open." "John!" "We did it, Fred." "They threw their best at us and we beat 'em." "Yeah." "Got a bit of training in for ya." "Just our guys uh, cleanin' up some unexploded M79 rounds." "General, the enemy appears to be trying to take over South Vietnam." "The Vietcong has very deceitfully... taken advantage of the Tet truce in order to create maximum consteration in S. Vietnam." "Particularly in the populated areas." "John." "Mr. Ambassador." "Good work." "Thank you very much." "Well, I think General Weyand is the one who should take the credit, sir." "I'm aware of that." "Thank you, Fred." "I'll tell you this, you throw a hell of a party." "A real blow out." "Yes, yes." "Let's get a picture." "Yes, sir." "Get a picture." "Look at that." "Come on." "I shall not seek, and I will not accept the nomination of my party for another term as your President." "I Richard Milhous Nixon do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States." "North Vietnam cannot defeat or humiliate the United States." "Only Americans can do that." "I get really stoned and then you know, like who cares about the war." "Gentlemen, and ladies." "As you know, General Westmoreland has returned to Washington and General Abrahms has replaced him as Commander of ground forces." "This uh, reorganization is part of the President's Vietnamization Strategy." "Now, the new Second in Command, General Weyand is here to brief you on the implementation of this, this phase of the war." "Gentlemen." "Excuse me." "Ambassador." "With Abrahms in and Westy out, is this an official admission that Westmoreland's strategy was a failure." "General Westmoreland was promoted." "Ladies and gentlemen, we now believe that the south Vietnamese are ready to take on a primary role in driving back the enemies forces, their divisions." "North Vietnamese regulars across the Western border." "Is this an American withdrawal?" "No, no." "No way can this be interpreted as a withdrawal." "Just a change of strategy." "And I have appointed the former Lieutenant Colonel, John Vann, whom you all know." "John, please step up here." "To act as my Deputy for military functions who will help me implement this strategy." "He will serve as a Commanding Officer for the Central Highland's Region." "But Sir, help me clarify this." "You're placing a U.S. Civilian in command of ten divisions of south Vietnamese troops in the Central Highlands, which is a fairly sizeable area." "While the rest of the U.S. Troops pull back?" "We're not pulling back." "The South Vietnamese are moving forward." "If it's not a withdrawal, what does Vietnamization mean?" "Well." "That's what we're trying to explain to you if you just uh, pay attention." "John, in all fairness, you've always been an advocate that the U.S. Take control here in Saigon, yes?" "That's correct." "The Tet has proved that the south Vietnamese are capable and willing to take control of this war." "The American people have been completely demoralized by recent developments." "Not at all." "Not at all." "On the contrary." "Our intelligence, in fact, indicates that it is the Vietcong who have been demoralized since Tet." "Wait." "I'm highly confused and I find this contradictory because in fact, with this restructuring the south Vietnamese are not in command but you are, Mr. Vann, while the U.S. Forces go out the back door." "No one is going out the back door, I can assure you." "Will any American soldiers be going home?" "Certainly, if the Vietnamese people assume greater responsibility for the war effort, there will be some reassignment of U.S. Support personnel." "John, did you meet with President Nixon and discuss Vietnamization." "I met the President, yes." "So, was it his policy, or your policy?" "The policy of the United States government." "U.S. Policy has not changed from day one in terms of our involvement in helping the people of the Republic of Vietnam." "Nixon ordered all American Combat troops out of Vietnam by June of 1972." "The south Vietnamese, although backed by American air support and advisors would have to fight the war themselves." "Ten years down the road, we were back to where we started." "But this time, John Paul Vann was in charge." "Intelligence said that the enemies's moved large numbers of troops." "Maybe five divisions down the Ho Chi Minh trail to here." "We also know that there's heavy artillery, even tanks further north." "I see what they're after." "If they can break through the line here and head for the sea, they'll have cut our forces in half and have a clear shot at Saigon." "The south Vietnamese troops can't hold the line, so." "South Vietnamese are good soldiers, they just need some goddamn leadership." "Oh, they'll hold the line." "We'll do one better." "We might turn this whole goddamn thing around." "I think ol' General Giap's about to mistake we've been makin' all along." "He's gonna try to fight this thing in a conventional fashion." "If we can persuade him to send his troops out of these hills around Kontum..." "He'll be vulnerable and that's where we can crush him." "I don't know, John." "I do, Fred." "I do!" "...I've never seen anything so clear." "I've been waitin' for a moment like this all my life." "Yeah, what can I do for you?" "I would like to have a word with Vann, please." "General." "It's okay, let him through." "I'd like an interview, John." "I don't have time." "Okay, I'll make it quick." "Do you intend to carpet bomb around Kontum with B-52's?" "That's operational information." "That was a line of bullshit you fed us." "About the peasants and the revolution, and I bought it." "I still believe it." "But you're gonna bomb with B52's?" "How can you say that?" "It's wrong, John." "It's wrong!" "Wrong?" "It's the same goddamn war it was back in 62', you were there." "Why didn't you say it was wrong then?" "Shit." "You and the fuckin' Kennedy's." "The good old boys who sent us here." "Now you all wanna change your minds, because there's blood and guts on TV." "Well, I don't have that luxury." "I've got 50,000 people in Kontum who's lives are on the line because of us." "They can't change their minds, can they?" "I gave those people my word." "And I'm gonna do everything I can to save 'em." "Let's go." "Colonel Ba." "Welcome, sir." "Rank Drummond's, I thought they retired you." "Well, retirement seems to be sittin' pretty good with you, John." "Thanks for requesting me, buddy." "My pleasure." "Major Deryl Jones, sir." "Major Jones." "Finally, I got a fighting team I can be proud of." "Well, gentlemen." "Let's get to work." "This way." "And hut!" "Gentlemen, Senior Advisor." "At ease, men." "Alright, listen up everyone." "We are gonna hold the line here at Tan Canh." "Then mount a stage retreat back to where we are at Kontum." "That will pull these north Vietnamese divisions out of the hills and when they do, we are gonna call in the B-52's and carpet bomb each of these squares." "We are gonna wipe out the second, third and fifth division of the north Vietnamese army." "My old colleague, Colonel Ba will conduct the forward command defense and withdrawal." "This is General Giap." "Commander of the NVA." "He's a genius." "He's never been beaten." "Until now." "I've studied this man for ten years." "And we are gonna whip his ass, you know why?" "Because he wastes his men." "Pours 'em away like piss in the wind." "There's not a man in this room, not a man on that line out there I wouldn't die for." "No matter what we've done with our lives, you and I can be proud today because we have the noblest of all professions." "We are soldiers." "The good Lord said it all about us." "He said, No greater love has a man, than he lay down his life for another." "And by God, this day will not end that I will see you all safely through it, and we will hold this ground!" "Redirect that fire at fifteen!" "Yeah." "Yes, sir." "Sustained border and small arms fire." "Over." "Get me a sit rep from forward command." "Kontum forward." "Kontum command." "Sit rep." "Over." "The enemies's still five hundred yards from our immediate front." "We're holdin' 'em here." "Roger that, Major." "Good work." "Tell Colonel Ba we will withdraw in one hour." "Over." "Ba, what the hell are you doin' here?" "Why aren't you at your post!" "?" "I've been replaced, sir." "Who the hell's in charge of the ARVN?" "Who's the General?" "It's General Chinch, sir." "Tell him I'm on my way!" "Yes, sir." "This is contact forward." "The six hatch on route to you fix." "Out." "Contact says Vann's on the way out." "Let's go!" "Forward command!" "Step on it!" "What the fuck was that!" "Okay, we've got an enemy tank here." "We have an enemy tank." "There's a tank!" "There's a fuckin' tank!" "Got an enemy tank on our rear." "There are no enemy tanks reported in this sector." "Fuck you, son!" "I'm tellin' you there's goddamn tank up here!" "How long to the LZ?" "We're two minutes, out." "Well, let's go." "Get a move on!" "They may be cut off up there, goddamnit!" "Hey, get back here!" "Frank, how long you think you can hold us there?" "Chinch is runnin', he's runnin' like a sonovabitch." "Get out, Frank!" "Yep." "Yep." "We're fixin' to do that." "Goddamn that asshole!" "Goddamnit!" "Let's go!" "Everybody's out!" "Go!" "Pull back!" "Let's go!" "Blow this fuckin' place!" "Blowin' it, Frank!" "Go!" "Go!" "Go!" "My God, they've blown it, sir!" "There!" "There!" "Jesus Christ, it's a mine field!" "Jesus Christ!" "Take her down!" "But, sir." "I said, take her down!" "There!" "Right here, put her down!" "Comin' around." "Comin' around!" "Frank!" "Kontum, goin' down into a mine field." "Enemy 300 yards, we need support." "Over." "Frank, come on!" "Get up there, son!" "Come on, get him in!" "Come on!" "Come on!" "Frank!" "Frank, hold on." "Grab his arm." "Frank, let's see..." "You're okay." "Let's get him up!" "Okay." "Got it?" "Okay, let's go!" "Let's go!" "Let's go!" "Damnit!" "Hold on!" "Hold on, Frank!" "It's a tank!" "They're comin' around on us." "Come on!" "Come on!" "Come on, let's move it!" "We gotta go!" "Okay!" "Hold on!" "Ba, get these man back to their posts!" "What's the meaning of this?" "Sir, we've been ordered to withdrawal." "Withdrawal, nothin'!" "Get Bomber Command on the horn!" "Sir, the enemy has already passed the coordinates." "Give 'em these new coordinates." "Standby." "1586/1580." "Sir, that, that's us." "Call it in!" "1-5-8-6, 1-5-8-0." "Soldier, let me have a look." "That's correct." "Yes, we know." "Sir, they want confirmation." "We don't have time for this horseshit, we're about to be overrun, just do it!" "Senior advisor says, Go." "Recon, Skyhawk." "Enemy is now one mile." "Recon, Skyhawk." "Enemy now eight hundred yards, over." "Major, here they come." "Colonel, let's get ready." "Come on." "Come on." "Come on." "Come on." "Come on." "Where you get your luck?" "Ba, let's get these men organized." "Get out there and see what's left." "Here he is now." "What is all this?" "Congratulations, John." "That was a hell of an action." "Mr. Ambassador." "John, the President asked me to come and convey his and our country's appreciation." "Thank you, sir." "John, step right this way." "We have a little surprise here for you." "John, President Thiew." "Mr. President." "The people of Vietnam are grateful for your help in defending our country." "I'm honored." "Thank you." "Congratulations, John." "You deserve it." "Well, this was great, Fred." "But I better be getting' back." "You sure?" "Yeah..." "Duty calls." "Good luck, John." "You know, Fred." "We can win this thing." "You bet." "I'm not here to supply gossip for your newspaper." "Yes." "But..." "Excuse me one moment." "John!" "Congratulations." "Thank you." "I have something that might interest you." "Former Vietnam veteran," "Douglas Ellsberg claimed the US government has conspired to deceive the American people in order to pursue an illegal war in Vietnam." "Well, I'll be damned." "Well, at least someone's prepared to stop pedaling the lie." "Well, now, what lie would that be?" "That we're here to solve Vietnam's problems." "We're the problem and that's the truth." "Well, you see, Steven, there's your truth and there's my truth." "And they're two different things." "All I know is up that road is old General Giap, and when he and I speak to each other, we never lie." "General Giap and you?" "John," "John, the war's not about warriors anymore." "It's about children and women and rice paddies." "And you know who told me that?" "You did." "You did." "I gotta go." "I got men holding' the line up there." "...repeat, frequent winds and rain storms." "Over." "Boss, we really don't have the weather." "Come on." "Let's go." "Hello?" "No." "He's dead?" "How, I was just..." "Oh, man." "John Paul Vann, was America's warrior." "He personified our good intentions, our arrogance, our courage, and ultimately our folly." "He had fought to redeem the unredeemable." "To salvage the doomed enterprise called south Vietnam." "In death, he had triumphed over defeat while the rest of us are left to ask, Why?"