Original subtitles

[Boone] Hammer was leading us into the break.

That's when we got word from the Air Boss

that your father was in line to make the 100,000th trap

aboard theTiconderoga.

The Seventh Fleet historian had photographers waiting.

The cooks had baked a chocolate cake.

Hammer was going to be famous.

[Rabb] Only you got there first.

[Boone] The tailhook was not fully extended.

[Rabb] So the Air Boss waved him off.

[Boone] And by the time he'd gotten past the tower

for a visual check, I'd already trapped

the 100,000th trap.

And what precisely was wrong with my father's tailhook?

Well, it turned out to be nothing at all.

[chuckling] Your father always suspected

I'd gotten him sent around on purpose.

I wonder what Dad would think of you taking command of the Sixth Fleet, sir.

If your father was with us tonight he'd think the whole world had gone nuts.

Everyone thought he'd be the one to be CNO one day

and I was just a screwup along for the ride.

-Mr. Secretary. -Sorry I'm late, Admiral.

-Good evening, sir. -Commander, please sit.

Now, we have a problem, Tom.

With what, Mr. Secretary?

With... you.

You may as well hear this, Commander.

It'll be in your life tomorrow.

Tom, my office received an anonymous tip.

The caller claims that August 12, 1968

when you were in Long An Province, Republic of Vietnam,

you participated in the murder of innocent civilians in the village of Tan Dien.

[theme music playing]

[SECNAV] If word leaks out that Admiral Boone's been accused of a war crime

you can kiss his nomination good-bye.

A.J., I'd like Colonel MacKenzie to perform a preliminary inquiry

into the accusations against Admiral Boone

and report directly back to me.

Nothing in writing.

Mr. Secretary, I think you should know

that Admiral Boone and I have butted heads in the past.

The Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation vote

is scheduled in four days.

I want a full and fair inquiry by then.

What if I need more time, sir?

Hmm.

Admiral Boone's gone back aboard the Seahawk.

He's expecting you onboard at 1400.

Admiral.

Mr. Secretary, sir, I have one question.

In 1968, Admiral Boone

was an aviator aboard the U.S.S. Ticonderoga.

How could him be implicated in an alleged massacre

by ground troops?

Good question, Commander.

Let's see what the Colonel finds out.

Sir, I want to be involved in this.

It's the Colonel's investigation.

I'll take my lead from her, sir.

I don't have a problem with that.

It's the tyranny of the hot line, Mac.

Any lunatic can call with a wild charge.

Someone with a grudge or a grievance.

Some loser who was passed over.

A whiner with his feelings hurt.

Tom Boone can tick people off.

I know that from personal... experience.

Bud, what are you doing here?

It's been a week, ma'am.

That's all the leave I had coming.

Bud, the Admiral can grant compassionate leave.

I couldn't ask for anything more.

Everyone's been so kind with the cards and the flowers

and coming out to the house.

How's Harriet?

Well, she's not doing too great, ma'am. She wasn't expect...

We weren't expecting any problems with the baby's delivery.

Well, tell her we're all thinking about her.

I will, ma'am.

You should be home, Lieutenant.

Harriet thought it'd be best if I came into work.

Well, then start with this, Bud.

Vietnam, August 12, 1968.

The village of Tan Dien. The province of Long An.

See if you can find out what happened

in the village that night.

[Chegwidden] Now, look, I-I can see my car.

It's right over there.

It's probably evidence.

-Evidence of what? -Crime.

That's where they put all the cars that are evidence.

Look, you give me my car.

If you need it for evidence, I'll bring it back.

They don't know you're going to bring it back.

I'm telling you I'm going to bring it back.

What difference does it make?

Nobody's even been charged with a crime.

I'll look it up.

Now, this is from the Combat Action Report

of the Tan Dien operation. A pitched battle occurred

between members of the Vietcong 24th Local Force Battalion

and elements of a South Vietnamese PRU.

Now that stands for Provincial Reconnaissance Unit

which is "an elite South Vietnamese force dedicated

to the elimination of suspected Vietcong soldiers

and sympathizers living among

the civilian population of the South.

The killing of the suspected VC

was known as the Phoenix Program."

-Put in place by the CIA. -That's correct, sir.

And the Phoenix Program was run by Neville Webb.

-Clayton Webb's father? -That's right, sir.

He was a CIA Station Chief in Saigon.

The body count at Tan Dien is listed as "45 Vietcong killed.

No wounded. Three weapons recovered."

Any numbers on civilian casualties?

Um, none in the Combat Action Report, sir.

What did the Vietcong claim?

Well, according to propaganda leaflets

the PRU was accused of massacring innocent civilians

and I'm quoting

"with the complicity of US imperialists and their lackeys."

Was there an after-incident investigation?

-No, ma'am. -Was there preliminary bombing

-by a Naval aircraft prior to the attack? -No, sir.

No suppressive fire during the attack?

Negative, sir. It doesn't look like Naval forces were involved.

Uh-oh. It's been charged.

What do you mean, it's been charged? It's a car.

"People versus One Ford Expedition."

You want the docket number?

What is it charged with?

Transporting marijuana.

Unless you already knew that.

I lent it to somebody else.

-Everybody did. -Look, buddy

I lent it to my ex-girlfriend's son before I realized

he was an oversized juvenile delinquent.

Look, you want to get your car back

you need to go downtown and prove you're innocent.

You got that backwards. You got to take me to court

-and prove that I'm guilty. -Not in a forfeiture case.

Shoe's on the other foot.

I want to see somebody else.

I'm in charge here.

You better get yourself a lawyer.

Sir, ma'am...

I pulled Admiral Boone's service record.

August '68, Lieutenant Boone wasn't aboard the Tico.

He'd been assigned to the USMACV, Saigon,

for temporary additional duty.

"He reviewed surveillance photos

and prepared targeting schedules for the fleet."

That places him "in country," Harm.

Saigon's a long way from Long An Province.

There's a fitness report here filed by Army Major Evan Parker

commending Lieutenant Boone for serving "in country" with

"distinction and under great personal risk."

Not one mention of murdering civilians.

Admiral, were you in Saigon the entire six weeks of your assignment to USMACV?

All but two or three days.

What were your activities during that time?

I was assigned to a Forward Air Controller.

Do you recall his name?

No. He was Air Force.

Do you recall anything about him?

He was a First Lieutenant.

Dates you flew with the Lieutenant?

Early August.

Can you be more precise, sir?

No.

Tell me what happened during those "two or three days."

What you would expect.

We, uh, called in air strikes.

Assessed battle damage.

Kept an eye out for the enemy.

[dispatch] 3-2-3, 3-2-3, this is Montezuma.

I'm sending you a flight of two Navy Phantoms,

call sign Fairfield 2-4.

Roger, Montezuma.

Send 'em on down. Out.

Tom, we don't want to get too close to this target.

[Rabb Sr.] Green 23.

This is Fairfield 2-4. Inbound to you.

[Boone] Roger, Hammer.

-Keep it coming. -Tong, is that you?

The one and only.

What's your ordnance, Hammer?

[Rabb] Six-Mark-82s.

[Boone] What's your posit?

I'm 57 miles on the 120 radial

of Nakom Phanom TACAN at 10,000.

[Boone] The target's a wooden bridge at Phu Loc

five miles south of me at a bend in the river.

Want me to mark it with a smoke rocket?

No. I see it.

Suggest runs from east to west to avoid small arms fire.

Recommend single passes.

I'll be rolling in 30 seconds.

-Two, you got it? -Got it.

Switch is hot. Break.

[engines roaring]

Destroyed the bridge.

Three trucks. And a water buffalo.

Stay out of trouble, Tong.

[MacKenzie] Admiral...

during that time, did you participate

in any ground fighting?

No. I'm an aviator, not a grunt.

Were you ever at the village of Tan Dien?

Not that I recall.

Sir, is it possible that you were there

but you simply don't remember the name?

I've already answered the question.

Did you return to Saigon at night?

No.

At the end of each day's action

the Lieutenant landed his aircraft

at the nearest dirt strip.

We stayed outside a couple of villages.

Don't know that I ever knew their names, Colonel

if that's what you were going to ask next.

Sir, on August 12, there was a massacre

of 45 innocent South Vietnamese civilians at Tan Dien.

Colonel...

I'm not sure that there were 45 innocent civilians in all of Vietnam.

Did I forget we had an appointment?

In 1968, your father was CIA Station Chief in Saigon.

Yes.

He headed up The Phoenix Program.

-Yes. -Do you recall

its stated purpose?

To employ the best intelligence to identify and then eliminate

the Vietcong from South Vietnam.

There are documented reports of operations

being in violation of human rights.

There were allegations. Yes.

Sometimes the program was not precise in its execution.

What part did your father play in covering up those events?

Get out of my office.

Not until you tell me what happened

the night of August 12, 1968 in the village of Tan Dien.

I want access to the CIA's files on the Phoenix program--

in particular, the confidential file

on the incident at Tan Dien.

What makes you think such a file exists?

Because there were 45 dead, but no wounded.

There were no civilians reported killed

but only three weapons recovered.

So there's reason to believe there was

an unacceptable number of civilian casualties

which makes it a war crime. I want to know what happened there.

No quid pro quo? Or do you figure my office

is like the drive-up window at the Dairy Queen?

I can't tell you.

Then I can't help you.

Or you won't.

What did your father tell you when you asked him about the Phoenix operation?

Bury the past?

You're paranoid enough to work here.

I suggest you file a request

under the Freedom of Information Act.

Return it to our Information and Privacy Coordinator

at the Office of Information Services.

The director will take it under consideration

and forward the request to me.

Then I'll take it under consideration.

I'm on a pretty strict timetable, Webb.

In truth, and regretfully, Commander

some of those files are missing.

[speaking Vietnamese]

-Think he's lying, Ellis? -I don't know, Drax.

[speaking Vietnamese]

Ah, you should have made something up.

What the hell did you do that for?

He's the enemy, isn't he?

-[knocking] -Enter.

Excuse me, Admiral.

What can I do for you, Singer?

Petty Officer Tiner told me about your car, sir.

I've taken the liberty of doing a little research

on my own time into The People v. One Ford Expedition.

-You have? -Yes, sir.

I'm afraid you won't be able to prove

that your car was innocent

since it was used to transport marijuana

but we might try to show that Danny Walden was

in unlawful possession of your car.

Uh... well, I lent it to him.

Fine. So we'll just have to prove

that Danny Walden transported drugs

without your knowledge, consent or willful blindness, sir.

-[intercom buzzes] -Yeah.

[Tiner] Sir, Commander Rabb and Colonel MacKenzie to see you.

Send them in. Thank you, Lieutenant.

-Whatever it takes. -Yes, sir.

-You completed your inquiry, Colonel? -Not yet, sir.

I had an inconclusive interview with Admiral Boone.

And?

There are still

some unanswered questions, sir

and a key witness we can't locate.

Colonel, what are you not telling me?

Admiral Boone was evasive, sir.

There were too many "I don't recalls."

Some questions he didn't answer at all.

-It doesn't feel right. -Can you blame him, Colonel?

Where are you on this?

Sir, I have two questions.

Who at the Phoenix program was responsible for the massacre at Tan Dien?

and was Lieutenant Boone involved?

We need to answer both these questions, sir

conclusively to clear the admiral's name.

You disagree with the Colonel's approach?

Sir, the Colonel is doing what she needs to do.

Let me do what I think is right, sir.

SECNAV calls me every hour on the hour.

We all know that the longer this drags out

the greater potential damage to Admiral Boone.

Look...

Take the time you need.

Do the investigation in whatever way seems best

but, damn it, get it done.

Sir! Ma'am, we just got the records

on all the operations at Tan Sahn Nhut, August 1968.

During the period in question, Lieutenant Boone

flew with a forward air controller named R.C. Coffin.

Lieutenant Coffin left the service in 1969.

Find him.

I'm doing the best I can, sir.

Is there a problem?

He's dropped out of sight, sir

and at your request, ma'am

I've got Lieutenant Boone's C.O.--

General Evan Parker, coming tomorrow

and also, I traced that anonymous call to SECNAV's hot line

to a pay phone in a bar in Wells, New Mexico.

-Near your old stomping grounds. -Oh, yes, ma'am.

I've got friends in law enforcement in New Mexico

and they're going to find out who made the call.

Have them check on R.C. Coffin.

I already did, ma'am.

He's not listed in any local directories.

Also, sir, regarding Lieutenant Coffin

is it possible he was working for the CIA?

What makes you think that?

Well, I had the National Personnel Records Center

fax me his DD-214.

In block 18 "remarks" it indicates

Lieutenant R.C. Coffin was TAD for six months

to the Air Force Field Operation Intelligence Center.

-What'd he do for them? -I don't know for sure, sir.

Does it require special access to find out?

You got it, sir.

-Nice job, Gunny. -Thank you, sir.

Sir? Ma'am? I just got off the phone

with the Office of Military Records in Hanoi.

The village Tan Dien was never rebuilt.

Those who survived the night of August 12

were placed in relocation camps.

We can't locate anybody to testify about what happened that night.

Did you get sleep last night, Lieutenant ?

Not a lot, sir.

Lieutenant Roberts, this is a direct order.

You are to report to your residence.

Harriet needs you and you need to get some sleep.

Aye, aye, ma'am. Sir.

In 1968, I was Deputy Director of Air Operations

at Tan Sahn Nhut Air Base, Saigon.

Lieutenant Boone was attached to my staff

for a period of six weeks.

General Parker, you wrote a fitness report

following Lieutenant Boone's service with you.

-Was there anything you left out? -Why would you ask me that?

-It's routine, General. -Not in my book.

I never left factual matters out of my reports.

So just what the hell are you asking?

We're trying to determine Admiral Boone's course of conduct, sir,

and there are some gaps in the record.

So if there is anything that might lead us in a direction

it would be helpful.

What about rumors, gossip?

I heard things all the time, Colonel.

I ignored what I didn't know to be true.

So should you.

Did you ever hear anyone say that Lieutenant Boone

had run into some trouble while he was in country?

Our intelligence officer showed me some VC propaganda.

What did it say, sir?

That a couple of American pilots had taken part

in shooting up some village.

I heard rumors like that ten times a day,

most of them spread by the Vietcong to make our boys look bad.

Sir, can you tell us what happened in the village of Tan Dien?

I don't recall the name, Commander.

Did Lieutenant Boone ever express

any particular hatred towards the enemy?

Damn it, Colonel.

We all hate the enemy in wartime.

But then you'd have no way of knowing that.

Sir, I'd like you to think back.

Anything you can remember might be helpful.

These were taken by an F-8 photo recon plane

one hour after the Phantom went down.

VF-53.

That's off the Ticonderoga.

Your squadron?

You don't want to look at this, Tom.

NVA saw the recon plane coming.

She wanted us to see this.

-You know the pilot? -Commander Harold Cartig.

My squadron CO aboard the Tico.

General, what did he say then?

Did he express a desire

to avenge the killing of Commander Cartig?

Yes.

Do you recall his exact words?

That was 30 years ago.

Can you give me a sense of his words?

What was his frame of mind?

You see some gook holding up a severed head

it tends to sour your outlook.

Did he express a direct threat?

He wanted vengeance. Wouldn't you?

He wanted her dead.

I had them leave off the mustard and onions.

Oh, too bad. A girl likes a little spice in her life now and then.

-French fries? -Ooh!

Your request, it's off the record?

Yeah.

You're not going to tell me why I'm going to do this for you?

It would put you in an ethical bind.

[laughs] Harm, you're always putting me in some kind of bind.

Why the hell do I put up with you?

So then...

if I do this for you, you're going to be in my debt.

[chuckling] Absolutely.

And you don't worry about what I might ask you to do for me in return?

I think I could handle it.

What do you want me to do?

[Webb] Congresswoman-- always a pleasure to see you.

Well, I want to talk to you in person

before the National Security Subcommittee meets next week

on 2002 appropriations.

I trust there's not a problem with our request?

Covert ops are very important.

We need that increased funding.

Well, you did ask for quite a lot.

-I see you keep Lionfish. -That's right.

Here's what I don't understand.

They'll kill any fish you put in the tank

but they'll leave each other alone.

Fear, respect, need.

Who knows what motivates a fish?

People are pretty much the same.

Can never tell what drives them.

Congresswoman...

do you want something?

I'll look forward to seeing you next week on the Hill.

I think you'll find me one of your strongest supporters.

Have you no shame?

Hey, you didn't leave me much choice.

What do you want to know about Tan Dien?

We believe that an Air Force Lieutenant, R.C. Coffin

was in or around the area the night of the alleged incident.

Was he working for the CIA?

-What makes you think that? -Because Lieutenant Coffin

was TAD to Air Force intelligence

around the time of the massacre at Tan Dien. Because his records are sealed.

Because he received a Lieutenant Colonel's separation package

when he left the service.

He never achieved a rank higher than Lieutenant.

Enough.

R.C. was one of ours.

He flew for the Air Force by day and the company by night.

He flew agents in country and into the North.

-What was his role at Tan Dien? -I don't know.

He was not part of our pacification effort.

Was there another American pilot there?

Not according to our report.

Who led the raid at Tan Dien?

Harry Drax, Program Director at Long An Province.

Tell me exactly what happened the night of August 12, Clay.

Agent Drax issued orders to carry out a sweep of the village

and to "neutralize" members of the VC infrastructure.

He told his men to expect heavy resistance.

-[automatic gunfire] -[people crying out]

They went in shooting.

-[explosion] -[indistinct shouting]

When he was done, 45 people had died.

Was it CIA policy to include civilians in the body count?

It was the fashion then.

The battle of Tan Dien came at a time

when the South Vietnamese needed a victory.

It was written up as such.

Where's Harry Drax now?

Harry Drax underwent a change of status at Tan Dien.

He was shot in the back and buried in one of the mass graves.

Well, who filed the confidential report?

The field agent, Ellis Burke.

I need you to put me in touch with him.

[sighs]

Well, most of us never stray far from the agency.

Ellis Burke lives not two miles from here.

What really happened that night?

It's been rumored that Agent Drax lost his sense of perspective.

[mirthless chuckle] What's that? CIA-speak for killing babies?

Hey, listen to this, Harriet.

"When the baby emerges through the birth canal

the prolapsed cord is compressed

so that the baby's blood supply is cut off."

Bud?

What is it, sweetie?

A.J. would like to kiss you good night.

Good night, sweetie.

Listen to this. There's more.

"Fetal asphyxia may rapidly ensue

if circulation through the cord is not reestablished

and maintained until delivery."

Bud...

we need to talk.

Well, can you hold on a second, sweetie?

No.

I need you here with me right now, please.

I-I'm here.

No, you're a thousand miles away.

I never knew that it would hurt this much.

You lost...

we lost a baby, Harriet.

And that's a...

a terrible, terrible thing.

And it should have never happened.

I just don't know what to do.

-I... -I'm going to find out what went wrong.

Bud, I know that's important to you.

But... how's it going to help, really?

I mean, do you really think

you're going to fix what happened?

I have some good news, Admiral.

I argued your case, and I won.

You got my car back?

There's a problem, sir.

They lost your car.

Well, how the hell can the police lose my car?

The last they knew it was in the impound lot

but it has disappeared without a trace.

Somebody stole my car from the police?

No, sir, the police lost it.

Or-Or misplaced it.

Or sold it at a public auction

like it was some damn pimpmobile!

Singer... find my car.

Yes, sir.

-Commander. -Sir.

I just told the Colonel, sir. I had a law enforcement buddy of mine

drop by that bar in Wells. Turns out Lieutenant Coffin's a regular.

He lives a couple miles outside of town. No phone.

-Nice work, Gunny. -Thank you, sir.

-Hey. -Hey.

I'm going to talk

to Lieutenant Coffin tomorrow.

If he's not a credible witness

my report will say that we found nothing to substantiate

his allegation against Admiral Boone.

But you're not clearing him?

You're just going to say that you can't nail him?

There's been a complicating factor, sir.

Remember the incident that occurred

at Lieutenant Cartig's crash site?

-Well, it turns out... -Decapitation's

a little more than an incident, Lieutenant.

Uh, yes, sir. I got the precise location from U-2 photographs

of the wreckage at the National Reconnaissance Office.

Lieutenant Cartig's crash site was only five miles

from Tan Dien.

His death occurred only three days prior

-to the massacre. -It goes to motive, Harm.

If Lieutenant Boone was in fact at Tan Dien

he had every reason to get involved in the fighting.

Well, I have every reason to believe that he was not there.

War crimes definitely occurred at Tan Dien.

PRU troops got out of control.

But according to CIA files, Admiral Boone was not there.

-Are you sure about that? -Yes, I am sure.

One more interview and it'll be confirmed.

The Phoenix Program was a good program when Neville Webb managed it.

It, um... it got out of hand when we turned it over

to the Provincial Reconnaissance Units.

You were the CIA Field Officer, Long An Province during the summer of 1968?

-Yes. -You filed a confidential report

on the incident at Tan Dien?

Why are you interested in Tan Dien, Commander?

What do you plan to do with the information?

I can assure you, Mr. Burke, there'll be no written report.

And any information I discover stays with me.

So, what do you need to know?

Why did Harry Drax turn that village into a killing field?

Why that village? Why that night?

We had intelligence that identified

some of the inhabitants of that village

as VC sympathizers.

There had been... incidents near the village.

About three days prior to the attack

the body of a Navy pilot was mutilated

after his aircraft crashed.

After Drax got the word about the decapitation

he issued orders to the PRU death squads

to pacify the village.

It was payback time, Commander.

Were there any other Americans with Harry Drax

the night of August 12th?

Yes.

Lieutenant R.C. Coffin?

Yes.

Lieutenant Thomas Boone?

Yes.

How was Lieutenant Boone involved, sir?

[Burke] I was in the village the next day.

[camera shutter clicking]

We had reports that Lieutenant Boone

had joined in the fighting.

[speaking Vietnamese]

[woman continues speaking]

Why didn't you put that in you report, Mr. Burke?

[scoffs] There were a lot of things that I left out

in my report, Commander.

There was a quota set

to neutralize 2,000 suspected members

of the Vietcong infrastructure every month. Everymonth.

At Tan Dien

that quota was met with indiscriminate killing.

You do not record war crimes when you commit them.

Only the Nazis were that stupid.

Your mandate was to get me an answer in four days,

to clear or not clear Admiral Boone

of even a shadow of suspicion.

It's taking longer than we anticipated, Mr. Secretary.

Let me tell you what I'm faced with.

Calling the Chairman of the Senate Armed Forces Committee

and asking him to reschedule

Admiral Boone's confirmation hearing.

The Chairman's going to ask me, "Why the delay?" and "Is there a problem?"

and since I don't have a good answer he is going to smell a rat.

Then when and if Admiral Boone appears before the committee

they are going to look into everything

that ever happened in his life

down to the last parking ticket.

I beg your pardon, Mr. Secretary.

With all due respect the Colonel is doing everything she can do

to speed this investigation along, sir.

Then why the delay, Colonel? Do you have doubts, suspicions?

Is there something I should know, Colonel?

There's one final witness, Mr. Secretary.

Someone who was there at Tan Dien.

I'll interview him later today and then I'll give you my report.

Thank you, Colonel, Commander.

That will be all. Dismissed.

[both] Aye, aye, sir.

[announcements over PA]

Send the message off precedence op immediate.

-Aye, sir. -JAG officer on the bridge.

Stand easy, Commander.

-Why don't you get a cup of coffee, Lieutenant. -Yes, sir.

What are you doing here?

Sir, I thought you'd have an easier time

speaking with me than Colonel MacKenzie.

What makes you think I haven't told the full truth up until now?

Admiral, you haven't told us everything, sir.

Time is running short.

How'd you find me?

We traced your call.

Why did you wait 30 years to let someone know?

I'm dying, Colonel.

TB.

I'm sorry.

It's my last chance to set things right.

Sorry I don't have anything nicer.

I don't get a lot of company out here.

Are you aware your accusations

may destroy the career of a good man?

You think that's what I want?

Just 'cause Tom Boone's up for three stars

and I ended up like this?

I need to know a lot more about you, Lieutenant Coffin

before I can answer that question.

[Rabb] There are some discrepancies

that need to be cleared up, sir.

You stated to Colonel MacKenzie that you spent three days with a Forward Air Controller.

You're certain of that number?

I told the Colonel what I remembered.

We have reason to believe that you spent a full week, Admiral.

You also stated to Colonel MacKenzie

that you did not recall the name of this Forward Air Controller.

Correct.

Does Lieutenant R.C. Coffin ring a bell, sir?

Does now.

What do you recall about Lieutenant Coffin?

Nothing good.

[mirthless chuckle] Care to elaborate, Admiral?

[sighs] He was a liar and a drunk.

Are you prepared to talk on the record?

Well, that prospect don't seem so bad now that you're here.

Did you bring some beer?

I don't drink.

Well, that's nice, but I wasn't thinking about you.

Lieutenant Coffin, where did you land your aircraft

on the afternoon of August 12, 1968?

[Coffin] A dirt strip outside Tan Dien.

[sheep bleating]

Tom and me had a good afternoon.

We got to see a crowd of Phantoms blow the crap

out of a wood bridge at Phú Quc.

Then we got to drinkin'.

This stuff any good?

The later it gets, the better it tastes.

It's tomorrow you've got to worry about.

What the hell is it?

Fermented coconut.

Got a dead snake curled up in it.

Tam says it adds flavor.

There are 39 ways to cook dog meat.

Tam knows them all.

What kind of a man was Lieutenant Boone?

Have you ever been around Naval aviators?

Did you notice they're kind of arrogant and full of themselves?

You know why?

You see, the guys on the ground

at the end of the day, they've got to go sleep

in some slit trench with six inches of damn water...

but the aviators, they fly back to the carrier

take a hot shower...

and have some colored steward lay out their clothes for them.

What do you recall about Lieutenant Boone's attitudes

toward the Vietnamese people?

Well, he was sort of upset.

You know, it's one thing to see the war from up in the clouds

but you get down in the dirt, it's pretty ugly.

Did he ever express anger at the Vietnamese people

over the beheading of his squadron commanding officer?

You done your homework, lady.

Yeah, Tom talked about that a lot.

That was one ugly-ass war.

Just look what happened at Tan Dien.

Commander Harold Cartig, your squadron C.O.

when the Ticonderogawas shot down five miles from Tan Dien.

He was decapitated by the Vietcong.

We have eyewitness testimony, sir

that you saw surveillance photos of that atrocity.

Why didn't you volunteer to Colonel MacKenzie

that you'd seen the photos, sir?

It wasn't any of her damn business.

I didn't want it on the report, Harm. Harry's wife never knew.

I didn't want to take a chance of her finding out now.

Well, I can understand that, sir.

Admiral, did you tell Major Parker

that you wanted to kill the woman who had done that to him?

[sighs]

We all said things like that...

but that's not how we fought the war.

While you were "in country," sir, did you ever meet a man named Harry Drax?

He was a CIA agent that Lieutenant Coffin transported on several occasions.

No one flew with us when I was out there.

Admiral, do you recall the events that took place

the night of August 12, 1968?

Colonel MacKenzie has informed me that 45 non-combatants

were rumored to have died at Tan Dien that night.

Admiral, we have confirmation.

There are reports in Vietnamese military archives--

Oh, I know those sources.

Yeah, they generally begin, uh...

"The American devils divulge their true form."

You have anything credible?

Eyewitness, maybe?

Tan Dien was burned to the ground that night, sir.

Survivors were relocated to refugee camps.

There were no names recorded.

What about the Combat Action Report?

It lists the battle as a great victory.

There is, sir, however, a confidential CIA file that contradicts that.

You've seen that?

Portions of it were read to me.

-Does it implicate me? -No, sir.

However, Admiral, I spoke to the field agent

who filed the report. He gave me reason to believe

that you participated in the fighting that night.

Let me get this straight, Commander.

You talked to somebody, who talked to somebody...

who claims I shot up some village?

Isn't that what you lawyers call hearsay?

Technically, yes.

And on the basis of that I'm accused of a war crime?

Admiral, unless you answer my questions, sir--

fully and completely--

I can't help you.

What role did Lieutenant Boone play in the fighting at Tan Dien?

It was our last night "in country."

It was the best, the best of times.

[sighs]

What the hell are you doing here, Drax?

In two minutes, we're going to neutralize this village.

These people are friendlies.

That woman who makes your fish soup, Tam?

She's VC.

Better move now.

I didn't see Boone again until maybe ten minutes later.

What were you doing during that time?

I tried to find Tam.

When did you next see Lieutenant Boone?

It was after he joined in the killing.

-[gunfire] -[shouting]

I saw him use this little kid as a human shield.

He was shooting into hootches. It was like he'd lost his mind.

I never expected that from Tom.

Did you find Tam?

Seconds later... in a hootch.

She was one of the ones Boone killed.

What else can you tell me?

Isn't that enough?

Yes, it is.

[sighs]

No one wanted to get assigned to Tan Sahn Nhut, Harm.

It was a damn clerk's job.

Harry Cartig came to Hammer and me, and said...

"One of you have to go to Saigon."

So, we flipped a coin.

Your father won.

That's how I ended up in Saigon.

Could have gone either way.

Could have been your father.

[gunfire]

[explosions]

[screaming]

[yelling, grunting]

[closing theme music playing]