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1
00:01:32,233 --> 00:01:37,233
Subtitles by explosiveskull
www.OpenSubtitles.org
2
00:02:23,892 --> 00:02:25,959
[muffled gunshots]
3
00:02:33,126 --> 00:02:34,625
[muffled explosions]
4
00:03:39,759 --> 00:03:42,057
[reporter] 103.6 WPTZ.
5
00:03:42,059 --> 00:03:43,957
All news, radio, traffic,
sports
6
00:03:43,959 --> 00:03:46,590
and weather together
on the 8s.
7
00:03:46,592 --> 00:03:48,357
In the district,
there's a pileup
8
00:03:48,359 --> 00:03:50,024
- on Constitution...
- [siren blaring]
9
00:03:50,026 --> 00:03:51,757
[Tara] Yes, hi.
Dr. Landon's office, please.
10
00:03:51,759 --> 00:03:53,623
- This thing's cheap.
- [siren blaring in distance]
11
00:03:53,625 --> 00:03:55,026
- [Huffman] This is terrible.
- [Tara] Uh, hello?
12
00:03:55,359 --> 00:03:58,590
Hi, it's Tara Huffman and I have
an 8:15 amnio scheduled
13
00:03:58,592 --> 00:04:00,324
and we are totally stuck
on Constitution.
14
00:04:00,326 --> 00:04:02,124
- [phone beeping]
- I'm so sorry.
15
00:04:02,126 --> 00:04:03,757
- Can you hang on a second?
- [phone beeps]
16
00:04:03,759 --> 00:04:06,690
Hello? Hi, Celia.
I'm on the other line.
17
00:04:06,692 --> 00:04:08,992
- [Huffman] Wait. Celia?
- Okay, all right.
18
00:04:09,259 --> 00:04:10,725
- Quickly, quickly.
- [Huffman] Thank you.
19
00:04:13,059 --> 00:04:14,126
Hey, what's up?
20
00:04:15,359 --> 00:04:16,957
- What?
- [horns honking]
21
00:04:16,959 --> 00:04:17,925
Why?
22
00:04:19,059 --> 00:04:21,525
I'm gonna call you back.
Just meet me downstairs, okay?
23
00:04:24,592 --> 00:04:25,792
Peter just fucking quit.
24
00:04:26,226 --> 00:04:27,525
[Luke] You owe me a quarter.
25
00:04:28,759 --> 00:04:31,090
- What happened? Why?
- I... I don't know.
26
00:04:31,092 --> 00:04:32,292
I don't know what happened.
[stammers]
27
00:04:32,959 --> 00:04:34,623
Okay, there's a metro station
two blocks away.
28
00:04:34,625 --> 00:04:35,525
Why don't you take it?
29
00:04:36,625 --> 00:04:37,725
You sure?
30
00:04:38,925 --> 00:04:40,857
- Yeah, yeah.
- I'm sorry.
31
00:04:40,859 --> 00:04:42,692
- It's okay.
- Thank you.
32
00:04:44,259 --> 00:04:45,224
All right, buddy.
33
00:04:45,226 --> 00:04:46,825
- Take care of your mom, okay?
- [doors shut]
34
00:04:50,359 --> 00:04:52,623
All right, good luck.
I'll call you later.
35
00:04:52,625 --> 00:04:53,590
Okay. It's gonna be okay.
36
00:04:53,592 --> 00:04:54,825
- All right.
- Bye.
37
00:05:08,825 --> 00:05:11,292
[metal detector beeping]
38
00:05:14,959 --> 00:05:16,292
[indistinct chatter]
39
00:05:19,359 --> 00:05:21,259
I called as soon as I heard.
40
00:05:21,725 --> 00:05:23,257
It's your job
to keep my pale ass
41
00:05:23,259 --> 00:05:25,057
out of the stink, O'Neal.
You're my Kevlar.
42
00:05:25,059 --> 00:05:25,992
How was I supposed to know
43
00:05:27,059 --> 00:05:27,623
the secretary was gonna call
a press conference,
44
00:05:27,625 --> 00:05:28,491
let alone resign today?
45
00:05:28,493 --> 00:05:30,923
- Did he have a reason?
- The secretary?
46
00:05:30,925 --> 00:05:32,324
[chuckles] Oh, yes.
He wants to spend
47
00:05:32,326 --> 00:05:33,825
- more time...
- More time with the family?
48
00:05:34,159 --> 00:05:37,024
- Jesus. Was Stanton there?
- He brought the donuts.
49
00:05:37,026 --> 00:05:39,057
Of course he did.
What's my day like?
50
00:05:39,059 --> 00:05:40,656
[Celia] Well,
your eleven o'clock is early
51
00:05:40,658 --> 00:05:41,625
and your lunch scrubbed.
52
00:05:42,759 --> 00:05:44,126
- What eleven o'clock?
- Master Sergeant Thomas Tulley.
53
00:05:44,359 --> 00:05:45,923
Never heard of him. Reschedule.
54
00:05:45,925 --> 00:05:46,892
[door beeps]
55
00:05:48,026 --> 00:05:49,226
- [indistinct chatter]
- [phone ringing]
56
00:05:49,725 --> 00:05:50,525
Missed you at the brief.
57
00:05:51,292 --> 00:05:52,990
Glad I had my ear
to the rail, Carl,
58
00:05:52,992 --> 00:05:54,723
or that train
might have run me over.
59
00:05:54,725 --> 00:05:55,990
Well, if you'd been on time,
60
00:05:55,992 --> 00:05:57,623
you would have heard it
like the rest of us.
61
00:05:57,625 --> 00:05:58,923
[Huffman]
You must've known something.
62
00:05:58,925 --> 00:06:00,525
Hey, I was here. You weren't.
63
00:06:00,792 --> 00:06:02,890
It's on you.
I... I... I got you a donut.
64
00:06:02,892 --> 00:06:04,690
- It's got sprinkles.
- [scoffs]
65
00:06:04,692 --> 00:06:08,159
- My wife had an amnio.
- Oh. Oh, right, priorities.
66
00:06:08,725 --> 00:06:11,790
I don't know how you do it.
Wife, kids, hamster...
67
00:06:11,792 --> 00:06:14,259
It was a gerbil. Mercifully,
it finally went tits-up.
68
00:06:15,092 --> 00:06:17,224
Life refines itself
if you're patient.
69
00:06:17,226 --> 00:06:18,959
It was a shock,
but I'm finally over it.
70
00:06:20,992 --> 00:06:23,024
[Stanton] You okay? What's...
What's... What's bothering you?
71
00:06:23,026 --> 00:06:24,157
[Huffman]
I'm a government lawyer
72
00:06:24,159 --> 00:06:25,192
about to be unemployed.
73
00:06:26,426 --> 00:06:28,324
Oh, come on. You're a superstar
on the verge of free agency.
74
00:06:28,326 --> 00:06:29,823
You'll find something.
75
00:06:29,825 --> 00:06:30,990
In the middle
of an election year?
76
00:06:30,992 --> 00:06:32,690
Not even Tiger could sink
that putt.
77
00:06:32,692 --> 00:06:33,890
- What makes you think I can?
- [chuckles]
78
00:06:33,892 --> 00:06:37,825
'Cause your political Darwinism
is absolutely instinctual.
79
00:06:38,092 --> 00:06:39,658
- Thanks.
- [inhales]
80
00:06:39,859 --> 00:06:40,892
Oh, you're welcome.
81
00:06:42,059 --> 00:06:44,124
You remember
that decorations review
82
00:06:44,126 --> 00:06:45,590
I gave you in July?
83
00:06:45,592 --> 00:06:47,257
It's a vague potential memory.
84
00:06:47,259 --> 00:06:51,090
Uh, Medal of Honor upgrade?
You have a status briefing.
85
00:06:51,092 --> 00:06:52,823
- When?
- Now.
86
00:06:52,825 --> 00:06:55,259
- With who?
- Master Sergeant Thomas Tulley.
87
00:06:55,859 --> 00:06:58,090
Air Force Pararescue, retired.
88
00:06:58,092 --> 00:07:00,192
- Flew in from Dayton.
- Your eleven o'clock.
89
00:07:00,759 --> 00:07:01,925
[Stanton] He's the guy's buddy.
90
00:07:03,059 --> 00:07:06,290
- Whose guy? What guy?
- The Medal of Honor candidate.
91
00:07:06,292 --> 00:07:08,026
Why didn't he just come himself?
92
00:07:08,692 --> 00:07:10,759
Because it's posthumous.
93
00:07:12,259 --> 00:07:14,126
You'd better read that.
Here you go.
94
00:07:17,359 --> 00:07:18,259
[sighs]
Christ...
95
00:07:19,159 --> 00:07:20,592
I have been reminding you
since July.
96
00:07:24,892 --> 00:07:26,024
[Tulley] We're talking about one
97
00:07:26,026 --> 00:07:27,658
of the bloodiest days
of the war.
98
00:07:28,658 --> 00:07:29,923
Pits saved lives.
99
00:07:29,925 --> 00:07:32,024
And he was awarded
the Air Force Cross.
100
00:07:32,026 --> 00:07:35,059
- What's wrong with that?
- It was downgraded to the Cross.
101
00:07:35,259 --> 00:07:37,290
We put him up
for the Medal of Honor.
102
00:07:37,292 --> 00:07:39,857
- That's different.
- Sergeant, I'm gonna tell you
103
00:07:39,859 --> 00:07:41,059
something
you probably already know.
104
00:07:41,625 --> 00:07:43,226
Decoration upgrades are rare.
105
00:07:43,792 --> 00:07:45,590
The criteria for review
is new information.
106
00:07:45,592 --> 00:07:48,124
Figured the new information part
was your job.
107
00:07:48,126 --> 00:07:49,625
This was 30 years ago.
108
00:07:50,825 --> 00:07:53,059
I mean, is there an agenda
you have I should know about?
109
00:07:53,326 --> 00:07:56,159
Justice delayed
is justice denied.
110
00:07:58,625 --> 00:07:59,959
That's my damn agenda.
111
00:08:01,226 --> 00:08:04,126
Sergeant Tulley, the secretary
of the Air Force resigned today.
112
00:08:04,859 --> 00:08:05,759
In three months,
113
00:08:06,892 --> 00:08:08,925
everyone in this office
is gonna be gone, including me.
114
00:08:10,259 --> 00:08:11,558
This will take years.
115
00:08:13,592 --> 00:08:15,124
We'll follow up
on this next week.
116
00:08:15,126 --> 00:08:16,126
[clears throat]
117
00:08:22,759 --> 00:08:24,759
- [door opens]
- [Peters clears throat]
118
00:08:25,658 --> 00:08:26,658
[door closes]
119
00:08:30,159 --> 00:08:31,159
[Peters clears throat]
120
00:08:35,092 --> 00:08:36,992
[Tulley chuckles]
Secretary Peters?
121
00:08:38,359 --> 00:08:39,159
Yes.
122
00:08:39,925 --> 00:08:43,126
Thomas Tulley,
Air Force Pararescue,
123
00:08:43,759 --> 00:08:44,825
retired.
124
00:08:49,658 --> 00:08:51,224
Defense Contract Audit Agency
125
00:08:51,226 --> 00:08:52,892
is looking
for a regional director.
126
00:08:53,192 --> 00:08:54,625
That wouldn't be
a step backwards.
127
00:08:56,859 --> 00:08:58,990
Okay, well,
you are now officially
128
00:08:58,992 --> 00:09:00,957
- on your own.
- Don't be like that.
129
00:09:00,959 --> 00:09:02,090
Call sheet is on your computer.
130
00:09:02,092 --> 00:09:04,592
The secretary's looking for you.
And your wife called.
131
00:09:04,992 --> 00:09:06,159
Wait. Why?
132
00:09:07,259 --> 00:09:09,892
- Well, she didn't say.
- No, Peters.
133
00:09:11,192 --> 00:09:13,226
He wants to see you
in his office in five minutes.
134
00:09:15,292 --> 00:09:17,257
Congratulations on the job,
Carl.
135
00:09:17,259 --> 00:09:19,590
- No moss grows under your feet.
- [Stanton chuckles]
136
00:09:19,592 --> 00:09:20,892
Thank you, Mr. Secretary.
137
00:09:22,226 --> 00:09:23,692
[clears throat]
138
00:09:26,126 --> 00:09:27,658
Sit. Sit down.
139
00:09:30,292 --> 00:09:33,226
A Master Sergeant Thomas Tulley
140
00:09:33,825 --> 00:09:37,159
doesn't think we're giving
this MOH matter a fair shake.
141
00:09:38,625 --> 00:09:41,026
- It's a misunderstanding.
- That's what I said.
142
00:09:41,759 --> 00:09:43,725
- Sir?
- [Peters clears throat]
143
00:09:48,326 --> 00:09:50,124
Operation Abilene
144
00:09:50,126 --> 00:09:53,224
was one of the bloodiest battles
of the entire war.
145
00:09:53,226 --> 00:09:55,823
- [whispers] The Vietnam War.
- Thanks.
146
00:09:55,825 --> 00:09:57,957
An entire company
nearly wiped out
147
00:09:57,959 --> 00:09:59,690
but for this PJ's efforts.
148
00:09:59,692 --> 00:10:01,590
Pararescue Jumper.
149
00:10:01,592 --> 00:10:04,692
Pitsenbarger is a legend
in the PJ community.
150
00:10:05,226 --> 00:10:06,126
I understand that.
151
00:10:07,692 --> 00:10:08,759
[Peters clears throat]
152
00:10:09,759 --> 00:10:12,690
Well, Carl's putting together
your itinerary.
153
00:10:12,692 --> 00:10:15,292
You'll collect
combat testimonies, personally,
154
00:10:15,725 --> 00:10:18,623
and prepare a package
for a full decorations review.
155
00:10:18,625 --> 00:10:20,823
But we're about to present
the budget to committee.
156
00:10:20,825 --> 00:10:22,525
[Peters]
Yeah, well, Carl has it covered.
157
00:10:22,825 --> 00:10:25,558
I've been working
on it all year.
158
00:10:26,692 --> 00:10:28,259
And now you're working on this.
159
00:10:30,959 --> 00:10:32,159
The Medal of Honor
160
00:10:33,326 --> 00:10:35,658
is the highest recognition
of military valor there is.
161
00:10:37,792 --> 00:10:40,792
Patton said he'd have traded
his command for that ribbon,
162
00:10:41,092 --> 00:10:42,625
Eisenhower, the White House.
163
00:10:43,126 --> 00:10:44,290
Now, why do you think
164
00:10:44,292 --> 00:10:46,090
four-star generals
and presidents
165
00:10:46,092 --> 00:10:47,625
would say something like that?
166
00:10:48,026 --> 00:10:49,592
Honestly, I have no idea.
167
00:10:50,126 --> 00:10:52,923
Well, that's a very good place
to start.
168
00:10:52,925 --> 00:10:54,357
[Huffman] I'm off the budget
'cause some grunt
169
00:10:54,359 --> 00:10:55,823
chased Peters into the shitter.
170
00:10:55,825 --> 00:10:57,057
Are you kidding me?
171
00:10:57,059 --> 00:10:59,057
He's not a grunt.
He's Air Force.
172
00:10:59,059 --> 00:11:01,024
And you're off the budget
'cause you embarrassed him.
173
00:11:01,026 --> 00:11:02,723
- Tulley?
- No, Peters.
174
00:11:02,725 --> 00:11:04,024
Look... [sighs]
...I've never done
175
00:11:04,026 --> 00:11:06,159
a medal review.
I... I don't have time for this.
176
00:11:06,592 --> 00:11:07,857
What job did you get anyway?
177
00:11:07,859 --> 00:11:10,190
I am legislative director
for Madison Holt,
178
00:11:10,192 --> 00:11:11,892
if it's any of your business.
179
00:11:12,292 --> 00:11:15,057
- Chairman of Armed Services?
- Is there another?
180
00:11:15,059 --> 00:11:16,892
Look, what, do I have
to spell this out for you?
181
00:11:17,259 --> 00:11:19,623
- This is just crazy.
- Take a few days.
182
00:11:19,625 --> 00:11:21,126
Go collect some war stories.
183
00:11:21,625 --> 00:11:23,357
Have Celia write up
a summary statement
184
00:11:23,359 --> 00:11:24,426
requesting more time.
185
00:11:24,992 --> 00:11:27,590
We look like we give a shit,
this furball rolls over
186
00:11:27,592 --> 00:11:29,224
to the next poor slob
that takes your job,
187
00:11:29,226 --> 00:11:30,757
- you're out of it...
- [elevator chimes]
188
00:11:30,759 --> 00:11:32,290
...before Appropriations
even sniffs the budget.
189
00:11:32,292 --> 00:11:34,059
- [Huffman] That's it?
- Yeah, that's it.
190
00:12:10,658 --> 00:12:11,959
[Huffman]
It's only gonna be a day, honey.
191
00:12:19,725 --> 00:12:20,990
[soldier over radio]
We're taking fire
192
00:12:20,992 --> 00:12:21,957
from all corners, over.
193
00:12:21,959 --> 00:12:23,656
[artillery soldier over radio]
Charlie Six
194
00:12:23,658 --> 00:12:24,690
gun three is ready.
195
00:12:24,692 --> 00:12:25,959
Say what rounds...
196
00:12:26,292 --> 00:12:30,226
246, uh, times 7246...
197
00:12:35,725 --> 00:12:37,692
[birds chirping]
198
00:12:39,692 --> 00:12:40,757
[gunshots]
199
00:12:40,759 --> 00:12:42,059
- [Takoda] Everybody down!
- [soldier] Take cover!
200
00:12:43,059 --> 00:12:44,024
- [instinct shouting]
- [gunshots]
201
00:12:44,026 --> 00:12:45,024
[groaning]
202
00:12:45,026 --> 00:12:46,825
[Takoda] Contact,
Victor Charlie.
203
00:12:47,192 --> 00:12:49,525
We have wounded
and we are taking fire.
204
00:12:50,092 --> 00:12:53,024
[pilot] Pedro inbound,
say, two mikes out.
205
00:12:53,026 --> 00:12:53,992
[explosion]
206
00:12:54,859 --> 00:12:56,257
[gunshots]
207
00:12:56,259 --> 00:12:57,590
[pilot 2] Copy that,
Charlie Six
208
00:12:57,592 --> 00:12:58,692
We are inbound now.
209
00:12:58,925 --> 00:13:00,792
- [Takoda] Charlie Six.
- [explosion]
210
00:13:01,026 --> 00:13:03,623
They have mortars
and automatic weapons now.
211
00:13:03,625 --> 00:13:04,957
It's an ambush.
212
00:13:04,959 --> 00:13:06,725
- [indistinct shouting]
- [gunshots continue]
213
00:13:11,892 --> 00:13:12,825
[soldier groans]
214
00:13:13,326 --> 00:13:14,259
[bullets ricocheting]
215
00:13:15,359 --> 00:13:17,592
[Pits] Hey, Tulley, doesn't look
too good down there.
216
00:13:20,226 --> 00:13:22,192
They don't know
how to load the litters.
217
00:13:25,092 --> 00:13:27,126
[Tulley] Holy shit.
It's their medic.
218
00:13:28,326 --> 00:13:29,825
[soldier groans]
219
00:13:31,625 --> 00:13:33,623
Okay. Somebody needs
to go down there
220
00:13:33,625 --> 00:13:34,957
and get 'em straightened out.
221
00:13:34,959 --> 00:13:36,925
No way. It's hotter than hell
down there, Pits.
222
00:13:37,126 --> 00:13:39,259
Those people can't wait.
They've lost their medic.
223
00:13:44,092 --> 00:13:46,159
Let me go down,
speed up the whole deal.
224
00:13:47,859 --> 00:13:48,890
As soon
as we have their wounded,
225
00:13:48,892 --> 00:13:50,825
- you're back on this bird.
- [Pits] Roger that.
226
00:14:00,192 --> 00:14:01,692
[Tulley] You be goddamn careful.
227
00:14:05,759 --> 00:14:06,859
Going down.
228
00:14:14,292 --> 00:14:16,159
- [indistinct shouting]
- [gunshots]
229
00:14:22,126 --> 00:14:23,725
[gunshots continue]
230
00:14:33,658 --> 00:14:35,059
[Huffman]
Sounds like a suicide mission.
231
00:14:38,625 --> 00:14:40,226
[Tulley] Suicide is hopeless.
232
00:14:43,992 --> 00:14:45,992
What Pitsenbarger did was...
233
00:14:46,992 --> 00:14:49,092
- [doorbell ringing]
- [Tulley] Was valor.
234
00:14:50,226 --> 00:14:53,159
It was a hell of a thing to see
from where I was sitting.
235
00:14:53,725 --> 00:14:55,792
Then why didn't he get the medal
in '66?
236
00:14:56,592 --> 00:14:59,224
- You must have some opinion.
- If my opinion mattered,
237
00:14:59,226 --> 00:15:01,159
this would have been done
long ago.
238
00:15:01,959 --> 00:15:03,592
Do you do something, Sergeant?
239
00:15:05,725 --> 00:15:08,159
Do you have a job or a hobby,
or is this...
240
00:15:09,026 --> 00:15:10,126
your full-time thing?
241
00:15:11,026 --> 00:15:12,759
I'm a palliative nurse.
242
00:15:14,192 --> 00:15:17,692
I work with terminal patients
and their families
243
00:15:18,026 --> 00:15:20,525
to clarify end-of-life goals
and...
244
00:15:21,625 --> 00:15:24,159
symptom management,
psycho-social...
245
00:15:27,226 --> 00:15:28,725
spiritual support.
246
00:15:32,226 --> 00:15:33,759
Do you make your own bed?
247
00:15:36,192 --> 00:15:37,126
What?
248
00:15:38,159 --> 00:15:39,825
Simple question.
249
00:15:41,925 --> 00:15:43,126
My wife does it.
250
00:15:44,625 --> 00:15:46,126
Must suck to be her.
251
00:15:47,925 --> 00:15:49,792
Is there a point here somewhere?
252
00:15:50,859 --> 00:15:52,792
We've been down
this road before.
253
00:15:54,592 --> 00:15:56,059
You're just the FNG.
254
00:15:58,359 --> 00:15:59,592
Sergeant...
255
00:16:00,859 --> 00:16:03,224
this little pet project of yours
256
00:16:03,226 --> 00:16:05,292
has been in a coma
for three decades.
257
00:16:07,026 --> 00:16:09,059
There's nothing in this for me,
but I'm here anyway.
258
00:16:10,625 --> 00:16:11,625
So what do you want?
259
00:16:12,892 --> 00:16:13,992
[Frank] Sorry to keep you.
260
00:16:17,825 --> 00:16:20,592
I nap more than I used to.
261
00:16:21,159 --> 00:16:22,725
[Huffman] Mr. Pitsenbarger, sir.
262
00:16:23,126 --> 00:16:26,623
Ah, it isn't getting old
that's hard,
263
00:16:26,625 --> 00:16:29,656
it's keeping awake
long enough to enjoy it.
264
00:16:29,658 --> 00:16:32,126
[chuckles, clears throat]
265
00:16:32,959 --> 00:16:34,324
- [Alice] Oh, thank you.
- Well... [sighs]
266
00:16:34,326 --> 00:16:35,324
[Alice] Thank you.
267
00:16:35,326 --> 00:16:39,658
- So, you're the new one.
- The new one? [chuckles]
268
00:16:40,292 --> 00:16:43,157
If you want the real story
about Abilene,
269
00:16:43,159 --> 00:16:45,126
you'll need to talk
to the mud soldiers.
270
00:16:45,892 --> 00:16:47,257
And they are?
271
00:16:47,259 --> 00:16:49,859
You do work in the
Department of Defense, right?
272
00:16:53,126 --> 00:16:55,159
They're the army guys
on the ground.
273
00:16:55,859 --> 00:16:59,625
Charlie Company, 16th Infantry,
the Big Red One.
274
00:17:00,692 --> 00:17:02,224
Well, as far
as they're concerned, you see,
275
00:17:02,226 --> 00:17:03,992
it wasn't Bill's fight.
276
00:17:04,292 --> 00:17:05,658
Bill was Air Force.
277
00:17:06,259 --> 00:17:09,090
Charlie Company took
80 percent casualties.
278
00:17:09,092 --> 00:17:12,658
That's 34 KIAs in the same day.
279
00:17:13,092 --> 00:17:14,892
Bill was a part of it,
of course,
280
00:17:15,625 --> 00:17:17,558
but he wasn't one of them.
281
00:17:18,059 --> 00:17:19,226
We have to respect that.
282
00:17:19,925 --> 00:17:22,592
- All right.
- [Frank] Now, Billy Takoda
283
00:17:22,792 --> 00:17:25,656
lives, uh,
over in Sterling County.
284
00:17:25,658 --> 00:17:27,959
That's about an hour's drive
from here.
285
00:17:28,892 --> 00:17:30,224
Over the years the wives
286
00:17:30,226 --> 00:17:32,126
have tracked down most
of the guys.
287
00:17:32,925 --> 00:17:34,525
You might want to start
with them.
288
00:17:34,859 --> 00:17:38,825
And this Billy guy, is he, uh...
289
00:17:39,192 --> 00:17:40,792
Will he talk to me?
Is he all right?
290
00:17:42,159 --> 00:17:43,892
The two of you
should get along fine.
291
00:17:54,192 --> 00:17:56,558
[birds chirping]
292
00:18:02,825 --> 00:18:04,592
[river running]
293
00:18:11,292 --> 00:18:13,192
Hello!
294
00:18:14,592 --> 00:18:16,192
What the hell
are you yelling for?
295
00:18:18,625 --> 00:18:19,558
Jesus.
296
00:18:25,792 --> 00:18:28,892
Billy Takoda.
Not an easy guy to find.
297
00:18:29,259 --> 00:18:31,124
[Takoda] Y'all be careful
down there, you hear?
298
00:18:31,126 --> 00:18:33,092
Jeremy, stay out that water.
299
00:18:35,992 --> 00:18:36,925
So what's your story?
300
00:18:38,859 --> 00:18:40,026
Why are you here?
301
00:18:40,326 --> 00:18:43,723
Well, I appreciate
what you've been through.
302
00:18:43,725 --> 00:18:45,026
Uh, I'm here to help.
303
00:18:45,825 --> 00:18:47,757
If you wanted to help,
you'd pick up a weapon
304
00:18:47,759 --> 00:18:49,525
and get some skin
in the game, friend.
305
00:18:50,026 --> 00:18:51,324
You'd acknowledge
you own a piece
306
00:18:51,326 --> 00:18:52,226
of every bomb dropped
307
00:18:53,159 --> 00:18:53,690
and every bullet fired
in every skirmish
308
00:18:53,692 --> 00:18:55,092
since you been born,
309
00:18:56,192 --> 00:18:57,825
that you have blood
on your hands, you understand?
310
00:18:58,725 --> 00:18:59,625
Second chance.
311
00:19:00,192 --> 00:19:02,658
Why are you here?
312
00:19:05,359 --> 00:19:06,592
It's my job.
313
00:19:07,825 --> 00:19:10,192
- I don't have a choice.
- See? That's progress.
314
00:19:10,658 --> 00:19:14,226
Vulnerability and communication.
Honesty builds trust.
315
00:19:15,126 --> 00:19:17,625
That's the only real currency
we got left in this world.
316
00:19:19,359 --> 00:19:20,859
Now you can trust me?
317
00:19:22,092 --> 00:19:23,026
No.
318
00:19:24,226 --> 00:19:25,590
[Takoda sighs]
319
00:19:25,592 --> 00:19:27,792
You mind if I, um...
320
00:19:30,925 --> 00:19:33,692
[sighs]
I'm here so I can...
321
00:19:34,759 --> 00:19:36,059
hear your side of the story.
322
00:19:40,326 --> 00:19:42,759
I talk, you listen.
323
00:19:50,292 --> 00:19:52,558
Vietnam
wasn't my first square dance.
324
00:19:53,326 --> 00:19:57,059
I was a dog-faced lifer,
a natural war fighter.
325
00:19:58,159 --> 00:19:59,292
I loved it.
326
00:20:00,359 --> 00:20:03,059
Nothing made me feel more alive.
327
00:20:05,059 --> 00:20:07,625
But I'd never seen nothing
like Abilene.
328
00:20:09,692 --> 00:20:11,126
Lost men like that.
329
00:20:12,026 --> 00:20:14,292
- [gunshots]
- [soldiers groaning]
330
00:20:16,892 --> 00:20:18,026
[groans]
331
00:20:20,092 --> 00:20:21,592
[soldier] Medic!
332
00:20:21,792 --> 00:20:24,159
- Medic! Medic!
- [explosion]
333
00:20:27,992 --> 00:20:29,623
[screams]
334
00:20:29,625 --> 00:20:30,990
[Mott]
Goddammit Kepper, you all right?
335
00:20:30,992 --> 00:20:32,257
[screams]
336
00:20:32,259 --> 00:20:34,026
[Takoda]
Contact, Victor Charlie.
337
00:20:34,592 --> 00:20:35,692
I'm hit.
338
00:20:36,259 --> 00:20:38,357
We have wounded
and we are taking fire.
339
00:20:38,359 --> 00:20:40,292
- [explosion]
- Oh, fuck!
340
00:20:41,192 --> 00:20:43,558
They have mortars
and automatic weapons now.
341
00:20:44,026 --> 00:20:45,026
[Takoda groans]
342
00:20:46,026 --> 00:20:47,825
- It's an ambush. [groans]
- [bullet swooshes]
343
00:20:52,126 --> 00:20:55,892
Pitsenbarger,
where did he fit in all this?
344
00:20:56,625 --> 00:20:58,092
Well, I lost my medic.
345
00:20:59,092 --> 00:21:00,558
We had no LZ, so...
346
00:21:01,592 --> 00:21:03,257
they called
in the Air Force helos.
347
00:21:03,259 --> 00:21:05,190
[soldier]
Pedros, Pedros, Charlie Six.
348
00:21:05,192 --> 00:21:08,090
Be advised,
we're in a tight one down here.
349
00:21:08,092 --> 00:21:10,623
Multiple casualties.
We need you soonest.
350
00:21:10,625 --> 00:21:11,825
[airman] Contact, one o'clock.
351
00:21:13,092 --> 00:21:14,625
[soldier] Advise when you've
got us in sight. Over.
352
00:21:18,892 --> 00:21:21,656
Copy, Charlie Six.
Pedros has your smoke.
353
00:21:21,658 --> 00:21:25,159
[Takoda] Pits came down,
saved lives, evac'ed wounded,
354
00:21:25,892 --> 00:21:28,658
died fighting alongside men
he never even knew.
355
00:21:30,259 --> 00:21:32,892
Get down, airman!
Get down!
356
00:21:33,192 --> 00:21:36,592
Okay. Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Slow it down.
357
00:21:36,859 --> 00:21:39,592
Nothing but your man
into the basket.
358
00:21:39,825 --> 00:21:42,059
Okay, now, you.
359
00:21:43,192 --> 00:21:45,324
Okay? Hold these.
360
00:21:45,326 --> 00:21:46,159
[gunshots]
361
00:21:47,792 --> 00:21:50,357
- Nice and easy, now.
- One, two, three.
362
00:21:50,359 --> 00:21:51,658
[groans]
363
00:21:53,592 --> 00:21:54,992
[Pits] All right, hang tight,
buddy.
364
00:21:55,259 --> 00:21:56,656
I'm gonna need you
to do something
365
00:21:56,658 --> 00:21:57,625
- for me, all right?
- [soldier groans]
366
00:21:58,692 --> 00:21:59,656
I need you to keep the pressure
on it, all right?
367
00:21:59,658 --> 00:22:01,990
All the way up you keep
that pressure on it.
368
00:22:01,992 --> 00:22:04,658
All right, you're going home.
All right.
369
00:22:05,592 --> 00:22:07,992
Okay. Take her up.
370
00:22:10,792 --> 00:22:12,759
All right, hang tight, bud.
371
00:22:13,092 --> 00:22:14,324
[soldier] Hold the line.
Hold the line.
372
00:22:14,326 --> 00:22:16,656
- Come on.
- What's the story, Lieutenant?
373
00:22:16,658 --> 00:22:18,357
We've got a 100-meter perimeter.
374
00:22:18,359 --> 00:22:20,159
We're taking fire
from everywhere.
375
00:22:20,592 --> 00:22:23,859
We've got two KIAs and at least
eight wounded that I know of.
376
00:22:24,625 --> 00:22:26,723
All right, I'm gonna need two
of your guys.
377
00:22:26,725 --> 00:22:27,959
It's your show, airman.
378
00:22:29,658 --> 00:22:30,658
Mott!
379
00:22:31,725 --> 00:22:33,859
Tulley says this whole
medal thing was your idea.
380
00:22:34,092 --> 00:22:35,026
Is that true?
381
00:22:35,592 --> 00:22:36,923
I made out the paperwork,
382
00:22:36,925 --> 00:22:39,026
sent it up the Air Force chain,
that's all.
383
00:22:40,725 --> 00:22:42,658
- But he never got the medal.
- [Takoda] Mm.
384
00:22:43,592 --> 00:22:44,925
Not the big daddy, no.
385
00:22:46,026 --> 00:22:46,925
Why not?
386
00:22:49,658 --> 00:22:50,459
It was war.
387
00:22:52,126 --> 00:22:53,759
Pits wasn't the onlys one,
you know.
388
00:22:55,259 --> 00:22:57,623
I must have wrote
over a dozen letters
389
00:22:57,625 --> 00:22:59,625
to parents and girlfriends.
390
00:23:01,026 --> 00:23:03,825
After that, all you can do
is make amends...
391
00:23:05,259 --> 00:23:06,525
and try to forget.
392
00:23:07,959 --> 00:23:08,959
How do you do that?
393
00:23:09,859 --> 00:23:12,825
Like I said,
get some bark in the game.
394
00:23:13,625 --> 00:23:15,292
You went...
You went back to Vietnam?
395
00:23:17,092 --> 00:23:19,057
[Takoda] I didn't understand
the world anymore
396
00:23:19,059 --> 00:23:20,790
and the world sure as hell
didn't understand me,
397
00:23:20,792 --> 00:23:22,525
so where the hell else
was I gonna go?
398
00:23:24,259 --> 00:23:25,925
Well, after I got healed up,
399
00:23:26,792 --> 00:23:28,890
this old high-school buddy
of mine called
400
00:23:28,892 --> 00:23:30,558
and invited me for beers.
401
00:23:31,192 --> 00:23:32,590
We sitting at the bar
402
00:23:32,592 --> 00:23:34,224
and he's shooting the shit
about girls
403
00:23:34,226 --> 00:23:37,026
and how we used to raise hell
back in the day.
404
00:23:39,259 --> 00:23:41,259
The more he talked,
the more I realized...
405
00:23:42,292 --> 00:23:44,859
there wasn't nothing hitting,
you know?
406
00:23:46,026 --> 00:23:48,656
Then he blurts out, "I hear
you got the Purple Heart.
407
00:23:48,658 --> 00:23:50,026
What happened? You get shot?"
408
00:23:52,259 --> 00:23:53,759
It gets real quiet.
409
00:23:55,359 --> 00:23:58,892
All these drunk assholes
just staring at me.
410
00:24:01,159 --> 00:24:02,759
Alls I can hear is...
411
00:24:03,692 --> 00:24:05,792
screams from the jungle
that day and...
412
00:24:07,859 --> 00:24:09,592
artillery whistle in the air.
413
00:24:10,359 --> 00:24:11,892
And I started to get pissed.
414
00:24:13,692 --> 00:24:17,026
So I pull my shirt up...
[grunts]
415
00:24:18,359 --> 00:24:19,692
...just to shut him up.
416
00:24:20,759 --> 00:24:22,190
He looks kind of awkward
417
00:24:22,192 --> 00:24:24,658
and then he starts chuckling
and says,
418
00:24:25,792 --> 00:24:27,558
"What was you doing,
running away?"
419
00:24:30,759 --> 00:24:32,159
You know what? Maybe I was.
420
00:24:33,825 --> 00:24:35,992
Maybe that's what I've
been doing all this time.
421
00:24:37,192 --> 00:24:39,057
I was a refugee
in my own country,
422
00:24:39,059 --> 00:24:41,625
and that hurt way more
than those bullets.
423
00:24:44,858 --> 00:24:46,758
Does it still hurt, Grandpa?
424
00:24:48,992 --> 00:24:51,259
Only on the inside, baby boy.
425
00:24:52,925 --> 00:24:53,758
Come on, kids, time to eat.
426
00:24:55,125 --> 00:24:57,392
Honey, think this gumbo's
about ready.
427
00:24:58,359 --> 00:25:00,492
I'm gonna need you to get
on the record.
428
00:25:01,392 --> 00:25:03,758
That's about as on the record
as you're gonna get.
429
00:25:31,792 --> 00:25:33,326
[birds squawking]
430
00:25:35,792 --> 00:25:36,792
[Huffman] Hey.
431
00:25:39,426 --> 00:25:41,090
Donna Burr? Hi.
432
00:25:41,092 --> 00:25:42,992
Hey, man, he doesn't even get up
till eight o'clock.
433
00:25:43,526 --> 00:25:45,392
Oh, uh, I'm sorry.
434
00:25:46,226 --> 00:25:48,025
Scott Huffman, DOD.
435
00:25:51,059 --> 00:25:53,925
- He... He works nights?
- Jimmy's PTS.
436
00:25:55,059 --> 00:25:56,125
He's OCD.
437
00:25:56,426 --> 00:25:57,957
He suffers hallucinations
438
00:25:57,959 --> 00:26:00,192
and about
50 other war-related effects.
439
00:26:00,959 --> 00:26:02,290
He sleeps during the day
440
00:26:02,292 --> 00:26:04,392
because the night
just plain terrifies him.
441
00:26:06,426 --> 00:26:09,290
Do you even know
any Vietnam vets?
442
00:26:09,292 --> 00:26:12,192
No.
It's a new experience for me.
443
00:26:15,292 --> 00:26:16,426
How did you two meet?
444
00:26:17,492 --> 00:26:19,492
You mean, what do I see
in a Section 8 like Jimmy?
445
00:26:19,959 --> 00:26:22,725
No, not at all, ma'am.
I'm... I'm just...
446
00:26:22,959 --> 00:26:24,059
I was his nurse...
447
00:26:25,125 --> 00:26:26,159
at the VA.
448
00:26:28,092 --> 00:26:29,390
You can learn a lot
about these guys
449
00:26:29,392 --> 00:26:30,557
hanging with them.
450
00:26:30,559 --> 00:26:32,359
What they did, what it cost.
451
00:26:32,925 --> 00:26:34,957
And every day he finds
the courage
452
00:26:34,959 --> 00:26:36,459
not to stick a gun in his mouth.
453
00:26:37,792 --> 00:26:39,992
So I think he deserves
a little compassion,
454
00:26:40,392 --> 00:26:43,025
and, believe me,
I get a lot more than I give.
455
00:26:43,359 --> 00:26:45,858
So if he wants to sleep
during the day...
456
00:26:46,825 --> 00:26:47,992
that's okay with me.
457
00:26:49,059 --> 00:26:51,326
So I saw Frank Pitsenbarger,
458
00:26:52,392 --> 00:26:55,092
and, uh, he told me
you have a contact list
459
00:26:55,359 --> 00:26:57,392
for all the Charlie Company guys
that you've put together.
460
00:26:57,825 --> 00:26:59,257
So that's what you want?
461
00:26:59,259 --> 00:27:01,858
Well... no, I...
462
00:27:02,959 --> 00:27:04,792
I'd love to talk
to your husband, too.
463
00:27:05,892 --> 00:27:07,792
I hope you're sincere
about this,
464
00:27:08,159 --> 00:27:10,392
'cause Jimmy is tougher
than a two-dollar steak
465
00:27:10,892 --> 00:27:14,157
and he can smell a rat
a mile upwind.
466
00:27:14,159 --> 00:27:15,856
[Huffman] Well, I don't have
a position here
467
00:27:15,858 --> 00:27:17,159
or an opinion. I'm...
468
00:27:24,392 --> 00:27:25,992
- [Huffman clears throat]
- Here's your list.
469
00:27:26,459 --> 00:27:27,459
Thank you.
470
00:27:28,492 --> 00:27:29,992
You wanna talk to Jimmy,
you're gonna have to wait.
471
00:27:30,226 --> 00:27:31,459
I'm not making any promises.
472
00:27:31,959 --> 00:27:33,392
- Thank you.
- [door opens]
473
00:27:35,792 --> 00:27:37,226
- [door closes]
- [crickets chirping]
474
00:27:49,526 --> 00:27:50,858
- Hey.
- [gasps]
475
00:27:51,426 --> 00:27:52,490
Sleeping on post
476
00:27:52,492 --> 00:27:54,125
would get you fragged
in my unit.
477
00:27:54,992 --> 00:27:56,426
Know what I'm saying, sir?
478
00:27:59,159 --> 00:28:02,157
People round here think
I'm a goddamn vampire.
479
00:28:02,159 --> 00:28:03,226
Maybe they're right too,
480
00:28:04,226 --> 00:28:07,092
'cause I ain't slept in the dark
for 32 years.
481
00:28:07,392 --> 00:28:08,792
You know what I'm saying, sir?
482
00:28:10,125 --> 00:28:11,292
You know what that is?
483
00:28:13,259 --> 00:28:14,059
Yes.
484
00:28:16,092 --> 00:28:18,892
- No. No, I... I don't.
- [Burr] Yeah.
485
00:28:19,526 --> 00:28:22,892
Big Red One.
First Infantry Division.
486
00:28:23,159 --> 00:28:25,892
Baddest goddamn GIs ever laced
a boot.
487
00:28:26,559 --> 00:28:27,758
Is that loaded?
488
00:28:28,659 --> 00:28:31,092
- [gunshot]
- [dogs barking in distance]
489
00:28:32,125 --> 00:28:34,292
[Burr] You know what you call
a gun that ain't loaded?
490
00:28:34,559 --> 00:28:36,492
A fucking stick, sir.
491
00:28:37,858 --> 00:28:40,159
You know what, Jimmy?
Uh, ca... Can I...
492
00:28:41,025 --> 00:28:42,092
Can I call you Jimmy?
493
00:28:44,059 --> 00:28:45,226
I'm a civilian, so...
494
00:28:46,825 --> 00:28:49,292
- you don't have to call me sir.
- The only reason I'm talking
495
00:28:49,492 --> 00:28:52,426
and not shooting
is 'cause of Tulley.
496
00:28:53,292 --> 00:28:55,557
He said this is all about Pits
getting the medal.
497
00:28:55,559 --> 00:28:58,424
- Ain't that right?
- Right. Absolutely.
498
00:28:58,426 --> 00:29:00,492
'Cause I don't give a shit
about you.
499
00:29:00,925 --> 00:29:02,725
I don't give a shit
about anything.
500
00:29:02,959 --> 00:29:05,057
I just wanna be
left goddamn alone.
501
00:29:05,059 --> 00:29:06,524
You understand what I'm saying?
502
00:29:06,526 --> 00:29:08,892
I mean, I've been fucked over
and fucked around.
503
00:29:09,125 --> 00:29:11,490
Nobody knows what went down
with me over there.
504
00:29:11,492 --> 00:29:12,925
Nobody knows.
505
00:29:14,925 --> 00:29:16,925
You understand
what I'm saying, sir?
506
00:29:19,426 --> 00:29:20,492
Listen, man, I...
507
00:29:20,892 --> 00:29:22,259
I didn't come here
to get shot at,
508
00:29:22,892 --> 00:29:25,125
or to rattle your cage.
I'm just...
509
00:29:26,159 --> 00:29:27,290
I'm just here
because Tulley said
510
00:29:27,292 --> 00:29:30,492
your statement was important,
as did Mr. Pitsenbarger.
511
00:29:33,359 --> 00:29:36,025
[Burr] I was the oldest FNG
they'd ever seen.
512
00:29:37,292 --> 00:29:39,925
Germany, Guam...
513
00:29:41,359 --> 00:29:43,059
goddamn Okinawa.
514
00:29:44,825 --> 00:29:47,792
Ten years and I never
squeezed off one round.
515
00:29:49,192 --> 00:29:50,858
Understand what I'm saying, sir?
516
00:29:51,259 --> 00:29:53,092
FNG? What is... What is that?
517
00:29:53,858 --> 00:29:55,025
Fucking New Guy.
518
00:29:56,326 --> 00:29:58,159
Lower than tits on a snake.
519
00:29:59,059 --> 00:30:01,159
FNGs got people killed.
520
00:30:01,959 --> 00:30:03,725
All them years waiting.
521
00:30:04,359 --> 00:30:07,792
Come Easter of '66,
I'm in goddamn Vietnam.
522
00:30:08,192 --> 00:30:10,059
I mean, I signed up
for this shit.
523
00:30:11,059 --> 00:30:13,390
Thirty-three years old
and I was gung-ho
524
00:30:13,392 --> 00:30:15,025
and ready to kill something.
525
00:30:15,292 --> 00:30:17,492
Hey, Ray, you're short, right?
526
00:30:18,426 --> 00:30:20,490
Thirty-two days
and I'll be swimming in Schlitz
527
00:30:20,492 --> 00:30:21,925
unless you get me killed.
528
00:30:23,226 --> 00:30:25,324
How long did it take you
to grease your first dink?
529
00:30:25,326 --> 00:30:27,725
- Understand what I'm saying?
- Get off my back.
530
00:30:28,025 --> 00:30:28,892
[Burr] What's your problem, man?
531
00:30:29,526 --> 00:30:31,226
You trying
to get each other killed? Hmm?
532
00:30:32,125 --> 00:30:33,459
Man, get the hell away from him.
533
00:30:35,392 --> 00:30:36,725
Now, you know better, Ray.
534
00:30:37,392 --> 00:30:38,725
Keep your eyes open, man.
535
00:30:58,359 --> 00:31:00,025
[gunshots]
536
00:31:00,992 --> 00:31:03,426
- [soldier] Go, go, go!
- [soldier 2] Charlie! Get down!
537
00:31:05,125 --> 00:31:07,925
- [soldier] Get down, get down!
- [indistinct shouting]
538
00:31:14,492 --> 00:31:15,825
[man groans]
539
00:31:16,559 --> 00:31:17,557
- What we got?
- [pants]
540
00:31:17,559 --> 00:31:20,725
There was three of them.
I... I got one. [pants]
541
00:31:20,925 --> 00:31:22,959
I got one.
[pants]
542
00:31:31,492 --> 00:31:33,059
- [Takoda] Holy shit.
- [fly buzzing]
543
00:31:35,025 --> 00:31:36,426
[sighs]
Nice shot.
544
00:31:36,925 --> 00:31:38,290
[Allison]
Charlie Six, Charlie Three.
545
00:31:38,292 --> 00:31:39,326
[soldier] Jesus Christ.
546
00:31:41,392 --> 00:31:42,326
Charlie Six.
547
00:31:43,693 --> 00:31:44,357
[Allison] Lieutenant, what
the hell is going on up there?
548
00:31:44,359 --> 00:31:46,292
FNG bust his cherry is all.
549
00:31:46,792 --> 00:31:48,092
[Allison] Copy that.
Anything else?
550
00:31:48,925 --> 00:31:50,459
- Negative.
- [Allison] Roger that.
551
00:31:50,858 --> 00:31:51,892
Charlie Three out.
552
00:31:54,125 --> 00:31:55,925
Kep, check him for intel.
553
00:31:56,459 --> 00:31:58,292
Then shove a couple
of grenades up under him.
554
00:31:59,226 --> 00:32:00,892
Anybody comes for him,
we'll know.
555
00:32:04,326 --> 00:32:07,426
[coughs]
556
00:32:08,092 --> 00:32:09,059
[soldier] FNG.
557
00:32:09,392 --> 00:32:10,792
Welcome to 'Nam, Jimmy.
558
00:32:11,492 --> 00:32:12,992
Come on, I got you.
559
00:32:16,125 --> 00:32:18,326
[Burr] I ain't never seen
nobody die before.
560
00:32:19,492 --> 00:32:20,856
That little matter sucked
561
00:32:20,858 --> 00:32:22,725
all the whoop-ass right out
of me.
562
00:32:23,359 --> 00:32:24,992
Understand what I'm saying, sir?
563
00:32:26,925 --> 00:32:31,192
I felt real bad about that
for exactly 12 hours.
564
00:32:33,059 --> 00:32:35,092
And then I didn't feel bad
about nothing.
565
00:32:45,858 --> 00:32:46,959
[knocking on door]
566
00:32:48,125 --> 00:32:49,426
[Celia] Thought this was going
to the bottom of the pile.
567
00:32:50,092 --> 00:32:51,292
We are the bottom of the pile.
568
00:32:52,426 --> 00:32:54,459
Some guy named Ray Mott called,
said he was confirming.
569
00:32:54,892 --> 00:32:57,459
Today's adventures
in post-traumatic exorcism.
570
00:32:58,025 --> 00:32:59,326
Hopefully he won't have a gun.
571
00:33:00,025 --> 00:33:01,890
Sit down and walk me
through the requirements
572
00:33:01,892 --> 00:33:03,792
for a congressional
decorations package.
573
00:33:04,192 --> 00:33:06,459
- New eyewitness statements.
- Okay, we're doing that.
574
00:33:07,025 --> 00:33:08,490
[Celia] DOD report of casualty.
575
00:33:08,492 --> 00:33:10,524
Well, he's definitely dead.
So that's two.
576
00:33:10,526 --> 00:33:12,157
And chain
of command endorsements.
577
00:33:12,159 --> 00:33:13,858
Bingo. Where are they?
578
00:33:14,359 --> 00:33:17,459
Because some guy named Kepper
579
00:33:18,259 --> 00:33:20,359
wrote the after-action report
and passed it up.
580
00:33:20,959 --> 00:33:21,925
It would have
to have been approved
581
00:33:22,925 --> 00:33:25,424
from Bien Hoa, Saigon,
to here at the Pentagon.
582
00:33:25,426 --> 00:33:28,226
- That would have been protocol.
- Right, so where is it?
583
00:33:29,159 --> 00:33:31,090
Well, a lot can get lost
in 32 years.
584
00:33:31,092 --> 00:33:32,825
This is the government
we're talking about.
585
00:33:33,025 --> 00:33:35,257
Well, if I can't find the chain
of command endorsements,
586
00:33:35,259 --> 00:33:38,259
this thing's DOA. I'm out of it.
587
00:33:39,159 --> 00:33:40,292
Why not ask Kepper?
588
00:33:40,858 --> 00:33:42,856
Because he's living
in Nha Trang,
589
00:33:42,858 --> 00:33:45,259
which is in Vietnam,
and that's 11 time zones away.
590
00:33:45,559 --> 00:33:48,326
There is this new invention
called the telephone.
591
00:33:48,858 --> 00:33:51,192
Look, apparently this guy
is some Kurtzian burnout
592
00:33:51,559 --> 00:33:54,023
smoking ganja
under the Bodhi tree.
593
00:33:54,025 --> 00:33:55,459
I'm not going there.
594
00:33:55,892 --> 00:33:57,725
- Is that the budget top sheet?
- Yeah.
595
00:33:59,426 --> 00:34:01,426
All right.
I'll call you from the road.
596
00:34:01,925 --> 00:34:03,459
[gunshots]
597
00:34:06,125 --> 00:34:08,823
I come out here,
knock out a box or two,
598
00:34:08,825 --> 00:34:10,725
check my targets,
pick up my brass.
599
00:34:11,292 --> 00:34:13,092
Keeps me civil with the kids.
600
00:34:14,059 --> 00:34:16,025
[gunshots]
601
00:34:18,292 --> 00:34:19,890
- [gunshots firing in distance]
- Hear you went
602
00:34:19,892 --> 00:34:22,490
- to see Jimmy Burr.
- Yeah. [clears throat]
603
00:34:22,492 --> 00:34:24,557
He kills things
to relieve stress.
604
00:34:24,559 --> 00:34:26,492
Flower box, 75 meters.
605
00:34:27,792 --> 00:34:28,858
[cartridge clinking]
606
00:34:29,858 --> 00:34:30,923
You know, he's got a bullet
in his head still.
607
00:34:30,925 --> 00:34:33,856
It didn't kill him,
so they slammed him into VA,
608
00:34:33,858 --> 00:34:35,524
doped him up for about 20 years.
609
00:34:35,526 --> 00:34:37,092
Can't imagine why.
610
00:34:38,892 --> 00:34:41,925
[gunshots]
611
00:34:43,292 --> 00:34:44,459
[thud]
612
00:34:46,125 --> 00:34:47,892
It's a hell of a thing,
you know,
613
00:34:48,559 --> 00:34:51,492
to have somebody die
so you can pop melons and...
614
00:34:52,492 --> 00:34:54,459
shoot rabbits by the light
of the moon.
615
00:34:55,025 --> 00:34:57,125
[sniffs]
Weapon's clear, Gene.
616
00:34:58,359 --> 00:34:59,392
Weapon's clear.
617
00:35:04,226 --> 00:35:06,025
Your reputation precedes you.
618
00:35:06,359 --> 00:35:09,092
- Jimmy isn't a fan.
- Yeah, Tulley either.
619
00:35:09,858 --> 00:35:12,823
Well, if you guys want this guy
to get the medal,
620
00:35:12,825 --> 00:35:14,957
I gotta get statements,
testimony.
621
00:35:14,959 --> 00:35:18,023
It was one day, decades ago.
622
00:35:18,025 --> 00:35:20,424
Pitsenbarger came
into that shitstorm on purpose.
623
00:35:20,426 --> 00:35:22,059
I mean, how do you account
for that?
624
00:35:22,259 --> 00:35:25,725
Duty, commitment, mission.
Pick one.
625
00:35:25,959 --> 00:35:27,357
[indistinct chatter]
626
00:35:27,359 --> 00:35:29,226
I kept telling him to get out...
627
00:35:30,259 --> 00:35:31,426
but he wouldn't go.
628
00:35:32,192 --> 00:35:34,025
Even his CO ordered him back up.
629
00:35:34,526 --> 00:35:36,392
Their bird
was getting ripped up.
630
00:35:37,192 --> 00:35:38,492
But he waved them off.
631
00:35:40,192 --> 00:35:41,459
Probably saved them too.
632
00:35:42,359 --> 00:35:43,492
Hell, he was Air Force.
633
00:35:44,059 --> 00:35:45,392
He shouldn't even
have been there.
634
00:35:45,925 --> 00:35:47,992
- None of us should have.
- How so?
635
00:35:49,092 --> 00:35:51,057
We'd already been out
two weeks on patrol,
636
00:35:51,059 --> 00:35:52,823
but once we tangled
637
00:35:52,825 --> 00:35:55,125
with those NVA forces,
naturally,
638
00:35:55,526 --> 00:35:56,959
we got the duty.
639
00:35:57,326 --> 00:36:00,025
- [Hoffman] Duty?
- Bait, brother.
640
00:36:00,825 --> 00:36:01,825
Live bait.
641
00:36:05,159 --> 00:36:06,226
[gunshots]
642
00:36:06,992 --> 00:36:08,125
[soldier] Everybody down!
643
00:36:10,025 --> 00:36:11,192
[Mott] They put us there
to make contact.
644
00:36:12,426 --> 00:36:16,259
Alpha and Bravo would flank
and we'd grind 'em into pulp,
645
00:36:16,858 --> 00:36:18,190
take 'em out at whatever cost.
646
00:36:18,192 --> 00:36:20,858
Search and destroy.
Notches on your pistol, baby.
647
00:36:21,426 --> 00:36:23,725
Kill ratios, body counts.
648
00:36:24,292 --> 00:36:25,459
It was total bullshit.
649
00:36:26,426 --> 00:36:29,025
Westmoreland, McNamara, Johnson.
650
00:36:29,858 --> 00:36:31,359
That's how they kept
the money flowing.
651
00:36:31,925 --> 00:36:33,925
Kick an anthill.
Grease a mess of gooks.
652
00:36:34,526 --> 00:36:36,957
Next day the NVA'd be
right back again.
653
00:36:36,959 --> 00:36:38,224
[gunshots]
654
00:36:38,226 --> 00:36:39,292
[indistinct shouting]
655
00:36:40,092 --> 00:36:41,259
[man groans]
656
00:36:47,459 --> 00:36:50,892
[speaking Vietnamese, groans]
657
00:36:51,392 --> 00:36:52,725
[gasps]
658
00:36:53,959 --> 00:36:55,326
[gunshots]
659
00:36:56,125 --> 00:36:58,057
- What's happening?
- More gooks, sir!
660
00:36:58,059 --> 00:36:59,326
- Where?
- Over there, sir!
661
00:37:00,159 --> 00:37:02,025
This place is crawling
with them!
662
00:37:07,125 --> 00:37:08,125
[soldier]
They're in the trees.
663
00:37:08,526 --> 00:37:10,090
- They're in the trees.
- [gunshots]
664
00:37:10,092 --> 00:37:11,092
[screams]
665
00:37:13,892 --> 00:37:16,292
[Takoda grunts]
Cover me!
666
00:37:21,559 --> 00:37:23,192
We didn't have a fucking chance.
667
00:37:36,059 --> 00:37:37,326
[Stanton] Ah. You're dogging it.
668
00:37:37,559 --> 00:37:38,557
[sighs]
Just so you know,
669
00:37:38,559 --> 00:37:40,457
I can't find the chain
of command endorsements
670
00:37:40,459 --> 00:37:41,725
in the Pitsenbarger file.
671
00:37:42,792 --> 00:37:44,226
- So put it in your report.
- I'm missing something.
672
00:37:44,892 --> 00:37:47,792
- [stammers] What are you doing?
- What?
673
00:37:47,992 --> 00:37:50,192
This thing was ancient history
before you were born.
674
00:37:51,392 --> 00:37:52,758
Let me let you in on something.
675
00:37:52,992 --> 00:37:55,123
It is an undisputed fact
at the Pentagon
676
00:37:55,125 --> 00:37:57,259
that all the real hardware goes
to the officers.
677
00:37:57,959 --> 00:38:00,157
There's been one enlisted
Medal of Honor
678
00:38:00,159 --> 00:38:01,426
in the history of the Air Force.
679
00:38:02,226 --> 00:38:04,090
So somebody
makes endorsements disappear
680
00:38:04,092 --> 00:38:05,392
because the guy's enlisted?
681
00:38:05,892 --> 00:38:07,725
It's not a can of worms
you wanna open.
682
00:38:08,858 --> 00:38:10,424
- Why not?
- Because confronting
683
00:38:10,426 --> 00:38:13,326
the Air Force decorations board
is not in your best interest.
684
00:38:13,892 --> 00:38:14,959
Oh, shoot.
685
00:38:15,825 --> 00:38:16,790
I'm getting a shower.
686
00:38:16,792 --> 00:38:18,226
- [Huffman] Yeah.
- [Stanton] It doesn't count.
687
00:38:19,092 --> 00:38:20,892
- [exhales]
- [phone ringing]
688
00:38:27,226 --> 00:38:28,292
Hey there, hotshot.
689
00:38:29,292 --> 00:38:30,192
Thought you fell off
the planet.
690
00:38:31,125 --> 00:38:33,059
I'm pacing myself.
It's a long way down.
691
00:38:33,359 --> 00:38:34,858
[Tulley] What can I do for you?
692
00:38:35,925 --> 00:38:38,326
You ever hear
of a General John A. Hackmeyer?
693
00:38:39,192 --> 00:38:41,923
He was one
of the army silverbacks
694
00:38:41,925 --> 00:38:43,359
down in Saigon during the war.
695
00:38:43,792 --> 00:38:45,424
[Huffman] He was also
the service secretary
696
00:38:45,426 --> 00:38:47,725
that approved the Medal of Honor
of your division.
697
00:38:48,392 --> 00:38:49,858
Think you could track him down?
698
00:38:50,092 --> 00:38:52,157
He's probably fertilizer by now.
699
00:38:52,159 --> 00:38:55,292
Besides, you're the one
with the DOD security clearance.
700
00:38:56,326 --> 00:38:58,192
Maybe we don't want the DOD
to know.
701
00:39:00,059 --> 00:39:01,259
Can you hold on a second?
702
00:39:09,526 --> 00:39:10,725
We don't?
703
00:39:11,758 --> 00:39:12,823
[Huffman]
Chain of command endorsements
704
00:39:12,825 --> 00:39:15,392
are an essential element
for congressional review,
705
00:39:16,125 --> 00:39:17,326
and they're not in the file.
706
00:39:18,459 --> 00:39:20,326
What are you asking me?
707
00:39:20,858 --> 00:39:22,290
I'm asking you if it's possible
708
00:39:22,292 --> 00:39:24,292
that what we're looking
for isn't really lost.
709
00:39:25,259 --> 00:39:26,492
What are you doing?
710
00:39:28,392 --> 00:39:30,324
[Huffman]
I'm doing my job. What do you...
711
00:39:30,326 --> 00:39:31,856
What do you mean,
what am I doing?
712
00:39:31,858 --> 00:39:33,825
It's a rare quality these days.
713
00:39:34,559 --> 00:39:36,357
What, did you grow a conscience?
714
00:39:36,359 --> 00:39:39,392
Not at all.
It's a waste of energy.
715
00:39:41,792 --> 00:39:43,092
Well, I'll sniff around.
716
00:39:44,492 --> 00:39:45,392
Okay.
717
00:39:58,259 --> 00:39:59,792
- [indistinct chatter]
- [dog barking in distance]
718
00:40:04,359 --> 00:40:05,890
- [Luke] Daddy?
- [Huffman] How you doing,
719
00:40:05,892 --> 00:40:06,925
mister?
720
00:40:08,526 --> 00:40:09,925
We have company.
721
00:40:12,359 --> 00:40:13,725
Hi.
722
00:40:14,125 --> 00:40:16,459
Long drive from Wilmington
in that school bus.
723
00:40:17,125 --> 00:40:18,424
I don't have a car.
724
00:40:18,426 --> 00:40:20,259
They let me
take her home nights.
725
00:40:23,559 --> 00:40:25,524
- Who wants to build a fort?
- Me.
726
00:40:25,526 --> 00:40:28,259
- [Tara] Okay.
- Thanks for the coffee.
727
00:40:28,925 --> 00:40:29,925
Pleasure.
728
00:40:34,925 --> 00:40:36,392
You messed with my head, man...
729
00:40:37,992 --> 00:40:39,259
when you came to see me.
730
00:40:41,359 --> 00:40:43,025
Started having dreams again.
731
00:40:45,459 --> 00:40:46,825
Can't sleep.
732
00:40:48,092 --> 00:40:50,292
Probably normal, considering.
733
00:40:55,526 --> 00:40:56,858
Sit down.
734
00:41:00,092 --> 00:41:01,092
I, um...
735
00:41:04,359 --> 00:41:07,324
When I got out of the, uh,
army hospital in Saigon,
736
00:41:07,326 --> 00:41:09,157
I wanted to wear
my dress uniform
737
00:41:09,159 --> 00:41:10,359
for my mother,
even though I knew...
738
00:41:11,459 --> 00:41:13,992
even though they carried me off
the plane. She was...
739
00:41:14,959 --> 00:41:17,292
She was crying when she saw me,
740
00:41:17,526 --> 00:41:20,326
my ribbons and my Purple Heart.
741
00:41:21,492 --> 00:41:23,557
They took me straight to the VA
742
00:41:23,559 --> 00:41:25,490
and I was in there for months
before I got home,
743
00:41:25,492 --> 00:41:27,192
I never saw that uniform again.
744
00:41:29,159 --> 00:41:32,059
She packed everything up
from the war in my duffle,
745
00:41:33,259 --> 00:41:34,856
like it never happened,
you know,
746
00:41:34,858 --> 00:41:36,557
and I guess I didn't care,
747
00:41:36,559 --> 00:41:39,758
'cause it's been sitting
in her attic ever since.
748
00:41:41,825 --> 00:41:44,925
My daughter's a shrink.
749
00:41:47,159 --> 00:41:48,392
She thought maybe...
750
00:41:49,059 --> 00:41:50,192
it'd be good...
751
00:41:52,092 --> 00:41:53,825
uh, for me to unpack it.
752
00:41:56,292 --> 00:41:57,959
Everything was still there.
753
00:42:00,892 --> 00:42:03,292
The smell of war still
on my clothes.
754
00:42:05,426 --> 00:42:06,725
And, um...
755
00:42:07,326 --> 00:42:09,092
[exhales]
756
00:42:23,959 --> 00:42:25,092
Pits gave that to me.
757
00:42:25,992 --> 00:42:27,426
He asked me to take care of it.
758
00:42:28,326 --> 00:42:29,925
He asked me to bring it to her.
759
00:42:34,292 --> 00:42:35,192
The guy saved my life
760
00:42:36,292 --> 00:42:37,390
and there was one small thing
that he asked of me
761
00:42:37,392 --> 00:42:38,758
and I wouldn't do it.
762
00:42:42,825 --> 00:42:43,992
I couldn't do it.
763
00:42:47,226 --> 00:42:48,459
[exhales]
764
00:42:56,459 --> 00:42:58,025
You know what that makes me?
765
00:43:10,992 --> 00:43:12,426
[Frank] 1954.
766
00:43:13,192 --> 00:43:16,092
It snowed all night. Ah,
that was a beautiful Christmas.
767
00:43:16,459 --> 00:43:19,125
I got Bill his Flexible Flyer.
768
00:43:20,226 --> 00:43:22,426
It's... It's still out there
in the garage.
769
00:43:22,959 --> 00:43:25,090
- You were close?
- Sure.
770
00:43:25,092 --> 00:43:29,326
But, uh, I wa... I was
on the road in... In those days.
771
00:43:29,925 --> 00:43:31,459
I missed so much.
772
00:43:33,125 --> 00:43:34,792
- [Alice sighs]
- [Frank] Yeah.
773
00:43:40,359 --> 00:43:41,892
You close to your dad?
774
00:43:42,892 --> 00:43:44,858
Actually, I never met him.
775
00:43:48,292 --> 00:43:50,492
[sighs] Why...
Why did you let him go?
776
00:43:51,159 --> 00:43:52,459
Why didn't you just stop him?
777
00:43:54,159 --> 00:43:57,459
You can't teach
your children values...
778
00:43:58,825 --> 00:44:02,023
and then just withdraw 'em
because you're afraid
779
00:44:02,025 --> 00:44:03,392
of what you might lose.
780
00:44:04,226 --> 00:44:06,792
It just seemed
like such a high price to pay.
781
00:44:08,092 --> 00:44:09,426
If not my son...
782
00:44:10,825 --> 00:44:11,892
then whose?
783
00:44:12,492 --> 00:44:14,025
My neighbor's?
784
00:44:14,559 --> 00:44:15,892
My sister's?
785
00:44:17,125 --> 00:44:18,125
Yours?
786
00:44:19,992 --> 00:44:20,992
Bill...
787
00:44:21,959 --> 00:44:24,292
he honored all of us by serving,
788
00:44:24,959 --> 00:44:26,959
and that's no small thing.
789
00:44:29,326 --> 00:44:30,492
No disrespect.
790
00:44:31,526 --> 00:44:32,959
None taken.
[chuckles]
791
00:44:34,559 --> 00:44:36,192
[Frank] In 1965,
792
00:44:36,825 --> 00:44:39,792
the first ground troops landed
at Da Nang.
793
00:44:40,326 --> 00:44:42,326
I had the thing on TV
all the time.
794
00:44:42,925 --> 00:44:46,159
A couple of weeks later,
the US embassy was bombed.
795
00:44:47,925 --> 00:44:51,457
Americans his age started dying.
796
00:44:51,459 --> 00:44:53,292
Boys from our own town.
797
00:44:54,326 --> 00:44:55,892
I... I think it moved him.
798
00:44:56,359 --> 00:44:59,190
He came to me one night,
I knew what he was thinking.
799
00:44:59,192 --> 00:45:01,792
God, it sent
a jolt right through me.
800
00:45:03,059 --> 00:45:04,459
But he went easy on me.
801
00:45:05,159 --> 00:45:08,359
He never asked for permission.
802
00:45:09,459 --> 00:45:11,892
I think he knew
what it would mean later...
803
00:45:13,292 --> 00:45:14,892
if something happened to him.
804
00:45:23,159 --> 00:45:27,492
[coughs] By the time I woke up,
he'd already gone. [chuckles]
805
00:45:29,359 --> 00:45:30,959
Next time I saw him...
806
00:45:33,259 --> 00:45:35,226
he had a haircut and orders.
807
00:45:37,125 --> 00:45:39,992
I was never so frightened
and I was never so proud.
808
00:45:42,125 --> 00:45:45,825
I can't help it,
but I... I still miss...
809
00:45:47,292 --> 00:45:50,059
watching him mow
the lawn out there,
810
00:45:50,992 --> 00:45:54,357
the smell of fresh cut grass
on his sneakers.
811
00:45:54,359 --> 00:45:55,359
[breathes heavily]
812
00:45:56,593 --> 00:45:59,725
And how he folded his clothes,
even when they were dirty,
813
00:46:00,559 --> 00:46:02,392
'cause he knew
it pleased his mom.
814
00:46:03,459 --> 00:46:08,290
I miss the way
he tapped his cleats for luck
815
00:46:08,292 --> 00:46:09,858
when he went up to bat...
816
00:46:10,858 --> 00:46:12,992
and the way
he always found me...
817
00:46:15,292 --> 00:46:16,957
when he crossed home plate.
818
00:46:16,959 --> 00:46:19,858
There's a thousand things
like that. [chuckles]
819
00:46:21,259 --> 00:46:25,359
But mostly, I miss
what I didn't get to see him do.
820
00:46:26,226 --> 00:46:27,359
What do you mean?
821
00:46:28,125 --> 00:46:30,459
Well, I never got
to see him marry,
822
00:46:31,259 --> 00:46:33,758
or fall in love with a child
of his own.
823
00:46:35,392 --> 00:46:36,426
Because only then...
824
00:46:39,059 --> 00:46:42,192
could he understand
how much his father loved him.
825
00:46:48,025 --> 00:46:49,459
I... I have a son.
826
00:46:50,858 --> 00:46:53,059
Then you know
what we're talking about.
827
00:46:56,125 --> 00:46:58,092
Who is, uh, Jenny?
828
00:46:58,326 --> 00:47:01,259
Oh, Jenny Raynor.
829
00:47:01,492 --> 00:47:02,858
So beautiful.
830
00:47:03,392 --> 00:47:05,990
She came to live with us
while Bill was overseas.
831
00:47:05,992 --> 00:47:08,392
You see, Mr. Huffman...
832
00:47:10,459 --> 00:47:12,226
we actually lost...
833
00:47:13,125 --> 00:47:16,858
- two children that day.
- [Frank] Here are her letters.
834
00:47:17,259 --> 00:47:19,359
She gave them to us
when she got married,
835
00:47:20,125 --> 00:47:22,392
but we could never
bring ourselves to read 'em.
836
00:47:24,359 --> 00:47:25,858
Mr. Pitsenbarger...
837
00:47:26,559 --> 00:47:28,326
I just... I just wanna be clear.
838
00:47:30,792 --> 00:47:33,092
This process
doesn't take months.
839
00:47:33,559 --> 00:47:35,059
It takes years.
840
00:47:36,459 --> 00:47:38,359
Scott, I have cancer.
841
00:47:38,992 --> 00:47:42,090
I should have been gone already
if you'd believe the doctors.
842
00:47:42,092 --> 00:47:44,925
- But, he's a fighter, my man.
- [Frank laughing]
843
00:47:46,259 --> 00:47:47,157
I'm sorry.
844
00:47:47,159 --> 00:47:49,823
Dying isn't harder
than losing a child,
845
00:47:49,825 --> 00:47:50,758
I promise you.
846
00:47:51,758 --> 00:47:53,459
- Do what you can, son.
- [Huffman] Thank you.
847
00:48:15,925 --> 00:48:17,259
He sleeps so soundly.
848
00:48:18,925 --> 00:48:20,792
He has no worries.
849
00:48:22,192 --> 00:48:23,359
[Huffman] Pitsenbarger...
850
00:48:24,492 --> 00:48:25,858
he had everything.
851
00:48:26,526 --> 00:48:28,326
People really cared
about the guy.
852
00:48:30,025 --> 00:48:31,159
And really loved him.
853
00:48:36,992 --> 00:48:38,426
How could he give all that up?
854
00:48:39,526 --> 00:48:41,190
He knew
what he was leaving behind,
855
00:48:41,192 --> 00:48:42,259
and still he...
856
00:48:44,092 --> 00:48:45,359
had such certainty.
857
00:48:47,192 --> 00:48:48,192
Of what?
858
00:48:49,858 --> 00:48:50,858
That...
859
00:48:52,459 --> 00:48:53,959
no bullet was gonna...
860
00:48:55,192 --> 00:48:57,459
stop him from being who he was.
861
00:49:00,226 --> 00:49:01,457
I've never felt that certain
862
00:49:01,459 --> 00:49:03,125
about anything
in my entire life.
863
00:49:13,392 --> 00:49:14,392
I have.
864
00:49:39,226 --> 00:49:41,092
[gunshots in distance]
865
00:49:55,792 --> 00:49:57,226
[gunshots continue]
866
00:50:01,059 --> 00:50:02,326
[speaks Vietnamese]
867
00:50:04,192 --> 00:50:05,790
Look, we're gonna play possum,
all right?
868
00:50:05,792 --> 00:50:07,957
No matter what,
don't move, don't breathe.
869
00:50:07,959 --> 00:50:09,758
Come on, get on top.
Come on. Hurry up.
870
00:50:13,125 --> 00:50:14,490
[Allison]
We have contact all around us.
871
00:50:14,492 --> 00:50:16,157
VC got
their whole goddamn battalion
872
00:50:16,159 --> 00:50:17,923
- out of bed for this one.
- We're gonna tighten up
873
00:50:17,925 --> 00:50:20,858
- this circle right now.
- Takoda's still out there, sir,
874
00:50:21,492 --> 00:50:23,324
Willy, and Burr, too.
875
00:50:23,326 --> 00:50:24,959
[gunshots]
876
00:50:25,159 --> 00:50:26,959
Nobody gets left outside
the perimeter.
877
00:50:27,392 --> 00:50:29,092
[gunshots]
878
00:50:48,226 --> 00:50:50,459
[woman speaking Vietnamese]
879
00:50:55,259 --> 00:50:57,326
[phone ringing]
880
00:51:00,226 --> 00:51:01,259
[Frank sighs]
881
00:51:05,526 --> 00:51:06,892
Hello?
882
00:51:18,326 --> 00:51:20,092
Whatever it is you want...
883
00:51:21,792 --> 00:51:22,925
it's okay.
884
00:51:31,226 --> 00:51:32,959
[gunshots in distance]
885
00:51:39,025 --> 00:51:39,959
Psst.
886
00:51:40,792 --> 00:51:41,925
[whispering]
Anybody alive?
887
00:51:42,392 --> 00:51:43,459
[Takoda] Yeah.
888
00:51:57,292 --> 00:51:59,090
- [Takoda] I can't breathe.
- [Pits] Whoa.
889
00:51:59,092 --> 00:52:00,790
Well, they messed you up good,
Lieutenant.
890
00:52:00,792 --> 00:52:02,390
[Takoda] Get me out of here,
will you?
891
00:52:02,392 --> 00:52:03,490
- [Takoda groaning]
- Hey. All right.
892
00:52:03,492 --> 00:52:05,426
I need you to help me
with the lieutenant, okay?
893
00:52:05,858 --> 00:52:08,057
- Are you with me? Ssh, ssh.
- You gotta help Willy.
894
00:52:08,059 --> 00:52:09,790
- We can't leave Willy.
- Shh, shh.
895
00:52:09,792 --> 00:52:10,959
Willy's gone, friend, all right?
896
00:52:12,059 --> 00:52:13,326
Now, are you with me?
Look at me. Are you with me?
897
00:52:14,292 --> 00:52:16,292
All right. Come on.
All right, up you get.
898
00:52:16,492 --> 00:52:17,923
Come on, grab a shoulder.
899
00:52:17,925 --> 00:52:20,123
- [Takoda groaning]
- [Pits] One, two...
900
00:52:20,125 --> 00:52:21,123
[gunshots]
901
00:52:21,125 --> 00:52:22,326
Grab his belt. Let's go.
902
00:52:25,025 --> 00:52:26,259
[explosion]
903
00:52:28,925 --> 00:52:30,792
[Takoda groaning]
904
00:52:33,159 --> 00:52:35,992
- [groans] This way.
- [Takoda groaning]
905
00:52:37,226 --> 00:52:38,992
[Burr] Come on, man, let's go!
Get up!
906
00:52:39,559 --> 00:52:42,090
[Takoda] It's Takoda.
For Christ's sake, don't shoot.
907
00:52:42,092 --> 00:52:44,957
Put him down over there.
Over there. That's it.
908
00:52:44,959 --> 00:52:47,025
- Easy, easy, easy.
- [Takoda groaning]
909
00:52:47,792 --> 00:52:49,825
Wrap it and pack it, all right?
910
00:52:50,092 --> 00:52:51,858
[Takoda pants]
911
00:52:54,159 --> 00:52:57,092
Right, not too tight.
Just venous pressure.
912
00:52:58,792 --> 00:53:00,992
Okay, that's it. That's it.
913
00:53:02,159 --> 00:53:04,057
- Okay.
- [indistinct shouting]
914
00:53:04,059 --> 00:53:05,792
- [Takoda groaning]
- Just a few minutes, all right?
915
00:53:08,092 --> 00:53:09,892
Hey, you're doing great.
916
00:53:10,526 --> 00:53:11,792
You're doing just great.
917
00:53:15,492 --> 00:53:17,159
All right, okay.
918
00:53:17,858 --> 00:53:20,326
One, two, three.
919
00:53:21,259 --> 00:53:23,090
- [Takoda gasps]
- I need you to hold that,
920
00:53:23,092 --> 00:53:24,459
all right? Don't let that move.
921
00:53:25,025 --> 00:53:27,392
- Okay?
- Why are you here?
922
00:53:28,925 --> 00:53:30,092
Because you're here.
923
00:53:42,925 --> 00:53:43,959
[Alice] Did he...
924
00:53:44,526 --> 00:53:45,858
say anything?
925
00:53:48,492 --> 00:53:50,192
He never says anything.
926
00:54:22,059 --> 00:54:23,326
[birds chirping]
927
00:55:03,392 --> 00:55:06,023
Hey.
Somebody somewhere likes you.
928
00:55:06,025 --> 00:55:09,190
- Hey, Carl.
- The FBI is doing due diligence.
929
00:55:09,192 --> 00:55:10,457
You're on the shortlist
930
00:55:10,459 --> 00:55:13,192
for Assistant Secretary
for Legislative Affairs.
931
00:55:14,526 --> 00:55:15,758
What'd you tell 'em?
932
00:55:16,226 --> 00:55:18,290
That you're a lying,
womanizing pimp
933
00:55:18,292 --> 00:55:19,459
and you cheat at hoops.
934
00:55:20,659 --> 00:55:22,825
They assured me those were
all occupational requirements.
935
00:55:23,159 --> 00:55:24,226
[chuckles]
936
00:55:24,792 --> 00:55:26,159
What about the MOH?
937
00:55:27,025 --> 00:55:28,224
MOH? I'll reassign it.
938
00:55:28,226 --> 00:55:30,357
I mean, I probably should
have done it in the first place.
939
00:55:30,359 --> 00:55:31,925
Somebody was bound
to pick you up.
940
00:55:35,359 --> 00:55:38,392
I see Senator Holt's peddling
an election-year memoir.
941
00:55:39,059 --> 00:55:40,257
Yeah, you should read it.
942
00:55:40,259 --> 00:55:41,190
You might learn something.
[chuckles]
943
00:55:41,192 --> 00:55:43,890
- You write any of it?
- Every other word.
944
00:55:43,892 --> 00:55:46,057
- [chuckling]
- That's good, Carl.
945
00:55:46,059 --> 00:55:47,959
First time you've told the truth
in four years.
946
00:55:48,492 --> 00:55:50,157
What's the matter with you?
You...
947
00:55:50,159 --> 00:55:52,923
You don't want the best civilian
job in the Pentagon?
948
00:55:52,925 --> 00:55:55,890
I mean, this... This makes you.
949
00:55:55,892 --> 00:55:58,059
It's 3-D moves from here on out,
950
00:55:58,359 --> 00:56:00,524
not to mention getting you back
to Appropriations.
951
00:56:00,526 --> 00:56:02,292
I need to finish this report.
952
00:56:03,159 --> 00:56:05,792
Are you kidding me? Look at me.
[chuckles]
953
00:56:06,792 --> 00:56:09,326
You're a predator, man.
You're a goddamn meat eater.
954
00:56:09,559 --> 00:56:10,992
That single instinct
955
00:56:11,226 --> 00:56:14,457
has taken you very far
in a very short time,
956
00:56:14,459 --> 00:56:16,257
so don't get sentimental
on me now.
957
00:56:16,259 --> 00:56:18,357
So you're gonna finish
the review?
958
00:56:18,359 --> 00:56:19,725
Yeah, absolutely.
959
00:56:20,492 --> 00:56:22,758
I'll send an intern down
to pick it all up.
960
00:56:22,992 --> 00:56:23,992
[chuckles]
An intern.
961
00:56:25,392 --> 00:56:28,059
- Well, congratulations, man.
- Yeah.
962
00:56:34,992 --> 00:56:37,123
You'd think I'd be better
at this second time around.
963
00:56:37,125 --> 00:56:38,125
[Tara chuckles]
964
00:56:39,025 --> 00:56:41,326
Well, you could read
the instructions.
965
00:56:42,025 --> 00:56:43,192
That would be cheating.
966
00:56:46,459 --> 00:56:49,159
- Stanton was looking for you.
- Well, he found me.
967
00:56:50,426 --> 00:56:51,923
I'm on the shortlist
968
00:56:51,925 --> 00:56:54,059
for Assistant Secretary
for Legislative Affairs.
969
00:56:55,526 --> 00:56:57,059
What about Dave Croft?
970
00:56:57,492 --> 00:56:58,426
Croft's out.
971
00:57:00,025 --> 00:57:02,892
- Well, that's great, then.
- It's a career maker.
972
00:57:03,326 --> 00:57:05,725
E-ring, a view of the river.
973
00:57:06,259 --> 00:57:08,057
Well, since they threw
in the view...
974
00:57:08,059 --> 00:57:10,125
[Huffman] Yeah. I mean,
what's wrong with that?
975
00:57:12,459 --> 00:57:13,858
What about the MOH?
976
00:57:14,992 --> 00:57:17,292
The Pitsenbargers are in town.
977
00:57:17,825 --> 00:57:19,892
Frank's having some tests done
at the VA.
978
00:57:20,392 --> 00:57:21,392
What's wrong with him?
979
00:57:22,925 --> 00:57:24,125
Ewing's sarcoma.
980
00:57:25,226 --> 00:57:26,226
God.
981
00:57:27,526 --> 00:57:29,326
They're gonna be here
for Thanksgiving.
982
00:57:30,226 --> 00:57:33,357
Maybe they'll see our situation
and meet Luke and you and...
983
00:57:33,359 --> 00:57:35,856
You are not using us
as your excuse.
984
00:57:35,858 --> 00:57:38,259
Our life is not an excuse,
Tara, it's a fact.
985
00:57:40,159 --> 00:57:41,157
Besides, Stanton said
he's gonna
986
00:57:41,159 --> 00:57:43,259
have someone pick it up
right where I leave off.
987
00:57:46,159 --> 00:57:47,159
Okay.
988
00:57:52,392 --> 00:57:53,790
[Alice] We were Michigan fans
989
00:57:53,792 --> 00:57:56,090
long before we moved
to Buckeye country.
990
00:57:56,092 --> 00:57:57,390
It's more than a football game
991
00:57:57,392 --> 00:57:59,424
when the Wolverines come
to Columbus.
992
00:57:59,426 --> 00:58:02,190
- Do you still go to the games?
- Oh, God, no.
993
00:58:02,192 --> 00:58:03,858
- Not since...
- 1965.
994
00:58:06,159 --> 00:58:07,092
I'm sorry.
995
00:58:08,226 --> 00:58:09,157
Talking about Bill
996
00:58:09,159 --> 00:58:11,226
is one of the greatest joys
of our life.
997
00:58:11,858 --> 00:58:14,159
Keeping him alive
keeps us strong.
998
00:58:14,426 --> 00:58:15,892
It's how we balance our grief
999
00:58:16,226 --> 00:58:18,424
and how we live a happy life
without him.
1000
00:58:18,426 --> 00:58:21,159
- [beeping]
- [Frank] Oh. Huh.
1001
00:58:21,792 --> 00:58:22,758
Is that a game?
1002
00:58:23,758 --> 00:58:26,459
This is a machine
that gives me my medicine.
1003
00:58:28,359 --> 00:58:30,390
- [oven timer chiming]
- Whoa.
1004
00:58:30,392 --> 00:58:32,990
- We are minutes away. [chuckles]
- [Huffman] Yeah, we're ready.
1005
00:58:32,992 --> 00:58:35,224
- May I help?
- [Tara] Oh, uh, Luke, honey,
1006
00:58:35,226 --> 00:58:37,190
why don't you show Alice
and Frank your room?
1007
00:58:37,192 --> 00:58:38,959
- Thank you, Luke.
- Okay. Okay.
1008
00:58:45,959 --> 00:58:47,292
How do you think
I should do this?
1009
00:58:48,426 --> 00:58:49,426
Be honest.
1010
00:58:51,392 --> 00:58:52,825
I meant the turkey.
1011
00:59:27,292 --> 00:59:31,226
Scott, may I, uh...
give the blessing?
1012
00:59:32,792 --> 00:59:33,992
Yeah, of course.
1013
00:59:35,326 --> 00:59:36,226
Okay.
1014
00:59:37,059 --> 00:59:38,125
Heavenly Father...
1015
00:59:40,226 --> 00:59:42,957
please bless this food
1016
00:59:42,959 --> 00:59:45,492
that it may nourish
this growing family
1017
00:59:46,125 --> 00:59:48,092
and the friendship between us.
1018
00:59:49,159 --> 00:59:51,492
And give praise
to this young man
1019
00:59:51,992 --> 00:59:55,492
as he honors us
with his commitment to ensure
1020
00:59:56,292 --> 00:59:58,492
that the sacrifices
of the fallen...
1021
00:59:59,792 --> 01:00:01,059
were neither in vain...
1022
01:00:02,292 --> 01:00:04,025
nor will they ever be forgotten.
1023
01:00:06,025 --> 01:00:07,025
Amen.
1024
01:00:13,526 --> 01:00:14,959
- [door opens]
- [bell rings]
1025
01:00:15,392 --> 01:00:16,426
[Takoda]
What you say, mister?
1026
01:00:17,559 --> 01:00:18,792
[Huffman scoffs]
1027
01:00:19,858 --> 01:00:23,190
- What are you doing here?
- Tulley had your number.
1028
01:00:23,192 --> 01:00:26,259
So I called, talked
to your wife. Nice woman.
1029
01:00:26,892 --> 01:00:28,492
She told me where you was at.
1030
01:00:29,159 --> 01:00:30,159
Sit down.
1031
01:00:32,492 --> 01:00:34,426
- [waiter] Coffee?
- [both] No.
1032
01:00:38,792 --> 01:00:39,825
[chuckles]
1033
01:00:43,259 --> 01:00:44,959
You tracked me down
to give me this?
1034
01:00:51,192 --> 01:00:54,459
You... never appreciate
1035
01:00:54,858 --> 01:00:57,059
what American artillery
can do...
1036
01:00:58,059 --> 01:01:00,059
till you see
it waste your own people.
1037
01:01:00,858 --> 01:01:02,125
What are you talking about?
1038
01:01:03,359 --> 01:01:05,426
The first round killed three
for sure.
1039
01:01:06,792 --> 01:01:08,257
Ain't no telling how many
of the wounded
1040
01:01:08,259 --> 01:01:11,159
would have died later if the VC
hadn't got to 'em first.
1041
01:01:12,559 --> 01:01:15,159
If you give your shooters
a good plot,
1042
01:01:15,559 --> 01:01:17,856
them Red Legs could put
a .105 round
1043
01:01:17,858 --> 01:01:19,159
inside a pickle barrel.
1044
01:01:20,792 --> 01:01:22,792
I got
the distance correction wrong...
1045
01:01:23,925 --> 01:01:25,825
and we got thumped
by our own shit.
1046
01:01:27,159 --> 01:01:30,426
- What are you saying?
- It was blue on blue, brother.
1047
01:01:31,825 --> 01:01:33,925
Friendly fire.
Ain't no getting around that.
1048
01:01:34,192 --> 01:01:35,990
- Damage! Damage!
- [gunshots]
1049
01:01:35,992 --> 01:01:37,390
Charlie Three
has a fire mission.
1050
01:01:37,392 --> 01:01:41,257
Shift from Queensland,
direction 3-1-0,
1051
01:01:41,259 --> 01:01:43,324
- distance 300 meters.
- [gunshots continue]
1052
01:01:43,326 --> 01:01:44,424
We will adjust.
1053
01:01:44,426 --> 01:01:45,426
[explosion]
1054
01:01:45,825 --> 01:01:48,892
Shit. Splash. Adjust left 100.
1055
01:01:49,459 --> 01:01:52,324
- [explosion]
- What the hell was that?
1056
01:01:52,326 --> 01:01:54,159
- [gunshots]
- [man groans]
1057
01:01:54,925 --> 01:01:56,459
[soldier]
Can I get some ammo, please?
1058
01:01:57,125 --> 01:01:58,492
I need some fucking ammo.
1059
01:02:01,392 --> 01:02:02,492
[groans]
1060
01:02:02,892 --> 01:02:03,923
[soldier 2] Man down!
1061
01:02:03,925 --> 01:02:06,823
Charlie Three
has a fire mission. Drop 100.
1062
01:02:06,825 --> 01:02:07,992
Fire for effect.
1063
01:02:08,259 --> 01:02:11,292
Make it danger close.
Make it danger close.
1064
01:02:13,125 --> 01:02:15,792
- Move up! Move up!
- [explosion]
1065
01:02:16,025 --> 01:02:18,892
[men screaming]
1066
01:02:24,226 --> 01:02:25,292
[soldier] Medic!
1067
01:02:26,292 --> 01:02:27,725
- [man groaning]
- Medic!
1068
01:02:28,226 --> 01:02:32,025
So when Tulley says
I'm the one what started it,
1069
01:02:32,792 --> 01:02:34,259
that's what he really means.
1070
01:02:36,059 --> 01:02:37,226
The truth is...
1071
01:02:39,326 --> 01:02:40,925
I killed my own men.
1072
01:02:43,092 --> 01:02:44,792
If I get those numbers right...
1073
01:02:46,125 --> 01:02:48,492
Pitsenbarger probably never
even gets that call,
1074
01:02:49,392 --> 01:02:51,758
never comes down that wire,
never...
1075
01:02:52,992 --> 01:02:54,092
saves my life.
1076
01:02:56,326 --> 01:02:59,023
Maybe he's the one sitting
on a riverbank somewhere
1077
01:02:59,025 --> 01:03:02,792
with his grandkids around him,
and that'd been fine by me.
1078
01:03:04,459 --> 01:03:06,092
Instead he's dead...
1079
01:03:08,025 --> 01:03:10,392
and they gave me
the goddamn Silver Star.
1080
01:03:11,326 --> 01:03:13,858
For what? Surviving?
1081
01:03:15,559 --> 01:03:17,990
I sit around year in
and year out thinking
1082
01:03:17,992 --> 01:03:19,725
about 20 seconds
1083
01:03:19,992 --> 01:03:23,326
32 years ago I wish to God
I could have back.
1084
01:03:25,959 --> 01:03:27,292
Surviving isn't a crime.
1085
01:03:29,392 --> 01:03:32,492
No, it ain't...
but it's a life sentence.
1086
01:03:33,992 --> 01:03:35,492
Getting that medal for Pits,
1087
01:03:35,992 --> 01:03:38,092
for his family,
for the men I lost,
1088
01:03:38,892 --> 01:03:42,125
might be the only decent thing
I get to pull out of that war.
1089
01:03:44,125 --> 01:03:47,224
So, why don't you go on back up
to Washington
1090
01:03:47,226 --> 01:03:48,992
and make that happen, all right?
1091
01:04:04,025 --> 01:04:05,224
[Luke] Daddy.
1092
01:04:05,226 --> 01:04:07,192
- [TV playing indistinctly]
- Hey.
1093
01:04:07,426 --> 01:04:09,792
- [Huffman groans]
- I'm thirsty.
1094
01:04:10,359 --> 01:04:12,725
Okay, buddy,
let's get you a drink.
1095
01:04:13,459 --> 01:04:16,125
Daddy, are those the army men
you're helping?
1096
01:04:19,492 --> 01:04:22,125
Yeah, they are.
1097
01:04:25,226 --> 01:04:27,292
Do you want me to be a army man?
1098
01:04:29,059 --> 01:04:32,259
- Hey. What's going on?
- Hey.
1099
01:04:34,359 --> 01:04:35,725
He just needs a drink.
1100
01:04:37,025 --> 01:04:40,092
Oh, I see. Let's go get you
some water, huh?
1101
01:04:40,426 --> 01:04:41,292
[Huffman chuckles]
1102
01:04:42,159 --> 01:04:44,923
- Everything okay?
- Yeah. See you in a bit.
1103
01:04:44,925 --> 01:04:48,025
Okay. All right.
Let's get you some water.
1104
01:04:54,792 --> 01:04:57,190
[Holt] Well, Jim, I was deployed
to Vietnam
1105
01:04:57,192 --> 01:04:59,123
at a very interesting point
during the war,
1106
01:04:59,125 --> 01:05:00,357
and that's really
what prompted me
1107
01:05:00,359 --> 01:05:01,359
to write the book.
1108
01:05:02,359 --> 01:05:04,823
I was initially serving
as the G3,
1109
01:05:04,825 --> 01:05:06,057
or operations officer,
1110
01:05:06,059 --> 01:05:09,825
for the 1st Infantry Division,
the Big Red One,
1111
01:05:10,159 --> 01:05:11,790
now, we were deployed, uh,
1112
01:05:11,792 --> 01:05:13,190
- northwest of Saigon...
- [phone ringing]
1113
01:05:13,192 --> 01:05:14,190
...in a very crucial area
1114
01:05:14,192 --> 01:05:15,957
- next to the capital...
- [phone ringing]
1115
01:05:15,959 --> 01:05:16,756
...Saigon then,
1116
01:05:16,758 --> 01:05:18,092
- now Ho Chi Minh City.
- Hello?
1117
01:05:19,326 --> 01:05:21,359
[Holt] Now, what I meant
by a very interesting period...
1118
01:05:27,959 --> 01:05:28,959
Hey.
1119
01:05:30,125 --> 01:05:32,259
- Where is he? Can I see him?
- Slow down.
1120
01:05:32,925 --> 01:05:33,925
Okay.
1121
01:05:36,526 --> 01:05:38,426
[indistinct announcement
over PA]
1122
01:05:43,426 --> 01:05:44,459
Hey, Frank.
1123
01:05:45,426 --> 01:05:47,892
Got someone here to see you.
It's the FNG.
1124
01:05:48,459 --> 01:05:51,490
- Mr. Huffman.
- How you doing, Frank?
1125
01:05:51,492 --> 01:05:53,459
[Frank] All the better
for seeing you.
1126
01:05:54,992 --> 01:05:56,192
[Alice] Thank you for coming.
1127
01:05:56,559 --> 01:05:57,758
Of course.
1128
01:05:59,925 --> 01:06:01,426
He gave me a call and, uh...
1129
01:06:03,392 --> 01:06:05,292
- here I am.
- [Frank] Right.
1130
01:06:10,192 --> 01:06:11,226
[Huffman] Is he dying?
1131
01:06:12,259 --> 01:06:13,725
We're all dying, son.
1132
01:06:17,292 --> 01:06:18,959
I think he's holding on...
1133
01:06:21,326 --> 01:06:22,925
for you to get this done.
1134
01:06:24,559 --> 01:06:26,392
Why are you in the middle
of everything?
1135
01:06:27,092 --> 01:06:31,492
I mean, what's in it for you?
He didn't save your life.
1136
01:06:32,492 --> 01:06:33,492
Didn't he?
1137
01:06:35,359 --> 01:06:36,992
So you feel like you owe?
1138
01:06:37,259 --> 01:06:38,925
[Tulley chuckles]
Absolutely.
1139
01:06:39,959 --> 01:06:41,959
You asked me if I had an agenda.
1140
01:06:42,226 --> 01:06:45,459
It's those people upstairs.
1141
01:06:47,125 --> 01:06:48,326
Now, what about you?
1142
01:06:51,825 --> 01:06:53,957
[Mott] We'd already been out
two weeks on patrol,
1143
01:06:53,959 --> 01:06:57,023
but once we tangled
with those NVA forces,
1144
01:06:57,025 --> 01:06:59,959
naturally we got the duty.
1145
01:07:00,192 --> 01:07:02,825
- [Huffman] Duty?
- [Mott] Bait, brother.
1146
01:07:03,192 --> 01:07:04,192
Live bait.
1147
01:07:05,226 --> 01:07:06,657
They put us there
to make contact.
1148
01:07:06,659 --> 01:07:11,359
Alpha and Bravo would flank
and we'd grind 'em into pulp.
1149
01:07:12,492 --> 01:07:14,790
Why don't you
just ask Chauncey Kepper?
1150
01:07:14,792 --> 01:07:16,459
He wrote
the after-action report.
1151
01:07:16,992 --> 01:07:19,125
He's the sage of
Southeast Asia.
1152
01:07:19,792 --> 01:07:21,059
We've all been there
to see him.
1153
01:07:22,459 --> 01:07:24,224
If there's anyone who knows
where the bodies are buried,
1154
01:07:24,226 --> 01:07:25,459
it's Kepper.
1155
01:07:32,125 --> 01:07:35,492
I found this.
May the second, 1966.
1156
01:07:35,959 --> 01:07:39,159
Interview with Mr. Kurtz.
1157
01:07:40,059 --> 01:07:42,226
Ex-pat,
Sergeant Chauncey Kepper.
1158
01:07:42,959 --> 01:07:44,457
He wrote
the after-action report.
1159
01:07:44,459 --> 01:07:45,459
[Huffman] Apparently.
1160
01:07:46,526 --> 01:07:48,023
What I can't understand is
why nobody from the DOD
1161
01:07:48,025 --> 01:07:48,925
ever talked to him.
1162
01:07:49,526 --> 01:07:52,725
Southeast Asia
is supposed to be beautiful.
1163
01:08:30,992 --> 01:08:32,125
[boy] Down that way.
1164
01:08:32,792 --> 01:08:34,025
- Over there.
- Okay.
1165
01:08:50,892 --> 01:08:51,959
[Kepper] Ahoy there.
1166
01:09:03,559 --> 01:09:05,426
[birds chirping]
1167
01:09:12,059 --> 01:09:13,326
You pray, Mr. Huffman?
1168
01:09:14,292 --> 01:09:15,326
[Huffman] Not really.
1169
01:09:15,959 --> 01:09:18,326
I didn't either.
I prayed that day.
1170
01:09:19,359 --> 01:09:20,758
Prayed for a miracle...
1171
01:09:21,359 --> 01:09:23,858
and one came. His name is Pits.
1172
01:09:24,526 --> 01:09:25,524
- [explosions]
- [Pits] We're gonna
1173
01:09:25,526 --> 01:09:28,092
get you home, huh?
You're gonna go back home?
1174
01:09:28,526 --> 01:09:31,057
Man, you're gonna have
one hell of a scar
1175
01:09:31,059 --> 01:09:32,292
- by the end of summer.
- [screams]
1176
01:09:32,992 --> 01:09:34,856
She's gonna be impressed
with this one.
1177
01:09:34,858 --> 01:09:36,157
[gunshots]
1178
01:09:36,159 --> 01:09:38,326
All right, I got
some pain relief coming up.
1179
01:09:39,559 --> 01:09:42,025
All right, hold tight, bud.
Hold tight.
1180
01:09:42,892 --> 01:09:45,157
There you go, buddy.
There you go.
1181
01:09:45,159 --> 01:09:46,192
[explosion]
1182
01:09:47,792 --> 01:09:50,856
- [gunshots continue]
- [soldier] One, two, three.
1183
01:09:50,858 --> 01:09:52,892
[helicopter whirring]
1184
01:09:56,392 --> 01:09:57,925
[Tulley] Pits, come on!
1185
01:10:04,992 --> 01:10:07,992
- Come on!
- All right, buddy. Here we go.
1186
01:10:11,825 --> 01:10:13,192
Okay. Let's go!
1187
01:10:21,092 --> 01:10:22,159
[explosion]
1188
01:10:28,326 --> 01:10:30,892
[indistinct shouting]
1189
01:10:42,292 --> 01:10:43,725
Come on!
1190
01:10:45,125 --> 01:10:46,892
Pits, let's go!
1191
01:11:21,359 --> 01:11:22,459
[sighs]
1192
01:11:24,359 --> 01:11:28,259
That after-action report
that you wrote on the battle.
1193
01:11:30,526 --> 01:11:31,959
A lot of it is missing.
1194
01:11:32,292 --> 01:11:33,758
Everything that I wrote
1195
01:11:34,259 --> 01:11:37,292
went up the Saigon chimney
32 years ago, brother.
1196
01:11:37,559 --> 01:11:40,490
Look, I... I talked to a lot
of the guys
1197
01:11:40,492 --> 01:11:42,025
in Charlie Company and...
1198
01:11:43,559 --> 01:11:46,758
no one seems to know.
I mean, who even thought up
1199
01:11:47,059 --> 01:11:49,025
Operation Abilene
in the first place?
1200
01:11:49,326 --> 01:11:51,825
Company CO, Mad Matty Holt.
1201
01:11:54,492 --> 01:11:56,792
- Madison Holt?
- Colonel.
1202
01:11:57,159 --> 01:11:59,159
He's a big shot
in Washington now, I think.
1203
01:12:05,125 --> 01:12:07,226
[Huffman] Yeah, Senator Holt.
1204
01:12:09,192 --> 01:12:11,259
Maybe gonna be
Secretary of Defense one day.
1205
01:12:14,792 --> 01:12:15,959
He was a good CO.
1206
01:12:17,159 --> 01:12:19,725
It was a very bad day.
1207
01:12:20,192 --> 01:12:21,725
[birds chirping]
1208
01:12:22,059 --> 01:12:23,925
So why do these vets
come here to see you?
1209
01:12:24,292 --> 01:12:26,159
[Kepper] Why they come here
is none of my business.
1210
01:12:27,159 --> 01:12:28,292
Well, what do you do here?
1211
01:12:29,459 --> 01:12:32,025
[Kepper]
I live, I love, and listen.
1212
01:12:32,426 --> 01:12:33,923
- So you listen to them?
- Yeah.
1213
01:12:33,925 --> 01:12:35,226
- To the vets.
- Uh-huh.
1214
01:12:36,292 --> 01:12:38,959
Try to rewrite their story,
help 'em.
1215
01:12:39,792 --> 01:12:41,059
[Huffman]
You can't change their past.
1216
01:12:41,259 --> 01:12:43,392
[Kepper] But you can change
your perspective.
1217
01:12:44,059 --> 01:12:46,326
You can create new memories,
1218
01:12:46,925 --> 01:12:49,326
happy memories,
even in a sad place.
1219
01:12:53,359 --> 01:12:54,359
It's choices.
1220
01:12:56,125 --> 01:12:57,758
Our guys come through here,
1221
01:12:58,426 --> 01:13:00,790
people think the war
is who those men are.
1222
01:13:00,792 --> 01:13:02,226
It's not.
It's what happened to 'em.
1223
01:13:03,326 --> 01:13:04,492
And it's just wonderful to,
1224
01:13:05,192 --> 01:13:06,825
kind of, go through stuff
with 'em.
1225
01:13:07,025 --> 01:13:08,224
[birds chirping]
1226
01:13:08,226 --> 01:13:10,392
Hey, I wanna show you something.
1227
01:13:11,359 --> 01:13:12,259
Shh.
1228
01:13:19,459 --> 01:13:21,159
[birds chirping]
1229
01:13:35,226 --> 01:13:36,392
[Huffman] This is incredible.
1230
01:13:39,392 --> 01:13:41,992
I never brought anyone
who didn't feel happy here.
1231
01:13:42,492 --> 01:13:44,059
[chuckles]
1232
01:13:45,492 --> 01:13:46,825
[Huffman] You did all this?
1233
01:13:47,792 --> 01:13:48,792
[Kepper] Yep.
1234
01:13:50,459 --> 01:13:52,392
[sighs]
You know where we are?
1235
01:13:54,492 --> 01:13:55,825
Uh...
1236
01:13:57,059 --> 01:13:58,059
No.
1237
01:13:59,025 --> 01:14:00,259
This is where he came down.
1238
01:14:01,025 --> 01:14:02,025
Pits.
1239
01:14:03,526 --> 01:14:04,992
I thought I saw an angel.
1240
01:14:06,792 --> 01:14:10,192
And there he was right in front
of me, all clean and pressed.
1241
01:14:10,992 --> 01:14:12,725
Air Force.
[scoffs]
1242
01:14:14,159 --> 01:14:15,292
This is Abilene.
1243
01:14:16,125 --> 01:14:17,825
- Here?
- Right here...
1244
01:14:18,426 --> 01:14:19,492
under your feet.
1245
01:14:21,492 --> 01:14:22,959
But now it's Avalon.
1246
01:14:24,125 --> 01:14:25,125
Avalon.
1247
01:14:27,025 --> 01:14:28,159
Avalon.
1248
01:14:29,959 --> 01:14:31,459
Now, how can that be possible...
1249
01:14:32,492 --> 01:14:34,825
to have those two things
in the same place?
1250
01:14:36,892 --> 01:14:39,359
[exhales] Just stay here
for a while...
1251
01:14:40,526 --> 01:14:41,858
and breathe.
1252
01:14:43,792 --> 01:14:44,892
[exhales]
1253
01:15:28,226 --> 01:15:29,426
[sighs]
1254
01:15:30,992 --> 01:15:31,992
Let it go.
1255
01:15:33,792 --> 01:15:36,858
[sobs]
1256
01:16:06,492 --> 01:16:10,025
[Kepper] The veterans hold
something for all of us.
1257
01:16:11,159 --> 01:16:14,426
They take the shame of war,
denial...
1258
01:16:17,858 --> 01:16:18,858
anger.
1259
01:16:19,959 --> 01:16:23,858
They just come here
so somebody'll listen to them.
1260
01:16:24,959 --> 01:16:26,557
That's why medals
are so important.
1261
01:16:26,559 --> 01:16:29,459
It helps...
It helps bring us together,
1262
01:16:30,192 --> 01:16:31,426
tell stories.
1263
01:16:32,858 --> 01:16:34,125
I'm... I'm just a witness.
1264
01:16:35,226 --> 01:16:36,758
You're a witness, too.
1265
01:16:41,492 --> 01:16:43,426
The Vietnamese love
their khom loi.
1266
01:16:44,426 --> 01:16:46,259
It's symbolic for letting go...
1267
01:16:47,292 --> 01:16:49,359
and if you have something
that you...
1268
01:16:50,792 --> 01:16:52,159
You wanna leave here...
1269
01:16:53,259 --> 01:16:54,825
something you brought
with you...
1270
01:16:55,792 --> 01:16:57,992
you don't want to take back...
1271
01:16:59,925 --> 01:17:01,226
well, just let go.
1272
01:17:28,892 --> 01:17:32,792
- They're coming!
- [gunshots]
1273
01:17:35,059 --> 01:17:36,092
[soldier] Let's go!
1274
01:17:37,426 --> 01:17:38,326
[explosion]
1275
01:17:40,159 --> 01:17:41,856
I'm on the hook with Red Leg.
1276
01:17:41,858 --> 01:17:43,224
Tell them to drop it on top
of us.
1277
01:17:43,226 --> 01:17:45,090
Charlie Six,
emergency fire mission.
1278
01:17:45,092 --> 01:17:46,125
[groans]
1279
01:17:47,259 --> 01:17:49,790
- [Quaid] Call them in now!
- [Allison] Damage. Damage.
1280
01:17:49,792 --> 01:17:51,990
Charlie Six,
emergency fire mission.
1281
01:17:51,992 --> 01:17:54,192
- Quebec Tango 633.
- [gunshots]
1282
01:17:54,858 --> 01:17:55,992
[groans]
1283
01:17:56,259 --> 01:17:57,159
[explosion]
1284
01:17:57,925 --> 01:17:59,159
[groaning]
1285
01:18:01,192 --> 01:18:03,390
[Allison] Damage, damage.
Charlie Six.
1286
01:18:03,392 --> 01:18:06,823
Emergency fire mission.
Quebec Tango 633.
1287
01:18:06,825 --> 01:18:09,359
This is Broken Arrow.
We are being overrun.
1288
01:18:10,059 --> 01:18:11,459
[Pits] Hold this.
Keep pressure on it.
1289
01:18:11,992 --> 01:18:13,424
Somebody's still out there!
1290
01:18:13,426 --> 01:18:15,825
[soldier] I need a tourniquet,
I'm bleeding out.
1291
01:18:16,992 --> 01:18:18,426
I need you to do me a favor.
1292
01:18:19,326 --> 01:18:20,957
I need to get this to someone.
1293
01:18:20,959 --> 01:18:22,823
- No.
- [Pits] Please?
1294
01:18:22,825 --> 01:18:24,459
- No.
- It's a stamp.
1295
01:18:26,192 --> 01:18:27,856
I'll hold onto it
till you get back.
1296
01:18:27,858 --> 01:18:29,324
- Okay.
- [gunshots]
1297
01:18:29,326 --> 01:18:30,825
[bullets whistling]
1298
01:18:32,792 --> 01:18:33,959
What are you doing, man?
1299
01:18:35,025 --> 01:18:37,125
[Pits] You've done enough,
brother. You be still.
1300
01:18:51,292 --> 01:18:54,823
[Takoda] Pits came down,
saved lives, evac'ed wounded,
1301
01:18:54,825 --> 01:18:58,392
fought, died alongside men
he never even knew.
1302
01:19:00,492 --> 01:19:01,992
[Kepper] You pray, Mr. Huffman?
1303
01:19:03,192 --> 01:19:06,025
I prayed that day.
Prayed for a miracle.
1304
01:19:07,459 --> 01:19:09,758
[Burr] I ain't never seen
nobody die before.
1305
01:19:09,959 --> 01:19:11,359
[Pits] Coming out!
1306
01:19:13,259 --> 01:19:14,257
[Burr]
That little matter sucked
1307
01:19:14,259 --> 01:19:16,259
all the whoop-ass right out
of me.
1308
01:19:17,292 --> 01:19:18,992
Understand
what I'm saying, sir?
1309
01:19:23,025 --> 01:19:23,957
[gunshots]
1310
01:19:23,959 --> 01:19:26,059
[Mott]
All this hellfire coming in.
1311
01:19:26,559 --> 01:19:27,959
To him it was like...
1312
01:19:29,559 --> 01:19:30,992
nothing could hurt him.
1313
01:19:32,392 --> 01:19:34,858
He was there to save lives
and that's what he was doing.
1314
01:19:35,892 --> 01:19:36,925
[groans]
1315
01:19:37,992 --> 01:19:39,023
Who knows how many guys
are walking
1316
01:19:39,025 --> 01:19:40,092
around alive today
because of him,
1317
01:19:40,959 --> 01:19:42,125
what he done.
1318
01:19:44,459 --> 01:19:46,125
When he didn't come back...
1319
01:19:49,092 --> 01:19:51,959
I felt like the best part of me
went down with him.
1320
01:19:54,925 --> 01:19:57,259
I still think about it,
'cause... [chuckles]
1321
01:19:58,359 --> 01:20:00,426
...if anybody deserved
to get out of that hell alive,
1322
01:20:01,192 --> 01:20:02,292
it was him.
1323
01:20:08,159 --> 01:20:09,292
Make yourself at home.
1324
01:20:11,025 --> 01:20:12,492
You know,
I could have you arrested.
1325
01:20:13,892 --> 01:20:17,758
Senator Madison Holt,
formerly Colonel Madison Holt.
1326
01:20:17,959 --> 01:20:20,790
First Infantry Division,
the Big Red One.
1327
01:20:20,792 --> 01:20:22,957
The senator's distinguished
military career
1328
01:20:22,959 --> 01:20:26,257
is a matter of public record.
It's undisputed.
1329
01:20:26,259 --> 01:20:29,224
- I bought the book, Carl.
- Yeah? Did you read it,
1330
01:20:29,226 --> 01:20:31,123
or did you just look
at the pictures?
1331
01:20:31,125 --> 01:20:32,557
Holt was part of the brass
1332
01:20:32,559 --> 01:20:34,226
that cooked up
Operation Abilene.
1333
01:20:35,192 --> 01:20:39,424
You're not really suggesting
that Holt ordered an NVA ambush?
1334
01:20:39,426 --> 01:20:41,823
I'm suggesting that it'd be
pretty convenient for you
1335
01:20:41,825 --> 01:20:43,025
to keep that off the record...
1336
01:20:43,392 --> 01:20:45,057
[chuckles] ...which is why
you put me on it,
1337
01:20:45,059 --> 01:20:47,125
because you knew I'd dump it.
1338
01:20:48,326 --> 01:20:50,390
You know, Holt's gonna be
Secretary of Defense someday,
1339
01:20:50,392 --> 01:20:51,792
maybe even president.
1340
01:20:52,226 --> 01:20:53,359
You had the comm...
1341
01:20:54,226 --> 01:20:56,758
Command endorsements
all this time.
1342
01:21:00,025 --> 01:21:01,059
I'm taking them.
1343
01:21:02,192 --> 01:21:04,392
Have you ever been the subject
of opposition research?
1344
01:21:05,426 --> 01:21:07,090
'Cause if you even twitch
on this,
1345
01:21:07,092 --> 01:21:09,059
I will have them on you
like spray paint.
1346
01:21:09,492 --> 01:21:11,823
You'll never get
another mortgage, passport,
1347
01:21:11,825 --> 01:21:15,125
or Sam's Club membership card
1348
01:21:16,226 --> 01:21:18,292
let alone
a political appointment.
1349
01:21:21,259 --> 01:21:22,426
But I'm not worried
about all that.
1350
01:21:23,825 --> 01:21:26,190
- Why not?
- Because it's not in your nature
1351
01:21:26,192 --> 01:21:27,856
to spit in the face of a man
1352
01:21:27,858 --> 01:21:29,892
who could just
as easily make you.
1353
01:21:30,259 --> 01:21:31,424
[Huffman] What's my nature?
1354
01:21:31,426 --> 01:21:33,758
Climb, prosper,
expand the gene pool,
1355
01:21:33,959 --> 01:21:35,159
just like the rest of us.
1356
01:21:36,159 --> 01:21:37,159
I'd appreciate it
1357
01:21:38,259 --> 01:21:40,392
if you'd leave the place
the way you found it, and...
1358
01:21:41,392 --> 01:21:45,426
don't forget,
we got squash, Wednesday.
1359
01:21:53,259 --> 01:21:54,326
[Pits] Jenny,
1360
01:21:55,392 --> 01:21:56,957
sometimes it's difficult
to understand
1361
01:21:56,959 --> 01:21:58,226
why we've been sent here,
1362
01:21:58,959 --> 01:22:00,959
or to explain what happens.
1363
01:22:01,825 --> 01:22:02,725
I only have a minute,
1364
01:22:03,792 --> 01:22:04,990
since we got a call
to make pick-ups
1365
01:22:04,992 --> 01:22:07,092
near Xa Cam My,
about 30 klicks from here.
1366
01:22:08,092 --> 01:22:09,226
You know, Jenny,
1367
01:22:09,959 --> 01:22:12,125
the only thing I fear of dying
1368
01:22:12,359 --> 01:22:14,326
is that dreams
of you won't come,
1369
01:22:15,192 --> 01:22:18,159
that death is dark and still
1370
01:22:18,959 --> 01:22:21,125
and endless
like these jungle nights.
1371
01:22:23,092 --> 01:22:24,792
But sometimes I think, Jen,
1372
01:22:25,326 --> 01:22:27,758
maybe it is this place
I'll wake up from,
1373
01:22:28,259 --> 01:22:30,492
safe and warm in your bed,
1374
01:22:30,992 --> 01:22:33,025
the morning light streaming in.
1375
01:22:36,092 --> 01:22:38,192
But if it is the thunder here
that's real,
1376
01:22:38,526 --> 01:22:41,025
and if this letter
should reach you instead of me,
1377
01:22:41,959 --> 01:22:43,858
then know that I am never far.
1378
01:22:45,226 --> 01:22:47,856
Take care of Mom
and especially Dad,
1379
01:22:47,858 --> 01:22:50,326
because he'll take this
worst of all.
1380
01:22:51,326 --> 01:22:54,259
Tell them I'm sorry
for what I've put them through,
1381
01:22:55,059 --> 01:22:56,925
but that I am sure
of my purpose
1382
01:22:57,326 --> 01:22:59,392
and in the words
we all believe,
1383
01:23:00,326 --> 01:23:03,992
these things we do
that others may live.
1384
01:23:04,992 --> 01:23:06,059
Bill.
1385
01:23:11,392 --> 01:23:12,559
[congressman]
You have an impeccable record.
1386
01:23:14,326 --> 01:23:16,892
The secretary has given you
his highest recommendation.
1387
01:23:17,825 --> 01:23:18,825
Thank you, sir.
1388
01:23:20,025 --> 01:23:21,459
So why do you think you'd be
effective in this position?
1389
01:23:23,092 --> 01:23:26,226
Well, I'm connected,
1390
01:23:27,125 --> 01:23:29,392
ambitious, persuasive...
1391
01:23:30,992 --> 01:23:32,190
not afraid to make enemies,
1392
01:23:32,192 --> 01:23:34,392
and I want this job more
than anybody.
1393
01:23:35,858 --> 01:23:38,725
At least that's what I would
have said a month ago.
1394
01:23:39,192 --> 01:23:40,192
Okay.
1395
01:23:41,426 --> 01:23:42,426
And today?
1396
01:23:44,825 --> 01:23:45,959
Today I'm...
1397
01:23:47,426 --> 01:23:48,758
just unavailable.
1398
01:23:52,326 --> 01:23:54,426
[indistinct chatter]
1399
01:23:57,526 --> 01:23:58,758
[Mott] Air Force?
1400
01:24:00,292 --> 01:24:01,359
Yeah.
1401
01:24:03,059 --> 01:24:04,825
I'm sorry about your buddy, man.
1402
01:24:07,392 --> 01:24:08,758
[sobbing]
I'm so sorry.
1403
01:24:33,959 --> 01:24:36,392
[Tulley] The whole time
I'm washing him...
1404
01:24:37,925 --> 01:24:40,858
his feet and his hands...
1405
01:24:46,792 --> 01:24:48,159
I didn't feel anything.
1406
01:24:49,426 --> 01:24:50,226
Nothing.
1407
01:24:51,959 --> 01:24:53,858
That's when I knew
I'd been there...
1408
01:24:54,559 --> 01:24:55,858
too long.
1409
01:24:57,526 --> 01:24:58,959
I shipped him back...
1410
01:25:00,025 --> 01:25:02,959
and I finished my tour
and I got on with my life.
1411
01:25:07,192 --> 01:25:08,192
Did you?
1412
01:25:09,125 --> 01:25:10,159
Did I what?
1413
01:25:10,925 --> 01:25:12,259
Get on with your life?
1414
01:25:14,059 --> 01:25:15,125
I'm standing here.
1415
01:25:18,492 --> 01:25:19,725
You know...
1416
01:25:21,059 --> 01:25:22,326
when I was five years old...
1417
01:25:24,192 --> 01:25:27,057
I watched my father
pack up his things in his car
1418
01:25:27,059 --> 01:25:29,792
and leave my mother and me.
1419
01:25:31,992 --> 01:25:33,059
I was so afraid.
1420
01:25:34,959 --> 01:25:36,092
It hurt so much.
1421
01:25:38,292 --> 01:25:41,192
I ran out to the driveway,
and I...
1422
01:25:42,792 --> 01:25:47,259
shoved my hand in the car door
as he slammed it shut.
1423
01:25:48,892 --> 01:25:50,524
I thought that if he saw
I was injured
1424
01:25:50,526 --> 01:25:52,226
and really hurt,
then he would...
1425
01:25:53,159 --> 01:25:54,259
have to take me to the hospital
1426
01:25:55,492 --> 01:25:58,326
and the doctor would tell him
to stay and take care of me.
1427
01:26:01,492 --> 01:26:02,925
But he just drove away.
1428
01:26:05,892 --> 01:26:08,457
I chased his car down
the street,
1429
01:26:08,459 --> 01:26:10,125
my hand all mangled, and...
1430
01:26:12,526 --> 01:26:15,326
till my mother scooped me up.
1431
01:26:20,426 --> 01:26:22,292
Ah. You were marked.
1432
01:26:24,392 --> 01:26:25,725
Just like you.
1433
01:26:29,992 --> 01:26:33,858
What happened to you
on April 11th, 1966?
1434
01:26:34,959 --> 01:26:36,059
My friend died.
1435
01:26:37,025 --> 01:26:38,326
What happened to you?
1436
01:26:40,559 --> 01:26:42,925
- I told you.
- It's okay.
1437
01:26:44,059 --> 01:26:45,059
It's not okay.
1438
01:26:45,459 --> 01:26:47,424
- Just...
- Nothing about it is okay.
1439
01:26:47,426 --> 01:26:49,025
Just tell me.
1440
01:26:49,292 --> 01:26:51,725
What is it? What...
What was it? What happened?
1441
01:26:53,125 --> 01:26:57,424
He died. He got killed.
He got shot in the head.
1442
01:26:57,426 --> 01:27:01,457
- And the... Well, that's war.
- Right, right, it was war.
1443
01:27:01,459 --> 01:27:04,224
So how long are you going
to punish yourself?
1444
01:27:04,226 --> 01:27:07,490
- Punish myself?
- What was the thing you did?
1445
01:27:07,492 --> 01:27:09,059
- What'd I do?
- Yeah.
1446
01:27:09,392 --> 01:27:10,957
Just tell me,
what was the thing you did?
1447
01:27:10,959 --> 01:27:13,390
- No, you stop it.
- It's okay to talk about it.
1448
01:27:13,392 --> 01:27:15,992
- You better stop it, man.
- Just say it.
1449
01:27:16,925 --> 01:27:17,925
Say what?
1450
01:27:19,125 --> 01:27:21,992
He knew it was dangerous.
I told him...
1451
01:27:22,892 --> 01:27:24,259
to be goddamn careful...
1452
01:27:25,192 --> 01:27:26,392
And? What?
1453
01:27:27,025 --> 01:27:29,390
No, no, no, no, no.
I'm not doing this.
1454
01:27:29,392 --> 01:27:31,426
- Doing what?
- Doing this.
1455
01:27:32,925 --> 01:27:35,190
I told him to come back up,
1456
01:27:35,192 --> 01:27:37,392
get back on the wire,
get back in the ship.
1457
01:27:37,858 --> 01:27:39,990
He didn't do that.
Why didn't he do that,
1458
01:27:39,992 --> 01:27:40,959
get back in the ship?
1459
01:27:41,992 --> 01:27:43,057
Because he couldn't.
Because people needed him.
1460
01:27:43,059 --> 01:27:44,890
Yeah? Yeah? Yeah?
1461
01:27:44,892 --> 01:27:46,992
Well, fuck you and...
1462
01:27:49,559 --> 01:27:51,025
[sobs]
Oh, God.
1463
01:27:57,292 --> 01:27:58,825
[sobs]
1464
01:28:00,359 --> 01:28:01,957
It's gotta hurt to be mad
at him.
1465
01:28:01,959 --> 01:28:03,226
[sobs]
Yeah.
1466
01:28:04,459 --> 01:28:06,125
What else happened to you, Tom?
1467
01:28:06,459 --> 01:28:09,292
[sobbing, panting] I... [sobbing]
I stayed in the bird
1468
01:28:10,059 --> 01:28:13,092
and I... I...
I didn't go down. I...
1469
01:28:14,359 --> 01:28:16,125
I was relieved. I...
1470
01:28:16,825 --> 01:28:19,326
I stayed, you know,
where it was safe.
1471
01:28:22,159 --> 01:28:23,459
God, when I found him...
1472
01:28:25,326 --> 01:28:26,359
I was...
1473
01:28:27,292 --> 01:28:29,092
[sobs]
1474
01:28:29,459 --> 01:28:30,925
...I was glad...
1475
01:28:33,459 --> 01:28:37,224
that it wasn't me,
that I didn't wanna be dead,
1476
01:28:37,226 --> 01:28:39,025
I... I was alive and it...
1477
01:28:39,992 --> 01:28:41,359
[sobs]
1478
01:28:42,059 --> 01:28:43,957
- ...it felt good.
- You did feel something.
1479
01:28:43,959 --> 01:28:45,858
Yeah, I felt ashamed!
1480
01:28:52,858 --> 01:28:54,359
You're not a coward, Tom.
1481
01:28:57,892 --> 01:28:59,125
You're a hero.
1482
01:29:02,392 --> 01:29:03,892
- Deal with that.
- [grunts]
1483
01:29:07,192 --> 01:29:08,226
Just let me...
1484
01:29:09,426 --> 01:29:11,192
Let me have it for a while.
Come on.
1485
01:29:20,292 --> 01:29:21,392
[Tulley sniffs]
1486
01:29:28,059 --> 01:29:31,226
[Tulley] Do you know
what I want? [sobs]
1487
01:29:32,059 --> 01:29:33,226
I do.
1488
01:29:36,192 --> 01:29:39,792
I want some grace.
I want some serenity.
1489
01:29:40,226 --> 01:29:42,992
I want my country
to honor my brother
1490
01:29:43,226 --> 01:29:44,925
before his parents.
1491
01:29:46,992 --> 01:29:49,792
I want my friend,
your friend...
1492
01:29:51,959 --> 01:29:56,359
I want his father to leave
this place in peace.
1493
01:30:01,492 --> 01:30:02,792
[sighs]
1494
01:30:05,159 --> 01:30:06,292
[sighs]
1495
01:30:21,226 --> 01:30:22,957
[secretary] Can I get you
anything else, Senator?
1496
01:30:22,959 --> 01:30:24,890
- No, thanks, hon.
- You can put it on my number.
1497
01:30:24,892 --> 01:30:26,224
- [secretary] Okay.
- [Huffman] Gentlemen.
1498
01:30:26,226 --> 01:30:27,259
Hey, Carl.
1499
01:30:27,792 --> 01:30:28,825
[Tulley] Colonel.
1500
01:30:29,426 --> 01:30:31,758
- Do I know you?
- I should hope so.
1501
01:30:32,292 --> 01:30:34,123
[Huffman]
Master Sergeant Thomas Tulley.
1502
01:30:34,125 --> 01:30:36,923
38th Rescue Squadron,
Operation Abilene.
1503
01:30:36,925 --> 01:30:38,557
Uh, you want to speak
to the senator,
1504
01:30:38,559 --> 01:30:40,758
- you go through channels.
- [Holt] It's all right, Carl.
1505
01:30:41,192 --> 01:30:42,459
I'll talk to these men.
1506
01:30:43,459 --> 01:30:46,823
Sir, this is a 1966 routing memo
1507
01:30:46,825 --> 01:30:49,090
between you
and General Hackmeyer
1508
01:30:49,092 --> 01:30:50,957
downgrading
the William H. Pitsenbarger
1509
01:30:50,959 --> 01:30:52,025
Medal of Honor request
1510
01:30:53,125 --> 01:30:55,823
to an Air Force Cross,
dated on October 7th, 1966.
1511
01:30:55,825 --> 01:30:57,290
Guys, you wanna give us
a second?
1512
01:30:57,292 --> 01:30:58,226
Go ahead.
1513
01:31:01,992 --> 01:31:03,059
Have a seat.
1514
01:31:05,792 --> 01:31:07,059
[Tulley] We have an opportunity
1515
01:31:07,792 --> 01:31:10,892
to upgrade the Cross
to the Medal of Honor.
1516
01:31:11,858 --> 01:31:15,292
To cut through the bullshit,
we need a congressional sponsor.
1517
01:31:15,559 --> 01:31:17,324
[Huffman] Mr. Stanton doesn't
think you'd favor
1518
01:31:17,326 --> 01:31:19,324
the publicity
of being associated
1519
01:31:19,326 --> 01:31:21,359
with Operation Abilene
during an election year.
1520
01:31:21,559 --> 01:31:23,758
You have no idea
what you're starting.
1521
01:31:24,292 --> 01:31:25,923
I think I do, Carl.
1522
01:31:25,925 --> 01:31:26,858
[Dictaphone beeps]
1523
01:31:28,359 --> 01:31:29,424
[Stanton] Have you ever been
1524
01:31:29,426 --> 01:31:30,359
the subject
of opposition research?
1525
01:31:31,192 --> 01:31:32,823
'Cause if you even twitch
on this,
1526
01:31:32,825 --> 01:31:35,426
I will have them on you
like spray paint.
1527
01:31:36,492 --> 01:31:40,190
Information was removed
from the original package
1528
01:31:40,192 --> 01:31:42,890
to disqualify the decorations
board's review
1529
01:31:42,892 --> 01:31:44,790
for congressional reapplication.
1530
01:31:44,792 --> 01:31:46,459
We have since recovered
those documents.
1531
01:31:47,159 --> 01:31:48,790
This... This, Senator, this...
1532
01:31:48,792 --> 01:31:50,390
This communiqué
is simply a response
1533
01:31:50,392 --> 01:31:52,490
to the colonel's MOH request
1534
01:31:52,492 --> 01:31:55,957
saying that the Air Force Cross
was awarded instead.
1535
01:31:55,959 --> 01:31:58,224
It's pretty open
to interpretation.
1536
01:31:58,226 --> 01:32:01,457
You are under no obligation
to respond to any of this.
1537
01:32:01,459 --> 01:32:04,125
[Tulley] If you sent it
up the chain,
1538
01:32:04,858 --> 01:32:06,259
why didn't he get it then?
1539
01:32:07,992 --> 01:32:09,259
Honestly, I don't know.
1540
01:32:09,992 --> 01:32:12,892
Maybe it fell
through the cracks somewhere.
1541
01:32:13,292 --> 01:32:16,023
Maybe MACV didn't wanna call
too much attention
1542
01:32:16,025 --> 01:32:18,259
to one of the bloodiest days
of the war.
1543
01:32:19,092 --> 01:32:22,424
Or maybe
I just didn't fight hard enough
1544
01:32:22,426 --> 01:32:24,224
to get this man
what he deserves.
1545
01:32:24,226 --> 01:32:27,957
Senator, your political enemies
will take full advantage
1546
01:32:27,959 --> 01:32:30,224
of any admission of wrongdoing.
1547
01:32:30,226 --> 01:32:32,856
Your military judgement
will be called into question.
1548
01:32:32,858 --> 01:32:34,890
They'll try and hold you
to the Medina standard.
1549
01:32:34,892 --> 01:32:36,858
He's right, sir. They might.
1550
01:32:40,125 --> 01:32:41,292
What happened on...
1551
01:32:42,992 --> 01:32:44,092
Operation Abilene,
1552
01:32:45,125 --> 01:32:46,326
one of the darkest days
of my life.
1553
01:32:47,326 --> 01:32:48,492
You're hurt, Lieutenant.
1554
01:32:49,426 --> 01:32:50,792
Why are you still here?
1555
01:32:52,259 --> 01:32:54,426
I won't leave
till you have all my wounded.
1556
01:32:56,326 --> 01:32:57,326
[sighs]
1557
01:32:58,992 --> 01:33:00,025
What happened here?
1558
01:33:02,092 --> 01:33:04,057
You marched us right
into a kill sack
1559
01:33:04,059 --> 01:33:06,059
with no idea
how we was gonna get out.
1560
01:33:07,359 --> 01:33:09,057
That's what happened here.
1561
01:33:09,059 --> 01:33:12,925
[Burr] Can somebody explain
this to me? [sobbing]
1562
01:33:13,892 --> 01:33:17,025
Can somebody explain this to me?
1563
01:33:18,226 --> 01:33:19,392
You tell me.
1564
01:33:20,693 --> 01:33:22,190
[Holt] Hell, I think we all died
a little bit that day.
1565
01:33:22,192 --> 01:33:23,292
[Burr] You tell me!
1566
01:33:24,359 --> 01:33:27,025
Mistakes were made.
This is probably one of 'em.
1567
01:33:27,492 --> 01:33:30,123
We went to see
General Hackmeyer at the VA.
1568
01:33:30,125 --> 01:33:31,892
He verifies your story, sir.
1569
01:33:32,125 --> 01:33:35,557
Senator, please,
it's my job to protect you.
1570
01:33:35,559 --> 01:33:38,326
- Protect me from what, Carl?
- From everything.
1571
01:33:42,559 --> 01:33:45,092
Usually we're judged
by what we do.
1572
01:33:46,992 --> 01:33:49,125
But I find
that what we don't do...
1573
01:33:49,925 --> 01:33:50,825
is what haunts us.
1574
01:33:52,059 --> 01:33:53,159
Here's the plan.
1575
01:33:54,359 --> 01:33:57,925
We're gonna roll the dice.
We're gonna go with the truth.
1576
01:33:59,159 --> 01:34:02,892
No matter how uncommon
or uncomfortable that may be.
1577
01:34:03,392 --> 01:34:07,856
Mr. Chairman,
I refer you to S2549,
1578
01:34:07,858 --> 01:34:12,226
Page 44, Title 5,
Military Personnel Policy,
1579
01:34:12,892 --> 01:34:15,990
- Subtitle E, Other Matters.
- Yes?
1580
01:34:15,992 --> 01:34:19,357
[Holt] This amendment authorizes
a posthumous Medal of Honor
1581
01:34:19,359 --> 01:34:22,925
for Air Force Staff Sergeant
William H. Pitsenbarger...
1582
01:34:23,992 --> 01:34:27,224
for conspicuous gallantry
in action in Vietnam,
1583
01:34:27,226 --> 01:34:30,524
11 April 1966,
during Operation Abilene.
1584
01:34:30,526 --> 01:34:32,326
Mr. Chairman, point of order.
1585
01:34:33,059 --> 01:34:34,092
The chair recognizes
1586
01:34:35,159 --> 01:34:36,359
the distinguished gentleman
from North Carolina.
1587
01:34:37,593 --> 01:34:39,923
The rules of this committee
prohibit authorization language
1588
01:34:39,925 --> 01:34:42,257
to be included
in this Appropriations Bill.
1589
01:34:42,259 --> 01:34:43,224
Will the chair yield?
1590
01:34:43,226 --> 01:34:45,856
Chair apologizes
to the gentleman from Ohio,
1591
01:34:45,858 --> 01:34:47,390
but this committee
has much business
1592
01:34:47,392 --> 01:34:49,324
before it today
and so we must move on.
1593
01:34:49,326 --> 01:34:50,392
- [gavel bangs]
- [Holt] Mr. Chairman,
1594
01:34:51,659 --> 01:34:52,357
- I sincerely appreciate that...
- [ranking member] Mr. Chairman.
1595
01:34:52,359 --> 01:34:54,823
...but it should be obvious
1596
01:34:54,825 --> 01:34:55,723
that there is absolutely nothing
in this amendment...
1597
01:34:55,725 --> 01:34:58,357
Uh, the Vietnam War was over
long ago.
1598
01:34:58,359 --> 01:35:01,292
- I know that, Bob. I was there.
- Maybe you should take a rest.
1599
01:35:02,392 --> 01:35:04,923
- Stop kicking that dead horse.
- [gavel bangs]
1600
01:35:04,925 --> 01:35:06,257
Gentlemen,
this is a point of order.
1601
01:35:06,259 --> 01:35:07,825
I'm sorry. We must move on.
1602
01:35:09,092 --> 01:35:11,092
The Chair recognizes
the lady from Florida.
1603
01:35:11,292 --> 01:35:13,092
[woman] Oh, yes,
thank you, Mr. Chairman.
1604
01:35:16,092 --> 01:35:17,957
Senator, what the hell happened
in there?
1605
01:35:17,959 --> 01:35:19,057
The distinguished gentleman
1606
01:35:19,059 --> 01:35:20,424
from North Carolina
shut us down.
1607
01:35:20,426 --> 01:35:22,459
- That's what the hell happened.
- Just like that?
1608
01:35:22,925 --> 01:35:24,424
Look, it's payback.
1609
01:35:24,426 --> 01:35:27,090
I harpooned a tobacco subsidy
at his last session.
1610
01:35:27,092 --> 01:35:29,324
Unfortunately,
he's ranking member,
1611
01:35:29,326 --> 01:35:31,226
so there's not a lot I can do
about it.
1612
01:35:32,059 --> 01:35:33,257
But I promise you,
1613
01:35:33,259 --> 01:35:36,326
I will get this
in next year's bill.
1614
01:35:36,526 --> 01:35:37,923
Hopefully by that time,
1615
01:35:37,925 --> 01:35:39,357
the distinguished gentleman
will be dead.
1616
01:35:39,359 --> 01:35:41,123
So will Pitsenbarger's father.
1617
01:35:41,125 --> 01:35:43,159
- What?
- He's dying, sir.
1618
01:35:45,059 --> 01:35:48,259
Ah, Jesus. I didn't know
about that. I'm sorry.
1619
01:35:49,092 --> 01:35:52,292
- I'm truly sorry.
- [indistinct chatter]
1620
01:35:57,159 --> 01:35:58,392
[Tara] So that's it?
1621
01:35:59,559 --> 01:36:01,424
[Huffman] Unless you got a
tobacco subsidy
1622
01:36:01,426 --> 01:36:04,226
to horse-trade with the senator
from North Carolina.
1623
01:36:05,426 --> 01:36:06,858
What about those men?
1624
01:36:09,159 --> 01:36:10,092
What about Pits?
1625
01:36:11,925 --> 01:36:14,192
Holt says he'll get it
on the bill next year.
1626
01:36:17,326 --> 01:36:18,459
And Frank?
1627
01:36:21,858 --> 01:36:24,226
I can't cure cancer, Tara.
1628
01:36:27,326 --> 01:36:30,326
If I push this any harder,
I really will end my career.
1629
01:36:37,092 --> 01:36:39,326
- It's interesting.
- What?
1630
01:36:40,526 --> 01:36:42,057
In 12 years,
1631
01:36:42,059 --> 01:36:45,192
I have never seen you
back off of anything.
1632
01:36:46,426 --> 01:36:47,725
I'm scared.
1633
01:36:57,892 --> 01:37:00,226
Fear is good.
1634
01:37:01,125 --> 01:37:03,192
Fear is a survival instinct.
1635
01:37:04,526 --> 01:37:07,059
You're supposed to be afraid.
1636
01:37:09,125 --> 01:37:10,292
Use it.
1637
01:37:20,192 --> 01:37:22,023
[Peters] You turned down
a significant
1638
01:37:22,025 --> 01:37:24,025
career opportunity
to finish this.
1639
01:37:26,459 --> 01:37:29,123
You figure out
why four-star generals
1640
01:37:29,125 --> 01:37:30,823
and presidents
would trade legacies
1641
01:37:30,825 --> 01:37:32,059
for a medal?
1642
01:37:35,825 --> 01:37:38,157
Because they know
that guys like Pitsenbarger
1643
01:37:38,159 --> 01:37:39,959
don't do what they do for them.
1644
01:37:42,125 --> 01:37:43,426
They do it for each other.
1645
01:37:44,959 --> 01:37:46,226
A life for a life.
1646
01:37:47,326 --> 01:37:48,492
That's big stuff.
1647
01:37:51,892 --> 01:37:53,792
There are worse things
that can happen to a man
1648
01:37:54,025 --> 01:37:56,059
than getting killed in a war.
1649
01:37:56,259 --> 01:37:57,292
Like?
1650
01:37:57,492 --> 01:37:59,825
Like losing men,
1651
01:38:00,326 --> 01:38:01,492
losing a child,
1652
01:38:02,392 --> 01:38:03,392
a father...
1653
01:38:04,326 --> 01:38:05,359
having to live with that.
1654
01:38:08,059 --> 01:38:10,359
You think a piece of ribbon
is gonna change that?
1655
01:38:20,159 --> 01:38:21,858
I'm gonna go public
with the story.
1656
01:38:22,992 --> 01:38:24,059
I'm gonna name names.
1657
01:38:25,825 --> 01:38:27,257
Shaming Appropriations
1658
01:38:27,259 --> 01:38:29,090
in front
of the Washington press corps
1659
01:38:29,092 --> 01:38:31,290
on the eve
of a national election
1660
01:38:31,292 --> 01:38:34,057
sounds a little dangerous.
1661
01:38:34,059 --> 01:38:36,226
[chuckles]
Yeah.
1662
01:38:37,459 --> 01:38:38,925
But it'll be great television.
1663
01:38:43,159 --> 01:38:44,092
Well done.
1664
01:38:45,059 --> 01:38:46,059
Thank you
1665
01:38:47,492 --> 01:38:48,557
- [door opens]
- [Mary] Mr. Huffman,
1666
01:38:48,559 --> 01:38:50,090
I'm Mary,
the supervising producer.
1667
01:38:50,092 --> 01:38:51,490
We're gonna put a wire on you.
1668
01:38:51,492 --> 01:38:53,324
- Okay.
- We have you on split screens,
1669
01:38:53,326 --> 01:38:54,990
so the anchors are gonna be able
to hear you,
1670
01:38:54,992 --> 01:38:56,557
but they're not gonna be able
to see you.
1671
01:38:56,559 --> 01:38:58,292
- Okay.
- All right, come with me.
1672
01:39:03,292 --> 01:39:04,858
Dad, are you nervous?
1673
01:39:05,825 --> 01:39:08,192
I am. But I'm not afraid.
1674
01:39:15,025 --> 01:39:15,990
[woman] All set.
1675
01:39:15,992 --> 01:39:17,190
[reporter]
In an unusual move today,
1676
01:39:17,192 --> 01:39:19,390
a member of the Department
of the Air Force,
1677
01:39:19,392 --> 01:39:21,157
a gentleman named
Scott Huffman,
1678
01:39:21,159 --> 01:39:22,290
went before cameras
1679
01:39:22,292 --> 01:39:25,190
to accuse high-ranking senators
and their staffs
1680
01:39:25,192 --> 01:39:27,990
of playing political football
with military valor.
1681
01:39:27,992 --> 01:39:29,424
[reporter 2]
...long-awaited HR Defense
1682
01:39:29,426 --> 01:39:32,090
Appropriations Bill,
it stalled in the Senate
1683
01:39:32,092 --> 01:39:34,257
when a Pentagon staffer
accused lawmakers...
1684
01:39:34,259 --> 01:39:36,257
...the bill,
including a recommendation
1685
01:39:36,259 --> 01:39:39,923
for a posthumous Medal of Honor
for William H. Pitsenbarger
1686
01:39:39,925 --> 01:39:41,357
is now heading
to the Oval Office,
1687
01:39:41,359 --> 01:39:42,990
- and President Clinton...
- [cameras clicking]
1688
01:39:42,992 --> 01:39:44,725
...is expected to sign
that bill.
1689
01:39:46,092 --> 01:39:47,858
[indistinct chatter]
1690
01:39:53,459 --> 01:39:55,090
[reporter] An airman
named Bill Pitsenbarger
1691
01:39:55,092 --> 01:39:57,290
will be awarded
the Medal of Honor today
1692
01:39:57,292 --> 01:39:58,957
for his service in Vietnam.
1693
01:39:58,959 --> 01:39:59,957
He gave his country
1694
01:39:59,959 --> 01:40:01,492
what Abraham Lincoln
once called,
1695
01:40:02,059 --> 01:40:04,226
- "The last full measure."
- [indistinct chatter]
1696
01:40:13,892 --> 01:40:15,057
I'll be right back.
1697
01:40:15,059 --> 01:40:16,259
[breaks hissing]
1698
01:40:26,892 --> 01:40:27,959
[Huffman chuckles]
Hey.
1699
01:40:30,459 --> 01:40:32,059
It's good to see you, man.
1700
01:40:32,292 --> 01:40:33,492
It's good to be here.
1701
01:40:36,125 --> 01:40:38,226
So... [sighs] ...the, uh...
1702
01:40:39,792 --> 01:40:41,192
lady in red, behind me...
1703
01:40:43,025 --> 01:40:44,359
she's, um...
1704
01:40:45,459 --> 01:40:47,359
the address on this letter.
1705
01:40:56,159 --> 01:40:57,426
[indistinct chatter]
1706
01:41:12,059 --> 01:41:14,925
Bill gave me this.
He asked me to give it to you.
1707
01:41:19,825 --> 01:41:21,359
I'm sorry it took so long.
1708
01:41:28,459 --> 01:41:29,492
Thank you.
1709
01:41:31,025 --> 01:41:32,092
[sobs]
1710
01:41:33,092 --> 01:41:34,092
Thank you.
1711
01:41:45,392 --> 01:41:48,825
[Peters] Amid the gloom
and waste of war,
1712
01:41:49,292 --> 01:41:52,092
we occasionally witness
a brief but...
1713
01:41:53,159 --> 01:41:55,858
brilliant flash
of personal valor
1714
01:41:56,092 --> 01:41:59,792
so radiant it becomes impossible
to ignore.
1715
01:42:00,192 --> 01:42:04,557
Such is the heroism
of William Hart Pitsenbarger,
1716
01:42:04,559 --> 01:42:07,426
who was moved
by higher angels of duty,
1717
01:42:07,992 --> 01:42:10,257
courage and sacrifice
1718
01:42:10,259 --> 01:42:13,123
to make, on behalf of men
he did not know
1719
01:42:13,125 --> 01:42:16,190
and a nation that until now
did not know his story,
1720
01:42:16,192 --> 01:42:19,292
the most supreme sacrifice.
1721
01:42:20,992 --> 01:42:22,892
Frank, Alice...
1722
01:42:23,925 --> 01:42:26,959
on behalf of the President
of the United States of America,
1723
01:42:27,559 --> 01:42:31,092
in the name of Congress,
for conspicuous gallantry,
1724
01:42:31,492 --> 01:42:34,192
extreme valor and intrepidity,
1725
01:42:34,992 --> 01:42:36,524
at the risk of his own life,
1726
01:42:36,526 --> 01:42:39,192
above and beyond
the call of duty,
1727
01:42:39,959 --> 01:42:41,392
I award the Medal of Honor
1728
01:42:41,792 --> 01:42:45,925
to Airman First Class
William Hart Pitsenbarger.
1729
01:42:46,259 --> 01:42:48,492
[applause]
1730
01:43:19,792 --> 01:43:23,190
[clears throat] Uh, now, this...
This isn't in your program,
1731
01:43:23,192 --> 01:43:26,758
but if you could give me
just a moment more of your time.
1732
01:43:28,992 --> 01:43:31,992
I'd like to recognize some guys
1733
01:43:32,925 --> 01:43:34,959
who are gonna hate me
for doing it.
1734
01:43:36,559 --> 01:43:38,157
Now, we have with us today
1735
01:43:38,159 --> 01:43:40,426
some of the veterans
of Operation Abilene,
1736
01:43:42,025 --> 01:43:45,492
Charlie Company,
second of the 16th Infantry.
1737
01:43:46,192 --> 01:43:48,224
Now, these men
were the witnesses
1738
01:43:48,226 --> 01:43:50,157
to Bill Pitsenbarger's heroism
1739
01:43:50,159 --> 01:43:55,159
and they've worked
and worked for 32 years...
1740
01:43:56,526 --> 01:43:58,259
to see this day come.
1741
01:44:02,426 --> 01:44:04,292
Would you honor us, please,
1742
01:44:04,925 --> 01:44:07,992
by standing
and being recognized?
1743
01:44:31,526 --> 01:44:33,492
And would the airmen
of Pits's unit,
1744
01:44:34,092 --> 01:44:36,823
the Aerospace Rescue
and Recovery Service,
1745
01:44:36,825 --> 01:44:38,426
also please stand?
1746
01:44:40,259 --> 01:44:44,992
And any other PJs
from Vietnam, would you rise?
1747
01:44:47,526 --> 01:44:50,290
If there are any other
US veterans here today,
1748
01:44:50,292 --> 01:44:51,858
will you please stand?
1749
01:44:56,359 --> 01:44:58,823
If there are wives
or parents here,
1750
01:44:58,825 --> 01:44:59,725
would you stand?
1751
01:45:03,792 --> 01:45:05,856
And any children
or grandchildren,
1752
01:45:05,858 --> 01:45:06,992
would you join us?
1753
01:45:08,559 --> 01:45:10,557
And any other friends or family,
1754
01:45:10,559 --> 01:45:14,324
anyone who has been touched
or moved in any way
1755
01:45:14,326 --> 01:45:17,923
by the actions of this Medal
of Honor recipient,
1756
01:45:17,925 --> 01:45:20,392
would you also stand?
1757
01:45:28,526 --> 01:45:29,758
Look around.
1758
01:45:31,492 --> 01:45:36,758
This is the power
of what one person can do.
1759
01:45:41,426 --> 01:45:44,359
[cheering and applause]
1760
01:46:39,259 --> 01:46:40,359
Thank you, son.
1761
01:46:49,892 --> 01:46:51,192
So you don't forget us.
1762
01:46:53,526 --> 01:46:54,858
Thank you.
1763
01:47:16,459 --> 01:47:18,192
- Daddy!
- [Huffman chuckling]
1764
01:47:18,858 --> 01:47:19,858
Hey, little man.
1765
01:47:20,825 --> 01:47:22,426
- [Luke] I'm glad we got to come.
- Ah, me too.
1766
01:47:23,359 --> 01:47:24,792
Where's your mom?
1767
01:47:28,092 --> 01:47:29,792
Looking good
in that uniform, Jimmy.
1768
01:47:32,192 --> 01:47:33,459
This is my son, Luke.
1769
01:47:35,359 --> 01:47:37,490
- Nice to meet you, soldier.
- [Luke chuckling]
1770
01:47:37,492 --> 01:47:38,758
[Burr chuckling]
1771
01:47:40,426 --> 01:47:41,892
I wanted to say...
1772
01:47:44,059 --> 01:47:45,459
I wanted to say thank you.
1773
01:47:48,326 --> 01:47:49,959
Understand what I'm saying, sir?
1774
01:47:51,392 --> 01:47:52,259
You're welcome, Jimmy.
1775
01:47:54,892 --> 01:47:57,059
But you really don't have
to call me sir.
1776
01:47:58,292 --> 01:47:59,292
Sure I do.
1777
01:48:00,426 --> 01:48:01,492
Why's that?
1778
01:48:03,959 --> 01:48:05,259
You earned it, sir.
1779
01:48:07,159 --> 01:48:10,959
Ah, you take care, now,
'cause it's a jungle out there.
1780
01:48:21,392 --> 01:48:22,492
[sighs]
1781
01:48:24,792 --> 01:48:25,825
What's your name?
1782
01:48:26,359 --> 01:48:28,259
- Luke.
- [Tulley] I'm Tommy.
1783
01:48:31,326 --> 01:48:33,758
Early on, you said...
1784
01:48:34,892 --> 01:48:36,758
there was nothing in this
for you.
1785
01:48:46,858 --> 01:48:47,825
[Huffman chuckles]
1786
01:49:28,049 --> 01:49:31,744
Of the millions of men and women
who served in the US Army,
1787
01:49:31,746 --> 01:49:35,194
a total of 3,498
received the Medal of Honor.
1788
01:49:35,196 --> 01:49:39,335
Only 18 of the recipients
were members of the US Air Force.
1789
01:49:39,337 --> 01:49:44,282
Only 3 of them were Airmen.
1790
01:49:44,495 --> 01:49:49,987
One of them was
William Hart Pitsenbarger.
1791
01:50:33,834 --> 01:50:35,965
On April 11, 1966,
1792
01:50:35,967 --> 01:50:37,600
when we took off
on that mission...
1793
01:50:38,834 --> 01:50:39,932
Pits made a statement.
1794
01:50:39,934 --> 01:50:41,267
He got on the hot mic
and he said,
1795
01:50:42,101 --> 01:50:42,999
"Boy, Captain," he said,
1796
01:50:43,001 --> 01:50:44,867
"I don't feel good
about this mission."
1797
01:50:45,234 --> 01:50:47,865
They were prepared for us,
they knew we were coming.
1798
01:50:47,867 --> 01:50:52,565
They were in, uh, ground holes,
in trees and on the ground,
1799
01:50:52,567 --> 01:50:54,065
and, uh, as we walked,
1800
01:50:54,067 --> 01:50:56,101
they just simply closed
the back door.
1801
01:50:58,633 --> 01:51:00,631
So they started calling us
1802
01:51:00,633 --> 01:51:02,099
to help them get out
the wounded.
1803
01:51:02,101 --> 01:51:04,032
And Pits said, "Let me...
Put me on the ground,
1804
01:51:04,034 --> 01:51:05,900
I can organize
this much better."
1805
01:51:06,134 --> 01:51:07,800
I said,
"I don't wanna lose you, Pits.
1806
01:51:08,334 --> 01:51:10,332
And it's hotter than hell
down there because the war
1807
01:51:10,334 --> 01:51:12,332
and the firefights going on
all the time.
1808
01:51:12,334 --> 01:51:13,533
You can hear the stuff."
1809
01:51:13,934 --> 01:51:14,934
So down he went.
1810
01:51:16,067 --> 01:51:18,199
My initial thought on seeing him
rappelling out of, uh,
1811
01:51:18,201 --> 01:51:20,132
uh, coming out
of the helicopter, I'm thinking,
1812
01:51:20,134 --> 01:51:21,665
"What in the hell
is this guy thinking
1813
01:51:21,667 --> 01:51:22,867
coming down here?"
1814
01:51:24,301 --> 01:51:25,265
There's not a one of us
1815
01:51:25,267 --> 01:51:27,265
that wouldn't have left there
if we could.
1816
01:51:27,267 --> 01:51:28,665
And the only guy
that could leave
1817
01:51:28,667 --> 01:51:30,034
was Pitsenbarger, and he didn't.
1818
01:51:30,700 --> 01:51:33,567
Marty Kroah was on the ground
and he sent for me,
1819
01:51:33,967 --> 01:51:34,967
because, um...
1820
01:51:36,301 --> 01:51:39,001
he said, "I want somebody
to know what Pits did,
1821
01:51:39,334 --> 01:51:41,734
so that it gets reported back,
in case I die."
1822
01:51:42,001 --> 01:51:44,267
At that time
Marty had been shot five times.
1823
01:51:44,800 --> 01:51:46,633
When we found out
the next morning...
1824
01:51:47,600 --> 01:51:49,667
that he had been killed,
it was just...
1825
01:51:55,967 --> 01:51:57,734
It was a sad time for everybody.
1826
01:52:01,267 --> 01:52:03,234
To me, uh, this is one
of the most,
1827
01:52:03,900 --> 01:52:06,665
uh, important things I did
as Secretary of the Air Force.
1828
01:52:06,667 --> 01:52:08,732
Well, it should have been
handled by itself.
1829
01:52:08,734 --> 01:52:10,001
It was just a fundamental wrong.
1830
01:52:10,201 --> 01:52:11,665
It was wrong
to Bill Pitsenbarger,
1831
01:52:11,667 --> 01:52:12,600
it was wrong to his family.
1832
01:52:13,500 --> 01:52:14,767
Wrong to the airmen
who supported him.
1833
01:52:15,001 --> 01:52:15,865
When you think about it,
1834
01:52:15,867 --> 01:52:18,132
uh, it is extraordinary
to have people
1835
01:52:18,134 --> 01:52:20,867
who worked for 30 years
to get this done.
1836
01:52:21,201 --> 01:52:23,565
I mean, these are people
who had their own lives,
1837
01:52:23,567 --> 01:52:25,533
wives, children, grandchildren,
1838
01:52:25,800 --> 01:52:27,332
and this was a passion for them,
1839
01:52:27,334 --> 01:52:29,134
and I just thought
that was extraordinary.
1840
01:52:29,600 --> 01:52:33,067
And I just... I felt...
And... And I owed it to Pits,
1841
01:52:33,567 --> 01:52:35,732
and I wouldn't...
And not just myself,
1842
01:52:35,734 --> 01:52:37,201
there's other people
who feel the same way,
1843
01:52:37,700 --> 01:52:40,600
basically, our whole crew.
We owe it to him.
1844
01:52:42,600 --> 01:52:44,965
Bill's blood is mixed
with ours forever.
1845
01:52:44,967 --> 01:52:46,667
He... He is our brother.
1846
01:52:49,226 --> 01:52:54,226
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