Original subtitles

When the truth is found

To be lies

Know the joy

Within you dies

Don't you want somebody to love

Don't you need somebody to love

Wouldn't you love somebody to love

You better find somebody to love

When the garden flowers

Baby, are dead, yes

And your mind, your mind

Is so full of red

Your eyes I say your eyes

May look like his

Yeah, but in your head, baby

I'm afraid you don't know where it is

Tears are running

Running down your breast

And your friends, baby

They treat you like a guest

Ready, aim, fire!

Present arms!

Excuse me.

I'd come to say good-bye.

Vietnam tore us apart.

We went there believing in freedom and democracy...

but somehow we lost our moral compass.

How did we let it happen?

A decade ago, things seemed so much clearer.

$$"Eat ln Your Car"

$$"For Colored Only"

These are extraordinary times...

and we face an extraordinary challenge.

Our strength as well as our convictions...

have imposed upon this nation the role of leader...

in freedom's cause.

It is a contest of will and purpose...

as well as force and violence.

And in that contest we cannot stand aside.

Gentlemen, to West Berlin...

and next year Moscow.

Moscow.

West Berlin, you boys'll never fire a shot.

No shit.

Ben, do you want to tell me what you did so wrong to pull Vietnam?

- I'm gonna see combat, boys. - A bunch of gooks with shotguns.

- Those gooks beat the French. - Ooh, beat the French!

- Who hasn't beaten the French? - Vietnam is the war of the future.

The war of the future.

Right.

Howdy, darlin'.

The same again for me and my constituents over there.

Right. Two whiskeys, two beers.

- And a Coke, please. - We have a good boy over there, huh?

That's me. I don't drink and I don't smoke.

What else don't you do?

- Keep the change. - Thank you.

Oh, yeah.

I brought you some flowers.

- What's to celebrate? - I got it. I got it.

The Pentagon?

Vietnam!

Vietnam? Well, what happened to Washington?

Mary, don't you see?

I'm going to war. You know what happens in a war?

Guys like me get promoted. Now I can fight my way to the top.

We are going to Washington...

but I'm going as a soldier, not a goddamn clerk.

Wait, John. You kind of smell like perfume.

Honey, it's the flowers.

Baby, this is the chance we've been waiting for.

This is it.

n"Saigon, March 23rd, 1962"

Three sacks a pair. Yeah!

Enlisted men over here!

- Tell them to hustle! - Enlisted men over here.

Going to Saigon, here in the truck.

Right over there, sir.

- Morning, sir. - Vann, John P., Lieutenant Colonel.

Colonel Vann. I don't have you on manifest, sir.

I was supposed to be on yesterday's flight.

- That flight crashed, sir. - Well, I'm glad I missed it.

Take that jeep there.

- Steve Burnett, the Times. - Go ahead.

Hey, you're a lucky man.

You should be dead.

I should've been dead long before yesterday. What's your name?

- Steve Burnett, Times. - You don't say.

- You need a ride? - Sure.

Hop in.

- Welcome, Colonel. - Thank you.

You mind getting in the back? I like to do my own driving.

Let the man from the Times sit up front.

Just point me in the right direction.

An exotic little war in an Asian paradise.

That's how one of my colleagues described it.

After the French were defeated in 1954...

Vietnam was divided between Ho Chi Minh's communist north...

and the southern regime of Diem.

The communists launched an insurrection to capture the south...

so America sent 11,000 advisors to bolster Diem's army.

Look at this place.

Man, this is a place worth fightin' for.

Can you imagine what it's gonna be like if the communists get it?

God, look at that.

Where do they get all the water from?

They terrace the fields at different levels...

and they have a bunch of canals and dikes and bring it all down.

That's fantastic.

$$"Military Assistance Command Vietnam" Gentlemen.

Each one of you will be assigned to a division of the South Vietnamese Army...

to act as a senior advisor.

The South Vietnamese soldier is a magnificent fighter...

highly motivated, tough and intelligent.

The body counts given to this office...

are nothing short of remarkable.

Just take a look.

Theirs is a splendid effort, and it is our job to support 'em.

I know you are all experienced soldiers, but we have been sent here as...

advisors.

Their President Diem is decent and God-fearin'.

Our god, by the way.

He's emphatic that this is a war between the legitimate Vietnamese government...

and their communist invaders.

We all know that Red China and Moscow are behind this.

So we have every right to supply and support these people, but...

this is their fight and they are in charge.

Give 'em your best because they have given us theirs.

Colonel Cao?

$$"U.S. Army"

Sir.

- Lieutenant Colonel John Vann. - Frank Drummond, sir, S-2.

- Ron Dray. - Sergeant.

What the hell's going on here, Major?

Well-- This is just a little...

positive thinking, really.

Let me introduce the division commander, Colonel Cao.

Colonel.

- Welcome, Colonel Vann. - Thank you.

Yesterday, we killed many, many V.C., but they take some of the body away.

Still, I must send photo to my president.

It is good for morale, no?

Come. Let me show you my command.

How many men did you say you had attached to your division?

- About 500. - Impressive.

We have a very strong fighting force here.

Thanks to your government's assistance...

we are arming the people to fight alongside us.

Soon, you and I will defeat the Vietcong.

I look forward to it, Colonel.

-Good morning, gentlemen. -Good morning, Colonel. What's going on?

We have received important intelligence.

- Frank, what you got? - The village elder is confirming it.

A Vietcong instructor has infiltrated...

and training new recruits right here at the village of Than Binh.

What's the plan?

We will attack here...

and here.

Shouldn't we bring a team around behind the village...

to cut off any retreat to the mountains?

Yes. Yes, but all in good time, Colonel.

- Shall we commence battle? - Let's go.

Colonel, I thought we fight the battle together.

No. We must command from here. This is where I fight many battle.

Colonel, that's not how I do things.

Colonel, please. Join me. By my side.

Tiger Center, we're approaching Than Binh.

Sir, we should cut off their retreat now.

Patience, Colonel. We mustn't hurry.

Approaching from south of the village, appears to be moving up ahead.

One man down. Repeat, one man down.

- Hold the advance. I send helicopter. - I'll take care of that.

Hold the advance. I will send a helicopter to you now.

Do not advance. Repeat, do not advance.

Okay, Frank, I've got a chopper. I'm on my way.

What's your situation? Over.

We got one soldier with a leg wound. He's stabilized. Over.

Roger that.

My hands are tied here. The enemy's heading out the back door.

I'll come around from the south, cut off their escape route...

see if I can't scare 'em.

I see 'em!

One, two, three.

Go lower. Circle around fast.

Roger that.

Get down behind 'em. Watch that tree line.

Don't let 'em get away.

Go lower.

- Get in range. - Hold it. Stay on the deck.

Let's go.

Outstanding, Vann. Outstanding.

All right. Let's get after the rest.

Looks like we got a reception committee.

We got prisoners here. Let's go.

This is no good, Colonel. I am in charge, you hear?

Your plan worked. You've killed a communist recruiter. Congratulations.

Good work. I will radio headquarters that Than Binh has been killed.

Man, look at the scars on this old guy.

They gotta be years old. This man was a warrior.

Probably been fightin' all his life.

The Japs, the French and now us.

In recognition of his outstanding victory at Than Binh...

President Diem has awarded Colonel Cao...

the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry.

We are honored to have his sister-in-law, Madame Nhu...

who will make the presentation.

I am so proud of Colonel Cao.

I hope he will kill many more of these communist traitors.

And together...

we will kill them all!

That's one tough lady.

Heard the men aren't so tough.

Bullshit.

There's been talk that Diem's men are unwilling to fight.

These men are kicking the Vietcong's ass.

All we're doing is supplying the intelligence and logistics.

- Isn't that right, Major? - Yes, sir.

Madame Nhu's photograph, please.

Madame Nhu, look this way.

Thank you very much. General, move in, please.

$$"English School"

Excuse me. Do any of you ladies speak English?

We all speak English.

- You're students at this school? - They are students. I am the teacher.

You're the teacher? I hope this is my lucky day.

I need a good translator, and I'd be honored if you'd help me.

Now I must go. Do you still want me to translate?

Yes, I do.

Would you read the last entry?

"The Americans are here.

They have brought tanks and helicopters.

The young men are afraid...

but I tell them...

'Do not fear, because the Americans are huang phi."'

Huang phi. It's a word that means "soft."

Well, actually--

"Decadent." Do you understand?

"They can never win because they use only those of our people...

who are also huang phi.

The peasants are with us because they hate the huang phi.

What do you believe?

I'm not interested in politics, Mr. Vann.

What are you interested in?

My school.

I enjoy it.

You know, it allows me to decide my own life...

and it's a very rare thing for a woman here.

I have to say this.

I think you are one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen.

You did not bring me here to translate, did you?

Go for the immediate kill. He disables his enemy...

then he kills him.

These men are kicking the Vietcong's ass.

It wasn't so much a lie as something he knew he could make happen.

There he is, the tiger of the delta. Congratulations, Commander.

- Thank you. - Beautiful medal.

I must have a photo.

Vann would charm, coax, cajole, anything to rally the South Vietnamese.

At first, it worked.

By God, the best U.S.-Vietnamese team for fighting communists.

American advisors worked to bring the level of training...

and combat readiness of these forces as high as possible.

Superior equipment and mobility are used to full advantage...

to carry the fight to the enemy swiftly...

wherever his presence becomes known.

The Vietnamese soldier is quick to grasp the techniques involved...

in copter-borne counter action to guerrilla raids on country villages.

And he uses his new knowledge well.

Colonel Cao. What is the mission?

We are mounting an assault on Than Binh.

We already cleared Than Binh.

No, we must cleanse the village thoroughly.

This is ridiculous.

Colonel, please.

You have to understand, I must follow the order of my president.

If I do not, then my family is in danger.

He has told me, "No casualty."

But you are war with the Vietcong.

You want us to fight the Vietcong. So we fight them.

My president need your money and your gun because he has many enemy.

Thing are not as simple as in America.

Jesus H. Christ. We're eyeball to eyeball...

with the communists all over the world, and these guys are out shooting rabbits.

"General Giap's instructions for us...

to steal back the rice on behalf of the peasants...

has paid great dividends."

This General Giap is a very clever man.

Tell me about your wife.

We're separated.

What does that mean?

Well...

it means that...

she lives on one side of the ocean and...

I live on the other.

Russians are taking the missiles out of Cuba.

I knew it.

These are dangerous times, John.

But they're exciting times, Lee.

Exciting times.

Saigon Command has located the enemy's radio transmitter...

here at Ap Bac.

We will land the first airborne force here...

and the second here.

Advance here and here and capture the objective.

I have to brief my men, Colonel.

Here's the drill.

Frank, take the lead armored. Ron, take the first infantry chopper.

- I'm going up in the spotter plane. - What about Cao?

The hell with him. I'm gonna check this one out for myself.

Go!

We're coming up on the target site now. Over.

Roger that, Colonel Bogie.

No signs of movement below. Over.

Ap Bac, January 2, 1963.

For a year the Vietcong had studied the Americans and their tanks...

and helicopters.

Studied and learned.

Now they were ready to stand and fight.

Vietnam's exotic little war...

was about to turn into a quagmire.

Banking right 45 degrees.

Heading 1-5-2-4 south. Over.

Roger that.

Thumper, this is Colonel Bogie. What's your E.T.A.? Over.

Roger, Colonel Bogie. This is Thumper.

We're about 30 seconds away from objective.

Roger that. There's a big tree line east of the LZ.

Tell your boss to stay at least 300 yards away from that.

Roger.

Okay. Over.

Okay, reposition. Come back around.

Hawkeye, get those tracks on line and be ready to move when I give the order.

Roger that. You're headed for the tree line.

Take your three birds out to the west behind the tree cover.

Colonel Bogie, this is chopper four.

We're swinging west of the target zone. Over.

Thumper, I want you to put your two birds down to the east.

We're coming in from the east toward the LZ now.

100 feet, dropping down to 50.

Thumper, you're too goddamn close!

Thumper, you're too close. Get back!

You're overshooting the LZ. Go around!

Goddamn it!

Hawkeye, what's keeping you? Get those tracks in there!

We got two birds down.

We're taking heavy fire here, John.

Shit! Tiger Center.

We got two birds down. Move on the objective now.

Move up to the tree line now!

Shit! Damn it!

Come on! Get outta there!

Come on, Frank! Move!

He doesn't understand English now, John. Go!

Shit!

Goddamn it!

Hawkeye, come in! Thumper, come in!

Goddamn it. Take her down now! Now!

Give me a hand!

Hold him! Hold his neck!

What the hell is going on? This isn't a game!

- We have lost helicopter! - Yes, you lost helicopter!

- Now get your infantry into that field! - No! We must withdraw!

You will not withdraw! We have men out there!

You will hold the line!

Second chopper comin' in!

Let's move it! Move it!

- Get that jeep over here! - Move it!

Shit. Come on. Don't go to sleep.

It's okay. You're gonna be all right. Hang in there.

Hang in there.

No, stay awake! Come on. How you doin' there?

What the hell happened, John?

Give us a hand. Let's get him loaded up.

Almost there. Let's get him on the jeep.

Charlie kicked our ass.

They knew they wouldn't fight, so they stood their ground.

- Move it out! - Come here.

Aw, geez.

What a waste.

Goddamn stupid waste.

That's 6-5-9--

- Ten-hut! - Carry on.

- Gentlemen, you wanted to see me? - Yes, sir.

Given the setbacks we suffered Outback, I thought you'd be interested to know--

Just what in the hell is this?

Well, sir, the red areas indicate current Vietcong concentration.

We control these areas.

Sir, I'd have to argue that.

- Who've you talked to about this? - No one, sir.

Now, you get this straight. Outback was a victory.

We took the objective. We drove off the enemy.

Everybody knows ours had beaten theirs.

- We lost 88 men, sir-- - Don't lecture me!

You spread defeatist nonsense outside this room...

I will have you court-martialed.

And the charges this time will stick.

I want that overlay.

- Steve. - Hey, John.

- Thanks for meeting me. - My pleasure.

Did you see this?

"An lmportant Victory."

$$"At Ap Bac - 101 VC Dead"

So what's the truth?

The most miserable damn performance I've ever seen.

Would you be willing to talk about this?

Somebody has to.

I know you have a military career, and if we do this thing...

a lot of people are going to read it.

I understand. Start writing.

South Vietnamese Command has no interest in fighting the communists.

The ordinary soldiers are willing, but their officer's priority...

is to protect Diem's regime rather than to stop communist insurgency.

What about all those things that we get?

The casualty figures, battle reports, the briefings?

The numbers are all phony. They make 'em up.

These battles are a joke.

They attack areas that the V.C. have already vacated...

or they attack from one side and they leave the enemy an escape route.

Surely American assistance has made some difference?

Yeah, that's helped. That's helped the communists.

We supply guns to the peasants, and they turn around and give 'em to the V.C.

At Ap Bac, we were being shot down by our own weapons.

The U.S. Army Advisory Program...

is a complete sham...

totally ineffective.

What's going on?

Two days ago, Diem's forces opened fire on Buddhists' protest.

Killed nine of 'em.

Can't get this guy to fight the communists...

if he's willing to kill his own people.

I should cover this.

It's okay. It's okay.

Can you believe that?

Come on. We have no idea what the hell is going on around here.

"Miserable damn performance."

That's Vann. I can hear him say it.

$$"Vietnam - A Strategic Mess Says U.S. Officer" I want him busted now.

Get him out.

He's got a month to go. Let's not stir up the press.

Let him finish out, then we'll take care of him.

I gotta go.

Give me your hand.

What is it?

It's for good luck.

I'll be back.

Thanks a lot.

Where's the story, boys?

The story's the shit storm you caused back at home.

We got cables from the Pentagon, Washington.

- We picked up some new friends? - Who are those guys?

Diem put his boys on us for reporting Outback.

- The truth hurts. - We got something for you. Here.

"To Lieutenant Colonel John Paul Vann.

From his good friends and admirers, the American Press Corps."

- I don't smoke. - You can use it to light a fire...

under the press back at home.

You can depend on that. Bobby, thank you.

- Nick. - John.

John, I hope nothing I've written hurts you.

Nothing can hurt me.

- Gentlemen. - Give 'em hell, John.

He was our hero, an officer willing to risk his career...

to tell the truth about Vietnam.

He set out to spread the word to everyone and anyone who would listen.

$$"Welcome Home, Daddy!"

Dad!

- Hey, Dad! - Sweetie.

God! Katy!

Good to see you. You have grown.

Honey, you look great.

It's good to be home.

Boy, have I got work to do.

I'm gonna give them the clearest, most precise, kick-ass report...

in the history of the U.S. Army.

Southeast Asia.

Rubber, timber and manpower.

Southeast Asia, the communists want it...

and we wanna stop 'em.

The Communists want it. We want to stop 'em.

And in my hand...

I hold the secret weapon to win the war in South Asia.

...secret weapon to win the war in South Asia.

In my hand I hope the secret weapon to win the war in South Asia.

Rice. Rice, gentlemen.

To the Vietnamese peasant, it is everything.

They fought the Chinese, the Japanese--

They fought the French for their rice fields.

The communists have hijacked that rebellion.

...have hijacked that rebellion.

This man, Ho Chi Minh...

and his general, Giap...

have promised the farmers they will give them back their rice...

while our man, President Diem...

continues stealing it.

We must regain the goodwill of the peasants.

We must restore the good faith of the people.

To win the war in Vietnam, we must take back the rice revolution.

Throw out the rice stealers and give them back their rice.

We must wage war for the peasants, not against them.

Build their houses. Don't destroy them.

Kill the enemy with this instead of this.

In short, we must harness the peasant revolution...

to defeat the communist revolution.

Thank you.

- Outstanding, Colonel. - Thank you, sir.

I'm going to recommend that the Joint Chiefs hear this briefing...

as soon as possible.

That's great news.

$$"Chairman - Joint Chiefs Of Staff" Lieutenant Colonel Vann to see the Joint Chiefs.

- Please have a seat. - Thank you.

Lieutenant Colonel Vann to see you, sir.

- Great to meet you, Colonel Vann. - A real pleasure to be here.

I'm sorry I didn't get in touch with you sooner. Your briefing's been canceled.

I was assured that I would have an audience with the Joint Chiefs.

It appears there was a conflict in scheduling...

and the chairman is anxious to hear your briefing at a later date.

The old guard closed ranks and shut him out.

Vann resigned. His military career was ruined.

That's what he led us to believe, but John Paul Vann had no career.

He was an outcast...

a man whose dark past had denied him the General's stars he thought he deserved.

Where the hell were you last night?

Don't lie to me! I know where you were!

- Wait a minute, honey. Come on. - To hell with this.

- Honey, wait. - You are a liar!

You are a goddamn cheat, and you will never change!

- Don't do this now. - I'm not finished!

I'm so sick of putting up this front for you, for your career.

Your career?

You screwed yourself out of your career years ago.

We are gonna do something, or I am outta here.

Come in, Mrs. Vann.

- I think we've made some progress here. - Good.

Your husband has been quite forthright...

about his lapses.

If I could just explain something.

Often when military men get put in pressure situations...

they find themselves in a difficult position.

They see sex as a kind of an outlet.

It's a release.

It's almost unconscious, you might say.

I thought we came here to be honest with each other.

I am being honest.

Did he tell you about the housemaids in Japan?

Well, Mrs. Vann, we didn't go into every specific case.

Oh, not every specific case.

How about the baby-sitter in Kansas?

Go on and tell him.

Mrs. Vann, I don't think it's productive.

This is a very specific case.

He slept with our baby-sitter.

She was 15 years of age.

She told the Army.

He was gonna be court-martialed...

until he asked me to lie for him.

No more lies, please?

- Tell him about your mother. - That's enough.

Please, tell him about Myrtle.

This is where it all came from. We can talk it out. Please!

Mr. Vann, maybe you would like to talk a little bit about this.

That's it.

Please!

I can't do this.

Just tell me what it'll take to make you stay.

I want a life for us.

I don't want to be warehoused in some army base.

You got it.

Just don't bring Myrtle up again.

Come on.

You better go to school. Take your toast with you.

Here's your lunch.

- Thanks, Mom. - I love ya!

- The regime of South Vietnam-- - I want to hear that.

- ...ends in a wave of violence. - Can it.

Leave him alone. He's just playing.

...a man who seemed to have no premonition of the death he was to meet.

Oh, I love this song.

When will they ever learn

Where have all the soldiers gone

- Long time passing - What?

Oh, my God!

We interrupt this program for an important news flash.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy, President of the United States...

shot by an assassin as he drove through the streets of Dallas, Texas.

He is three years old on this day, November 25.

He moves a pace apart from his mother and lifts his hands...

What is that boy doing?

saluting his father--

He's saying good-bye to his daddy.

...one last time.

Renewed hostile actions...

against United States ships on the high seas in the Gulf of Tonkin...

have today required me...

to order the military forces of the United States...

to take action in reply.

We intend to convince the communists...

that we cannot be defeated by force of arms...

$$"U.S. Air Force" or by superior power.

General Weyand, please. Lieutenant Colonel John Vann calling.

Hello, sir.

I resigned my commission. I knew I couldn't get through.

Everybody's fine, thanks.

I'm doing great, just great.

Well, no, I'm not.

Fred, I'm dying here.

I need to be in on the action.

Anything, Fred. I mean anything. Must be something I could do.

I understand.

You can't fight this war without me.

Okay. I appreciate it.

Good-bye.

You're supposed to be at the productivity meeting.

Oh, yeah. Right. I'll be right along, Don.

$$"Tonkin Outrage - Johnson Sends Combat Troops To Vietnam"

Hello? Hello, sir.

Boys! Throw it here!

- Shoot, Dad! Shoot! - Yeah, baby, he shoots!

- Nothin' but net! - Nice shot.

Take it back to the line.

Three seconds left. Come on. Double team. Get him!

What's up?

Hey, honey. You guys go ahead.

The army called me today.

Guess what?

They offered me a job in the Civilian Aid Program.

What is that?

It's back in Vietnam.

Vietnam. Oh, I see.

Once again, we're gonna get dumped?

Listen.

This is another chance I can't let go. I know how to win that war.

I tried.

I thought maybe you could be the kind of father you never had.

Catch!

Make sure I can have a decent home for these kids.

Hey, Dad!

Come on, Dad. Shoot.

n"Saigon, March 20th, 1965" Go! Let's move! Move along!

Move!

Move! Let's go! Let's go!

Left, right, left, right, left!

Move along, gentlemen!

Let's move out!

John Paul Vann with the Aid Program. Where's my ride?

- Ride's right there, sir. - Thank you.

- Move over, soldier. I'll drive. - Yes, sir.

Thank you.

And you know it involves us one and all

Yes, sir.

I don't suppose

That war will ever end

Fred. How the hell are ya?

- It's good to be back. - Good to see you. Have a seat.

That's a lot of hardware they're unloading out there.

It's phase one of General Westmoreland's three stage plan.

We put together a superior force...

then engage the enemy on the battlefield.

Three: Wipe them out.

Well, hell, I don't know if the enemy's gonna go along with that plan.

We're not fighting a conventional war here.

You can't roll out the tanks like it's World War ll.

I mean, goddamn, hasn't the Pentagon learned anything in three years?

John, you gotta learn to keep your mouth shut.

It was a hell of a job to get you over here, even as a civilian.

You're here to work with the Aid Program, right?

You're right, Fred.

Well, I read your briefing, and I agree with you.

We got to try and win these people over.

That's why I want you to take charge of the Aid Program around Bau Trai.

I'll get a good man to work with you.

Let's try to put your ideas into practice.

You're the boss.

No, John. Westmoreland's the boss.

Is that Vann? John Vann!

Hell, I thought they buried you.

- They tried, Steven. Hey, Nick. - Are you part of this U.S. Aid Program?

We sure are. Doug Elders, Steven Burnett from the Times.

Ten-hut!

Gentlemen, General Westmoreland.

Fred.

At ease, gentlemen.

The Aid Program is a noble effort...

to bolster the civilian population in the hamlets...

and particularly to help them resist Vietcong infiltration.

Gentlemen, you are part...

of a great new mobilization.

We now have at our disposal...

the best army that the world has ever known.

We have the men. We have the materials.

And we are going to stomp the Vietcong into the ground.

$$"International Development" Thank you.

We'd now like to take this opportunity to...

introduce you to your various counterparts.

General, a quick question.

I'd like you to meet John Paul Vann and Doug Elders.

- Colonel Dinh. - Mr. Vann, Mr. Elders, welcome.

- Thank you. - I am your regional commander.

We have a very good region, you and l.

- We will do well together. - I look forward to it.

Thank you.

- How are you? - How are you?

I'm fine, thanks.

- What's your name? - What's your name?

- My name is. - My name is.

Can I help you?

- Good-bye. - Good-bye.

What happened to the schoolgirls?

Times change, John. They have more needs now.

It's good to see you again.

Look at you.

You look different.

You too.

Howdy. Welcome to Bau Trai, guys.

- Terry Pike. - John Vann.

- Doug Elders. - Nice to meet you.

Did you know there's a jeep outside of town with a body in it?

Nobody buries them?

They're too afraid to go out there.

I don't mean to discourage you guys...

but this place is gone.

You see that bunch of kids standing over here?

They're Vietcong.

Now, our defenders either work for 'em or pay 'em off.

So who's in charge?

That'd be Colonel Dinh.

I don't know if Charlie works for him or he works for them.

Don't matter much, though, 'cause nobody works for us.

Maybe we should hand it all over the communists right now.

Mr. Vann, these people don't have any money, and they don't get to vote.

That sounds communist to me.

Now, if you don't mind, it cost me 50 bucks to get Colonel Dinh to get...

a military escort so I can get out of here.

I better get before the price goes up. It's all yours.

Stay alive, gentlemen.

Geez, what a mess.

Each family of six or more gets one can of cooking oil...

100-pound sack of flour per month.

Doug, check the manifest, see when the stuff's due in Tam Huang.

We do what we call an inventory.

Everything that goes in and out of here gets accounted for.

You got ten cans of oil, nine sacks of flour, you write it down.

Sorry. Sorry.

You tell these men to put these ladders right here.

I want them to pull down any loose tile.

You can replace it with this. Hammers, nails.

One there, one there. Rip out all the tiles.

- What'd she say? - She said to stop. She cannot pay.

Tell her she does not have to pay.

- What was that? - She says somebody always has to pay.

All right. Who needs a treat, huh?

Here you go. Here you go.

Chiclets, gentlemen...

the secret of the children's revolution.

It's just candy. It's okay. It's just gum.

For you. For the school.

Presents for the teacher, eh?

What's going on?

You have used my material without pay.

I'm sorry, Colonel, but this is Aid material.

Yes, my Aid material.

This is my region. It is my Aid material, and you must pay.

Put that down!

Colonel, if you do not leave...

I will disgrace you in front of your men and this village.

Tell the men.

Jesus, John.

What the fuck was that?

It's blood.

What the hell is it?

It's a tongue.

Come on.

Oh, God.

Get Dinh.

He's not here.

Where is he?

Bau Trai. He's gone to punish the village.

He knows goddamn well the V.C. have fled the village.

What the hell is he playing?

Whoa! Slow down!

What's going on?

- Colonel Dinh's holding an air strike. - Goddamn! Call it off!

Wait! Hey! You're gonna get killed!

Shit!

It's okay.

I'm sorry.

Fred! Goddamn it, I want that murdering bastard arrested!

Look, I just came back from la Draug...

where four companies of men ran into the North Vietnamese army.

We lost 230 men.

So don't come here telling me about one corrupt ARVN colonel.

Two-hundred and thirty?

It's all over in the boonies. I want you back here in Saigon.

Workin' here.

You know the locals. Get together your own squads...

and clean out these villages.

I'll give you all the authority you want.

Excuse me, gentlemen. I need a shower.

Our casualties in Vietnam in a single week...

have exceeded the average weekly rate of dead and wounded...

in the Korean War.

240 Americans killed, 470 wounded.

Most of these casualties were suffered in the battle of la Draug Valley.

The United States is indeed at war--

a full-dress war against a formidable enemy.

Vann threw himself into the war effort with a passion few others could muster.

He ran pacification programs...

mobilized his allies among the South Vietnamese forces...

coordinated American support...

and still found time to bombard friends and foes alike...

with his theories on how to turn the war around.

December 23, 1966.

"Dear Sir...

Despite the fact that we now have 385,000 American soldiers deployed...

the Saigon government remains corrupt on all levels.

If it were not for the fact that Vietnam..."

Vann worked 20 hours, slept four.

He never stopped, on all fronts.

May I be of assistance?

What happened here?

Wrecked bicycle? Yes?

Orchids. This is what you need.

For you.

That's a picture.

$$"Il Field Force Vietnam" I'm in love.

- How old is she, 17? - She's 18. Goes to college.

Gonna have your teacher friend translate for you?

Well, you know me. I can't help falling in love.

Oh, yeah?

What?

My mother's dead.

Come on. If you don't get moving, you're gonna miss the Tokyo connection.

It's your mother, John. You owe it to her.

That's funny. I owe her.

My mother was a whore, and I'm her bastard son.

You know what my birth certificate says on it?

"John Le Gay, a son of a bitch."

That's why those goddamn WASPs at Westpoint wouldn't let me in.

Fuckin' bunch of hypocrites.

When I was a little kid growing up in Norfolk...

I used to see her screwing 'em in their cars...

gruntin' and carryin' on.

You know how she died?

Somebody cracked her skull open with a whiskey bottle.

Go home and bury her, John.

"Whosoever believeth should not perish...

but have everlasting life.

The Father loveth the Son...

and hath given all things into His hand."

- Amen. - Amen.

- Thank you. - My condolences.

- Thanks for coming. - Sorry, son.

Hey, need some money for a haircut?

What's the matter with him?

- He's against the war. - You don't say?

Well, I better have a word with him before I head back tomorrow.

- Wait a minute. I-- - What is it?

John, I want to file for a divorce.

I just need to be free from you.

Baby, come on. I need you.

You don't need anybody. Myrtle made sure of that.

And you have the war.

- I'm truly sorry. - Thank you.

Your mama was very special to me. We're all gonna miss her.

- I appreciate that. - You don't remember me?

- I'm your cousin Artie. - Oh, yeah.

I'd like to introduce some friends of mine.

- Danny Dikes. - Thanks for coming.

- Paul Gillies. - Sorry for your loss.

- This here's my wife Bella. - How do you do?

I've been telling 'em I've been reading about you in the "Norfolk Leader"--

all those battles he's been winning.

It's a great thing you're doing over there, son.

God Almighty knows it's a great thing.

Imagine, Myrtle's boy, advisor to the United States Army.

Who would have thought?

Yeah. If you need anything, you know who to call.

1967, the year of delusion.

465,000 American troops fought major battles from the Delta to the D.M.Z....

while Westmoreland declared the end was coming into view.

Vann knew better.

I thought we cleared this area.

We had, sir. Then we discovered these tunnels.

- Here, here and here. - Fire in the hole!

- Watch the perimeter. - And over here, sir.

- This is where we found the documents. - What do they say?

Last month we destroyed the Vietcong in this region.

But according to these documents...

another V.C. battalion has replaced them.

Where the hell did they get the manpower to do that?

I don't know, sir. I thought we had killed them all.

I'm afraid we are back to where we started, Mr. Vann.

Well, goddamn it, we'll just have to clear it out again.

Hey, get away!

Jesus, John, now we're fighting school teachers.

She was never V.C. until her village got bombed.

How the hell are we supposed to have a Thanksgiving dinner with these things?

What's the news?

Spencer Tracy died.

Who said this: "I don't have no personal quarrels with those Vietcong"?

- Cassius Clay. - His new name's Muhammad Ali.

Well, I don't care what he calls himself.

He dodges the draft, no Negro soldier's gonna fight. Lock his ass up.

Can I just say, John, what an extraordinary pad you've got here?

It's called "harnessing the best houses in Saigon."

That's the new U.S. Aid Program.

What's that supposed to mean?

It's odd to see you in this context, that's all.

You know, I met you-- rice paddies and peasants--

Are you accusing me of selling out?

- I've read your articles. - Oh, have you?

- You're damn near ready to surrender. - Since when is criticism surrender?

Screw that. Nobody's been more critical of how this war's been fought than me.

But you seem to think it's your duty to spread this defeatist loser crap.

Oh, winning and losing-- That's what it's all about, isn't it?

A soldier's sole purpose is to win.

I got no argument. But you're not a soldier.

- You're a civilian. - Come on, guys.

Excuse me.

What sort of a man are you? She was a good student.

Now she's pregnant.

I love your daughter. I will take care of her.

Shall we?

$$"General Asserts he wants... I have asked General Westmoreland...

$$"Promised Reinforcements lmmediately" what more he needs...

to meet this mounting aggression.

He has told me, and we will meet his needs.

There's incipient uprising in this country...

and our position in this war, and it's gonna get worse.

This talk about sending over 100,000 or 200,000 more troops--

You're going to create a very serious difficulty in this country...

if you people in the administration go through with that.

- Captain, where can I find Doug Elders? - He's right over there.

- Thank you. - You're welcome.

Hey, Dr. Doug.

- Geez, you look like shit. - Thanks.

I brought you somethin'.

For the revolution.

I'm going home, John.

Home? What are you talkin' about?

It's only jaundice. You'll be out in a week.

You see this shit?

$$"War Continues To Take Civilian Toll" Those are Marines.

Now we're the ones burning them out.

- It's just one damn photo. - It's more than one photo.

We're losing our souls here.

Do you think I agree with it?

I don't want to fight with you.

Come on, man. We've been through a lot together.

I'm going home.

Well, I'm not real good at good-byes.

Don't get killed.

$$"Il Field Force Vietnam"

Gentlemen, as you all know, until now the Fifth Division of the Vietcong...

has had sole control of the Saigon operational area.

These captured V.C. documents indicate--

- Attention! - Carry on, gentlemen.

Fred. Please continue, Mr. Vann.

I was saying the intelligence we now have indicates clearly...

that divisions formerly positioned in this area...

on the Cambodian border have been moved...

to here, here, here and here...

and now all share the Saigon theater of operations.

General, there's aerial evidence of advanced movement to support this.

And what is your conclusion?

Well, sir, our conclusion is...

the enemy is about to strike at the capital.

Gentlemen, that is exactly what the enemy wants us to think...

because they are going to lay siege...

to the Marines here with regular forces...

to make us believe that they are going to invade the capital with the Vietcong.

We hold back our forces.

They overrun the Marines for a spectacular victory...

just like they did the French.

Well, that's not gonna happen on my watch, gentlemen.

Fred, I want you to have every available man...

ready to move up there on a moment's notice.

Sir, I don't believe a strategist like General Giap...

would risk his troops openly against us.

I appreciate your input, Mr. Vann.

101st, 199. You have them ready, Fred.

Lee, what's wrong?

I haven't seen you for so long. I'm worried.

Look, there's a lot going on right now.

Let's go away together for Tet.

We can go to my family's home by the sea.

Please come, John.

I can't.

- Who is it? - General Weyand.

Look, I'm sorry, Lee. I gotta go.

Be careful.

Yeah, go, Fred.

n"Tet - Chinese New Year, Saigon, 1968"

- Happy New Year. - Happy New Year.

Very nice to meet you. Happy New Year.

- Good evening, Mr. Ambassador. - Hey, John.

- Can I have a word with you, sir? - Sure.

Sir, did you receive General Weyand's alert?

- Are you sure? - Absolutely.

Our intelligence indicates the enemy is about to plan a major offensive.

Where?

Here in Saigon, sir.

Why didn't General Westmoreland tell me this?

General Westmoreland doesn't agree with our analysis...

and I feel he is about to make a great error in judgment.

- Good evening, Mr. Ambassador. - Let's take this up in the morning.

Welcome, Major. Good to see you.

Try to relax, John.

Evening. Help yourself to a drink. Enjoy yourself.

Nice party, huh?

All that's missing is Nero and his fiddle.

Did you see who's here?

They made him a general. Rising star at the palace.

Inspiring, huh?

Hello, G.I. I really like you.

Shit.

Let's go. Head for the embassy.

- Come on! Let's go! - Man, get us outta here!

- Do you know what the hell's going on? - Give me that radio.

Lightning-Six, this is Vann. Over.

The airport's under attack. He's up on the roof.

Well, get him on the horn! Over.

We're gonna cover the south side of the field!

Get those bags up here!

Holy shit!

Our guys are firing into the embassy!

Charlie's taking the fucking embassy, man!

Come on, let's go!

- Who's in charge? - Somebody down there!

Fuck this, man!

- Yes, sir? - It's unbelievable.

They've taken the radio station. They're now taking over the palace.

We better get General Weyand on the horn.

It's John Vann, sir.

John, we're holed up here! What about there? Over!

They're making their push to take the whole city.

We got any troops to fight 'em with?

I kept six battalions in reserve. I'm sending four into the city.

- Out. - That's great news.

- Keep that line open. - What's happening?

We got the men. We can hold 'em.

Our CIA men and MPs have gone into the embassy...

and are trying to get the snipers out.

We've got two more alert forces trying to push him out this way...

but he's heavily fortified--

232 Gls killed and 900 wounded--

Twenty-one towns and cities attacked by the Vietcong--

Snipers and suicide commandos--

$$"Military Police" The central palace, the radio station, the Philippine embassy, four American--

Sniper fire still coming--

Civilians who were caught in the ground fire--

Hi, baby. You okay? The baby okay?

Don't you worry about a thing, Gran. I'm gonna take care of all of you.

I gotta go.

All right?

The official explanation--

that it's all an attempt to divert American forces--

The Vietcong paid dearly for their acts of rampant terrorism--

The enemy is mounting some last desperate campaign.

We're just mopping up here. What's the word at the radio station? Over.

I see. Real good. Well, keep us posted. Over.

Keep this line open.

We did it. They threw their best at us, and we beat 'em.

Yeah, it got a bit crazy out there.

General, what's your assessment of the situation?

Just our guys clearing up some unexploded M-79 rounds.

General, can I ask you a question?

The enemy appears to be trying to take over South Vietnam.

The Vietcong has very deceitfully...

taken advantage of the Tet truce...

in order to create maximum consternation in South Vietnam...

particularly in the populated areas.

- Mr. Ambassador. - Good work. Thank you very much.

I think General Weyand should take the credit, sir.

I'm aware of that. Thank you.

I'll tell you this. You throw a hell of a party.

A real blowout.

Let's get a picture.

Get a picture.

Come on.

I shall not seek and I will not accept...

the nomination of my party for another term as your president.

I, Richard Milhous Nixon, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully...

execute the office of president of the United States.

$$"Stop The War Now" North Vietnam...

cannot defeat or humiliate the United States.

Only Americans can do that.

We get really stoned.

Then, you know, like who cares about the war?

Gentlemen...

and ladies...

as you know, General Westmoreland has returned to Washington...

and General Abrams has replaced him as commander of ground forces.

This reorganization is part of the president's Vietnamization strategy.

Now, the new second in command, General Weyand...

is here to brief you on the implementation of this phase of the war.

Excuse me, Ambassador. With Abrams in and Westy out...

is this an official admission that Westmoreland's strategy...

was a failure?

General Westmoreland was promoted.

Ladies and gentlemen, we now believe...

that South Vietnamese are ready to take on a primary role...

in driving back the enemy's forces--

their divisions, North Vietnamese regulars across the western border.

Is this an American withdrawal?

In no way could this be interpreted as a withdrawal.

It's a change of strategy...

and I have appointed the former Lieutenant Colonel John Vann...

whom you all know--

please come up here--

to act as my deputy for military functions.

He will help me implement this strategy.

He will serve as a commanding general for the central highlands region.

Please, General, help me clarify this.

You're placing a U.S. civilian in command of South Vietnamese troops...

in the central highlands, which is a fairly sizable area...

while the rest of the U.S. troops pull back?

We're not pulling back. The South Vietnamese are moving forward.

Doesn't "Vietnamization" mean withdrawal?

Well, that's what we're trying to explain to you...

if you just pay attention.

John, haven't you always advocated that the U.S. take control here in Saigon?

That's correct. But Tet has proved that the South Vietnamese...

are capable and willing to take control of this war.

The American people have been completely demoralized...

by recent developments.

Not at all. On the contrary, our intelligence, in fact, indicates...

it is the Vietcong who have been demoralized since Tet.

I'm highly confused, and I find this contradictory...

because with this restructuring, the South Vietnamese are not in command...

but you are, Mr. Vann, while the U.S. forces go out the back door.

No one is going out the back door, I can assure you.

Will any American soldiers be going home?

Certainly, as the Vietnamese people assume greater responsibility...

there will be some reassignment of U.S. support personnel.

John, did you meet with President Nixon and discuss Vietnamization?

I met the president, yes.

So, was it his policy or your policy?

It's the policy of the United States government.

U.S. policy has not changed from day one...

in terms of our involvement in helping the people...

of the Republic of Vietnam.

Nixon ordered all American combat troops out of Vietnam by June of 1972.

The South Vietnamese, although backed by American air support and advisors...

would have to fight the war themselves.

Ten years down the road, we were back to where we started.

But this time, John Paul Vann was in charge.

Intelligence says the enemies moved large numbers of troops--

maybe five divisions-- down the Ho Chi Minh Trail to here.

We also know that there's heavy artillery, even tanks...

further north.

I see what they're after.

If they can break through the line here and head for the sea...

they'll have cut our forces in half and have a clear shot at Saigon.

If the South Vietnamese troops can't hold the line, it's over.

The South Vietnamese are good soldiers. They just need some goddamn leadership.

Oh, they'll hold the line. We'll do one better.

We might turn this whole goddamn thing around.

I think General Giap's about to make the mistake we've been making all along.

He's gonna try to fight this thing in a conventional fashion.

If we can persuade him to send his troops out of these hills...

he'll be vulnerable, and that's where we could crush him.

- I don't know, John. - I do, Fred.

I've never seen anything so clear.

I've been waiting for a moment like this all my life.

- What can I do for you? - I'd like to have a word with Vann.

Hold on. General.

It's okay. Let him through.

- I'd like an interview, John. - I don't have time.

Okay, I'll make it quick.

You intend to carpet bomb around Kontum with B-52s.

That's operational information.

What a line of bullshit you fed us about the peasants and the revolution...

- and I bought it. - I still believe it.

But you're gonna bomb with B-52s! How can you say that? It's wrong, John!

It's wrong? It's the same goddamn war it was back in '62.

You were there. Why didn't you say it was wrong then? Shit.

You and the fuckin' Kennedys, the good old boys who sent us here--

Now you all want to change your minds because there's blood and guts on TV.

Well, I don't have that luxury.

I've got 50,000 people in Kontum...

whose lives are on the line because of us.

They can't change their minds, can they?

I gave those people my word...

and I'm gonna do everything I can to save them.

Let's go.

n"Kontum, June 1972"

- Colonel Ba. - Welcome, sir.

Frank Drummond. I thought they retired you.

Retirement seems to be sitting pretty good with you. Thanks for requesting me.

- My pleasure. - Major Darryl Jones, sir.

Major Jones. Finally I got a fighting team I can be proud of.

- Well, gentlemen, let's get to work. - This way.

Ten hut!

Gentlemen, senior advisor.

At ease, men.

All right, listen up, everyone.

We are gonna hold the line here at Tan Canh...

and mount a stage retreat back to where we are, Kontum.

That will pull these North Vietnamese divisions out of the hills...

and when they do, we are gonna call in the B-52s...

and carpet bomb each of these squares.

We are gonna wipe out the second, third and fifth division...

of the North Vietnamese Army.

My old colleague, Colonel Ba, will conduct...

a forward command defense and withdrawal.

This is General Giap, commander of the N.V.A.

He's a genius.

He's never been beaten until now.

I've studied this man for ten years.

We are gonna whip his ass. You know why?

Because he wastes his men.

Pours them away like piss in the wind.

There's not a man in this room...

not a man on that line out there, I wouldn't die for.

No matter what we've done with our lives...

you and I can be proud today...

because we have the noblest of all professions.

We are soldiers.

The Good Lord said it all about us.

He said, "No greater love has a man...

than he lay down his life for another."

And by God this day will not end...

but I will see you all safely through it...

and we will hold this ground.

Yeah, there's sustained mortar and small arms fire. Over.

Get me Forward Command.

Enemy's 500 yards from my immediate front. We're holding 'em here.

Roger that, Major. Good work.

Tell Colonel Ba we will withdraw in one hour. Over.

Ba, what the hell are you doin' here? Why aren't you at your post?

I have been replaced.

- Who the hell's in charge of the ARVN? - Who's the general?

It's General Dinh, sir.

Tell him I'm on my way!

Kontum says Vann's on the way out.

Let's go, Forward Command! Step on it!

Colonel at right flank! Lay down, boys!

What the fuck was that?

Okay, we have an enemy tank here.

There's a fucking tank!

There are no enemy tanks reported in this sector.

Fuck you! I'm telling you there's a goddamn tank up here!

- How long to the L.Z.? - We're two minutes out.

Well, let's go! Get a move on! They'll be cut off up there, damn it!

Hey, get back there!

Get out!

- How long do you think you can hold it? - Dinh's running like a son of a bitch.

- Get out, Frank! Go! - Yeah, we're fixing to do that.

Goddamn that asshole! Goddamn him!

Go! Everybody back! Go on, fall back!

Let's go! Let's blow this fucking place!

Go!

My God! They've blown it, sir!

- There! - Jesus Christ, it's a minefield!

Jesus Christ!

- Take her down. - But, sir--

I said take her down!

There! Right here, put her down!

- Coming around! - Frank!

Kontum, we're going down into a minefield.

Enemy 300 yards. We need support. Over.

Frank, come on! Get up there, son!

Come on, get him in! Come on!

Frank, hold on. Grab his arms.

- Let's see. You okay? - Let's get him up.

- Got him? - Okay, let's go!

Come on, let's go!

- Damn it! - It's a tank!

Hold on, Frank!

They're coming around on us! Come on!

Move it! We gotta go!

- Okay! - Hold on!

Ba, get these men back to their posts! What's the meaning of this?

We've been ordered to withdraw.

Withdraw nothin'! Get Bomber Command on the horn.

Sir, the enemy have already passed the coordinates.

- Give 'em these new coordinates. - Stand by.

1586, 1580.

Sir, that's us.

Call it in!

One-five-eight-six, one-five-eight-zero.

- Soldier, let me have a look. - That's correct. Yes, we know.

Sir, they want confirmation.

We don't have time for this. We're about to be overrun.

- Just do it! - Senior advisor says go.

Recon Skyhawk, enemy is now one mile.

Recon Skyhawk, enemy now 800 yards.

Over.

Major, here they come.

Colonel, let's get ready.

Come on.

Where do you get your luck?

Let's get these men organized, get out there and see what's left.

Here he is now.

- What is all this? - Congratulations. Hell of an action.

Mr. Ambassador.

The president asked me to come and convey our country's appreciation.

Thank you, sir.

John, step right this way.

We have a little surprise here for you.

- John, President Thiew. - Mr. President.

The people of Vietnam are grateful for your help...

in defending our country.

I'm honored. Thank you.

Congratulations, John. You deserve it.

This was great, Fred, but I better be gettin' back.

- Sure? - Yeah.

Duty calls.

Good luck, John.

You know, Fred, we can win this thing.

You bet.

Yes, but-- Excuse me one moment.

- Congratulations. - Thank you.

I have something that might interest you.

"Former Vietnam veteran Douglas Elders claimed the U.S. government...

has conspired to deceive the American people...

in order to pursue an illegal war in Vietnam."

Well, I'll be damned.

Well, at least someone's prepared to stop peddling the lie.

Well, now, what lie would that be?

That we're here to solve Vietnam's problems.

We're the problem, and that's the truth.

Well, you see, Steven, there's your truth and there's my truth...

and they're two different things.

All I know is up that road is old General Giap.

When he and I speak to each other, we never lie.

General Giap and you?

John, the war's not about warriors anymore.

It's about children and women and rice paddies.

And you know who told me that? You did.

I gotta go.

I got men holding the line up there.

Boss, we really don't have the weather.

Come on, let's go!

He's dead?

How? I was just--

Oh, man.

John Paul Vann was America's warrior.

He personified our good intentions, our arrogance...

our courage, and ultimately our folly.

He had fought to redeem the unredeemable--

to salvage the doomed enterprise called South Vietnam.

In death, he had triumphed over defeat...

while the rest of us are left to ask...

"Why?"

"John Paul Vann died on June 9, 1972...

when his helicopter crashed in a rainstorm."

"Three years later, the U.S. Ambassador...

fled by helicopter from the roof of the embassy in Saigon...

nas the North Vietnamese Army entered the city."

"58,209 American soldiers died in the war in Vietnam.

John Paul Vann was not counted as one of those soldiers."

"The number of Vietnamese dead is estimated at over one million."