WE WERE SOLDIERS [2002]

Fathers, Brothers, Husbands & Sons

These are the true events of November, 1965, the Ia Drang Valley of Vietnam, 

a place our country does not remember, in a war it does not understand. 

This story's a testament to the young Americans who died in the valley of death, 

and a tribute to the young men of the People's Army of Vietnam 

who died by our hand in that place. 

To tell this story, I must start at the beginning. 

But where does it begin? 

Maybe in June of 1954 when French Group Mobile 100 moved into the same central highlands of Vietnam where we would go 11 years later. 

[Joe Galloway]

In Saigon, Hal Moore's superiors congratulated him for killing over 1,800 enemy soldiers. 

Then ordered him to lead the Seventh Cavalry back into the valley of death. 

He led them and fought beside them for 235 more days. 

Some had families waiting. 

For others, their only family would be the men they bled beside. 

There were no bands, no flags, no Honor Guards to welcome them home.  

They went to war because their country ordered them to. 

But in the end, they fought not for their country or their flag, the fought for each other.  

[Joe Galloway]

Look around you. 

In the 7th cavalry, we've got a captain from the Ukraine; another from Puerto Rico. 

We've got Japanese, Chinese, Blacks, Hispanics, Cherokee Indians. 

Jews and Gentiles. 

All Americans. 

Now here in the states, 

some of you in this unit may have experienced discrimination because of race or creed. 

 But for you and me now, all that is gone. 

We're moving into the valley of the shadow of death, 

where you will watch the back of the man next to you, as he will watch yours. 

And you won't care what color he is, or by what name he calls God. 

They say we're leaving home. 

We're going to what home was always supposed to be. 

Now let us understand the situation. 

We are going into battle against a tough and determined enemy. 

 I can't promise you that I will bring you all home alive. 

But this I swear, before you and before Almighty God, 

that when we go into battle, 

I will be the first to set foot on the field, 

and I will be the last to step off, 

and I will leave no one behind. 

Dead or alive, we will all come home together. 

So help me, God.  

[Lt. Col. Hal Moore]

To follow your instincts and to inspire your men, by your example, 

you have to be with 'em. 

Where the metal meets the meat.  

[Lt. Col. Hal Moore]

Pass this along; 

tell your men to fire three shots at anything that looks suspicious, on my order. 

[Lt. Col. Hal Moore]

[Joe Galloway]: Sir, I don't know how to tell this story. 

[Lt. Col. Hal Moore]: Well you have to, Joe. 

You tell the American people what happened here. 

You tell them how my troopers died. 

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