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We Were Soldiers (2002)

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2:52 | Trailer
The story of the first major battle of the American phase of the Vietnam War, and the soldiers on both sides that fought it, while their wives wait nervously and anxiously at home for the good news or the bad news.

Director:

Randall Wallace

Writers:

Harold G. Moore (book) (as Lt. Gen. Harold G. Moore), Joseph L. Galloway (book) | 1 more credit »
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Popularity
1,536 ( 419)
3 wins & 5 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mel Gibson ... Lt. Col. Hal Moore
Madeleine Stowe ... Julie Moore
Greg Kinnear ... Maj. Bruce 'Snake' Crandall
Sam Elliott ... Sgt. Maj. Basil Plumley
Chris Klein ... 2nd Lt. Jack Geoghegan
Keri Russell ... Barbara Geoghegan
Barry Pepper ... Joe Galloway
Duong Don ... Lt. Col. Nguyen Huu An
Ryan Hurst ... Sgt. Ernie Savage
Robert Bagnell ... 1st Lt. Charlie Hastings
Marc Blucas ... 2nd Lt. Henry Herrick
Josh Daugherty ... Sp4 Robert Ouellette
Jsu Garcia ... Capt. Tony Nadal
Jon Hamm ... Capt. Matt Dillon
Clark Gregg ... Capt. Tom Metsker
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Storyline

A telling of the 1st Battalion, 7 Cavalry Regiment, 1st Calvary Division's battle against overwhelming odds in the Ia Drang valley of Vietnam in 1965. Seen through the eyes of the battalion's commander, Lieutenant Colonel Hal Moore (played by Mel Gibson), we see him take command of the battalion and its preparations to go into Vietnam. We also see how the French had, years earlier, been defeated in the same area. The battle was to be the first major engagement between U.S. and N.V.A. forces in South Vietnam, and showed the use of helicopters as mobility providers and assault support aircraft. Written by grantss

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

Father. Husband. Brother. No man is just a soldier. See more »

Genres:

Action | Drama | History | War

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sustained sequences of graphic war violence, and for language | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Details

Country:

USA | Germany | France

Language:

English | Vietnamese | French

Release Date:

1 March 2002 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

The Lost Patrol See more »

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Box Office

Budget:

$75,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$20,212,543, 3 March 2002

Gross USA:

$78,122,718

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$115,374,915
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

| (cut) | (TV)

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The song "Hold On, I'm Comin'" was not released until 1966, the year after Ia Drang. See more »

Goofs

Near the beginning the Sergeant Major calls the battalion officers to attention just prior to Moore entering the Hanger. He would not as they are officers. Instead he would say "Gentlemen, the Battalion Commander" See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Joe Galloway: [Narrating; voice-over] 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 ...
See more »

Alternate Versions

Trailers include a scene where Julie Moore explains that the last thing most dying soldiers say is "Tell my wife I love her". This is not included in the theatrical release. See more »

Connections

Referenced in Top Gear: Vietnam Special (2008) See more »

Soundtracks

Sgt. MacKenzie
By Joseph Rizza Kilna
Performed by Joseph Rizza Kilna (as Joseph Kilna MacKenzie)
Produced by Joseph Rizza Kilna (as Joseph Kilna MacKenzie) and Seoras Wallace
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Frequently Asked Questions

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User Reviews

Seeing the enemy and home in a different light
10 March 2004 | by KristinMarie419See all my reviews

This film is so different from the traditionally cynical (and rightly so) Vietnam War movies. While it goes without question that this film depicts the bloody and gruesome horrors of the tragedy of the first major conflict of the war, it does so while juxtaposing the story with that of stories of the home front and the enemy. The enemy in this film is not the animalistic, silent enemy we are used to. We hear this enemy speak, we see his love for his family and his devotion to his cause. While being bombarded with images of death and destruction on the battlefield, we are brought back home to see the wives as they face the death themselves.

While of course not a flawless movie, it was without a doubt moving, and I highly recommend it.


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