We Were Soldiers Page #2

enough to the enemy to use that?

What do you think, sir?

A leader must remain

cool and calm.

And second, he must learn

to ignore explosions...

the heat and dust,

the screams of the wounded.

This is normal on a battlefield.

Normal!

Fortran, you need to get a company

over to reinforce the left flank.

- Where is that coming from?

- That's our advisors in Vietnam.

The new radio's picking up

atmospheric bounce.

When Crazy Horse was a baby...

he nursed from the breast

of every woman in the tribe.

The Sioux raised

their children that way.

Every warrior...

called every woman

in the tribe "mother".

Every older warrior,

they called him "grandfather".

Now, the point here is that

they fought as a family.

Take care of your men.

Teach them to take care

of each other.

'Cause when this starts...

each other

is all we're gonna have.

- Did you tune that in?

- Yes, sir.

Well, that's fine.

You're my radio operator.

You'll be fine.

You'll work it out.

Any of you sons of b*tches

calls me Grandpa...

I'll kill ya.

Godboldt, take your boots off.

Go on.

Everybody, take your boots off.

Everybody.

Socks too.

I want you to draw

fresh socks from supply.

Keep your feet

dusted with powder.

Everybody check each other's feet

like Godboldt and me.

Now, that young man's a leader.

Yes, sir.

That other fella--

that big, strong one there--

he wants to win medals.

Why were you in the back?

Goddamn it,

why were you in the back?

He's eager.

Ladies, I'm really, really glad

you're here today.

Some of you are new to the army

and all of us are new to this post.

I thought we'd pool our resources

and cover questions we have.

So, why don't we start

with item number one-- food.

Where's the best place to shop?

Well, I tried Big Star,

and it's okay.

But I keep thinking my water's gonna

break right in the checkout aisle.

That takes care of food shopping.

So, item number two-- laundry.

The base washing machines

don't work.

They're full of sand

from the swamp missions.

I'll take care of that.

- I've already complained.

- We'll just go to the general.

In the meantime,

the Laundromat in town's okay...

but they won't let you wash your

colored things in their machines.

- At a public Laundromat?

- Didn't make sense to me either.

I'm telling you, they have

a sign right in the window...

says "Whites Only".

- What?

- They mean white people only.

That's awful.

Your husband is wearing the uniform

of a country that allows a place...

to say his laundry's not

good enough, when he could die for--

- I'm sorry. I just--

- That's all right, honey.

I know what my husband's fighting

for, and that's why I can smile.

My husband will never

ask for respect...

and he'll give respect to no man

who hasn't earned it.

The rest of his family

is the same way.

Anybody who doesn't respect that

can keep his washing machine...

'cause my baby's clothes

are gonna be clean anyway.

Well, I guess that takes care

of item number two.

Are you all right?

I think-- I think

my water just broke.

We're all calm.

We're all calm.

A car! A car!

- Colonel.

- At ease. At ease.

I heard one of my new lieutenants

just became a father.

- I came to say congratulations.

- Thank you, sir.

So, I didn't wanna disturb you.

No, it's fine.

It's all right. Please.

Well, how's your wife?

She's okay. She's okay.

She's sleeping.

So is my daughter.

I just...

wanted to be here for a while

before I held her.

Well, tag her already?

- What's that say?

- Camille. Sorry about this, sir.

Don't take that off. Leave that

where it is. That's an order.

- Colonel, may I ask you a question?

- Sure.

What do you think about

being a soldier and a father?

I hope that being good

at the one...

makes me better at the other.

Why? What about you?

I don't know, sir.

Between college and here...

Barbara and I

spent a year in Africa.

We helped build a school

for orphans.

They were orphans because

the warlord across the border...

didn't like their tribe.

I know God has a plan for me.

I just hope it's to help

protect orphans...

not make any.

Well, why don't we ask him?

Come on.

Let's go ask him.

Our Father in Heaven,

before we go into battle...

every soldier among us will

approach you each in his own way.

Our enemies too...

according to

their own understanding...

will ask for protection

and for victory.

And so, we bow before

your infinite wisdom.

We offer our prayers

as best we can.

I pray you watch over the young men,

like Jack Geoghegan...

that I lead into battle.

You use me as your instrument

in this awful hell of war...

to watch over them.

Especially if they're

men like this one beside me...

deserving of a future

in your blessing and good will.

- Amen.

- Amen.

Yes, and one more thing,

dear Lord...

about our enemies--

ignore their heathen prayers...

and help us blow those

little bastards straight to hell.

Amen again.

Amen.

Thank you.

There's one about the kid with the

apple tree, or the flying horse...

or the fairy tales

with the deer and stuff in 'em.

Daddy, what is a war?

A war is a--

Well, it's--

It's something that

shouldn't happen, but it does.

It's when...

some people--

in another country or any country--

try to take the lives

of other people.

And then soldiers

like your daddy have to--

It's my job to go over there

and stop them.

Are they gonna try to

take your life away, Daddy?

Well, yes, they're gonna try.

But I'm not gonna let 'em.

Okay?

Can't sleep?

The men are so young and--

Now they sent me a new crop

even greener.

When I look at them, I...

see our boys.

Well, then you're

just the man to lead them.

I guess.

We intend to convince

the Communists...

that we cannot be defeated

by force of arms.

I have asked the commanding general,

General Westmoreland...

what more he needs to meet

this mounting aggression.

He has told me...

and we will meet his needs.

I have today ordered to Vietnam

the airmobile division...

and certain other forces which

will raise our fighting strength...

from 75,000 to...

Additional forces

will be needed later.

Get out your best dresses,

ladies.

They're gonna want to celebrate.

Don't you ever be sad

Lean on me

when the times are bad

I didn't hear the president

mention a state of emergency.

No, he didn't.

Well, without that declaration

our enlistments won't be extended.

I'm sorry, Hal.

Forgive me, sir,

but let me get this straight.

We form a division using techniques

never attempted in battle...

against an enemy with 20 years of

combat experience on his ground...

from our ground.

And right before the army

sends us into the fight...

they take away a third of my most

experienced men, including officers.

I don't like it

any better than you do, Hal.

You saw this coming, didn't you?

Yes. That's why you gave me

that new crop of platoon leaders.

Korea didn't teach 'em anything.

- Politicians?

- Politicians.

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