Well, I
had just about a perfect afternoon Saturday, attending the VU ROTC
movie presentation of We Were
Soldiers and picnic afterwards.
There was a good turnout in general, with veterans from WWII, Korea,
and Vietnam, Desert Storm, and Enduring Freedom, and three
representatives from
MSVHPA, including Bob Colson, and John Ohlinger, who was attending as
president of the local chapter of the Military Officers Association of
America (MOAA), which helped sponsor the event with the Navy and Army
ROTC detachments.
The movie was as powerful to me this second time I've seen it as it was
the first, but I could relax just a little more this time around
because I knew what was coming and could watch with less anxiety that
something was about to happen that would be so visually shocking that I
wouldn't be ready for it. There ARE certainly shocking scenes that
depict the horrors and chaos of war, but this time I could watch them
more objectively.
Before the movie, I introduced myself to Joe Galloway, co-author with
Hal Moore (played by Mel Gibson in the movie) of We Were Soldiers Once
and Young, the book from which the movie was made. I told him I
was
proud to be one of those whom he has lovingly and respectfully
nicknamed "God's Own Lunatics," helicopter crews who came when no one
else could--or would. He seemed to grip my handshake all the firmer
when I told him that. He was gracious to pose for pictures with us as
well.
After the movie, Joe moderated a panel which included three other
survivors of "LZ X-ray," where the movie action takes place. All three
men were older than I (as was Joe), yet you could tell by their
comments they relived the events of that battle (the first between US
Forces and the North Vietnamese Army) regularly, and were forever
changed by that experience. ANYONE who survived LZ X-Ray is a hero of
the first magnitude!
The Army LTC who introduced Joe mentioned that, due to his actions as a
civilian journalist at LZ X-Ray, the Army awarded him the Bronze Star
Medal with V Device, the ONLY civilian EVER so honored
by our military. My esteem for him, which was already about as high as it could be, went even higher when I heard that.
Joe also mentioned that he and co-author Hal Moore (who retired a
3-star general) fought long and hard to keep their book from being
"Hollywood-ized," and felt only about 15% of it had fallen victim to
the need to make a commercially viable movie. He confirmed several
scenes that I might have suspected were "Hollywood-ized" were, in fact,
portrayed exactly as they happened, proving that truth is often
stranger--and just as "commercially viable"--as fiction.
Since there were so many Army and Navy ROTC cadets there, during the
Q&A I commented that when the troopers were fighting for their
lives at LZ X-Ray, I was an Army ROTC cadet at Vanderbilt, just
beginning to understand a war was building and that I'd be a part of it
soon. I thanked them for their bravery and service, and (ham that I am)
couldn't resist mentioning that my participation 5 years later was as
one of Joe's "Lunatics" with the First Cavalry Division (of which Hal
Moore's unit was a part), and that I was here with another "lunatic"
who was sitting beside me. That brought a round of applause which sure
felt good, but which I hope was mostly for the gentlemen up front.
(Joe was also a featured speaker at the 2000 VHPA Reunion in DC. He
spoke at "The Wall" just prior to the once-in-a-lifetime flyover of
Vietnam-era helicopters, and again at the main banquet.)
After the movie, there was a great BBQ picnic in a nearby building (the
iffy weather moved it inside). The MOAA chapter president John
Ohlinger surprised us when he brought out his Southeast Asia Escape
and Evasion Map, often given to air crews as a means to "E&E"
should they be downed. I suppose the Army had these, too, but I sure as
heck never saw one! The map was printed on both sides on a ruggedized
material that is so reliable that John's map looked like it'd been
printed last week! It was in remarkable shape, and I was able to show
him where I'd flown after he showed me his "AO" ("area of operation"),
which was in the Mekong Delta, southwest from my AO.
All-in-all, a great afternoon, and a great time to be a veteran, being
among those who understand, as well as among those who will soon lead
in the Armed Forces themselves.
A smart "hand salute" to them all!
(It's hard to believe I once looked that young . . . . )
Respectfully submitted,
Ross Rainwater
ORWAC 70-24
C-1/9 Air Cav, 1st Cav, '70-'71
Secretary, Mid-South Chapter, VHPA
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Joe
Galloway kicks off the post-movie Q&A session, featuring his
remarks and those of three other veterans of LZ X-Ray, the battle
portrayed in "We Were Soldiers."
Joe and other veterans of LZ X-Ray sign copies of "We Were Soldiers
Once and Young."
MSVHPA Member Bob Colson, one of "God's Own Lunatics," with Joe
Galloway, who gave all helicopter crews that respectful nickname.
Joe with Ross Rainwater, another proud "lunatic."
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