How much do you know about the Battle of Ia Drang in We Were Soldiers?

[@fireshack6485]

Rick Rescorla was actually assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry. 2/7 was sent in to reinforce Moore's 1st Battalion. While surveying the battlefield, Rescorla actually found a bugle that had once belonged to Mobile 100. Galloway had actually been in action previously with a Special Forces unit that was commanded by Charles Beckwith (future developer of the Delta Force). Galloway did not need to be given a weapon by Plumley; he had previously armed himself after Beckwith had told him that there was no such thing as a noncombatant during a battle.

[@BasedonaTrueStoryPodcast]

I didn't know about the connection between Galloway and Beckwith, that's fascinating! Thank you for sharing!

[@Allen46u5k]

Read (Banard Falls books) on Vietnam

[@Allen46u5k]

Napal was used throughout the war and was used by the French, not just by the Americans.

[@vincewhite5087]

Loved the part in the book, of the after war meeting between both leaders

[@vincewhite5087]

The books better & more accurate

[@BasedonaTrueStoryPodcast]

The books usually are more accurate than the movies for sure! What are your recommended books for others to learn more about the true story?

[@garygray6876]

Very good podcast and what I add is just a minor clarification. Regarding the 'Broken Arrow' call, Lt Col Moore (per interviews years later) did not himself call out Broken Arrow. He did not know this term as it was an Air Force term. He just directed his (Air Force) forward controller to bring in support. It was the forward controller who called it. The only other minor point is at the end...there was no 'Charge' of the troops. Sweeping a battlefield is not the same as a charge...but, that's minor and I'm sure it was done in the movie for affect. The interviews with (then retired General Moore) are fun to watch because he was an advisor to the film and stated there were a few times he mentioned to the director that certain things didn't happen that way during the real battle, to which the director replied with the much used phrase 'this is a movie, not a documentary' (paraphrased). Good job overall!

[@BasedonaTrueStoryPodcast]

This is great info, thank you for sharing! While I never had the chance to chat with Gen. Moore, I've talked with a lot of folks who have been advisors on movies and that concept of "this is a movie, not a documentary" rings true. That reminds me of a chat I had years ago with the Stephen L. Hardin who was the advisor on "The Alamo" and he pointed out how the role of advisor means they tell the director what really happened...from there, it's up to the filmmakers to decide how much they decide to adhere to the true story. Some do better than others!

[@vincewhite5087]

Lee’s cavalary left for big ride around.

[@vincewhite5087]

Most of Germany was defeated by USSR. Far more suffering of axis, plus on the western front was group effort Canadian & British.

[@vincewhite5087]

The domino theory of Vietnam is used as example taught in logic courses as a logical bias.

[@tagfu2226]

I read the book after I saw the movie. The ending of the movie in no way resembled what really happened and basically ruined what had otherwise been a very good movie.

[@BasedonaTrueStoryPodcast]

Was there something in particular that made you feel the movie missed the mark?

[@vincewhite5087]

This violence is wha USA usually brought to places.

[@vincewhite5087]

USA was lucky the Vietnam didn’t have better weapons.

[@vincewhite5087]

Attack & retreat to surround & ambush goes back to Mongol armies.

[@vincewhite5087]

Attack & retreat to surround & ambush goes back to Mongol armi