#2 Final Battle Scene from "We Were Soldiers"

This scene dramatizes the final advance of the United States Army Air Calvary against the North Vietnamese Army during the Battle of Ia Drang. As the U.S. Army charges the fortification occupied by the N.V.A, we see one of the most realistic depictions of the Vietnam War. The brutality of hand to hand combat, small arms weapon fire, and air support are conveyed effectively in this scene. After several days of brutal fighting, the U.S. Soldiers leap from their defensive positions and charge the well fortified Vietnamese Army. The director does not reveal the planning stages of this action, and the viewer is shocked by this event. The Vietnamese Army is also surprised, and the U.S. Soldiers race up the mountain. The Colonel has planned to meet fierce resistance at a certain point during the attack and employs helicopters armed with Gatling guns to decimate the enemy forces. The detail and graphic nature of this scene propels the viewers as if they were advancing with the soldiers.