We Were Soldiers

"[addressing his troops on the parade ground.] Look around you. In the Seventh Cavalry, we got a captain from the Ukraine. Another from Puerto Rico. We've got Japanese, Chinese, blacks, Hispanics, Cherokee Indians, Jews and gentiles — all Americans. Now, here in the States, some men in this unit may experience discrimination because of race or creed. But for you and me now, all that is gone. We're moving into the Valley of the Shadow of Death, where you will watch the back of the man next to you, as he will watch yours. And you won't care what color he is or by what name he calls God. They say we're leaving home. We're going to what home was always supposed to be. I can't promise that I will bring you all home alive. But this I swear before you and before Almighty God: that when we go into battle, I will be the first to set foot on the field, and I will be the last to step off. And I will leave no one behind. Dead or alive, we will all come home together. So help me God."

"Neither the new technology nor your status as officers will keep you above the danger. Sergeant Major Plumley and I come from the paratroopers, where the officer is always the first man out of the plane. Because to follow your instincts and inspire your men by your example, you have to be with them — where the metal meets the meat...Now, I hope you men like training, 'cause me and the Sergeant Major... we love it!"

"Sir, Custer was a pussy. You ain't."

"[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 is 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."

"Such a tragedy. They will think this was their victory. So this will become an American war. And the end will be the same... except for the numbers who will die before we get there."

"Fathers, Brothers, Husbands & Sons."

"We were... young, brave, husbands, wives, sons, mothers, daughters, soldiers."

"400 U.S paratroopers. 4000 Vietnamese soldiers. 12 000 miles away from home. 1 man led them into battle."

"Mel Gibson - Lt. Col. Hal Moore"

"Madeleine Stowe - Julia Moore, Hal's wife"

"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"

"Don Duong - 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"

"Clark Gregg - Capt. Tom Metsker"

"Desmond Harrington - Sp4 Bill Beck"

"Blake Heron - Sp4 Galen Bungum"

"Erik MacArthur - Sp4 Russell Adams"

"Dylan Walsh - Capt. Robert Edwards"

"Josh McLaurin - Greg Moore, Hal & Julia's son"

"Devon Werkheiser - Steve Moore, Hal & Julia's son"

"Taylor Momsen - Julie Moore, Hal & Julia's daughter"

"Sloane Momsen - Cecile Moore, Hal & Julia's daughter"

"Luke Benward - David Moore, Hal & Julia's son"

"Mark McCracken - Capt. Ed "Too Tall" Freeman"

"Bellamy Young - Catherine Metsker"

"Simbi Khali - Alma Givens"

"Lyndon Johnson - himself (archive footage)"