Review 
We Were Soldiers” is a war film that depicts the first major land battle in the Vietnam War, which took place in late 1965. The movie focuses on Lt. Col. Hal Moore (played by Mel Gibson), a family man and Harvard graduate, and Sgt. Maj. Plumley (Sam Elliott), an Army lifer. They lead the First Battalion of the Seventh Cavalry, Custer’s regiment, into battle in the Ia Drang Valley, also known as the “Valley of Death.” Facing approximately 2,000 North Vietnamese troops, Moore’s men fight bravely but suffer heavy casualties. The film avoids the typical Hollywood victory narrative, portraying the challenges faced by American troops who were better trained and equipped but outnumbered and outmaneuvered. While the battle scenes are not as lucid as those in “Black Hawk Down,” the movie effectively captures the tension and strategy between Moore and his North Vietnamese counterpart. Other key characters include Maj. Crandall (Greg Kinnear), a helicopter pilot, and Joe Galloway (Barry Pepper), a photojournalist and soldier’s son who finds himself fighting alongside the others to save his life1. Overall, “We Were Soldiers” offers a non-political take on heroism and guts during a tumultuous time in history2. Some critics found it less engaging than other war dramas, but it remains a memorable experience for those seeking a realistic portrayal of war3.