Ron Kovic (Born On The Fourth Of July) INTERVIEW 1977 [Reelin' In The Years Archive] 

As a Vietnamese, I’m not even mad at the Americans. Humans will be humans. I’m just glad that Americans have embraced their compassion, understanding, acceptance, and forgiveness - the better angels of their nature.

Born on the Fourth of July is the best war movie that’s ever been made. It distills Smedly Butler’s “War is a Racket,” into a movie, and drives home the fact that modern war is nothing, to modern people. They stand to gain nothing and lose everything, so companies can make more money that they don’t need. Thank you Ron, for writing the book, thank you Oliver for making the movie.

Tom Cruise was phenomenal in the movie

Im 100% disabled veteran and I look to ron for strength and Jesus.

Ron Kovic - and so many many others - have warned young people about the folly of most wars, but still the drums beat and the feet march...

The interviewer asks some really great questions here, and Ron is very articulate in his answers. A great interview.

Wow so honest! It’s rare today. Amazing person. Bravo!

My childhood in the 80s sounds a lot like Ron's childhood in the 50s. Grew up playing with toy guns and playing "war" in the woods. I loved or maybe I can say I even idolized John Wayne war movies, Platoon, Hamburger Hill, etc. GI Joe was my favorite cartoon. I loved the military I saw (I still have the greatest respect and reverence for those who serve today). As a young kid I want to say that I saw the Vietnam war as any other war that we had fought in. We were the good guys and we went to fight the bad guys. As I've aged, gained more perspective, learned about history and the real truth and had kids of my own, obviously my perspectives have changed greatly. If I had to summarize it in a single sentence, I'd say that the Vietnam war was an absolute tragedy created in large part by a completely inept, corrupt and uncaring political establishment. I know Ron will probably never see my comment, but I do hope that he knows that his actions after the war and him sharing his story have made an impact.

He is a real man and a real patriot. His storie is importent for all Young men.

Mr. Kovic has earned the right to have any opinion about the war, or America, that he wants. He also earned the right to share and express it. I'll never understand the trauma he's experienced. He's a patriot, and a courageous hero. With that said, even though I was NOT there, I don't agree that the Vietnam War can just be simply summed up as a crime against humanity. My Father was there, and he's got a totally different take on it, but nobody ever wants to hear that opinion. There was a clear mission in the beginning. No one talks about the horrific crimes against humanity committed by the Communists, but that's what we were trying to stop, just like in Korea. Yes, our soldiers were put in an impossible situation, and some horrible things happened, but that wasn't the purpose.The real criminal was the US government managing a ridiculous strategy from Washington, Mainly Johnson, but of course Hollywood made it seem like the whole thing was Nixon and the Republican's fault. Point is, it was horrible, yes, but for whatever horrors the US committed you can multiply that by 100 as compared to the horrors of the brutal Communists. If we were so scary and brutal why were Vietnamese wiling to fall to their death hanging off of helicopter skids just to get to America, or away from the Communists? We got a bad rap, and the soldiers were treated horribly. I have nothing but admiration and respect for Mr. Kovic and people like him, I just have a different take on America's role and purpose, and feel like, especially now when Socialism and Communism are romanticized, that the real monsters get a pass and somehow are seen as the victims.

A real life hero, his story moved me to tears

Every person should read and watch BORN on The 4th of July before to make the decision to enlist... No discouraging them to enlist, just important that they truly understand one of the worst case scenarios before they make that commitment. Ron is truly a hero , and his book is a masterpiece

wish bill would shut up and let Ron Talk geez.

Ron is a "True" Patriot. Bless you Sir & thanks for your your service & sacrifices.

If you know someone about to join, let them see and ponder this man's experience.

I really respect Ron...

Great testimony. Another soul forever scarred by the atrocities of Vietnam. I wonder what happened to him after this interview...

This video clip should have about 100 million views.

Tom Cruise was the perfect actor to portray Ron Kovic

The worst thing about going to war and being in combat was realizing all the horrible things you did and friends you lost were all done because of lies. I fought in Iraq and have so many regrets for what we did to those people while we were there. We left their country in shambles for what? All the lasting scars all my buddies and myself deal with to this day and the family members lives that have been effected by this. We should be very careful about the wars we support and get ourselves into. There are lasting consequences that echo on long after it's over.

I’m reading it right now, with one chapter to go. I can’t believe it took me this long to read it after first watching the movie in ‘93. During reading I felt what Ron is feeling in all his pain. This is one of the best books I’ve ever read and even better after watching the movie.

It’s one thing when Ron grabs Charlie and pours his heart out at the end…But it’s when Charlie instantly does a 180° turn, and cries, that this scene’s power and impact is so freaking deep (and sadly beautiful) that it’s off the charts…bravo!!!

One of the most raw interviews on war in history. What a treasure to have this material available.

I saw Born on the Fourth of July when I was 13. I went into it like a lot of dumb teenage boys expecting it to be another 80s action flick. It was anything but. It changed my life and forever sensitized me to violence and war and the life-long effects it can have on people who suffered through it and survived to tell about the horrors they witnessed.

Bless him. Had the honor of meeting Him and marching with him . True Hero in my book! Stands up for what is right ✌️✊

I'm 33....two years older than Ron is here. I still feel like a teenager some days. His experiences must have made him years older in soul and in spirit.

Ron Kovic, American hero. 🇺🇸

Ron Kovic, strong, hero great movie, I need to read his book. He tells it like it is.

Thank you Ron for telling your story.

Strong, moving stuff. Just like the movie.

Will Ferrell was so young back then when he still did interviews.

Brilliant interviewer. Cruise should have won an Oscar for the film.

Wow, I never knew Ron,went back a second time. I don't agree with Mr. Kovich on everything he says. But he is a real brave man, truly an American hero in my book. The strength to go on after such a tragic injury.. cant even imagine what he has experienced.

Ron is a hero of mine. I fulfilled one of my dreams to visit Massapequa last June while visiting New York from England, very emotional.

Interviewer - "how did you feel about killing? you played with guns as a child as many of us, as I have..." Ron - "Well Bill, first person I killed was an American. And that didn't make me feel good at all" Ron - "Second group of people I killed was Vietnamese children, and that made me feel worse..."

I just saw born on the Fourth of July again what a movie!

This guy is a true American hero.

Ron Kovic is a hero for veterans rights, anti war movement and a true American.

The interviewer needs to stop talking over him.

Thank you Ron, Tom and Oliver. 🏆 🏆 🏆.

This is why RU-vid is so awesome! I never knew the movie was based on a true story, incredible!

This man is an absolute American Legend/Hero. He is the real Captain America. Everything he went through smh.

God bless you RK. I feel your pain everyday.....my pain happens everyday every hour....

He said he wanted to be a hero and he IS a hero!

Stalingrad (1993) and born on 4th of July are the movies every 16 year old must watch to know that joining in an army is a terrible mistake

Imagine something like this on TV these days

He kept firing because he is a Marine.

He went there and served man. I feel bad for him . This is worse in a way than death

Cancel culture tried to cancel him and stood tall inspiring man

Anyone else here from knowing his nephew, Adam Kovic from Funhaus?

I just saw the movie and I am so much moved by Ron and his story. TOm Cruise on the other hand nailed it and he should have won the Oscar. America never quit putting their nose in other people`s busniess!!!!

I feel the same way about my war, Iraq. We were all prepped by GI JOES, video games, Saving Private Ryan, Band of Brothers, our WWII grandfathers, 9/11.

He is magnificent

Semper Fi. Brother

About a year ago, I had a conversation with a Vietnam Veteran. He told me about what it was like not knowing where the enemy was and firing into bushes to kill the enemy that was hiding in it. He didn't know how many he killed. Still to him, the worst part was coming back to the United States and being called a baby killer and being spit on.

hey Ron. I took a man's life when I was younger. great film Ron. i carry my guilt like purgatory

Back when interviews used to be real conversations and not just BS. What happened to tv?

I've heard of Ron Kovic, but I've never Ron Kovack.

This man makes me ufff... Thank you, Ron.

He was so handsome! 😍

My dad was born on the 4th of July; Army infantry, fought at Chosin Reservoir in Korea; 3 Bronze Stars., served in Vietnam,Retired from the Army, died at 73 from exposure to Agent Orange.

prayers and love to this Man...the movie i hoped gave Mr Kovic some satisfaction. Tom did a great job. it is horrible what they did to you. with respect to you best Stephen

How did we go from this to the news that we have now? Such a contrast.

real intense interview , cant imagine this trauma in my life

He has more inner strength than me....i would of preferred to die in Vietnam than go home to the daily struggles being paralyzed and seeing how americans were treating vets

This is why one shouldn't fantasize what will happen to oneself when going to war. When I enlisted, I already accepted the possibility that I was going to die, and I didn't die. This guy was watching to many movies and read too many war comics. He enlisted for the wrong reason in general. Not to serve, but to be a hero.😢

3:20 "The first person I killed was an American, and I didn't feel good about that at all. And the second group I killed were Vietnamese children, and that made me feel worse..."

Brilliant, thanks for putting this up.

War = DON'T GO!!!!

I could have sworn that the interviewer was Jeff Conaway, from Taxi.

Ron is amazing. Tom Cruise was amazing in the film,

fantastic interview. Saw the movie.

His life is like the song one by metallica

Ron Kovic is so powerful, god bless him

Incredibly powerful

Just watched the movie wow didn't know it was real.

what a great man so much integrity

The guy didnt do his homework very well before the interview

He is a hero

Happy birthday Ron

He explains this so beautifully

A great hero Ron

I know how Ron feels growing up as a young child in the 80s me and my older brother and causins grew uo togeather and we would get creative and make our own toy guns rumning around the house we played with our plastic little armymen toys, my favorite movie was rambo 2, and platoon

The interviewer is Will Ferrell. Before joining Saturday night live.

Thank you Mr Kovic

Semper Fidelis @ Ron Kovic

A real hero

*Respect* ✌

Youre a hero Ron.

“”Respect and HonoR”” ! The NaM!

Ron is what America is suppose to be

If you could move your watermark down a little lower, it would be quite as distracting. Maybe like two inches.

This is a true American. Now people don't know what bathroom to use. The country I love is going down the drain. God bless Ron and the young men who went off to war at such a young age.

Is Mr Kovic still with us? The movie moved my soul. This is the first time I’ve seen the real RK.

*We're all put to the test... but it never comes in the form or at the point we would prefer, does it?*

God bless him.

The interviewer looks like "Bobbie Wheeler" from the great tv sitcom Taxi.

Why would he have to fumble for the book and recite after the shot? He was politicized because he was paralyzed in combat. Not saying I agree with the Vietnam War, but the anti-war movement obviously were looking for soldiers like him for comment. Obviously, they would hold a grudge after losing the war they experienced. Same goes with those disabled from modern wars. It's just a absolute shame we can't just get along.

he felt so very guilty that wished, in the inside, to be out of that war immediatly. so that was the way life could help to take him out of all that, but when he realized how huge that price was, he started to suffer a lot of himself because of his condittion. because he just wanned to honnor his fammily and all the things that his parents seemed to expect of him. then, when he realized his mistake, that situation took a meaning fot life, without option of getting back. he wantted a big deal, so he's had.

The interviewer sounds and looks like Will Ferrell.