Chronicles the return of U.S. Army Col. (Ret.) Paul R. Longgrear to the battlefield at Lang Vei, Vietnam, where in 1968 he faced down North Vietnamese tanks and was forced to make the most difficult decision of his life.
I've seen most of the documentaries on the Battle of Lang Vei featuring Paul Longrear and the courage these men displayed. Paul Longrear tells a great story of courage and heroism by a few brave and dedicated soldiers. During my first stateside tour at Ft. Hood in 1981 I was assigned as the driver of the S2/S3 shop of the 89th M.P. Group (later designated a brigade) as was fortunate enough to serve with one of the men stationed and eventually captured at Lang Vei William G. McMurray. These men are true American heroes.
I seen a Doc recently of British soldiers in Vietnam right after WWII , helping usher out the Japs and welcome back the French ? The commentator a Brit said " Britain had things well in hand in Vietnam when there "...I just laughed to myself.
My combat Navy Seabee Chief dad said an angel appeared to him while he was in dire straits. He was in the new Hebrides, and the Solomon Islands in WW2. The Japanese bombed from the air almost ever night and day. Don't ever underestimate the ability of God to intervene in a crisis. You just have to ask Him.
Thank you for not blurring the horrific pictures. I think to blur this history is a crime in itself. People, especially young people, need to realize what happened. To see the life just snuffed out even the innocent is eye-opening.
Beautifully told story. Thank you for your service sir. Thank you to all the men who served in Vietnam. I pray you find the two lost men. God bless you and your family.
My Dad is almost 80. I wish he would tell me about the war as he saw it, but that’s asking him to relive his worst nightmares with his family and I can’t ask him to do that. May God bless all those who served our country in any fashion
If we could clone this man and spread his story..maybe there would be more hope for our people today. Wow. Thank you Jesus for showing up and showing us!
I can relate. In 1968, walking w my sister, a car pulled up. I didn't recognize him. My sister spoke to him briefly. She said " That was _____.He went to Viet Nam"! .I knew him well, before. He looked like an angry, older stranger, so different than before. Sorry about your brother.
Very good video, and thank you for your service. I am also a Vietnam Veteran (Canadian by birth), but now live in Colorado. Thank you all, that have served in Vietnam.
Bless all our soldiers. A beautiful story of remembrance, love & endurance under horrific circumstances. Never blame the soldiers for a govenments decisions. 💞
I never thought I'd see the day that Vietnam veterans would be returning there and actually meeting and bonding with their former enemies. I guess it's true, the old saying that time heals all wounds.
I live with my mother in law, In Viet Nam. She was NVA We both kept this secret for several years. Now we are open but still almost never talk about our time from the war. Better just to move on, and be happy we survived and are happy.
This was, is an incredible story. I wasn't expecting the testimony of this former fighting man, but it blessed me like a jolt and that's when I know I need to listen. That 'Old man' left on that hill walk was the best tactical move any man could make. So much more I could say but, God bless you all
You do realize...how fortunate you Are...to Have this Man's.... Blood Flowing thru your Veins . ..... Situations Make Men/ Women.... ...,.............. Keep the Flow
Thanks to everyone involved in producing this film! I’m a Vietnam vet who also had an in-country experience of the presence of Jesus. That changed my life. I became a pastor later, and presently I’m leading the Interfaith Veterans Workgroup to prevent veteran suicide in the state of Delaware. I enjoy film making and mentoring young filmmakers. Your film is an excellent documentary example for them. I will share the link.
What knocks me put is how CALM these soldiers sound on the recordings..keep in mind that most of them were VERY young, terrified, adrenaline pumping, and they communicate SO CALMLY and CLEARLY..I wouldn't be able to THINK, much less function in the middle of a life and death firefight!! Much Respect for Viet Nam Veterans and Korean Veterans who are still among us..
They aren't the original recordings, but recreations. I'm sure the soldiers in the originals would sound considerably more stressed & frightened & who could blame them for that!
I haven't seen the whole video yet, but they couldn't have chosen a better narrator. It definitely adds to the impact to have one war hero describing the exploits of another.
Paul , you're one amazing man .Thank you so much for your service & sacrifice along with all your buddies .wow ! What a story of gallantry . God Bless you & your family .❤❤❤❤😢
Bless you Sir & Thank You so much for sharing this incredible story. I had several uncles in WWII & since I was a kid they fascinated me. I’m addicted to these Vietnam ones! There’s nothing “ordinary “ about any of y’all to me. Bless you your family & all the Rangers ❤✌️
As I watch this video I had peace come over me, I always pray for the faith of David and the strength of Samson to get through what I'm going through in my life. I watch this man with compassion and love not angry not deflecting his enemies, but a man that I pray to be like David and Samson filled with unwavering faith in God an amazing strength to survive and to help others. I would like to say welcome home and and thank you for your sacrifice and service ,they gave me peace. I sat here dozing off not because I was not engaged in video because( I have tremendous respect for Vietnam veterans )but I found comfort in his words. Even though many heroes lives were lost they lived on in this soldier. I could see his whole unit in one man, their heroism and ability to come together cohesively and become Brothers and to help victimized people in one another through this terrible war. I love you all and I thank God for each and everyone of you. God bless you all Thank you
Call it what you will when that defining moment transforms any human being touched by a devine higher power. He gave himself over willingly ahead of being accepted. Yes there is a God 🙏. That's when he really began to live. The Vietnam experience changed lives, Including mine. 196th light Infantry,3/21 Americal Div. I corp 1970-71; peace to all who served🇺🇸
The dear Lord Jesus came to meet Paul, right in the midst of the chaos. What a wonderful testimony! I’m soo happy I came across this today!! As a mother of 14, seven sons and seven daughters, I claim daily that the dear Lord will do the same for each of them. Amen
Thank you Col. Longgrear. God Bless you and your family sir. 1 of the surviving 8 was my father (Bill Craig). Always think about what would had happened if he didn't make it through this and he was the 'missing' man in the flyover which could have easily happened. I have to believe that God was watching over him too.. I'm sure my mother would have kept us in Okinawa which would have been so much different then growing up in the United States.
America plays at war. And that is an awful shame . The soldiers may have fought an honest fight but America's leaders can be blamed. I remember the news from that time. Watching in Canada, pro- American all the way. We were feeling sorry for all the young men dying, but did not understand the politics at all. I even knew some who fought there. No respect for anyone preaching war from there on. The last necessary war was WW2
There are many things happening in our country now. I’ve view them now as I did the reports, films, photos, and stories of the time this story takes place. I lost classmates and friends in that war. When I cry for them, I’m really crying for us now. When I question them and their decisions then why don’t I question our decisions now? To learn from history is to realize we are re-living those moments of the past in the present. Our future depends on those who are wise enough to understand the mistakes we made yesterday and do something different today. Pray for those people.
Thank you for this very interesting to watch and learn from I first knew of this battle some years ago as it was the first time the US used LAWS against tanks. I did have the book Night of the Sliver Stars about this battle but I donated to the SBS library in the UK for them to read. I was in 63 Sqn and would have been given the same type of LAWS to use at some point ?? Thank you again for this video being on RU-vid to watch.
There's nothing to admire about the Vietnamese. They let their country be overran by communism and many had no heart for the fight against it. If you don't go and stop the spread of communism, it will just grow like a vine until it overtakes your own country. Many people can't/won't see that, but the reality is that Communism was aggressively expanding back then. Fight it there or fight it here.
A teacher at my crosstown high school was at Khe Shan and I’ve seen a few shows were both of these fine men were on it, his name was Dennis Mannon, he was also the football coach and friends had told me how before each game he would tell the kids about one of his 19 year old friends who died on that hill and who evidently was a player of his own rite simply a year earlier who would never have that chance to play again,
@@janetczernecki7779 thanks I’m sure he’s appreciate that however he passed away a few years back, I know the guy on this video knows him , as I’d said I’d seen a TV that they were both on and I believe he mentioned him by name as he was a forward observer and he knew his voice and call sign, Dennis also has a video on here of his return trip if your interested in looking that up
19:35 He isn’t alone. It is their country. I suppose if a people respects my right to Life Liberty and to do as my conscience directs, without interference because of their ideology , then I can have peace for such a people, despite the many sacrifices American servicemen and servicewomen in the past. I didn’t fight there, being born in seventy. But the Vietnam War definitely rented space in my head, took up room I my life. Peace is better
Fascinating view of the Battle of Lang Vei and an American perspective on Vietnam. Col. Longgrear may have had a troubled childhood but the US Army recognised his leadership which is clear enough here, still looking to bring his 2 missing men home. As a frequent visitor to the US the impact of that war is clear enough, surprisingly it might now be less impactful on Vietnam. I found the War Enactment museum tough viewing too, but they do pay tribute to Americans who did the right thing in the fog of war. Col Longgrear's lovely wife says it all when she asks if the sacrifice was worth it when recalling her late brother, but there can be no doubting the respect for those sent to Vietnam to operate within difficult parameters, and the Wall in DC is sobering.
When he was uncomfortable at the war museum, he can't deny that the US went into that war with a sledgehammer, and although I'm sure that the Vietnamese government wants to portray themselves as completely innocent.. but we know they were not, just as we know that the US did many bad things in the war. And then the secret war in Laos and Cambodia has left the land devastated by the UXO that kills many people each year and will continue to do so for many decades to come. In war there is 3 sides to every story.. one side has their story, and the other side have theirs and then the truth is somewhere in the middle!
BS! Americans and their Allies bought potential freedom, health care, and a great generocity to South Vietnam. There were a few bad things that happened but nothing compared to the attrocities of the North Vietnamese. Russia is pulling the same communist philosophy to the Ukraine right now. They always want someone else's country or territory. When the Vietnam was divided into the Communist North and Free South between 2-3 million Christians took the opportunity to move to South Vietnam. No one moved North. We saw the almost 3,000 people executed, and buried in a mass grave by the NVA in the Tet offensive in Hue. Know your history. A Vietnam Veteran.
Our cause was noble. It was not in our nations vocabulary to ignore communist aggression anywhere in the world, and the Soviets & Chinese were stunned that we’d stand & fight in Vietnam. Our efforts in SE asia were extremely difficult but we kept communism on its back foot for 20+ years, while we lost 58,200 men, the north Vietnamese lost more than 2 million. It’s very convenient to criticize the 1960’s American effort in Southeast Asia through the lens of 2023, but it’s just Monday morning quarterbacking.
There are two sides to everything. The Americans' cause was noble in that they at least thought they were fighting for freedom. GVN was an authoritarian regime and extremely corrupt. And the domino theory was BS, as North Vietnam was interested in gaining independence for all of Vietnam. Yes, it's easy to engage in Monday morning quarterbacking decades after the war and the truth is atrocities were committed by both belligerents. War is hell and I'm glad it's over. Lived in Vietnam since 2014, married to a local for 10 years whose dad fought for the North and mom's brothers in ARVN. Vietnam is doing better and better every year and people here are content, hopeful about the future. That's what matters in the end.
23:32 Even when you know someone is lying, and even when those lies Can’t touch you, they still suck, and it still hurts, moreover when you know!!! Speaking truth to the truth takes courage, and tact… sometimes silence, make it a meaningful pause.
Paul, Colonel Sir, had you met Major George Quamo SOG, deputy Commander of LangVei?. He was there the day before the tank assault & missed that battle. He later was returning from a mission flying in a South Vietnamese plane piloted by a Chinese pilot mercenary. ( What was that idiocy of mercenary Chinese pilots). Any way, they crashed & George was lost to the jungle for 3 years before his body was found. I hope you knew him.
Hugh sacrifices these man for their country. My respect to them all. But I still believe that peace is always better than war. Hope the U.S. will stop interfere with other foreign countries affair, such as what happen in China and Taiwan. God bless you all.
The French gcma special forces also tried recruiting Indigenous forces but after 1954 the vietminh exterminated those left behind Only one made it out of North Vietnam In 1958 Because of ties they were reluctance to abandon them!
The sounds of war , a mixture of piercing bullets to the ear piercing bombs. And the sound of quiet falls amoung the grass. The smells of gun powder blanket tlhe barren land. Awaiting the familiar voices of salvation
21:25 C’mon, Sir, you didn’t see that coming? It’s one thing to develop opinions even convictions witnessing from the sidelines, it is COMPLETELY another to fight as this Hero has ,as dedicated as He was/is , and then to reverse himself, because it seems better. In my last comment I ended with, peace is Better. Yes, it is , but only, and I mean only if Communists accepts not everyone is a communist socialist, or cares a ditty about it. I care about life and bringing good to life. I know what it is losing loved ones. I do not care an iota about anyone’s ideology, if it means I have to participate in their ideology for it to work. Yeah, that’s it. We’re not done fighting…
The Americans helped the French and very much funded financially and militarily for the French war of enslavement of Vietnamese people , so they cant just come and say that they are then friends of Vietnamese people . Vietnamese dont want communism , they just want what the Americans think they want to help them achieve , freedom independence and self determination , but they could only get it from communism , because the Americans and the west helped the French war of colonization slavery oppression instead. The US came to Vietnam were seen by Vietnamese civilians as the return of the French empire , the first marines landed in Da Nang were greeted by " vive la France ".
