The Battle of Khe Sanh
The Battle of Khe Sanh
The United States Department of Defense presents a film recounting the bloody siege and battle at Khe Sanh in South Vietnam, 1968.
The Battle of Khe Sanh
Aerial shots of thick misty clouds, mountain range near Khe Sanh, South Vietnam. Aerial shot of abandoned U.S. Marine military airfield, runway at Khe Sanh. Brief still montage of U.S. Marines engaged in combat, carrying wounded comrades. LS three U.S. Marines using fire extinguishers to tame flames of burning U.S. military cargo airplane. LS/TLSs abandoned sandbagged bunkers, trenches of U.S. Marines outpost in Khe Sanh. Opening credits. FO.
The Battle of Khe Sanh
FI MS/CUs United States Marine Corps Colonel David E. Lownds speaking to camera about the battle of Khe Sanh, then moving to scale model of area, using pointer, continually referring to Hill 861. LS artillery explosion on hill; TLSs white male U.S. Marines sticking fingers in ears, firing vehicle-mounted M102 field artillery gun; LS artillery round hurtling, exploding on hill; TLS African-American male U.S. Marine loading 81mm mortar, covering ears, & firing round while white male US Marine covers ears from trench, cranks mortar base. More of USMC Col. Lownds discussing Khe Sanh, using scale model to show Hills 881, 861, 950.
The Battle of Khe Sanh
TLS/MSs U.S. Navy Seabees using tractors to plow soil, building airstrip at Khe Sanh valley in South Vietnam, US military cargo plane taking off in BG. TLS/MSs white male U.S. Marines building bunkers, digging trenches, stacking sandbags. TLS/MSs U.S. Marine unit patrolling dense jungle. Air to air shot of two U.S. Marine F-4 Phantom II jet fighters in flight. MS four white male U.S. Air Force officers conferring, reviewing recon photos; CUs aerial reconnaissance photographs. Panning MSs Commander of US Military Operations U.S. Army General WILLIAM C. WESTMORELAND walking through military outpost in Vietnam, saluting, boarding awaiting helicopter; great MS Gen. William Westmoreland seated aboard Bell UH-1 Iroquois "Huey" helo; TLS Huey taking off; LS Huey flying over trees; MS four white male U.S. Marines in combat fatigues standing in field, burly major in FG smoking cigarette; MS white male US Marine Major General, ARVN officers alighting Huey; MSs Gen. Westmoreland meeting Marines, smiling, shaking hands, walking away w/ major; MS/CUs Gen. Westmoreland, Marine Major, officers conferring in field, consulting map. TLS U.S. Air Force airmen working on light tables, viewing recon photos. Panning LS U.S. Air Force cargo plane with camouflage paintjob taxiing after landing at outpost. MS colorful wooden sign: "Welcome to Khe Sanh, MATCU 62 Airfield Operations." Panning TLS U.S. Marines in full combat gear (including flak jackets) walking along runway, helping unload cargo plane. VO purportedly supplied by William Westmoreland.
The Battle of Khe Sanh
The French fail at Dien Bien Phu, and the resulting capitulation, thereby ending the French-Indochina War, 1954: WLSs open parachutes flooding sky, French Foreign Legion paratroopers descending to ground, Vietnam; MS bearded white male French pilot talking on radio; LS paratrooper descending, landing; MS white male French paratrooper unhooking parachute pack; LS French outpost; TLS/MSs French artillery units firing howitzers; LS ground explosions; MSs French legionnaires in combat, patrolling through jungles, thick brush; MS French soldiers carrying wounded soldier in netting; CU white male Legionnaires; MS French medic dressing wounded in field; semi-silhouette MS French soldiers carrying wounded soldier on stretcher; MS war-weary legionnaires passing cam; MS/CUs French & Vietnamese delegates signing armistice in Geneva; TLS Soviet delegation reading statement; TLS Vietminh leader HO CHI MINH standing beneath Communist Vietnam banner, Viet Minh General VO NGUYEN GIAP standing to side; MS General Vo Nguyen Giap.
The Battle of Khe Sanh
Panning LS U.S. Marine encampment (base, outpost, garrison) at Khe Sanh, South Vietnam. MSs white & black male U.S. Marines in full combat gear including flak jackets (flack jackets) while standing in sandbagged trench, one using binoculars. MS African-American male US Marine eating rations from tin can while standing in trench, white Marine in FG. CUs United States Marine Corps Colonel David E. Lownds using scale model of Khe Sanh in office. TLSs white & black male U.S. Marines on patrol through hilly terrain of Khe Sanh, some men carrying mortar components, some running down steep incline hill. TLS/MSs US Marines firing vehicle-mounted field artillery gun from hill.
The Battle of Khe Sanh
LS U.S. Marine garrison in Khe Sanh receiving enemy artillery fire. Shaky MS white & black US Marines taking cover in sandbagged trench. MSs US Marines loading, firing 81mm mortar, vehicle-mounted field artillery gun. Low angle LS US Marines jet fighter dropping bomb. CUs United States Marine Corps Colonel David E. Lownds discussing battle of Khe Sanh, using scale model of area in office. LS US Marine outpost ammunition dump in Khe Sanh. Spectacular LS/TLSs explosions at ammo dump. LSs US Marine artillery units firing from garrison during siege. LSs U.S. Douglas A-1 Skyraiders fighter-bombers dropping bombs, conducting air strikes against enemy positions. MSs US Marines loading, firing field artillery guns, 81mm mortars, returning fire. TLSs Marines taking cover in sandbag trenches. LS Marines carrying wounded on stretcher. LSs airstrip under fire while U.S. C-130 Hercules cargo plane taxis, explosions barely missing the aircraft.
The Battle of Khe Sanh
Air to air shots of two U.S. Marine Corps F-4 Phantom II jet fighters in flight over Vietnam. MS two white male U.S. Air Force airmen reviewing maps, one using loupe looking glass. Graphic map depicting U.S. military forces in Hue & Phu Bai in South Vietnam. CUs United States Marine Corps Colonel David E. Lownds speaking to camera about the battle of Khe Sanh. TLS/MSs black & white male U.S. Marines loading, firing 81mm mortar and field artillery guns during combat. Low angle LS US Marines F-4 Phantom II jet fighters dropping dumb bombs & incendiary bombs on enemy targets, UH-1 Huey helicopters strafing enemy positions at Khe Sanh. South Vietnamese & U.S. (predominantly the New York Time) newspaper headlines regarding the battle of Khe Sanh, some raising the ugly specter of Dienbienphu.
The Battle of Khe Sanh
Great MS Commander of U.S. Forces in Vietnam U.S. Army General WILLIAM C. WESTMORELAND speaking to troops at outpost in South Vietnam, his hands planted on his hips; panning MS Caucasian, Hispanic & African-American male U.S. Marines listening to Gen. Westmoreland, most with M1 combat helmet tucked under arms; TLS/MSs black & white male U.S. Marines loading, firing big M107 175mm howitzer field artillery gun; CU African-American male Marine talking on field telephone, waving pencil in air. LS US Marine firing 155mm howitzer from outpost trench. TLS/LSs Quad cannon tank rolling through compound. MS black male US Marine wearing headset, talking into microphone from trench. MS white male US Marine loading, firing 81mm mortar from trench, fellow Marines plugging ears with their fingers. TLS black male US Marine firing M-20 Super Bazooka (3.5 inch M20 rocket launcher) from crouch position, several Marines standing nearby, all wearing combat gear including flak jackets. MSs shirtless male US Marines loading, firing 155mm howitzer from outpost.
The Battle of Khe Sanh
LS/TLSs U.S. Navy Grumman A-6 Intruder jet fighter bomber planes being catapulted from deck of U.S. Navy aircraft carrier sailing off the coast of Vietnam. Panning TLS/LSs U.S. Marines F-4 Phantom II jet fighters taking off from airbase. Air to air shot of U.S. B-52 Stratofortress bomber plane in flight; high angle MS numerous bombs falling from bay doors; aerial of several ground explosions. Low angle LS/TLSs C-130 Hercules cargo plane dropping supplies, numerous parachutes opening & descending. Low angle TLS U.S. C-123 Provider cargo plane in flight, releasing supply chutes. Nice slow-motion MS crates falling from rear bay door of cargo plane. Tilting TLS supply crates landing on ground. Great LS U.S. C-123 Provider cargo plane flying low, dropping supplies to U.S. Marines on ground. CU white male U.S. Marines officer wearing M1 combat helmet w/ camouflage cover, using field telephone radio. LS/MSs supply crates falling from cargo planes, parachutes opening & descending to ground. Great panning LS C-123 Provider cargo plane w/ camo paintjob flying very low over US Marines outpost in Khe Sanh. Panning TLS C-130 Hercules cargo plane e/ camo paintjob taking off from outpost airstrip. Panning LSs C-123 Provider & C-130 Hercules cargo planes w/ camouflage paintjobs landing at outpost. MSs white male U.S. Marines in combat fatigues including flak jackets unloading supplies, one Marine wearing boonie hat using tractor to load equipment... note the Confederate & State of Texas flags on the tractor.
The Battle of Khe Sanh
TLS/MSs U.S. Marines carrying wounded white male Marine on stretcher at outpost in Khe Sanh, South Vietnam. TLS white male US Marines trotting across field w/ M-16 assault rifles. LS thick black smoke pouring from burning aircraft on outpost airfield. TLS U.S. Marines working behind sandbags at garrison. LS C-123 Provider cargo plane taxiing along runway, passing thick black smoke from burning aircraft. Panning LS U.S. jet fighter swooping on bombing raid, blasting enemy positions on flanking hillside. Panning LS U.S. Marines F-4 Phantom II jet fighter dropping incendiary bombs. Air to air shot of U.S. B-52 Stratofortress jet bomber in flight, dropping numerous dumb bombs. LS numerous explosions on hill, sandbags in FG. TLS/MSs white male U.S. Marines in full combat gear marching w/ M-16 assault rifles & M-60 machine guns, patrolling outer outpost perimeter lined with barbed wire. Excellent slow motion aerial shots of bombs falling from in-flight bomber, exploding on ground; fragmentation bombs, bomblets literally flooding, littering the sky upon deployment from bomber; stunning aerials of ground explosions including river valley. LSs B-52 Stratofortress jet bombers taking off, black contrails streaking behind them. Air to air shot of B-52 dropping string of bombs, both day & night. LSs bomb explosions, night.
The Battle of Khe Sanh
CU white male U.S. Air Force technician wearing radio headset while writing, drawing enemy troop movement on translucent board at command base in South Vietnam. Sideview MS white male U.S. Marine wearing flak jacket, M1 steel helmet while firing M-60 machine gun from sandbag trench at outpost in Khe Sanh-- note the tattoo on his right arm. LSs enemy artillery fire explosions at outpost during firefight. Rear view MS white male US Marines firing M60, engaging the enemy. TLS/MSs older white male U.S. military officers walking through Cincpac (Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet) Command Center, young white male US Marine saluting as they pass. Panning LS misty, foggy, mystic Khe Sanh valley. LS U.S. Marines F-4 Phantom II jet fighter in flight, dropping bomb near US outpost. LSs ground explosions. Rear view MSs white male US Marines in full combat gear firing heavy machine gun, manning hillside positions. MS US Marine digging foxhole on hill. LS/TLSs US Marines Bell UH-1 Iroquois" Huey" helicopter coming for landing, passing over camera.
The Battle of Khe Sanh
Panning rear view TLS white male US Marines in full combat gear including M1 steel helmets & flak jackets standing behind sandbag wall at US Marines outpost in Khe Sanh, South Vietnam, waiting for enemy attack; MS US Marines behind sandbag wall, manning M-60 machine guns, waiting, talking to one another; MSs white male U.S. Marines filling sandbag with dirt, another cleaning pin of artillery gun. MS two white male US Marine officers playing cards in bunker; CU playing hand being fanned out; CU surly-brow lieutenant drinking from tin cup. MS two white male US Marines talking in trench, one cleaning M-16 assault rifle. TLSs three white male US Marines playing basketball on desolate outpost, one taking deep shot-- nothing but net! MS white male US Marine wearing sunglasses, scarf around neck while sitting amongst sandbags & reading letter-- note the can of Miller High Life beer to his right. CU shirtless white male US Marine reading paperback novel in bunker. CU family photo on wall. MSs white male US Marine perusing book shelf, selecting one, reading passage, nodding, then walking away. MS white male US Marine getting to bed, tucking himself under camouflage covers. MS white male US Marine on sentry watch, day. MS "The In-Crowd" sign on sandbag wall. MS/CUs bearded, bespectacled, beatnik-esque white male US Marine playing acoustic guitar near sandbags, comrades sitting & listening, machine guns all around; one Marine w/ sleeves rolled to shoulders & bullet bandoliers crossing chest hops off platform, skulks off with M-16 assault rifle in hand, passing dressed-down white male Marine washing shirt in bucket outside bunker. MSs white US Marines eating, cooking c-rations in bunkers, trenches. MS/TLSs two African-American male US Marines in trench, one writing letter while the others eats from tin cup. MS/CUs tattooed, shirtless white male US Marine smoking cigarette while cooking c-ration casserole stew. CU white male US Marine lieutenant eating stew in bunker, seemingly enjoying the taste. MS/CUs white & black U.S. Marines eating at outpost.
The Battle of Khe Sanh
TLS U.S. Marines crouched, standing behind sandbags at outpost in Khe Sanh, South Vietnam. TLS/MSs 155mm howitzer being fired, reloaded. TLS African-American male U.S. Marine firing M-20 Super Bazooka (M20 3.5 inch rocket launcher) from crouch position. Panning low angle LS A-6 Intruder jet fighter in flight. Rear view MS white male US Marine firing M-60 machine gun; note the writing on the back of his flak jacket-- "NVA Exterminators, Inc." Panning LSs jet fighters conducting air strikes, firing missiles and dropping bombs on enemy positions. TLSs US Marines leaving encampment. TLSs US truck convoy driving along Interstate 9. Traveling shot Vietnamese family outside grass hut. MS sign: "Interstate 9, Open to Khe San, Courtesy of 11th En. Bn. Co. A." VO: "These are the relief troops of Operation Pegasus." TLS/MSs U.S. Army soldiers of the 1st Cavalry, U.S. Marines & South Vietnamese Army (ARVN) marching along dirt road. Traveling shots of bomb craters, destroyed houses, and bridges. Panning MS black soldier of 1st Cavalry running w/ M-16 assault rifle. MSs enemy booby trap mine being discovered, detonated & destroyed by US forces.
The Battle of Khe Sanh
LS U.S. Army Bell UH-1 Iroquois "Huey" helicopters near Khe Sanh valley in South Vietnam. Panning MS Huey helo coming in for landing, U.S. Marines in full combat gear stepping forward. MS US Marines running past camera. TLS U.S. Marines boarding helo. Great panning MS Huey taking off, passing camera. MS U.S. Marines and U.S. Army soldiers of 1st Cavalry marching along dirt road toward cam, one talking on field radio. MS two male ARVN (South Vietnamese Army) soldiers marching past cam. LS US Marine throwing grenade over hill, explosion. MS African-American male US Marine taking cover behind oil drum near fallen comrade. MS three white male US Marines kneeling beside captured enemy tripod-mounted artillery gun. MS/CUs displayed cache of captured enemy grenades (both traditional & rocket-propelled including Soviet-made RPG-2), artillery & machine gun ammunition, AK-47 assault rifles & Chinese-made knockoff rifles, first aid medicine, etc. TLS two white male US Marines watching several captured Viet Cong. TLSs captured VC being marched from helicopter, along tarmac under ARVN watch. LSs U.S. F-4 Phantom II, A-6 Intruder jet fighter planes dropping bombs, firing missiles on various sorties during Khe Sanh battle. TLS/MSs U.S. Marines loading, firing field artillery, howitzers. TLS white & black male US Marines in full combat gear including M1 steel helmets & flak jackets on patrol by river, marching toward & past camera. MSs white male US Marine wearing flack jacket bringing seized enemy rocket launcher into bunker cache. MSs wounded US Marines being stretchered from ambulance, walked along tarmac, loaded onto U.S. Air Force med-evac helicopter.
The Battle of Khe Sanh
MS Commander of U.S. Forces in Vietnam U.S. Army General WILLIAM C. WESTMORELAND entering room at U.S. Air Force base in Thailand, May 23, 1968; panning TLS General William Westmoreland speaking to U.S. airmen; MSs Gen. Westmoreland pinning medals to chests of USAF airmen. MS U.S. President LYNDON BAINES JOHNSON (Lyndon Johnson, Lyndon B. Johnson, LBJ) pinning award to flag of U.S. Marine 26th Regiment at Washington DC press conference, shaking hands with Sergeant Major A.W. Smith holding flag. MS United States Marine Corps Colonel David E. Lownds receiving Navy Cross at award ceremony; MS Sgt. Maj. A.W. Smith receiving Bronze Star. MS U.S. President Lyndon Baines Johnson speaking at press conference: "Some have asked what the gallantry of these Marines and airmen accomplished, why did we choose to pay the price to defend those dreary hills? The fortress at Khe Sanh straddled critical infiltration & supply routes that the North Vietnamese were using. Route 9 which it commanded was to be a major avenue for the enemy into populated areas & into the cities of South Vietnam. By pinning down & by decimating two North Vietnamese divisions the few 1000 Marines & their gallant S. Vietnamese allies prevented those divisions from entering other major battles such as those for Hue."
The Battle of Khe Sanh
TLS/MSs white male U.S. Marines patrolling through jungle in Vietnam; MS white male US Marine in natural camouflage using radio. TLS/MSs African-American and white male U.S. Marines in full combat gear including M1 steel helmets & flak jackets marching along dirt road, carrying weapons including M-16 assault rifles, M-60 machine guns, & M-20 Super Bazooka rocket launchers. TLS/MSs U.S. Marines crossing bridge, passing barbed wire. Panning CU black male US Marine on patrol. Audio of U.S. President Lyndon Baines Johnson speaking at press conference: "I believe that our initiative toward talks w/ North Vietnam was greatly strengthened by what these men did at Khe Sanh... Brave men such as the 26th Marines who will carry on the fight for freedom in Vietnam. And soon, God willing, they will come home. We would like nothing more than to see that day but until they do we shall express on moments such as these our great gratitude..." Aerial shot of abandoned U.S. Marine airfield outpost in Khe Sanh. TLS/LSs abandoned sandbag-lined trenches & bunkers of Marine garrison, American flag flying from flagpole. Closing credits.