All language subtitles for The Last Full Measure (2019)

103.6, WPTC.

All news radio, traffic,
sports and weather.

In the district there is
a pile up on Constitution.

Yes, hi, Dr. Hollands
office, please.

This thing cheats!

- This is terrible.
- Hello?

Hi, it's Tara Huffman, and I have
an 8:15 amnion scheduled,

and we're totally stuck
on Constitution.

I'm so sorry, can you
hang on a second?

Hello?

Hi, Celia, I'm on the other line.

Wait. Celia?

Okay, alright.

- Quickly, quickly.
- Okay.

Hey, what's up?

What?

Why?

I'm gonna call you back.
Just meet me downstairs.

Okay?

Peters just fucking quit.

You owe me a quarter.

What happened? Why?

I... I don't know.
I don't know what happened.

Okay, there is a metro station
two blocks away, why don't you take it?

Are you sure?

- Yeah, yeah.
- I'm sorry.

- It's okay.
- Thank you.

Alright, buddy, take care
of your mom, okay?

- Alright. Good luck.
- Okay.

- I'll call you later.
- Okay. It's gonna be okay.

- Alright.
- Bye.

I called as soon as I heard.

It's your job to keep my pale-ass
out of the stink, you're my Kevlar.

How was I supposed to know the secretary
was gonna call a press conference,

- let alone resign today.
- Did he have a reason?

The secretary? Oh, yes.

- He wants to spend more...
- More time with the family?

Jesus.
Is Stanton there?

- He brought the donuts.
- Of course, he did.

- What's my day like?
- We've a 11 o'clock, he is early,

- and your lunch scrubbed.
- What 11 o'clock?

Master Sergeant Thomas Tully.

Never heard of him scheduled.

We missed you at the brief.

I got to have my ear
to the rail, Carl,

or that train might
have run me over.

Well, if you'd be here on time,

you would have heard
it like the rest of us.

You must've known something.

Hey, I was here, you weren’t.

It's on you. I... I...
I got you a doughnut.

It's got..sprinkles.

- My wife had an amnion.
- Oh..

Oh, right. Priorities.

I don't know how
you do it. Wife,

kids, hamster...
- It was a gerbil.

Mercifully, he finally
went tits up.

Life refines itself of
your patience.

It was a shock,
but I'm finally over it.

You okay? What's... what's...
What's bothering you?

I'm a government lawyer
about to be unemployed.

Oh, come on! You're a superstar
on the verge of free agency.

You will find something.

In the middle of an election year?
Not even Tiger could sing that part.

What makes you think I can?

Because your political Darwinism
is absolutely instinctual.

Thanks.

You're welcome.

You remember that decorations
review I gave you in July?

It's a vague potential memory.

A Medal of Honor upgrade?

You have a status briefing.

- When?
- Now.

- With who?
- Master Sergeant Thomas Tully.

Air Force Para-rescue, retired.

- Flew in from Dayton.
- Your 11 o' clock.

He's the guy's buddy.

Who's guy?

- What guy?
- The Medal Of Honor candidate.

Why didn't he just...
come himself?

Because it's posthumous.

You better read it down.

Here you go.

- Christ, I...
- I've been reminding you since July.

We're talking about one of my
buddies in the days of the war.

Pits saved lives.

And he was awarded
an Air Force Cross.

- What's wrong with that?
- It was downgraded to the Cross.

We put him up for
the Medal of Honor.

- That's different.
- Sergeant.

I'm gonna tell you something
you probably already know.

Decoration upgrades are rare.

The criteria for review is
new information.

I think that "new information"
part was your job.

This was 30 years ago.

I mean, there is an agenda
you have I should know about?

Justice delayed is justice denied.

That's my damn agenda.

Sergeant Tully, Secretary
of the Air Force..

..resigned today.

In three months,

everyone in this office is
gonna be gone, including me.

This will take years.

We're gonna follow-up
on this next week.

Secretary Peters?

Yes.

I'm Thomas Tully.

Air Force para-rescue.

Retired.

Defense Contract Audit Agency
is looking for a Regional Director.

That would be a step backwards

Okay, well, you're now
officially on your own.

- Don't be like that.
- Call sheet is in your computer,

the Secretary is looking for
you and your wife called.

Wait. Why?

Well..she didn't say.

No. Peters.

Whit wants to see you in
his office in five minutes.

Congratulations
on the job, Carl.

More mascots under your feet.

Thank you Mr. Secretary.

Sit. Sit down.

A Master Sergeant Thomas Tully

doesn’t think we're giving
this MOH matter a fair shake.

That's a misunderstanding.

That's what I said.

Sir?

Operation Abilene

was one of the bloodiest
battles of the entire war.

The 'Vietnam' War.

Thanks.

An entire company nearly wiped
out but for this PJ's efforts.

Para-rescue jumper.

Pitsenbarger is a legend
in the PJ community.

I understand that.

Well, Carl's putting
together your itinerary.

You'll collect combat
testimonies, personally,

and prepare a package for
a full decorations review.

But we're about to present
the budget to committee.

Yeah, well, Carl has it covered.

I've been working on it.

All year.

And now you're working on this.

The Medal of Honor

is the highest recognition
of military valor there is.

Patton said he'd have traded
his command for that ribbon.

Eisenhower the White House.

Now, why do you think

four star Generals and Presidents
would say something like that?

Honestly, I have no idea.

Well, that's a very
good place to start.

I'm off the budget because
of some grunt-case

Peters in the shitter with him.
Are you kidding me?

He's not a grunt.
He's Air Force.

And you're off the budget
because you embarrassed him.

- Who? Tully?
- No. Peters.

Look, uh, I've never done
a medal review, I...

I... I don't have time for this.

What job did you get, anyway?

I'm Legislative Director
for Madison Holt,

if it's any of your business.

Chairman of Armed Services?

Is there another? Look..what,
do I have to spell this out for you?

It's just crazy.

Take a few days, go
collect some war stories,

have Celia write up a summary
statement requesting more time.

We look like we give a shit,
just till it rolls-over

to the next poor slob
who takes your job,

and you're out of it, before
Appropriations even sniffs the budget.

- That's it?
- Yeah, that's it.

It's only gonna be a day, honey.

We're getting fire
from all corners.Over.

Carlie-6-dawn 3.

- Everybody down!
- Take cover!

Contact! Victor Charlie!

We have wounded
and we are taking fire!

Heaven-1, Pedro inbound,
say, two mikes out.

Copy that, Charlie-6.
We're inbound now.

- Charlie-6..
- Get behind now!

They have mortars and
automatic weapon now.

It's an ambush!

Keep moving!

Hey, Tully! It doesn't look
too good down there.

They don't know
how to load the litters.

Holy shit!
It's the medic.

- Okay.
- Somebody needs to go down there...

and get 'em straitened out.

No way, it's hotter than
hell down there, Pits.

Those people can't wait.
They've lost the medic.

Let me go down,
speed up the whole deal.

As soon as we have their wounded,
you're back on this bird.

Roger that.

You be goddamn careful.

I'm going down!

Get the fuck out of here!

Sounds like a suicide mission.

Suicide is hopeless.

What Pitsenbarger did was

it was valor.

It was a hell of a thing to see
from where I was sitting.

Then why didn't he get
the medal in '66?

- You must have some opinion.
- If my opinion mattered

this would have been
done long ago.

Do you do something, Sergeant?

Do you have a job or

a hobby or is this

your full time thing?

I'm a palliative nurse.

I work with terminal
patients and their families

to clarify end-of-life goals and

symptom management.
Psycho. Social.

Spiritual support.

Do you make your own bed?

What?

A simple question.

My wife does it.

It must suck to be her.

Is there... a point
here somewhere?

We've been down this road before.

You're just the FNG.

Sergeant...

this

..whole pet project of yours
has been in a coma for three decades.

There's nothing in this for me,
but I'm here anyway.

So, what do you want?

Sorry to keep you...

I nap

more than I used to.

Mr. Pitsenbarger, sir.

You know, I'm just
getting old. It's...

Hard, it's..

Keep me awake long
enough to enjoy it.

- Oh, thank you.
- Well.

- Thank you.
- So..

You're the new one.

The new one?

If you want the real
story about Abilene,

you will need to talk
to the mud soldiers.

And they are?

You do work in the
Department of Defense, right?

They are the Army guys,
on the ground.

Charlie Company.
16th Infantry.

The Big Red One.

Well. As far as they're
concerned, you see, it wasn't

Bill's fight.

Bill was Air Force.

Charlie Company took
80% casualties,

that's 34 KIA's.

In the same day.

Bill was a part of it, of course.

But, he wasn't one of them.

We have to respect that.

Alright.

Now, Billy Takoda

lives

over in Sterling County, that's
about an hour's drive from here.

Over the years, the wives have
tracked down most of the guys.

You might want
to start with them.

And this Billy

guy

is he..Will he talk to me?
Is he alright?

Two of you should
get a lot of fun.

Hello?!

What the hell are
you yelling for?

Jesus.

Billy Takoda.

Not an easy guy to find.

Y’all be careful down
there, you hear?

Jeremy.
Stay out of that water.

So, what's your story?

Why are you here?

Well,

I appreciate what
you've been through.

I'm here to help.

If you wanted to help,
you'd pick up a weapon,

get some scan in the game, friend.

You'd acknowledge you own
a piece of every bomb drop,

every bullet fired every skirmish
since you've been born.

That you have blood on your
hands. You understand?

Second chance.

Why are you here?

It's my job.

I don't have a choice.

See? That's progress.

Vulnerability in communication.

Honesty builds trust.

That's the only real currency
we get left in this world.

Now you can trust me?

No.

Do you mind... if I..

I'm, here so I can

hear your side of the story.

I talk.

You listen.

Vietnam wasn't my
first square-dance.

I was a dog-faced lifer.

A natural war fighter.

I loved it.

Nothing... made me
feel more alive.

But I had never seen
nothing like Abilene.

Lost men like that.

Fuck!

- Fuck! Medic!
- Let's go! Let's go!

- Medic!
- Cover me!

- Medic!
- Take cover!

Goddamn it, Jerry, you alright?

Contact! Victor Charlie!

- Let's move! Let's move!
- I'm hit!

We have wounded and
we're taking fire!

They have mortars and
automatic weapons now.

It's an ambush!

Pitsenbarger.

Where did he fit in

all of this?

Well, I lost my medic.

We had no LZ, so...

we called in Air Force helos.

Pedro. Pedro.
It's Charlie-6, be advised.

We have a tight one down here.

Multiple casualties, we need
you soon at contact, one o'clock.

Advise when you
got us in sight, over.

Copy, Charlie-6.
Pedro has your smoke.

Pits came down, saved lives.

Evac'd wounded.

Died fighting alongside men
he never even knew.

Get down, airman!

- Get down!
- Okay.

Slow it down!

Nothing but your man
into the basket.

Okay, now.

You.

Get hold these.

Yeah, yeah.

- Nice and easy, now!
- One!

Two. Three.

Alright, hang tight, buddy.

I'm gonna need you to do
something for me, alright?

Keep the pressure on it, alright?

All the way up, you keep that
pressure on. You're going home.

- Lift me!
- Alright.

Okay!
Take it up!

- Alright, hang tight, bud.
- Move it!

- Hold the line! Hold the line!
- Come on.

- What's the story, Lieutenant?
- We've got a 100 meter perimeter.

We're taking fire
from everywhere.

We've got two KIA's and at least
eight wounded that I know of.

Alright, I'm gonna need
two of your guys.

It's your show, airman.

Boss!

Tully says this whole
medal thing was your idea.

Is that true?

I made out the paper work,
sent it up the air force chain, that's all.

- But he never got the medal?

Not the big daddy, no.

Why not?

It was war.

Pits wasn't the only one,
you know.

I must have wrote over

a dozen letters to
parents and girlfriends.

After that, all you can
do is make amends

and try to forget.

How do you do that?

Like I said, get back in the game.

You went... You went
back to Vietnam?

I didn't understand
the world anymore

and the world sure as hell
didn't understand me,

so, where the hell else
was I gonna go?

After I got healed up,

this old high school buddy of mine
called and invited me for beers.

Now, we sitting at the bar
and he shooting shit about girls,

and how we used raise
hell back in the day.

More we talk, more I realized

it was nothing hit, you know.

Then he blurts out, "Hey, you got Purple Heart.
What happened, you get shot?".

It gets real quiet.

All these drunk assholes
just staring at me.

All that I could hear is

screams from the
jungle that day and

artillery whistling in,

and I started to get pissed.

So ...

I pulled my shirt up

just to shut him up.

He looks kind of awkward and

then he started chuckling, saying,

"What was you doing?
Running away?"

You know what?
Maybe I was.

Maybe that's what I've
been doing all this time.

I was a refugee
in my own country

and that hurt way
more than those bullets.

Does it still hurt, Grandpa?

Only on the inside, baby boy.

Come on, kids.
It's time to eat.

Honey, I think this
Gumbo's about ready.

I'm gonna need you to
get on the record.

That's about as
on the record you gonna get.

Hey!

Donna Burr?
Hi.

Hey, man, he doesn't
even get up till 8 o'clock.

I'm sorry.

Scott Huffman. DOD.

He works nights?

Jimmy's PTS.

He's OCD.

He suffers hallucinations

and about fifty other
war related effects.

He sleeps during the day

because the night just
plain terrifies him.

Do you even know
any Vietnam vets?

No. It's a new experience for me.

How did you two meet?

You mean what do I see
in a section-8 like Jim?

No. Not at all, ma'am.
I'm... I'm just...

I was his nurse.

At the VA.

You can learn a lot about
these guys hanging with them.

What the did, what it cost.

And every day he finds the courage
not to stick a gun in his mouth.

So, I think he deserves
a little compassion.

And believe me, I get
a lot more than I give.

So, If he wants to
sleep during the days

that's okay with me.

So I saw Frank Pitsenbarger.

And, uh..

He told me you have
a contact list.

For all the Charlie company
guys that you put together.

So, that's what you want?

Well,..

No, I would..

Love to talk to your
husband, too.

I hope you're sincere about this,

because Jimmy is tougher
than a two dollar steak,

and he can smell

a rat from mile up wind.

Well, I don't have a
position or an opinion...

Here's your list.

Thank you.

You want to talk to Jimmy,
you gonna have to wait.

- I'm not making any promises.
- Thank you.

Hey!

Sleeping at post get you
fragged in my unit.

You know what I'm saying, sir?

People around here,

thinking I'm a goddamn vampire.
Maybe they're right, too.

Because I ain't slept
in the dark for 32 years.

You know what I'm saying, sir?

You know what that is?

Yes.

No. No, I... I don't.

Yeah.

Big Red One.

1st Infantry Division.

Baddest goddamn
GI's ever laced to boot.

Is that loaded?

Fuck!

You know what you call
a gun that ain't loaded?

A fucking stick, sir.

You know what, Jimmy? Uh..

Can I...

Can I call you Jimmy?

I'm a civilian, so,

- you don't have to call me sir.
- The only reason I'm talking

and not shooting,
is because of Tully.

You say this is all about Pits
getting the medal, is that right?

Right. Absolutely.

Because I don't
give a shit about you.

I don't give a shit
about anything.

I just want to be
left goddamn alone!

You understand what I'm saying?

I may not being fucked
over and fucked around.

Nobody knows what went
down with me over there.

Nobody knows!

You understand
what I'm saying, sir?

Listen, man, I...

I didn't come here
to get shot at,

or to rattle your cage. I'm just...

I'm just here because Tully said
your statement was important,

as did Mr. Pitsenbarger.

I was oldest FNG
they'd ever seen.

Germany.

Guam.

Goddamn Okinawa.

Ten years and I've never
squeezed off one round.

You understand
what I'm saying, sir?

FNG?
What... What is that?

Fucking new guy.

No more that tits on a snake.

FNG's got people killed.

All damn years of waiting,

come Easter '66, I'm
in goddamn Vietnam.

I mean, I didn't
sign up for the shit.

33 years old,

I was gun-ho and
ready to kill something.

Hey, Ray.

You short, right?

32 days and I'll be
swimming in Schlitz

unless you get me killed.

How long it take you to
grease your first dink?

- You know what I'm saying?
- Get off my back.

What's your problem, man?

You two trying to get
each other killed? Hm?

Mick, get the hell
away from here.

Hey, you know better, right?

Keep the eyes open, will 'ya?

Down! Down, down, down!

Incoming!

Get down!
Get down!

How many?

- Where are they?
- I got 'em.

- What do we got?
- Gooks. Three of 'em.

I... I... I got a one.

I got one.

Holy shit.

- Nice shot.
- Charlie-6, Charlie-3.

Here, sir.

- Charlie-6.
- Lieutenant, what the hell is going on up there?

FNG bust his first kill, is all.

Copy that.
Anything else?

Negative.

Roger that.
Charlie-3 out.

Kiev, check his fantail,

then shove a couple
of grenades up under.

If anybody comes for him,
we want to know.

FNG.

Welcome to Nam, Jimmy.

Come on.
I got 'ya.

I had never seen
nobody died before.

That little matter sucked all
the past right out of me.

You understand
what I'm saying, sir?

I felt real bad about that

for exactly twelve hours.

And then I didn't feel
bad about nothing.

I thought this was going to
the bottom of the pile.

We are the bottom of the pile.

Some guy named Raymont called,
said he was confirming.

Today's adventures in
post traumatic exorcism.

Hopefully he won't have a gun.

Sit down and walk me
through the requirements

for a congressional
decorations package.

- New eye witness statements.
- Okay, we're doing that.

DOD report of casualty.

Well, he's definitely dead,
so that's two.

And chain of command
endorsements.

Bingo!
Where are they?

Because

some guy named Kepper

wrote the after action
report and passed it up.

It'd have to had been
approved from Bien Hoa..

Saigon to here at the Pentagon.

- Well, that'd have been protocol.
- Right. So where is it?

Unlocked and get
lost in 32 years. I mean..

This is the Government
we're talking about.

Well, if I can't find the chain
of command endorsements,

this thing is DOA.

I'm out of it.

Why not ask Kepper?

Because he is living
in the Nha Trang

which is in Vietnam and
that's 11 time zones away.

There is this new invention
called the telephone.

Look, apparently, this guy is
some christian burn-out,

smoking ganja under
the Bhodhi Tree.

I'm not..going there.

- Is that the budget sheet?
- Yeah.

Alright, I'll call you
from the room.

I come out here,

knock out a box or two,

check my targets,
pick up my brass.

Keeps me civil with
the kids, you know.

I hear you went to
see Jimmy Burr.

Yeah.

He kills things
to release stress.

Flower of box, 75 meters.

Yeah, he's got a
bullet in his head still.

It didn't kill him, so they
slammed him into the VA.

Doped him up for about 20 years.

Can't imagine why.

It's a hell of a thing, you know.

Have somebody die so you can

pop Melons and

shoot rabbits by the
light of the moon.

Weapons clear, Gene.

Weapons clear.

Your reputation precedes you.

Jimmy isn't a fan.

Yeah, Tully either.

Well, if you guys want

this guy to get the medal

I gotta get statements.

- Testimony.
- It was one day,

decades ago.

Pitsenbarg came
into that shit storm

on purpose. I mean, how
do you account for that?

Duty. Commitment.

Mission.

Pick one.

I kept telling him to get out.

But he wouldn't go.

Even his CO ordered
him to back up.

That bird was getting ripped up,

but he waved them off.

Probably saved them, too.

Hell, he was Air Force.

He shouldn't even
have been there.

- Non of us should.
- How so?

We were already been out two
weeks on patrol, but once we

tangled with those NVA
forces, naturally,

we got the duty.

Duty?

Bait. Brother.

Live bait.

Everybody down!

They put us there
and they contact

Alpha or Bravo would flank and

we'd grind 'em into pulp.

Take 'em out of
whatever the cost.

Search and destroy.
Notches on your pistol, baby.

Kill ratio, body counts..

It was total bullshit.

Wes Marlon, McNamara, Johnson.

That's how they kept
the money flowing.

Kicking anthill,
use 'em mess with gooks,

next day the NVA would be
right back again.

- What's happening?
- Well, the gooks, sir!

- Where?
- Over there, sir!

This place is crawling with them!

Move! Move!

- They're in the trees!
- They're in the trees!

They're in the trees!

Cover me!

We didn't have a fucking chance.

Ah, you're dogging it.

Just so you know,

I can't find the chain of command
endorsements in the Pitsenbarger file.

So, put it in your report.

I am missing something.

What are you doing?

What?

This thing was ancient
history before you were born.

Let me tell you something.

It is an undisputed
fact at the Pentagon

that all the real hardware
goes with the officers.

There's been one enlisted Medal Of
Honor in in the history of the Air Force.

So, somebody makes endorsements
disappear because a guy is enlisted?

It's not a can of worms
you want to open.

Why not?

Because confronting the
Air Force Decorations Board

is not in your best interest.

Shoot.

- I'm getting a shower.
- Yeah.

Let me count.

Hey, there, hotshot.

I thought you'd gone off the planet.

I'm pacing myself.
It's a long way down.

What can I do for you?

You ever hear of a General
John A. Hackmyer?

He was one of the Army

silver backs, down in Saigon,
during the war.

He was also the Service Secretary

that approved the Medal of
Honor review division.

Think you can track him down?

I mean, he is preferably
fertilizer by now,

besides, you're the one with
the DOD security clearance.

Maybe we don't want
the DOD to know.

Can you hold on a second?

We don't?

Chain of command endorsements

are an essential element for
congressional review.

And they're not in the file.

What are asking me?

I'm asking you if it's possible that
what we're looking for is really lost.

What are you doing?

I'm doing my job.

What do you...
What do you mean, what I'm doing?

It's a rare quality these days.

What, did you grow a conscience?

Not at all.

It's a waste of energy.

Well, I sniff around.

Okay.

- Daddy!
- How are you doing, Mister?

We have company.

Hi.

Long drive from Wellington
on a school bus.

I don't have a car.

They let me take her home nights.

Who wants to go to the Fort?

- Me!
- Okay.

Thanks for the coffee.

Pleasure.

You messed with my head, man...

The way you came to see me.

Started having dreams again.

Can't sleep.

Probably normal.

Considering...

Sit down.

I...

When I got out of the
Army Hospital in Saigon,

I wanted to wear my dress uniform
for my mother, even though I knew..

Even though they carried me
off the plane. She was..

She was crying when she saw me,

I had ribbons and
my Purple Heart.

They took me strait to the VA.

And I was in there for months
before I got home,

and I never saw
that uniform again.

She packed everything up
from the war in my duffel.

Like it never happened, you know.

And I guess I didn't
care, 'cause..

They sitting at her
attic ever since.

My daughter is a

shrink.

She told maybe

it would be good

for me to unpack it.

Everything was still there,

smell of the war
still on the clothes.

And...

Pits gave that to me.

He asked me to take care of it.

He asked me to bring it to her.

That guy saved my life
and it was

one small thing
that he asked of me.

I wouldn't do it.

I couldn't do it.

Well...

You know what that makes me.

1954,

snowed all night.
That was a beautiful Christmas.

I got Bill his flexible flyer.

It still out there
in the garage.

You were close?

Sure. But, uh..

I was on the road

in those days

I missed so much.

- Oh..
- Yeah.

You close to your dad?

Actually, I never met him.

Why... Why did you let him go?

Why didn't you stop him?

You can't

teach your children values

and then just withdraw 'em because

you are afraid of
what you might lose.

It just seem like such
a high price to pay.

If not my son

then whose?

My neighbours?

My sisters?

Yours?

Bill,

he honored all of us
by serving,

and it's no small thing.

No disrespect.

None taken.

In 1965,

the first ground troops

landed at Da Nang

I had that thing on
TV all the time.

A couple of weeks later,

the US embassy was bombed.

Americans his age

stared dying,

boys from our own town.

I... I think it moved him.

He came to me one night.

I knew what he was thinking.

God, it sent a jolt
right through me.

But he went easy on me.

He never asked

for permission.

I think he knew what
it would mean later

if something happened to him.

And by the time I woke up

he'd already gone.

The next time I saw him,

he had a haircut and orders.

I was never so frightened and
I was never so proud.

I can't help it but

I still miss

watching him mow
the lawn out there.

The smell of fresh cut
grass on his sneakers.

And how he folded his clothes

even when they were dirty,

cause he knew it
pleased his mom.

And I miss the way

he tapped his cleats for luck

when he went out to bed.

And the way he always found me

when he crossed home plate.

There's a thousand
things like that.

But mostly,

I miss what I didn't
get to see him do.

What do you mean?

Well, I never got to see him

marry

or fall in love with
a child of his own.

Because only then

could he understand how much

his father loved him.

I... I have a son.

Then you know what
we're talking about.

Who is...

Jenny?

Oh, Jenny.

Reiner. So beautiful.

She came to live with us
when Bill was overseas.

You see, Mr. Huffman..

We actually lost

two children that day.

Here are her letters.

She gave them to us
when she got married.

But we could never bring
ourselves to read 'em.

Mr. Pitsenbarger.

I want to be clear.

This process doesn't take

months.

It takes years.

Scott, I have cancer.

I should've been gone already,

if you'd believe the doctors.

But he's a fighter, my man.

I'm sorry.

Dying isn't harder than losing
a child, I promise you.

Do what you can, sir.

Thank you.

He sleeps so soundly.

He has no worries.

Pitsenbarger.

He had everything.

People really cared about the guy,

and really loved him.

How could he give all that up?

He knew what he was leaving
behind and still he...

..had such certainty.

Of what?

That...

no bullet was gonna

stop him from being who he was.

I never felt that certain about
anything in my entire life.

I have.

Look, we go play possum, alright?

No matter what, don't
move, don't breathe.

Come on.
Hurry up.

We have contact all around us!

VC got the whole goddamn
battalion out of bed for this one.

We gonna tight up
this circle, right now.

Takoda still out there, sir.

- Let's find out!
- Willie and Burr, too.

Nobody gets left
outside the perimeter.

Hey!

Hello?

Whatever it is you want,

it's okay.

Psst!

Is anybody alive?

Yeah.

I can't breathe.

Well, they messed
you up good, Lieutenant.

Get me out of here, will you?

I need you to help me with
the Lieutenant, okay?

- You with me?
- You gotta help Willie.

- We can't leave him.
- Sh..Willie’s gone, friend, alright?

Pal, are you with me?
Look at me.

- You with me?
- Yeah.

Alright. Come on.

Up you get. Come on,
grab a shoulder.

One. Two. Three.

Let's go! Let's go.

This way!

It's Takoda.
For Christ sake, don't shoot.

Going down over there.

Over there.
That's it. Easy, easy, easy.

Move! Move!

Snap it and pack it, alright?

And not too tight, alright?
Just..

- Venous pressure.
- Alright.

Okay, that's it.

That's it.

Okay.

Hey, you're doing great.

You're doing just great.

Alright, okay.

One. Two. Three.

I need you to hold back, alright?
Don't let that move.

Okay?

Why are you here?

Because you're here.

Did he..

Say anything?

He never says anything.

Hey.

- Somebody somewhere likes you.
- Hey, Carl.

The FBI is doing due diligence,

you're on the short list for Assistant
Secretary for Legislative Affairs.

What did you tell 'em?

That you're lying womanizing
pimp and you cheated hoops.

They assured me those all are
occupational requirements.

And what about the MoH?

MoH?
I already assigned it.

I mean, I probably should
have done it in the first place.

Somebody is bound to pick you up.

I see Senator Holt's paddling
an election in your memoir.

Yeah, should read it.
You might learn something.

You write any of it?

Every other word.

That's good, Carl.

Firs time you told
the truth in four years.

What's the matter with you?

You don't want the best
civilian job in the Pentagon?

I mean, this... this makes you.

Just easy moves
from here on out.

Not to mention, getting you
back to Appropriations.

I need to finish this report.

Are you kidding, look at me.

You're a predator, man.
You're a goddamn meat-eater.

That single instinct
has taken you very far

in a very short time. So, don't
get sentimental on me now.

So you're gonna...

- patch the review?
- Yeah, absolutely.

I'll send an intern down
to pick it all up.

- Wow.
- Congratulations, man.

I think I'd be better at this
second time around.

Hm..

Well, you could read
the instructions.

That would be cheating.

Stanton was looking for you.

Well, he found me.

I'm on that short list for Assistant
Secretary For Legislative Affairs.

What about Dave Croft?

Croft's out.

Well, that's great, then.

It's a career maker.

View of the river.

Well, since they
threw in the view.

Yeah.

I mean, what's wrong with that?

What about the MoH?

Uh..Pitsenbargers are in town.

Frank's having some
tests at the VA.

What's wrong with him?

Ewing sarcoma.

God.

They're gonna be here
for Thanksgiving.

Maybe they will see
our situation

and meet Luke and you...

You're not using us
as your excuse.

Our life is not excuse,
Tara, it's a fact.

Besides, Stanton
said he's gonna have

someone pick it up
right where I leave off.

Okay.

We were Michigan
fans long before

we were moved to Buckeye county.

It's more than a football game when
the Wolverines come to Columbus.

You still go to the game?

- Oh, God, no. Not...
- 1965.

I'm sorry.

Talking about Bill is one of
the greatest joys of our life.

Keeping him alive

keeps us strong.

It's how we balance our grief

and how we live a happy
life without him.

Oh.

Is that a game?

Oh, this is a machine that
gives me my medicine.

Oh.

- We're minutes away.
- Yeah.

We're ready.

- May I help?
- Oh, uh..

Luke, honey, why don't show
Alice and Frank your room?

- Okay, okay.
- Thank you.

How do you think
I should do this?

Be honest.

I meant the turkey.

Scott..

May I

give the blessing?

Yeah. Of course.

Okay.

Heavenly Father,

please bless this food

that it may nourish
this growing family

and the friendship between us.

And give praise to this young man

as he honors us with
his commitment to ensure

that the sacrifices of the fallen

were neither in vain

nor will they ever be forgotten.

Amen.

What do you see, Mister?

- What are you doing here?
- Tully

had your number, so,

I called and talked to
your wife. Nice woman.

She told me where you was at.

Sit down.

Coffee?

- No.
- No.

You tracked me down
to give me this?

You..

never appreciate

what American artillery can do

till you see it waste
your own people.

What are you talking about?

First round kill three for sure,

ain't no telling how many
of the wounded would've died later..

..If the VC hadn't got to 'em first.

If you give your
shooters a good plot

them red lays could put a 105
round inside a pickle jar.

I got the distance
correction wrong.

We got thumped by our own shit.

What are you saying?

It was blue on blue, brother.

Friendly fire, ain't no
getting around that.

Damage. Damage!

Silo 3 has a fire mission.

Direction, 3-1-0.

Distance 300 meters.

We will adjust.

Shit.

Adjust one hundred!

Fuck!

What the hell was that?

I need the fucking ammo!

Man down!

Silo 3 has fire mission.

Drop 100.
5-4-6.

- Make it danger close!
- Roger that, Sergeant.

Make it danger close!

Move up!

Mick!

- Oh, god.
- Mick!

So when Tully says

I'm the one was started it

that's what he really means.

Truth is

I killed my own men.

If I got those numbers right

Pitsenbarger probably
never even gets that call.

Never comes down
that wire, never...

saves my life.

Maybe he is the one
sitting on a river bank

somewhere with his
grand kids around.

And that'd be fine by me.

Instead he is dead,

and they give me
the goddamn Silver Star.

For what?

Surviving?

I sit around year in year out,
thinking about 20 seconds

32 years ago I wished to
God I can have back.

Surviving isn't a crime.

No, it ain't.

It's a life sentence.

Getting that medal for Pits

for his family and
for the men I lost,

might be the only decent thing
I get to pull out of that war.

So,

why don't you go
back up to Washington

and make that happen, alright?

Daddy!

Hey!

I'm thirsty.

Okay, buddy,
let's get you a drink.

Daddy, are those the Army
men you're helping?

Yeah, they are.

Do you want me to be a Army man?

Hey! What's going on?

He just needs a drink.

Oh, I see.
Let's go get you some water, huh?

- Everything okay?
- Yeah. I see you in a bit.

- Okay.
- Alright.

Let's get you some water.

I was

deployed to Vietnam at
a very interesting point

during the war and, naturally, what
prompted me to write the book.

I was initially serving

as the G-3 Operations Officer
for the first Infantry division.

The Big Red One.

And we were deployed, uh,
north west of Saigon.

And very crucial area
next to the Capital...

Hello?

Hey.

Thank you.

- Where is he? Can I see him?
- Slow down.

Okay.

Hey, Frank.

Got someone here to see you.

It's the FNG.

- Mr. Huffman.
- How are you doing, Frank?

The better for seeing you.

Thank you for coming.

Of course.

He gave me a call and...

- here I am.
- Right.

Is he dying?

We're all dying someday.

I think he's holding on

for you to get this done.

Why are you in the
middle of everything?

I mean,..

What's in it for you?

He didn't save your life.

Didn't he?

So you feel like you owe?

Absolutely.

You asked me if I had an agenda.

It's those people upstairs.

Now what about you?

We'd already been out two
weeks on patrol, but once we

tangled with those
NVA forces, naturally,

we got the duty.

Duty?

Bait, brother.
Live bait.

They put us there
to make contact, Alpha and

Bravo would flank and we'd

grind 'em into pulp.

Why don't you just ask Jonsie Kepper?

He wrote the after action report.

He's the sage of South East Asia.

We've all been there to see him.

If there's anyone who knows
where the bodies are buried

it's Kepper.

I found this.

May 2nd 1966 interview with

Mr. Kurts.

Expat. Sergeant Jonsie Kepper.

- He wrote the after action report.
- Apparently.

What I can't understand is why nobody
from the DOD ever talked to him.

South East Asia is
supposed to be beautiful.

- Over there.
- Okay.

Hi there!

You pray, Mr. Huffman?

Not really.

I didn't either.

I prayed that day.

I prayed for miracle.

One came.

His name was Pits.

We're gonna get you home, hah?

You good to go back home?

Alright? You gonna have
one hell of a story to tell her.

She gonna be impressed
with this one.

Alright, I got some
pain relief coming up.

Alright, hold tight, bud.

Hold tight.

There you go, buddy.
There you go.

One. Two. Three. Up.

Pits, come on!

- Come on!
- Alright, buddy.

Here we go.

Get it up!

Help!

Come on!

Pits, let's go!

Come on!

The after action report

that you wrote on the battle.

A lot of it is missing.

Everything that I wrote

went up to Saigon Chimney
32 years ago, brother.

Look, I... I talked to lot of

guys in Charlie company, and

no one seems to know,
I mean, who even thought of

Operation Abilene
in the first place?

Company CO, Mad Maddi Holt.

Madison Holt?

Colonel.

He is big shot in
Washington now, I think.

Yeah, Senator Holt.

Maybe he gonna be the
Secretary of Defense one day.

He was a good CO.

That was a very bad day.

So why do these vets
come here to see you?

Why they come here
is none of my business.

But what do you do here?

I live. I love.

And listen.

- So you listen to them?
- Yeah.

- To the vets?

I try to re-write the story,

help 'em.

You can't change the past.

But you can change
your perspective.

You can create

new memories,

happy memories,

even in a sad place.

It's choices.

Our guys come through here?

People think the war
is who those men are,

it's not. It's what
happened to 'em.

They just want to go
through stuff with them.

Hey.. I wanna
show you something.

Sh...

This is incredible.

I never brought anyone
who didn't feel happy here.

You did all this?

Yep.

You know where we are?

No.

This is where he came down.

Pits.

I thought I saw an angel.

And there he was
right in front of me,

all clean and pressed.

Air Force.

This is Abilene.

- Here?
- Right here.

Under your feet.

But now it's Avalon.

Avalon.

Avalon.

Now, how can that be possible

to have those two things
in the same place?

Just stay here for a while.

And breathe.

Let it go.

The veterans

hold something for all of us.

They take the shame
of war, denial,

anger.

They just come here

so somebody will listen to them.

That's why medals are
so important, it helps..

helps bring us together.

Tell stories.

I... I'm just a witness.

You're a witness too.

The Vietnamese
love their khong loi.

It's symbolic for letting go.

And if you have
something that you..

you want to leave here,

something you brought with you,

you don't want to take back,

just let go.

Incoming!

I'm on the hot with red lay!

Tell him to drop it
on top of 'em.

Charlie-6, emergency
fire mission.

Damage. Damage.
Charlie-6,

Emergency fire mission.

Tango, 6-3-3.

Damn it!

Damage. Damage.
Charlie-6.

Emergency fire mission.

Tango-6-3-3-

This is broken arrow,
we are being over run.

Hold this, keep
the pressure on it.

Somebody still out there!

I need you to do me a favor.

- I need to get this to someone.
- No.

- Please.
- No!

Just a stamp.

- I'll hold on to it until you get back.
- Okay.

What are you doing, man?

You have done enough, brother.
You be still.

Come on!

Pits came down, saved lives

evac'd wounded.

Fought and died alongside men
he never even knew.

You pray Mr. Huffman?

I prayed that day.

I prayed for miracle.

I ain't never seen
nobody die before.

Coming out!

That little matter sucked
all the past right out of me.

You understand
what I'm saying, sir?

All those hellfire coming in,

to him it was like

nothing could've hurt him.

He was there to save lives,
and that's what he was doing.

Who knows how many guys walk
around alive today because of him,

what he'd done.

But he didn't come back.

I felt like the best part of
me went down with him.

I still think about it this day.

If anybody deserved to
get out of that hell alive

it was him.

Make yourself at home.

You know, I can
have you arrested.

Senator Madison Holt.

Formally Colonel Madison Holt.

1st Infantry division,
on the Big Red One.

Senator’s distinguished Military
career's a matter of public record.

It's undisputed.

I bought the book, Carl.

Yeah? Did you read it?
Or did you just look at the pictures.

Holt was part of the brass that
cooked up Operation Abilene.

You're not really suggesting

that Holt ordered
and NVA ambush?

I'm suggesting that would be

pretty convenient for you
to keep that off the record.

Which is why you put me
on him, because...

you knew I'd dump it.

You know, Holt's gonna be Secretary of
Defense someday, maybe even President.

You had them.

Command endorsements, all this time.

I'm taking them.

Have you ever been the subject
of opposition research?

Because if you
even twitch on this,

I will have them on you
like spray paint.

You will never get another
mortgage, passport or

Sam's Club membership card,

let alone a political appointment.

But I'm not worried
about all that.

Why not?

Because it's not in your
nature to spit in the face of a man

who could just as easily make you.

What's my nature?

Climb, prosper,
expand the gene pool,

just like the rest of us.

I'd appreciate if you'd leave
the place the way you found it.

And..

Don't forget,

we got squash,

Wednesday.

Jenny..

Sometimes it's difficult to understand
why we've been sent here.

Or to explain what happens.

I only have a minute since
we got a call for pickups

near Xa Ca May, about
30 clicks from here.

You know, Jenny..

The only thing I fear of dying

is the dreams of you won't come.

The Death is dark

and still, and endless
like these jungle nights.

But sometimes I think, Jen..

Maybe it's this place
I'll wake up from.

Safe and warm in your bed.

The morning light streaming in.

But if it's the thunder
here that's real,

and if this letter should
reach you instead of me

then know that I'm never far.

Take care of mom,

and specially dad, because..

he will take this worst of all.

Tell them I'm sorry

for what I've put them through,

but that I'm sure of my purpose

and in the words we all believe:

"These things we do

that others may live."

Bill.

You have an impeccable record.

The secretary is giving you
his highest recommendation.

Thank you, sir.

So why do you think you'd be
effective in this position?

Well,

I'm connecting,

ambitious, persuasive,

not afraid to make enemies and..

I' want this job more
than anybody.

At least that's what I would
have said a month ago.

Okay.

And today?

Today I'm...

..just unavailable.

Air Force?

Yeah.

I'm sorry about your buddy, man.

I'm so sorry.

The whole time I'm washing him,

his feet,

his hands,

I didn't feel anything.

Nothing.

That's when I knew
I'd been there..

Too long.

I shipped him back,

and I finished my tour and
I got on with my life.

Did you?

Did I what?

Get on with life?

I'm standing here.

You know,

when I was five years old,

I watched my father

pack up his things in his car and

leave my mother and me.

I was so afraid.

It hurt so much.

I ran out to the driveway

and I

shove my hand in
the car door as he

slammed it shut.

I thought that if
he saw I was injured

and really hurt then he would

have to take me to
the hospital and

the doctor would

tell him to stay
and take care of me.

But he'd just roll away.

I chased his car down the street,

my hand all mangled,

until my mother

scooped me up.

You know, you were marked.

Just like you.

What happened to you on

April 11th, 1966?

My friend died.

What happened to you?

I told you.

It's okay.

It's not okay.

- It's just...
- Nothing about it is okay.

Just tell me.

What is it? What...
What was it? What happened?

He died.
He got killed. He...

got shot in the

head, and

that's war.
- Right.

Right, it was war, so

how long are you
gonna punish yourself?

Punish myself?

What was the thing you did?

- What I do?
- Yeah.

- Just tell me, what was the thing you did?
- Now, you stop it.

- Just want to talk...
- Stop! Stop you

- son of a bitch! Stop it!
- You didn't say it.

Say what?

He knew it was dangerous.

I told him

to be goddamn careful and...

And, what?

No, no, no, no.

I'm not doing...
- Doing what?

Doing this.

I told him to come back up!

Get back on the wire,
get back in the ship.

He didn't do that.
Why didn't he do that?

- Get back in the ship.
- Because he couldn't.

- Because people needed him.
- Yeah? Yeah?

Yeah?? Well, fuck you! And...

Oh, god.

It's got to hurt to
be mad at him.

Yes.

What else happened to you, Tom?

I... I stayed in the bird.

I... I... I didn't go down, I...

I was relieved. I...

I stayed, you know,
where it was safe.

God, when I found him

I was..

I was glad

that it wasn't me.

I didn't wanna be dead
and I was alive and

it felt good.

- You did feel something.
- Yeah, I felt the shame!

You're not a coward, Tom.

You're a hero.

Deal with that.

Just let me..

Let me have it for a while.
Come on.

You...

know what I want?

I do.

I want some grace.

I want some serenity.

I want my country to
honor my brother

before his parents.

I want my friend, your friend,

I want his father to

leave this place in peace.

Can I get you anything else, Senator?

- No, thanks, hon.
- You can put it on my number.

- Okay.
- Thank you.

Gentlemen. Hey, Carl.

Colonel.

Do I know you?

I'm sure hope so.

Master Sergeant Thomas Tully.

38th rescue squadron,
Operation Abilene.

You want to speak
to the Senator?

- you go through channels.
- It's alright, Colonel.

I'll talk to these men.

Sir, this is a

1966 routing memo between
you and General Heckmyer,

downgrading the William H.
Pitsenbarger's Medal of Honor request

to an Air Force Cross.

Dated on October 7th, 1966.

Guys, you might give
us a second?

Good.

Have a seat.

We have an opportunity

to upgrade the Cross

to the Medal of Honor.

To cut through the bullshit

we need a Congressional sponsor.

Mr.Stanton doesn't
think you'd favor

the publicity of being associated
with Operation Abilene

during an election year.

You have no idea
what you're starting.

I think I do, Carl.

Have you ever been the subject
of opposition research?

Because even a twitch on this
I will have them on you

like spray paint.

Information was removed

from the original package

to disqualify the
Decorations Board's review

for Congressional reapplication.

We have since recovered
those documents.

This... this communication

simply responds to the
Colonel’s MoH request,

saying that Air Force Cross
was awarded instead.

That's pretty open
to interpretation.

You're under no obligation
to respond to any of this.

If you send it up the chain

why didn't he get it then?

Honestly, I don't know.

Maybe it

fell through the cracks somewhere.

Maybe Mcfee didn't wanna

call too much attention
to one of the

bloodiest days of the war.

Or..

maybe I just didn't

fight hard enough to get this
man what he deserves.

Senator, your political enemies
will take full advantage

of any admission
of wrong doing, your

military judgment will
be called into question,

and they will try to hold you
to the Medina snare.

He's right, sir.
They might.

What happened on

Operation Abilene

one of the darkest
days of my life.

You're hurt, Lieutenant.

Why are you still here?

I won't leave till you
have all my wounded.

What happened here?

You marched us
right into a kill sack

with no idea how we
were gonna get out.

That's what happened here.

Can somebody explain this to me?!

Can somebody

explain this to me?!

You tell me!

You know, I think we all
died a little bit that day.

You tell me!

Mistakes were made,
this was probably one of 'em.

We went to see General
Heckmyer, at the VA.

He verifies your story, sir.

Senator, please.

It's my job to protect you.

- Protect me from what, Carl?
- From everything.

Usually we're judged
by what we do,

but I find that what we don't do

is what haunts us.

Here's the plan.

We're gonna roll the dice,
we're gonna go

with the truth,

no matter how uncommon
or uncomfortable that may be.

Mr. Chairman.

I refer you to

S-2549,

page 44,

title 5, Military Personnel Policy,

subtitle E, Other Matters.

- Yes?
- This amendment authorizes..

A posthumous Medal of Honor

For Air Force Staff Sergeant,
William H. Pitsenbarger.

For conspicuous gallantry in action

in Vietnam, 11th April, 1966

- during Operation Abilene.
- Uh, Mr. Chairman, point of order?

The Chair recognizes the distinguished
gentleman from North Carolina.

The rules of this committee
prohibit Authorization language

to be included in this
Appropriations bill.

Will the chair yield?

Chair apologizes

to the gentleman from Ohio

but this committee
has much business

before it today,

and so, we must move on.

Mr.Chairman, I

- sincerely appreciate it, but it should be
- Mr. Chairman!

Obvious there is absolutely
nothing in this amendment...

The Vietnam war was over.

- Long ago.
- I know that, Bob, I was there.

Then maybe you
should take a rest.

Stop kicking that dead horse.

Gentleman, this is a point of order.

I'm sorry, we must move on.

Chair recognizes
the lady from Florida.

Uh, yes.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Senator, what the hell
happened in there?

That distinguished gentleman from
North Carolina shut us down,

- that's what the hell happened.
- Just like that?

Look, it's payback.

I harpooned the tobacco
subsidies in his last session.

Unfortunately,

he's a ranking member so
there is not a lot I can do about it.

But I promise you,

I will get this in
next years bill.

Hopefully, by that time the distinguished
gentleman would be dead.

So will Pitsenbargers father.

- What?
- He's dying, sir.

Oh, Jesus.

I didn't know about that. I'm..

sorry.

I'm truly sorry.

So that's it?

Unless he give the tobacco subsidy
to the Senator from North Carolina.

What about those men?

What about Pits?

Holt says he will get it
on the bill next year.

And Frank?

I can't cure a cancer, Tara.

I push this any harder
I really ruin my career.

It's interesting.

What?

In 12 years

I have never seen you
back off of anything.

I'm scared.

Fear

is good.

Fear is a survival instinct.

You're supposed to be afraid.

Use it.

You turned down a significant
career opportunity to finish this.

Did you figured out why

four star Generals and Presidents
would trade legacies for a medal?

Because they know that
guys like Pitsenbarger

don't do what they do for them.

They do it for each other.

A life for a life.

That's big stuff.

There are worst things that
can happen to a man

than getting killed in a war.

Like?

Like..

Losing men,

losing a child,

a father,

having to live with that.

And you think a piece of ribbon
is gonna change that?

I'm gonna go
public with the story.

I'm gonna name names.

Shaming the Appropriations in
front of the Washington press core

on the eve of a national
election sounds

a little dangerous.

Yeah,

but it will be
great television.

Well done.

Thank you.

Mr. Huffman.

I'm Mary, supervising producer.

- We're gonna put a wire on you.
- Okay.

We have you on split screen

so the anchors are
gonna be able to hear you,

but they're not gonna
be able to see you.

- Okay.
- Alright, come with me.

Daddy, are you nervous?

I am, but

I'm not afraid.

Alright. All set.

In an unusual move today, a member
of the Department of the Air Force

a gentleman named Scott Huffman

went before cameras to accuse
high ranking Senators and their staffs

of playing political football
with military valor.

HR to send Appropriations bill,

it stalled in the Senate when
a Pentagon staffer and his lawmakers...

It's a bill including a recommendation
for a posthumous Medal of Honor

for William H. Pitsenbarger is
now heading to the Oval Office

and President Clinton
is expected to sign that bill.

- Hi. Thank you. Thank you.
- Good afternoon, sir.

Thank you.
- Thank you.

An airman named
Bill Pitsenbarger

will be awarded the Medal of Honor

today for his service in Vietnam.

He gave his country what
Abraham Lincoln once called:

"The last full measure."

US Air Force Museum

I'll be right back.

Hey.

- It's good to see you, man.
- It's good to be here.

So, the..

lady in red behind me,

she is...

the address on this letter.

Bill gave me this.

He asked me to give it to you.

I'm sorry it took so long.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Amid the gloom

and waste of war,

we occasionally witness a brief but

brilliant flash of
personal valor

so radiant it becomes

impossible to ignore.

Such is the heroism

of William Hart Pitsenbarger,

who was moved by
higher angels of duty,

courage and sacrifice

to make on behalf of
men he did not know

and a nation that until now
did not know his story.

The most supreme sacrifice.

Frank, Alice,

on behalf of the President of the
United States of America

in the name of Congress

for conspicuous gallantry,

extreme valor and intrepidity,

at the risk of his own life

above and beyond the call of duty,

I award the Medal of Honor

to airman first class

William Hart Pitsenbarger.

OK.

Now, this... this isn't
in your program, but

if you could give me just
a moment more of your time,

I'd like to recognize some guys

who are gonna
hate me for doing it.

Now we have with us today some
of the veterans of Operation Abilene.

Charlie Company,

Second of the 16th Infantry.

Now these man were the witnesses
to Bill Pitsenbargers heroism

and they've worked and worked

for 32 years

to see this day come.

Would you honor us, please,

by standing

and being recognized?

And with the Airman of Pits's unit,

The Airspace rescue
and recover service,

also please stand.

And any other PJ's from Vietnam,

would you rise?

If there are any other US veterans
here today, will you please stand?

If there are wife’s or parents
here, would you stand?

And any children or grand-children,
would you join us?

And other friends or family

anyone who has been touched

or moved in any way

by the actions of this
Medal of Honor recipient

would you also stand?

Look around.

This is the power

of what one person can do.

Thank you, son.

So you don't forget us.

Thank you.

- Daddy!
- Hah!

Hey, little man.

I'm glad we got to come.

Oh, me too.

Where is your mommy?

Looking good in
that uniform, Jimmy.

This is my son, Luke.

Nice to meet you, soldier.

I wanted to say

I wanted to say thank you.

You understand
what I'm saying, sir?

Your welcome, Jimmy.

But, you really don't
have to call me sir.

Sure, I do.

Why is that?

You earned it, sir.

Yeah, you take care now.

Because it's
a jungle out there.

What's your name?

Luke.

I'm Tommy.

Early on,

you said

there was nothing
in this for you.

Of the millions of men and women who served in the
American military, 3,498 received the Medal of Honor

Only 18 of them were from
the United States Air Force.

Only three of them were Airmen.

One of them was William Hart Pitsenbarger.

On April 11th 1966, when we
took off on that mission,

Pits made a statement, he said:

"Oh Cap, I don't feel good
about this mission."

They were prepared for us,
they knew we were coming.

They were in ground holes,

in trees

in underground and

as we walk they just simply
closed the back door.

So they started calling us to help
them get out the wounded,

and Pits said "let me put me on the
ground, I can organize this much better."

I said: I don't want
to lose you, Pits.

And it's hotter than hell down
there because the war, and

fire fight's going on all the time,
you could hear the stuff.

But down he went.

My initial thought
on seeing him repelling out...

Coming out of the helicopter was

"What the hell is this guy
thinking coming down here?"

There is not one of us that
wouldn't have left there if we could

and the only guy that could leave
is Pitsenbarger, and he didn't.

Marty Collin was on the
ground and he sent for me

because

he said "I want somebody
to know what Pits did

so that it gets reported
back in case I die."

At that time Marty had
been shot five times.

When we found out
the next morning

that he had been killed,
we were just...

... a sad time for everybody.

To me, this is one of the most

important things I did as
Secretary of the Air Force.

It should have been
handled by itself

It was just a fundamental wrong

It was wrong to Bill Pitsenbarger,
it was wrong to his family

wrong to the airmen
who supported him.

And when you think about it,
it is extraordinary to

have people work
for 30 years

to get this done.

And these people had their own

lives, wives, children, grand children.

And this was a passion for them,

and I just thought
that was extraordinary.

And I just, I felt

I owed it to Pits.

Not just myself, there were other
people who feel the same way,

especially our whole crew.

We owe it to him.

Bill's blood is mixed
with ours forever.

He is our brother.