Vietnam War Historian Breaks Down 8 Vietnam War Scenes In Movies And TV | How Real Is It? | Insider

At 05:00 in this video, the expert identifies an object for firing Claymore mines as a "clicker." The correct term is "clacker." Business Insider regrets the error.

Military history professor Bill Allison rates Vietnam War movies, such as "Apocalypse Now," for realism.

Allison breaks down battle tactics used by the United States military; Viet Cong, or VC; and People's Army of Vietnam, or PAVN; during the Vietnam War, such as the use of helicopters and napalm in "Apocalypse Now" (1979), starring Marlon Brando; and the use of tunnels and firepower in "We Were Soldiers" (2002), starring Mel Gibson. He looks at the realism of urban and jungle warfare, such as the battle of Huế during the Tet Offensive in "Full Metal Jacket" (1987) and "Platoon" (1986), featuring Willem Dafoe, Charlie Sheen, and Johnny Depp. Allison also looks at the portrayal of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, or ARVN, in "Mùi Cỏ Cháy" ("The Scent of Burning Grass") (2012) and "The Green Berets" (1968), starring John Wayne. Additionally, he discusses the tragedies and aftermath of the Vietnam War, connecting the Mỹ Lai massacre to the civilian deaths in "Born on the Fourth of July" (1989), with Tom Cruise, and talking about the Vietnam War POW/MIA issue in "Rambo: First Blood Part II" (1985), starring Sylvester Stallone.

Allison is a professor of military history at Georgia Southern University. He has written several books about the Vietnam War, including "My Lai: An American Atrocity in the Vietnam War." He is also a Vietnam battlefield tour guide with the UK company The Cultural Experience.

You can find out more about Bill here:

You can check out Bill's podcast, "Military Historians Are People, Too!" here:

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Vietnam War Historian Breaks Down 8 Vietnam War Scenes In Movies And TV | How Real Is It? | Insider

[JoeyArmstrong]

My dad was a Vietnam vet and took me to see Platoon on my 15th birthday. When the movie was over we sat there in silence for what seemed like an eternity. My dad couldn't move, he was absolutely a wreck of emotion. I had to call my mom from the theater payphone to come pick us up. I'll never forget this moment. R.I.P Pops. Still missing you down here.

[SushiDan]

I'm really surprised he didn't review the most accurate Vietnam film of all time. Tropic thunder.

[johnharris]

I once heard a Vietnam vet tell a bunch of students who thought Platoon was an very real depiction of war. The vet said "No a real depiction would be you and 9 friends go see Platoon, 5 of them get killed, 2 are horribly wounded, 2 commit suicide when they get home and you are left with survivors guilt. "

[siouxzgreene]

My husband was a LRRP68-69 central highlands. Platoon was his film of choice for realism. He returned home in 69 but mentally he never left the bush, the nightmares, the cautiousness everywhere he went. And up until a few years before he passed from agent Orange related illnesses, he would not talk about being in country.

[DCS_World_Japan]

"Broken Arrow" was the correct term during the Vietnam War. Its usage as a nuclear weapon accident is post-Vietnam.

[etiennesharp]

The soldier taking the photo didn't have a 'fancy camera' because he went on R&R; he had it because, in the film, he's a a combat photographer.

[martinbrody]

They should have shown Hamburger Hill here first. That movie doesn't get a lot of love. While an exciting and engaging war film with great storytelling and a great cast, it often gets overshadowed by more famous Vietnam War films. However, it's extremely realistic to some veterans who have been there but still is a forgotten gem worth watching that will satisfy war movie buffs.

[bicivelo]

The Nikon F camera, like the one shown in full metal jacket here, was the primary camera used by photojournalist during the Vietnam war. It was Nikons‘s first SLR camera and was produced from the late 50s until around 1973 or 74. it also went to space in some of the late Apollo missions. In short, the thing is an absolute BEAST of a camera and is extremely well-made and very very heavy. I have two of them and absolutely love shooting with it. It’s just an amazing historical piece of photos of journalism. GREAT video too 😊

[jmar]

My uncle served in Vietnam as part of a Huey crew. His test scores upon enlistment made them recommend that duty.
While I didn't follow in his footsteps in regards to military service (In '91 we were scared that the Gulf Conflict would become the next Vietnam) I admired my uncle greatly. He was my hero and inspiration. Rest In Peace John Charles Mayfield. 🙏🏿 ❤

[bboomermike]

I was a Navy (Seawolf) door gunner in Vietnam. Twice an outpost was being overrun and we put our strike in the compound. The friendlies took cover in bunkers and we only shot 7.62, no 50 cal or rockets. The friendlies were safe from rounds from the M-60 and mini-gun.

[gmlogan]

My Dad who served as an infantry Sgt in Vietnam said that surprisingly, he thought Forrest Gump got Vietnam the most accurately.

[jasechurch]

“Broken Arrow” was declared over the radio by the Battalion Forward Air Controller, which meant that an American unit was in imminent danger of being overrun. It was the signal for all available American aircraft to converge and provide aid to the American unit.... it also doesn't show Gibson calling I'm broken arrow. It shows him ordering it. But the FAC calls it in

[jansenart]

First Blood was an important and historic statement about PTSD, the treatment of veterans after the Vietnam War, and ultimately the penal system of the US. First Blood Part II (and the rest of the Rambo saga) continued the abuse of a mentally ill man who needed a robust VA social and mental healthcare system, but was instead exploited by a rogue officer in a private, secret war.

Rambo himself said that he couldn't keep a job parking cars, and instead of ending up in treatment, was sentenced to hard labor. He was purchased from jail to commit crimes in an undeclared war against a foreign government. Things never improved for Rambo, but ask yourself this: what would've become of him in that era, had he lost a leg before First Blood?

[krymerax]

An ex of mine had an uncle, who was Canadian that volunteered to go to Nam. I met him just after I had joined the army.
This guy was fully benefiting from VA, and was completely gone. His PTSD was very severe and I felt for him.
Looking back now, as a fully benefited veteran with PTSD, I’m way more understanding of how he struggles every day and what the real effects are on a person.
Nothing but love for all the Nam vets.

[djblackruss]

My father a Vietnam vet 67-69 Told me that Hamburger Hill was spot on because he was on Hill 875, and Platoon Smelled like Vietnam the vibe the darkness of triple canopy jungle the interaction and the language was 100%. Yet we have a non vet tell us everything but

[JimBro]

In the "Full Metal Jacket, " sequence, you address the Marine taking a picture with his nice camera. If you watch the whole film, you'll see that that was his MOS, something like photojournalist for the Marine Corps.

[MandarAkre]

In Platoon ... Before the final battle you can hear a few soldiers discussing how they captured VC soldiers and they found the entire layout of their Camp marked to their foxhole.
So the guy who blew himself up in the command centre was pretty aware of its position in the camp.

[alankaufman]

Of all of the Youtube videos about Vietnam, this is the first time that someone recognized that Robert Duval's Col. Kilgore was based on Col. Stockton. He was very much Like the depiction of Co. Kilgore and was, in fact, relieved for being a little too aggressive.

[JuveVinny]

My father was in Vietnam with the Navy attached to MACV. He told me that Apocalypse Now was the movie that, to him, got the vibe right.

[TheBourbonWrench]

Id love for an uncut version of these because there's so many times where he clearly has A LOT more to say but they just cut it short. When he gave We Were Soldiers a 5, he went on a rant and I need to hear it!