It is an honor for me to participate in this program at this place. Committed to protecting and sharing the rich legacy of the units its maybe and its a particular pleasure for me to be with you. Last year, my wife susan and i, attended a performance of hamilton in new york. Many lines from the play struck me and stayed with me but one of them kept running through my head. Eliza hamilton, the widow of alexander hamilton, saying with the chorus of the Founding Fathers who lives, guys, tells your story. This is relevant to my remarks and its relevant to my book because in any war, any war and in any armed confrontation, i guess, the first questions are the determinative ones, who lives guys. Stripped of all other explanations about the purposes and to the goals of war, this is the fundamental human question that those who go to war must face. Indeed, its the cool purpose of war. Its best never to forget this, who lives, guys. Thats why i had so much trouble in recent years as politicians
We have mr. Right here today. During vietnam, an excellent book. Instead of giving it a quick note come will have the upper talk about it. Without further ado, mr. [applause] thank you, fellas. I like without further ado. It is an honor for me to participate in this program that displays, an institution committed to protect team and sharing the rich legacy of the United States navy. It is a particular pleasure for me to be here with you today. Im delighted to see veterans and friends and those of you who are curious to learn more about the vietnam war. I am honored to contribute, to try to contribute to the process of learning. I do want to talk about ipo. That is why im here today. I hope that is why you are here. Maybe the best way to do that is to try to describe why it is i wrote it, what it was trying to do and why i was trying to do that. Last year, my wife susan and i attended a performance of hamilton in new york. Many lines from that place struck me and stayed with me. But one
Instead of giving you the cliff notes will have the other talk about it. Without further ado, mr. Wright. [applause] thank you, philip. I like the further ado. Its an honor to me to participate in this program, at this place, an institution committed to protecting and sharing the rich legacy of the United States navy. Its a particular pleasure for me to be with you today. I am delighted to see veterans and friends and those of you who are curious to learn more about the vietnam war. Im honored to contribute to try to contribute to that process of learning. I do want to talk about my book. Thats why i am here today and i hope thats why you are here to. Maybe the best way to do that is to try to describe why it is i wrote it what i was trying to do and why i tried to do that. Last year my wife susan and i attended a performance of hamilton in new york. Many lines from that play struck me and stayed with me but one of them kept running through my head. Eliza hamilton, the widow of alexand
Here in northwest iraq, american troops are fighting the war on terror and helicopter gunships such as this armed uh1234 are essential for the troops fighting a fe moeshs adversary. 1968 half a world away, this aircrafts predecessors supported 6,000 marines and soldiers in the northwest corner of another country. Vietnam. Vastly outnumbered, the americans stood firm for 77 days enduring unrelentless attacks, heavy casualties and dwindling suppliee. Its a story i know well because i was a rifle platoon commander on a ridge overlooking khe sahn not long after the siege. Tonight, those who lived throug the hell of the siege at khe sa sahn. U. S. Military action in vietnam was near the peak in early 1968. American troops strength passed the half million mark and the hum ber of americans killed in action soared to nearly 20,000. At home, protests against the war were bigger and louder. American helicopters are used to transport the South Vietnam troops, the show of strength intimidates the
I was a problem because the aircraft couldnt land much of the time. It was too dangerous. Even the c123s a little bit, you know, faster getting in and out werent able to come in. None of khe sahns weapons range the artillery targeting the baae. The guns far away on sheer stone cliffs on a mountain in laos called corock. It even survived blistering aerial bombardment. The guns were wheeled in caves when they being used to. If he could turn off aerial resupply, he could eventually achieve what he did. The base commander refused to let that happen. Tony was the t gent. He was out and about the area. Not in a bunker. Eveey day of the siege. Visiting troops. Visiting marines. Being exposed. Showing himself as a true leader. David lownes was a great marine. Getting in food, medicine and ammunition to keep the 6,000 men alive. And so the marines had to find a way to get supplies without landing the planes. They developed a system of low altitude parachute extraction where the supplies would b