"The Last Full Measure - movie" Topic

I just saw it over the weekend. Overall I thought it was well done. For historical reference check this out: link

The USAF PJ's are probably the most "elite" force in the US military. I think there are only about 350 and there are about 3,500 SEAL's. Their training is as rigorous as any Special Operations branch.

My son saw one in action overseas. A Marine was wounded and laying on a stretcher and a Marine bird Colonel was standing there doing nothing. When the PJ got off the chopper he grabbed the Colonel by his collar, put a bandage in his hand, shoved him onto the wounded Marine and said, "Hold this over his wound or he'll die" and went off to attend the other wounded Marines. The Marine Colonel obeyed without a word. Awesome!

Yes, the Colonel did exactly what the PJ enlisted told him to do. I've met a few of them, they are beasts and definitely Guardian Angels. This movie goes a long way towards showing their bravery and sacrifice.

Wolfhag

'The Last Full Measure' (Bill, want to change the typo?)

Yes, it looks worth a look. Thanks for the recommendation.

Not a bad film overall I agree. Inevitably it is quite sentimental. At times it hints at there being some kind of conspiracy to downgrade the award but then retreats from this so we are left hanging.

I am reminded of the film with Meg Ryan and Denzel Washington in this regard. This is far better however and based on actual events.

Well acted too, with even Dale Dye turning in an adequate performance.

I look forward to seeing it. I'm glad these elite warriors are getting some recognition they so richly deserved.

IIRC at Eglin AF where the USAF 1st Air Commando/1st Special Ops Wing[1st SOW] was/is(?). I think they have a statue of this PJ hero ? But that was in the early '80s when I was there.

Why did Pitsenbarger remove his helmet and did not put it back on throughout his heroics at the hot LZ?

In the movie? So we could see who he was.

In real life I very much doubt he removed his helmet. Is there evidence for that??

I couldn't find any evidence either. And IRL he was killed from being shot through the forehead by a sniper, not by some ludicrous Hollywood one-man rebel yell suicide charge with no helmet on.

And for you rivet counters out there the chopper he dropped from was a Kaman HH-43 Huskie, not the ubiquitous Huey UH-1 Iroquois or "Hog."

Here's an interesting tidbit on the liberties Hollywood took in the making of this film:link

I included it as part of a 3-movie block in my most recent post on my movie blog: link

I'll keep my eyes open for such "things", but I generally always do when viewing war movies.

Kind of surprised a bit they couldn't find a Huey ?

Spoilers?

We'll IMO, it's important that this real American Hero gets the recognition, etc. he deserves. Regardless of what the movie gets right or wrong. We all know how Hollywood does things …