We Were Soldiers Once and Young Essays

We Were Soldiers Once and Young Essays We Were Soldiers Once and Young Paper We Were Soldiers Once and Young Paper We Were Soldiers Once and Young is a history book written by LT. GEN. Harold G. Moore (RET. ) and Joseph L. Galloway. The history book is based on the Vietnam War, which took place in 1965. The Battle of Ia Drang was said that it was the battle that changed the war in Vietnam. The book is a tribute to all the soldiers in the war and for their great braveness, love, and care for one another. It was a bloody war, but very inspiring to read about the courageous soldiers who put their lives on the line for the United States of America. Lt. Col. Hal Moore, Maj. Bruce Snake Crandall, Sgt. Maj. Basil Plumley, 2nd Lt. Jack Geoghegan, were four of many soldiers who fought in the Vietnam War. Lt. Col. Hal Moore was a lieutenant general in the United States Army and a strong powerful leader. He was known for saying there is always one more thing you can do to increase your odds of success, meaning that when you think you are down and finished, you can still try something to save yourself or a fellow member of your own soldiers. You should never give up or feel defeated! Maj. Bruce Snake Crandall was also a leader by flying unarmed helicopters. He saved many lives by flying his helicopter into enemy territory. His years of service were from 1953-1977. Sgt. Maj. Basil Plumley was known to many soldiers as Old Iron Jaw. He was firm and an accomplished war veteran. 2nd Lt. Jack Geoghegan was an infantry lieutenant who did not make it through the war. While caring and trying to save a fellow member of his own squad he was killed. They believe the purpose of the war was to protect their country (United States of America) from the bad and help make the country a safer and better place. National policy is a broad course of action or statements of guidance adopted by the government at the national level in pursuit of national objectives. International policy is a set of goals outlining how the country will interact with other countries economically, politically, socially and militarily, and to a lesser extent, how the country will interact with non-state actors. Sometimes this is known as foreign policy. National policy was important to the soldiers because they believed in the purpose of the war and they were willing to defend their countries honor with their lives. The wartime lives of the soldiers who fought in the war were in a state of mind of mixed feelings. Happiness and devastating are two adjectives that can describe the soldier’s feelings in the war because at one second they can be happy that they succeeded on a mission, but on the other hand, it can be very devastating because one of their own soldiers could have been killed during the war. Aside from physical danger losing one of your own soldiers or having your family worry about you every day and night are some negatives and unpleasant parts about fighting in a war. For example, soldiers loved ones worried each day, and hoped that they would not get a knock on their door by someone who was going to tell them that their fathers, husbands, sons, or brothers have died in the war. Before I opened this book, I thought to myself that this was going to be a difficult and boring book to read. After the first twenty pages of reading, I was hooked on the book and started to find out more information page by page. It was interesting to me mostly because it was based upon facts that actually occurred during the Vietnam War. The one part of the book that I enjoyed most was towards the end of the book where they said how grateful they were for all the soldiers and people who participated in the war. I believe to remember the soldiers we should set aside a few minutes each day to thank the soldiers who are fighting or have fought for your country, is that best way to honor them. I recommend this book to all people even if you are not that interested in history. In my opinion, We Were Soldiers Once and Young is a must read because without the knowledge of past history in your country, you could be considered as ignorant. Moore, Harold G. , and Joseph L. Galloway. We Were Soldiers Once and Young: Ia Drang, the Battle That Changed the War in Vietnam. New York, NY: HarperTorch, 2002. Print.