Vietnam War, 1970: CBS camera rolls as platoon comes under fire

Summary

In this gripping Vietnam War documentary, CBS News offers a raw and candid look at the daily realities faced by American soldiers in 1970. Following the journey of Alpha Troop 2-19, viewers witness the tension and danger present as they navigate the sweltering jungles near the Cambodian border. The narrative centers around characters like Specialist Dwayne Bluer and Sergeant Jorgensen, highlighting their fears, personal thoughts, and heroic actions in combat. The footage captures the brutal and unpredictable nature of war, including a firefight resulting in Jorgensen's injury and subsequent evacuation, providing a poignant reminder of the costs of war.

Highlights

• The narrative opens with Alpha Troop 2-19 making their way through the sweltering jungles of Vietnam, facing both the physical and psychological demands of war. 😓
• Specialist Dwayne Bluer is singled out for his valor, clutching onto the hope of meeting his fiancée as he grapples with the fear of war. 💔
• Sergeant Jorgensen, a soldier with multiple Purple Hearts, embodies the courage and camaraderie that defines combat life, even as he faces serious injury. 💪
• A dramatic firefight ensues, resulting in Jorgensen's evacuation, showing the intense stakes and swift decision-making required in battle. 💥
• CBS captures the essence of battlefield heroism by focusing on the unity and resilience of Alpha 2-1-9, even under dire circumstances. 🪖

Key Takeaways

• The unpredictability of jungle warfare is on full display as Alpha 2-1-9 maneuver through hostile territory, emphasizing the constant threat of danger. 🔥
• The personal stories of soldiers like Specialist Dwayne Bluer and Sergeant Jorgensen bring a human touch to the war's harsh realities. 🏅
• The gripping footage showcases the tension and bravery inherent in rescue missions, particularly in life-threatening situations like Jorgensen's extraction. 🚁
• Despite the chaos of combat, the bond between soldiers is highlighted through their willingness to risk everything for one another. 🤝
• The raw and honest reporting by CBS provides an eye-opening view into the Vietnam War's battlefield conditions in 1970. 📹

Overview

In the dense and humid jungles near the Cambodian border, Alpha Troop 2-19 moves with caution, acutely aware of both visible and hidden dangers that lurk in the underbrush. The accompanying CBS news team documents their trek, revealing the oppressive heat and tension that accompany each step. Soldiers like Specialist Dwayne Bluer and Sergeant Jorgensen are highlighted for their bravery and internal battles, creating a vivid portrayal of their lived experiences.

As the troop navigates these perilous pathways, the soldiers' thoughts wander between the lush yet threatening environment and their lives beyond the war. For Bluer, it is thoughts of his fiancée, while for Jorgensen, it is the weight of leadership and the scars of past injuries. These personal narratives offer viewers a heartfelt glimpse into the minds of those serving in the Vietnam War.

The climax of the coverage occurs during a sudden ambush where Jorgensen is wounded. The chaotic scenes of the attempted rescue, coordinated by Lieutenant 'Blue', convey the urgency and danger of combat situations. When Jorgensen is finally whisked away by the medevac, the calm that follows underscores the unpredictability and transient nature of war. CBS's report closes with a stark reminder of the sacrificial spirit and unity that binds soldiers, capturing the essence of their shared journey.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 00:30: Alpha 2-1-9's Morning March The chapter titled 'Alpha 2-1-9's Morning March' describes the early morning journey of American soldiers, known as Alpha 2-1-9, as they make their way through the humid jungles of South Vietnam. They are headed to a jungle clearing near the Cambodian border. The oppressive heat and stifling air make their march difficult, highlighting the harsh conditions they endure while searching for a hidden enemy in the dense and unforgiving environment.
• 00:30 - 01:00: Specialist Bluer's Thoughts and Fears The chapter captures Specialist Dwayne Bluer's state of mind, highlighting his personal thoughts and fears while on duty in Vietnam. Bluer is anxious about the Vietnamese regiment that might be nearby, as their presence is unnoticed by anyone else. He contemplates his upcoming reunion with his fiancée in Honolulu, dreaming of showing her the silver star awarded by a general just the day before. As the only medic in his platoon, Bluer is constantly fearful, from the moment he disembarks the chopper until he is picked up again, haunted by the persistent worry that he might die while aiding a wounded comrade.
• 01:00 - 01:30: Sergeant Jorgensen and Lieutenant Hugely The chapter introduces Sergeant Jorgensen, who has recently been promoted but misses being on the frontline where the action is. Despite his three Purple Heart awards, hinting at his bravery and hero status, he feels out of place. Also introduced is Lieutenant Hugely, known by his radio call 'Blue'. Hugely, who never wanted to be in Vietnam and prefers the idea of being a businessman, finds himself leading 21 men in the jungle.
• 01:30 - 02:00: Encounter with North Vietnamese Soldiers An American unit encounters a hundred North Vietnamese soldiers. The transcript describes the vulnerability of the American unit, emphasizing how the North Vietnamese soldiers could annihilate them if caught off guard. Despite the tension, the day is currently quiet, allowing soldiers to uncover a few bunkers, have a quick lunch, and proceed on a peaceful walk towards the pickup zone.
• 02:00 - 02:30: Medic Devaye's Rescue Mission In the chapter titled 'Medic Devaye's Rescue Mission,' the story unfolds with tension as characters are engaged in a dramatic situation involving smoke. The scene opens with the sound of applause indicating a pivotal or possibly victorious moment. A character, possibly Jesse, communicates about a location by describing it as being approximately one hundred meters away from the smoke, indicating a sense of urgency or danger. Another character requests cover, suggesting a rescue mission or a military-like scenario where safety and strategic movement are crucial. The chapter likely involves themes of heroism, strategy, and teamwork in a high-stakes environment as they undertake a mission to rescue or retrieve something or someone amidst challenging conditions.
• 02:30 - 03:30: Sergeant Jorgensen's Account The chapter begins with the urgency of a battlefield situation, focusing on the rescue mission led by Sergeant Jorgensen. The dialogue emphasizes quick action and cooperation as they attempt to move a wounded man back to safety. There is mention of stopping the bleeding and deviating, indicating medical intervention. As the situation unfolds, the identity of the wounded man is revealed through a spreading question among the soldiers: 'who is it?' The response reveals that the injured is none other than 'Hero,' a well-respected sergeant, highlighting the gravity of the situation. The scene captures the chaotic and emotional atmosphere of war, underscoring themes of bravery and camaraderie.
• 03:30 - 04:30: Evacuation and Aftermath In 'Evacuation and Aftermath', the narrator describes an encounter while walking point on a trail. They notice a side trail that appears more used than before. Upon investigation, they unexpectedly encounter an NVA soldier. Both parties engage in a quick draw-like exchange of fire, highlighting the tense and dangerous situations soldiers face.

Vietnam War, 1970: CBS camera rolls as platoon comes under fire Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 it's dawn and alpha 2 1 9 is commuting to war 21 gi's bound for a jungle clearing a mile from the cambodian border american soldiers hiking their way through the sweaty jungles of south vietnam searching for an elusive enemy the temperature is almost 100 degrees and the jungle stifles even the tiniest breeze the going is slow there could be a north
• 00:30 - 01:00 vietnamese regiment hiding a few yards away and no one would see it nobody talks so you start thinking specialist poor dwayne bluer is thinking he's going to meet his fiancee in honolulu in two weeks and he will show her the silver star the general pinned on him yesterday devaye is the lone medic in the platoon he's scared scared from the moment he gets out of the chopper to the moment it picks him up scared that someday he's going to get killed picking up a wounded buddy
• 01:00 - 01:30 jorgensen just became a sergeant but he doesn't like it he'd rather be up walking point where the action is he's already got three purple hearts so everybody calls him hero then there's lieutenant hugely everybody calls him blue that's his radio call blue didn't want to come to vietnam and he'd much rather be a businessman than a soldier but right now he's in charge of the lives of 21 men somewhere in this jungle there's several
• 01:30 - 02:00 hundred north vietnamese soldiers who could wipe out this little american unit to the last man in an unguarded moment today though it's quiet a few bunkers uncovered then a quick lunch and back down the trail to the pickup zone just a peaceful walk in the sun
• 02:00 - 02:30 [Applause] seven zero from the smoke approximately uh one zero zero meters away from it now jesse from here i was wanting all right give me some cover
• 02:30 - 03:00 get him back here get him back here if you can can you move him can you move him okay freaking try and bring him back here remember to stop the bleeding and deviate the medic having survived another rescue mission brings back his wounded man who is it who is it a question spreads down the line oh christ it's hero the sergeant who
• 03:00 - 03:30 likes to walk point how bad is it a couple of leg wounds we were walking down the trail a perimeter out here nice walking point and uh we noticed the side trail it was one of the side trails we came down and had more use on it than when we first came down it so i looked up and spotted uh just a it was an nva had a green uniform at ak and uh it was like a you know quick draw old thing i opened up in him he opened up in me yeah i'm afraid it works that way but
• 03:30 - 04:00 he's lying up there on the trail yet i got hit in both legs pop smoke four three popping smoke over here that's about it well we've got seven months in country now three purple hearts i don't need a fourth the enemy soldier who shot jorgensen cannot be found he may have survived or dragged himself off to die most of the time you never really know
• 04:00 - 04:30 the problem now is to get hero out of here so blue calls in the medevac helicopter and sets up a perimeter to protect it hero has stopped making brave jokes now the shock has worn off and the pain has begun the helicopter hovers over the jungle and in the midst of the firefight his buddies put hero on the rescue chopper and he's pulled up a hundred feet a hundred feet to a hospital bed and a one-way ticket out of the vietnam war and then it's
• 04:30 - 05:00 quiet again alpha troop 1-9 bless one man gingerly making its way back through the heat and the smell of gunpowder back to the pickup zone tomorrow the military communique will read one american was wounded in an engagement with an unknown size enemy force enemy casualties are unknown but you've seen how it really was heroism danger fear all rolled into one words don't describe
• 05:00 - 05:30 it richard threlkeld cbs news near the cambodian border