Capt. Saska Ball, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
(Originally published in June, 2019)
By Geoff Carter
“…that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain…
–Abraham Lincoln, The Gettysburg Address
These honored dead. The last full measure of devotion. Abraham Lincoln understood the sacrifices made by the soldiers of the Union; he likewise understood and respected the courage and devotion of their counterparts in the Army of the Confederacy. To fight and die for ideals like freedom or equality or to preserve a way of life was the ultimate demonstration of citizenship and patriotism.
Today, we have a president who has desecrated the memories of our fallen heroes by calling them “suckers” and “losers”. The exact quote, part of his refusal to attend a ceremony honoring the fallen at the Aisne-Marne American cemetery, was “Why should I go there? It’s filled with losers.” He also referred to the 1,800 marines who died at Belleau Wood as “suckers” for dying for their country.
Any other American—let alone a national leader—would be reviled and ostracized for making such despicable comments, but we’ve become so immune to the animosity and vindictiveness of Donald Trump’s discourse that nothing about his callousness surprises us anymore.
As a rebuttal to a man who will never understand what it is to be an American and how it feels to truly love this country, the Pen in Hand would like recognize films recognizing the courage, integrity, and devotion of the American fighting man and woman. We believe that these films show some of the stresses and hardships facing our soldiers. Propaganda pieces like The Sands of Iwo Jima and The Green Berets, in our eyes, do not fall into the category of realistic battle films.
So, to our veterans, thank you. It is reprehensible that you have been insulted by your commander-in-chief. He is the loser.
The Pen in Hand Top Ten (plus one) Movies about the American Fighting Man
Sergeant York: The film biography of Alvin York, the WWI infantryman who succeeded in capturing a German machine gun nest, killing 25 and capturing 132. As a result, he received the Medal of Honor as well as decorations from various other countries. In his youth, York drank heavily and got into some trouble, but after his conversion, walked the straight and narrow. After being drafted, he initially attempted to achieve conscientious objector status before deciding to fight. The film examines York’s struggle to come to grips with his duty and his conscience. The film is a masterpiece of writing and direction and York is brilliantly rendered by Gary Cooper. Notable for Gary Cooper’s Academy Award win as Best Actor.
Starring: Gary Cooper, Walter Brennan, Joan Leslie, Ward Bond, and Margaret Wycherly. Screenplay by Abem Finkel, Harry Chandlee, John Huston, and Howard Koch. Directed by Howard Hawks.
Available on Amazon Prime
Platoon: The story of a young volunteer’s experience as an infantryman in the Vietnam War, as informed by the wartime experiences of Oliver Stone, the film’s writer and director. The gritty realism and “ground-level view” of warfare in Vietnam had never been—up to this point—accurately depicted in a motion picture. The frustration, futility, and sheer waste of the war, as seen through the eyes of the common infantry grunt, was an affirmation of the stalwartness of the American fighting man. Notable for an outstanding acting ensemble (see below) and the depiction of all the best and worst of war as embodied in its two main characters, Elias and Barnes.
Starring: Charlie Sheen, Willem Defoe, Tom Berenger, Russell Edson, Johnny Depp, Forrest Whittaker, Reggie Johnson, Kevin Dillon, and Dale Dye. Written and directed by Oliver Stone.
Available on Amazon Prime
Glory: The cinematic adaptation of the true story of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, the first all African American fighting unit that saw action in the Civil War. The film follows the inception and formation of the unit under the command of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw. Volunteers came from all walks of life and included the freeman Thomas Searles; Rawlings, the wizened gravedigger; and Trip, a runaway slave. As different as they all were, these men were bound by the need to fight for their freedom and the freedom of their people. The climactic battle scene is a homage to courage and devotion. Notable for another fine ensemble performance.
Starring: Matthew Broderick, Cary Elwes, Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman, Andre Braugher, and Jihmi Kennedy. Written by Kevin Jarre. Directed by Edward Zwick.
Available on Netflix
The Deer Hunter: Micheal Cimino’s epic tour-de-force about three idealistic young iron workers who enlist to fight the war in Vietnam. The film opens at the boisterous wedding in their small Pennsylvania steel town, follows them into the mountain forests for their final deer hunt, and finally tracks them into the steaming hell of Vietnam where they are placed in an unthinkably brutal and disturbing conditions. Each of these young men is scarred and changed forever by their experience in the war. The most profound courage demonstrated in this movie is that of those who return and begin putting their lives back together. Notable for Christopher Walken’s Academy Award winning performance as Nick.
Starring: Robert DeNiro, Meryl Streep, Christopher Walken, John Savage, John Cazale, and George Dzundza. Written and directed by Michael Cimino
Available on Netflix
.
Saving Private Ryan: During initial screenings of this film, veterans of the D-Day Invasion had to leave the theater because they were disturbed by the realism of the carnage of the Normandy Landing. Initially released in 1989, the film is now considered the benchmark for realistic combat cinema. The story follows a squad of Rangers as they try to track down a lost paratrooper behind enemy lines in order to tell him he’s going home because all his brothers have been killed in action. The camaraderie of the squad and their perseverance with their mission despite their own misgivings speaks volumes to the resilience of the American soldier. Notable for the sweeping panorama of the D-Day landing scene.
Starring: Tom Hanks, Edward Burns, Tom Sizemore, Matt Damon, Barry Pepper, Adam Goldberg, and Jeremy Davies. Written by Robert Rodat and directed by Steven Spielberg.
Available on Hulu
The Hurt Locker: This film follows an Iraq War Explosive Ordnance Team whose job it is to find and dispose of hidden explosive devices placed by enemy forces. Members of the squad deal with the psychological stresses of their work differently, some embracing it while others succumb to the pressures of constant emotional strain. The squad eventually finds itself targeted by insurgents who stop at nothing to eliminate them or those who befriend them. Based on the embedded access experiences of Mark Boal, the screenwriter. The psychological stresses experienced by these characters are grounded in the reality of a war still raging today. Notable for the shocking plot twist in the middle of the film.
Starring: Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Brian Geraghty, Christian Camargo, and David Morse. Written by Mark Boal and directed by Kathryn Bigelow.
Available on Amazon Prime
Hell is for Heroes: A squad is left alone to hold their position on the Siegried Line in the fall of 1944. After their commander is killed, a renegade private named Reese convinces the remaining squad members to attack a heavily fortified pillbox in order to convince the Germans that they are facing a much larger American force. Convinced by Reese that this is the best course, the squad follows him into a firefight that is more than they bargained for. Even though they are outnumbered and outgunned and working without a C.O., the squad stays and fights. Notable for Steve McQueen’s brooding performance and Bob Newhart’s comedic phone routine.
Starring: Steve McQueen, Fess Parker, Harry Guardino, James Coburn, and Bob Newhart. Written by Robert Pirosh. Directed by Don Siegel.
Available on Amazon Prime
Hacksaw Ridge: The true story of Desmond Doss, a WWII conscientious objector who was so determined to serve his country he became a medic. Even though he refused to carry a weapon or a firearm of any kind, Doss still managed to earn the Medal of Honor by carrying 75 soldiers to safety through withering enemy fire during the Battle of Okinawa. He was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Truman for bravery above and beyond the call of duty. Notable for Andrew Garfield’s fine performance.
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Sam Worthington, Luke Bracey, Teresa Palmer, Hugo Weaving, and Rachel Griffiths. Written by Andrew Knight and Robert Schenkkan. Directed by Mel Gibson.
Available on Amazon Prime
Three Kings: A black comedy about four American soldiers stationed in Iraq during the Gulf War and who stumble onto a map detailing the location of Saddam Hussein’s bunkers. Realizing the bunkers are bursting with stolen loot, the boys decide to take some of the gold for themselves. On the way, they encounter the Iraqi civilians who have suffered for years under the regime of the sadistic Saddam and then discover what is truly worth fighting for. Notable for Mark Wahlberg’s interrogation scene.
Starring: George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Ice Cube, Spike Jonze, and Nora Dunn. Written and directed by David O. Russell.
Available on Amazon Prime
Apocalypse Now: Francis Ford Coppola’s dark vision of the Vietnam War as viewed through the lens of Joseph Conrad’s classic novel Heart of Darkness. The madness, decadence, and depravity inherent in a pointless war waged against an ephemeral enemy and—finally, in the souls of the men fighting it, is not only a testament to the resilience and endurance of the American soldier but also to their struggles with the necessary evil of war itself. Notable for Robert Duvall’s enduring line, “I love the smell of napalm in the morning.”
Starring: Martin Sheen, Marlon Brando, Laurence Fishburne, Dennis Hopper, Frederick Forrest, and Albert Hall. Written by John Milius and Francis Coppola. Directed by Francis Coppola.
Available on Hulu
The Thin Red Line: A cinematic epic based on the James Jones novel about the fictionalized version of The Battle of Mount Austen during the battle for Guadalcanal. It portrays the soldiers of C Company, First Battalion, as they fight for Hill 210. The struggles of each soldier during battle gives the viewer a credible notion of the lasting psychological impact of war on individual hearts and minds. Director Terrence Malik’s initial cut was five hours long. Gene Siskel called it “the greatest war film of modern times.” Notable for the beautiful cinematography and direction.
Starring: Sean Penn, Adrien Brody, Jim Caviezel, George Clooney, John Cusack, and Woody Harrelson. Written and directed by Terrence Malick.
Available on Hulu