1. What scene
or moment stands out to you, and why do you think that is?
2. You all have
grown up during the two longest wars in American history. After you turn 17,
you could enlist and become a soldier.
What do you think of soldiers?
3. We don’t
know these men very well yet, but what is your impression of them? Can you think of some specifics to help
anchor your thoughts?
I think the beginning scene where the bomb goes of sending a shock through the car with the turret is very unique. We see everyone go to panic as the car begins to be shot at while they seem to be frozen still in this car. All of these fighters are so young and are just pushed out in to the war, not knowing what to do. So when we observe this confusion we really have sympathy for them and see how hard their struggle must be to be that young and have to defend the country. We see how they are just like any other person and they have fears which makes us connect to them on a deeper level.
ReplyDeleteThe soldiers are extremely strong and courageous. These men have left their families and left their whole lifestyle to come into this dangerous environment to risk their lives for the United States. Beyond this the men see their best friends die or get injured and they must endure pain, sickness and exhaustion while doing so. They live in this hellish life at such a young age and must keep going. We never see any of them crying, but we see many laugh. They do this because the only way to get through this terrible event in their lives is to have fun while doing so.
So far, every soldier has been intelligent, loyal and hard working. We are able to hear some of their backgrounds and we learn what life they are leaving back hone. I am somewhat afraid of this because and soon as we get to know a soldier, he may die during a fire fight. Specifically when we learned about the one soldier whose mother never let him use guns or play violent video games to protect him and his life. It is crazy to see how that kind of kid would turn into a soldier. We also know that these men do not want to be here. They are afraid and truly believe they will die in this valley. Although they do have optimism and hope of overcoming the enemy.
The part where they were interviewing the afghan local and he says ‘If we tell you of the Taliban we will be killed.’ Just the daily struggle that these people have to go through. I will never know what it is like to have my life threatened over something I can’t say. I will never know what it is like to have that oppressive regime above me. That was half the part that hurt to watch. The second point that I can clearly remember is the way the Americans getting intel acted when the Afghan said that. They just had this look of defeat on their face because they can’t force him to talk without turning the population against them. The second scene was the intro where we meet Restreppo. I don’t know if I’d be able to see it again with the knowledge of his end. It makes me sad and kinda angry that a fun loving guy like that had to die for something that didn’t even effect him in the first place.
ReplyDeleteI think that to sign up you have to be a brave individual but I don’t think they are automatically heroes like other people think. Fewer than 30% of soldiers don’t fire a single shot (http://www.historynet.com/men-against-fire-how-many-soldiers-actually-fired-their-weapons-at-the-enemy-during-the-vietnam-war.htm). But I think all the men and women that put their lives on the line for their country are worthy of respect.
They are extremely brave and strong guys that got thrown into the worst place you could possibly be and them putting up with this terrible, terrible situation makes them really admirable in my mind. I think they are all heroes who are seeing action that no man should ever have to see.
1. I remember the scene in which a soldier is talking on his radio to another man about the last time he visited his family, all while he adjusts the position of his gun. I’m very interested by the extreme difference between the soldiers’ homes and the Korengal Valley – one man explained how he did not reveal his friend’s death to his mother when he called her for her birthday. I also am captivated by the moments when we see elements of normality in the lives of these men – when they play guitar and read magazines, for example.
ReplyDelete2. I know I could not be a soldier next year. I couldn’t deal with the months of chaos and mental and physical exertion. I think virtually every soldier is extraordinarily brave and mentally tough, and they are typically well-trained for their job. However, I think many people who enlist, even those who have planned to do so for most of their lives, do not know what to expect. I don’t think anyone can truly be prepared for war. Many of these men are exceptional individuals, but I think war forces both positive and negative changes in young men. We know the story of PTSD well. As for the positive changes, war can force people to give more effort to something than they thought possible. In the military, there is no choice but to cope with whatever circumstances you are faced with.
3. They seem very, very young. I think Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger wanted to emphasize through editing how inexperienced and young they were. None of them grasped how dangerous the Korengal was, and all of them were deeply affected by every casualty. To compare this documentary to Creed, I think that these men have nothing to prove. My impression is that they are preoccupied with clinging to life.
1) The one moment that stood out to me was the blending of mundanities when the soldier was talking about his visit home while repositioning a gun. He was so casually discussing his family life in a somewhat comical way, and casually preparing for war. Towards the end of the conversation, they reach a deep conclusion that they are hunting people, and they both make the comment "hearts and minds." This acknowledgement of the people they are fighting and killing, and their humanity is very interesting. It seems to hint at either a questioning of their motives, the nature of war, or them being psychopaths.
ReplyDelete2) A lot of people say all Soldiers are heroes, but I don't agree with that. I think fighting for your country is a selfless and sometimes heroic decision, but there are countless assholes, rapists, and murders in the military alongside the students, heroes, and regular people. We often view soldiers as a monolith, which is inaccurate and harmful to good soldiers, but beneficial to the bad ones.
Soldiers also have countless reasons for enlistment. Some want the benefits of the G.I. Bill, others are pressured by their family legacy, others want to defend their country, and others want to kill. When we view all soldiers as a monolith, that ignores their reasons for enlistment.
3) To me, these men seem very normal. The one who talks about his life as a hippie's kid is focused on the most, and his upbringing is the very contradictory to his position in the army. One has to wonder if him not being allowed to play with guns (even turtle shaped ones) and not being allowed to play violent video games or watch violent movies pushed him towards his military career. I also found it interesting how he puts his family before himself when writing letters or calling home. He (and some other soldiers) refrain from sharing their true experiences as to not worry their loved ones. I feel like this is a common occurrence with men. My grandfather is extremely stoic, and often reflects on his restraint to show emotion and suffering to be "strong" for the sake of his family. In my experience this is really harmful, as talking about your emotions really helps your overall mental health.
ReplyDeleteI fell that the thing that is stayed with me so far is how when each soldier was talking about when they call in that someone has been hit, they all pry and wonder and hope that it's not there best friend, they all so fuck it sucks man, I can only imagine taking fire everyday like that
I have the up most respect for soldiers, they are putting there life's on the line everyday so that we can do what we want, and feel safe at home, they are some of the strongest men physical and emotionally that I know, they go through so much, I don't think that I could do half of what they do everyday out in the field
Just how they are all there for eachother they have eachother backs and they all know how rough it is for each and everyone of them, without the help of all of them they know that they could not get the job done, it's the ultimate show of teammates and team work
The scene that stood out to me the most was the scene in which one solider was talking over the radio to another while he was adjusting his gun. The solider on the other end of the radio was asking his buddy what it was like back home on his ranch. The conversation developed and the two soldiers concluded that the Korengal valley was very similar to his ranch back home. The only difference being instead of hunting animals, in the valley your hunting people. I think this stays with me the most because it's easy to forget that soldiers are human too and have emotions. Also the dialogue between the two soldiers was comical but serious at the same time and had meaning. All the firefight scenes really stuck with me also. Seeing actual bullets beaming past the heads of soldiers and smacking the ground steps in front of them is horrifying, but so real. The footage is so raw and I feel like really gives the audience a first hand look at war and how terrifying it is. The quote "I feel like we are fish in a barrel" is a great reality of what the Korengal valley and out post Restreppo is.
ReplyDeleteI have such great respect for the men and woman that serve our country. With that being said I don't think I would ever enlist into the army. First off, there is no way in hell that my mom would let me join. And secondly I couldn't see my self serving. Although growing up and even the beginning of high school I was extremely into the military and guns and played airsoft with my buddies joining the army has never occurred as something I would be interested in doing.
The seem young and naïve but extremely brave, courageous, and strong. They where just placed in the most dangerous part of Afghanistan, with which seems like little experience due to how young they are and the way they face it is as if they where back home in training. They also share a bond together that could not be broken.
1. One moment that stuck out to me was that there was a guy playing the guitar. This might seem totally basic, but it was a reminder that this guy had a whole life before fighting, that he was more than just a soldier. It was also important in that it shows how they get through all the unpleasantness. They keep some good things, like music and jokes. We hear some of the guys casually joking as they work, and it's important to remember how these are just normal people, like you and me, that have been put in a horrible situation and are doing their best to deal with it.
ReplyDelete2. I feel like being a soldier would be a hugely transformative experience. Both of my grandfathers were in the army. My dad's dad was never deployed, and says it "reintroduced him to the human race." It was a great experience for him, and helped him become the man he is today. My mom's dad fought on the front lines during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II, and was never the same afterwards. He smoked and drank heavily until the day he died, and when he revisited France, he was always on edge, unsure of whether he could trust anyone there. Being a soldier doesn't define you, but it affects you hugely, sometimes for better and sometimes for worse.
3. They're normal guys. When we see them on the airplane, they goof off and act like normal 18 or 19 year old guys. Then they end up in a valley filled with enemies, and it's all they can do to stay sane as their friends get killed. When they arrive, they're not even close to ready, and it's ridiculous to imagine them going into this place, one of the deadliest on earth.
The scene during the interview where the guy talks about how he has to call his mother and act like everything is ok and everything is going great when really it's all kind of headed to shit. It stood out to me because it shows just how intense the reality of the situation is. Nobody wants to tell their parents that they're being shot at by Taliban soldiers 4-5 times a day, that's horrible. It's just another example of how iron-tough these military dudes have to be in order to survive on a day to day basis
ReplyDeleteI think to be a real soldier you have to be one tough dude, emotionally and physically. Physically because of the intensity and hardness of the drills these guys do day in and day out and the rigorous training they have to go through. Emotionally because all around you people are dying, whether they're friends or dudes you just met. The mentality of a soldier has to be one of never giving up and never giving in. I think it's somewhat a natural talent and at the same time it's somewhat a talent that's learned through growth, experience, and with age.
They're obviously all a pretty heavy-duty group of guys with lots of experience and specialty training. I feel like under the seals these guys are probably some of the toughest if they're being sent of to korengal. The emotional stress someone has to go through being shot at so many times a day, interacting with locals, and seeing your friends die, must be an unbearable amount. It takes a big sacrifice to be able to do this, being away from family, friends, relatives, everything.
1. The scene when the troops reach the Korengal valley stands out to me. Just hearing all of the men say how the valley was so much worse than they could have imagined and how dangerous it was shook me. These men train and prepare for any and every situation, and even they were in great fear of the Taliban and danger of the valley.
ReplyDelete2. I have the utmost respect for soldiers. One of my grandfathers was in the army and the other in the Navy, as well as my uncle being a U.S Marine. As others have said, there are obviously some bad men and women in the army, as with any large group. However, I think the fact that they are putting their life at risk, and leaving all of their loved ones behind is a sacrifice that not many people are able to make. The army interests me a lot, and joining sounds appealing to me due to the brotherhood that is built. However, I don't think I could ever enlist, as I don't think I could handle the intense training and conditions, leaving my loved ones behind, and having to worry about my own life and my close friends' lives constantly.
3. These men all seem to be tough and hardened by their time in the armed forces and possibly their lives at home. However, some of the guys do not strike me as the type to enlist, and, as said above, a lot of them are carefree young guys until they are on the front line. Misha Pemble-Belkin especially strikes me as someone who wouldn't enlist. He is a really young, skinny guy and talks about how his mother was a "fuckin' hippie" and was strongly against violence. This shows how many men can turn to the army due to family troubles, financial troubles, etc.
1. For me, the part where that one soldier talks about his hippie mom and telling her how everything is going well here really struck me. These men are in REAL danger. It has to suck lying to your mom about this situation when the reality is that these are in danger literally every moment of the day. It probably doesn't feel well being shot at by the Taliban constantly. It shows the kind of act they have to keep at home and how they act to be in a military zone.
ReplyDelete2. I respect soldiers very much. One of my cousins who I am very close to is in the military. I personally think we do not do enough to accomodate them after they return from tours, physically, financially, and mentally. I respect both soldiers who fight for the love of their country, or those who serve to pay for college. They are serving the great country of the US of A, and that is one of the most honorable things you can do.
3. These men have clearly been through a ton. THey have been molded by their experiences, whether it is in the valley or at home. They have all enlisted due to various reasons, and they have really seen some shit. Regardless of what happened, why they enlisted, and how they came out of it, i have the utmost respect for them. That might change, dependeing on how the documentary goes though.
The moment that really strikes me is when they're in the helicopter and they're about to go over the mountains and they looked over into the valley and they realized they were all alone. It was crazy to me to imagine a world world where you are being shot at constantly, and I tried to place myself in their position and I wouldn't be able to bear the constant fear that they experience every day. These guys are no older than me and for them to do this for whatever reason is something I can understand but something I don't connect to personally. I am someone who has the up most respect for the military but I just don't agree with what they're fighting for. As someone who knows the effects of that war on Muslims and not always terror. One of my best friends growing up was Muslim and his parents where from Afghanistan and while it is true his opinion was biased that has really shaped my opinion on the war. There's also the fact that I don't identify as an American even if I was born here. In my opinion it takes a special type of drive to serve your country like that and also a sense of incredible patriotism because whether what they're doing over there is right or not what they're doing is something incredibly selfless and that's something that should be admired. There aren't that many people that can do what they do and it's for the the beliefs that they're protecting their way of life and their family. I wouldn't have the freedom to be a part of this country if it wasn't for them.
ReplyDeleteThe moment that stands out the most to me was when one of the soldiers, when interviewed, said that doctors didn't know how to deal with them. This implies that the overall stress of the soldiers' deployment caused psychological problems that were unheard of. These men were hardened, tough men going into deployment, meaning what happened in the valley was truly horrific. The reason this comment stayed with me was that it made me imagine what these men had to go through each day. One of the men said that his bunker was so small that he couldn't stand and that the soldiers were constantly under pressure. This kind of stress produced the lifelong mental issues the soldiers experience today.
ReplyDeleteI deeply respect soldiers. While I don't agree with some of the United States' military actions, I do not blame the soldiers and I think their work is admirable. However, too often have I heard stories of soldiers mistreating the locals when fighting wars for us. I think that when we have standing troops in foreign countries everyone, including the soldiers must be incredibly respectful to the locals in the countries. Most soldiers go about their business and I admire their toughness, determination, grit and courage.
I think the men of the platoon are all strong, courageous and gritty. They have made advancements and fought through incredible trials in the most dangerous place in the world. It was nice to see some of the soldiers let down their barriers and expose some of their vulnerabilities for the documentary. For example, when the one soldier explained how he had to "suck up" the loss of his friend, Restreppo, while calling his mother to wish her a happy birthday, it made me understand that these soldiers aren't just trained men, but also humans who feel loss, fear and love just like the rest of us.