History Final Film Research Project Post #5

The film, Casualties of War, portrays a story based on a primary source from a private in the military during the Vietnam War. The movie was created by a director named Brian De Palma to bring attention to a rape, kidnapping, and murder that was never publicized and really known across the United States. The full story of the incident that happened in Vietnam was never known until in 1969 a reporter named Daniel Lang released the full story, as  told by Eriksson. Thirteen years after the report from Daniel Lang the movie was made, based off of the story of first hand accounts by Mr. Eriksson. While the movie does cover most of the real factual events of the story there was also some dramatization in some parts as to attract more attention and draw audience into the movie much like in the movie 12 Years a Slave. An example of something that was used to make the audience feel more and become more attached to private Eriksson was like how in the movie it was said that Eriksson had a wife as well as a daughter, even with a picture of his daughter, where as in reality the private only had his wife back home. Another instance where this happened was when early in the movie there was a character named Brownie who suffered from a gun wound and had to be evacuated to bring the audience in so that they didn't get bored with only historical content. The character Brownie was never referred to have existed in the story told by Private Eriksson to reporter Daniel Lang. As described by Vincent Canby in a New York Times movie review, each character played their part spectacularly. Micheal Fox playing the "conscious-stricken" Erikkson and Sean Penn playing the crafty Merserve with the others in the squad following his lead with unquestioned loyalty. A larger dramatization that occurred in the movie was when they were actually murdering the girl that they kidnapped. In the primary source it said that she was killed and disposed off, whereas in the movie it heavily dramatized the scene during a firefight over a railway. In the movie she got up after being stabbed, covered in blood, walking toward the soldiers only to be shot multiple times by Sgt. Meserve and the other members of the squad only to have her fall off of the railroad and ultimately die. It also showed when Eriksson tried to tell his commanding platoon leader the story of what happened and only having him talk down and say that what happens on the battlefield stays on the battlefield, trying to keep the instance of what happened from getting out. Nearing the end of the movie during the court martial scene it showed the men responsible for their crimes being sent to prison for their actions out in the field. This displays the climax of the movie showing the emotion of the men and ultimately ending with Eriksson achieving his goal to bring out the true story of what happened. Casualties of War much like 12 Years a Slave was more of a "work of art", and not "feel good" story. Brian De Palma, like many other history film makers, used the story told as a backdrop and was more interested in creating an emotional response from the audience while also telling a factual and important store.

Casualties of War Post #4

Casualties of War Research Project (4)

Works Cited

"Vietnam: The Real War – in Pictures." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 22 Apr. 2015. Web. 17 May 2017.

Bramen, Lisa. "Fishing With Grenades and Cooking With C4: A Veteran’s Vietnam Food Memories." Smithsonian.com. Smithsonian Institution, 10 Nov. 2010. Web. 17 May 2017.

Lang, Daniel. "Casualties of War." The New Yorker. The New Yorker, 08 May 2017. Web. 17 May 2017.

The New York Times. The New York Times, n.d. Web. 17 May 2017.

Casualties of War Post #3

Casualties of War Research Project (3)

Evidence Exhibit

Vietnamese Victim of Rape and Murder

Casualties of War movie poster

Casualties of War book about the true story

Typical US Military gear used in the Vietnam War

One of the many villages burnt to the ground during operations 

A hootch burning to the ground after US soldiers sweep the town for Viet Cong

US troops taking fire from VC and rushing into the village like in the movie

Causualties of War Post #2

Casualties of War Research Project (2)

Menu for the Hearing : (food soldiers would eat on the battlefield)

Each of these items on the menu are important for the soldiers survival during their missions in unfamiliar vietnamese territory. In some cases the soldiers would eat cold food as to not attract attention to themselves during the night from VC soldiers.

C Rations - Turkey Loaf, Lima Beans, Cookies

Fish - Obtained by throwing a hand grenade into the water and collecting the fish

Shrimp - Local South Vietnamese soldiers showed US soldiers how to catch shrimp

BBQed Snake - Soldiers sometimes caught them but were scared of the deadly ones

Rice Paddies - Soldiers sometimes would visit local vietnamese restaurants

Causaulties of War Post #1

Casualties of War Research Project (1)

Court Martial Hearing - Case #202

Theme : Military Court hearing consisting of actors involved as well as historians reporters

Hearing Description : On the date, May 17 2017, military personnel listed below are being brought in under accusations of a strict violation of the law. The military personnel involved were part of a reconnaissance patrol with the mission to comb a sector of the Central Highlands looking for Vietcong activity.

Violations: Kidnapping, rape, and murder of a vietnamese civilian

Guest List : 

Micheal J. Fox (Private Eriksson, man who brought forth the accusations) 

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Sean Penn (Sgt. Tony Meserve) 

John Reilly (PFC Herbert Hatcher)                      Military personnel involved in the

Donald Harvey (Cpl. Thomas Clark)                     violations of kidnapping and rape

John Leguizamo (PFC Antonio Diaz)

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Phan Thi Mao (Victim of these men)

Daniel Lang (Reporter helped publicize the story and bring it out the true story)

Brian De Palma (American film director and screenwriter who produced Casualties of War)

WWI Poster Analyzing

Propaganda - A biased opinion to get attention of people for a cause


information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spreadwidely to help or harm a person, group,movement, institution, nation, etc. 

http://www.dictionary.com/browse/propaganda


Poster #1 -  A Wonderful Opportunity for You

In this poster it is trying to get the attention of people looking for  new opportunity in life. It says "Ashore on leave" as someone that has their luggage is about to leave with the United States Navy as he has a big happy smile on his face.





Poster #2 - Learn to make and test the big guns

In this poster the artist is trying to get the attention of people interested in working with guns. It says "better yourself - enlist and learn new trade" trying to get the attention of people looking to learn a new trade in the "ordinance department.





Poster #3 - US Navy Recruiting Station

On this poster it is headlined, "The navy needs you! Don't read American history make it!" trying to encourage people to join the fight to make "their own American history". It has an angelic woman holding an American flag behind the soldier that is enlisting trying to get the attention of the men and encourage them to join.

Hawaiian: The Legend of Eddie Aikau Response

In the film, Hawaiian: The Legend of Eddie Aikau, a distinct view of a traditional native Hawaiian is given as the American 19th century imperialism shows its impact on Hawaii. Eddie Aikau grew up in a poor family and dropped out of his school to focus on what he loved most, surfing. Being in the water surfing is where he felt most at home and at peace. As he grows up he starts to see more and more white Americans coming into Hawaii, his home, and taking away the Hawaiians most traditional piece, surfing. The Americans pretty much dominated the island and dominated the North side of the island where the waves rose and highest with the best surfing conditions. As imperialism continued more Americans continued coming into Hawaii making the island their home as well along with the traditional Hawaiians that had lived on the island their whole lives. This film gives a deeper understanding of Imperialism by giving a first hand experience of someone who had lived in Hawaii his whole life along with his family to only watch as white Americans began flowing into their home to take it over and make it their own and adopt their ways as their own as well.