Episode-List
Season 1
1. Tour of Duty
2. Notes from the Underground
3. Dislocations
4. War Lover
5. Sitting Ducks
6. Burn, Baby, Burn
7. Brothers, Fathers, and Sons
8. The Good, the Bad and the Dead
9. Battling Baker Brothers
10. No Where to Run
11. Roadrunner
12. Pushin' Too Hard
13. USO Down
14. Under Seige
15. Soldiers
16. Gray-Brown Odyssey
17. Blood Brothers
18. The Short Timer
19. Paradise Lost
20. Angel of Mercy
21. The Hill
1 - Tour of Duty
"The twelve month period American soldiers were required to serve in Vietnam was
known as their Tour of Duty"
The time is 1967, the place is Firebase Ladybird, Central Highlands,
South Vietnam. The firebase is promptly over-run. Only an air strike
with napalm clears the firebase. Afterwards, Zeke goes to recruit
some new soldiers to replace men he lost in the battle. Using his
own criteria, he selects the "best" men from a group of green recruits.
He picks out Danny Purcell, Baker, Alberto Ruiz and Pvt. Lawrence.
On his way to meet up (for the first time) with the platoon's new
leader -- Lt. Goldman -- Zeke hears a harmonica being played (a talent
he wishes to emulate) and follows the sound to a new man (Horn), a
self-styled pacifist. Anderson insists that he join the platoon
despite his beliefs, though. They then meet up with Lt. Goldman, a
newly-recruited second lieutenant who has just arrived from the States.
The by-the-book Goldman immediately clashes with Anderson. The next
day, Capt. Wallace reluctantly sends out the newly-formed platoon.
Arriving in the field by helicopter, they find themselves in a hot
LZ under fire. Anderson disobeys Goldman's order to charge the tree
line and calls in artillery that ends up saving their lives. But
Zeke now faces court-martial charges.
Guest cast: Keith Amos, Bob Fimiani (Major Braun), Terry Cook (Sgt Mad Dog) Brian Kenton
(Lt. Crippen)
Writers: Steve Duncan and L. Travis Clark.....Director: Bill L. Norton
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2 - Notes from the Underground
"The Vietnam Was was the longest war in American history"
The VC are mauling the American soldiers through their use of the
underground tunnels. On their latest trip into the bush, Anderson and
the men provide a blocking force, only the Gooks being driven toward
them disappear down into the tunnels... and Goldman and Anderson end
up firing on Americans -- thinking they are VC coming toward them.
The team ends up in a village but again gets attacked as the VC pop up
out the tunnels and then back into them after the attack. Taylor is
captured during this fighting -- having been wounded. Taylor ends up
being befriended by a VC Doc who has no interest in fighting -- only
in returning home alive. On the surface, Anderson and Goldman go into
the tunnels, only to end up entombed by a cave-in.
Guest Cast: James Pax (NVA doctor), Alfie Wise (Top Rat), Clyde R Jones (point man),
Vincent Thinh Nguyen (NVA commander)
Writer: Bill L. Norton.....Director: Bill L. Norton
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3 - Dislocations
"In 1967, approximately one-eighth of the population of South Vietnam
was composed of refugees."
At Firebase Ladybird, Anderson and Goldman are being briefed by Capt.
Wallace about a local villager who has taken up sniping on NVA troops.
The man just wants to be left alone, but his actions will most likely
result in the NVA destroying his village. Before this can happen,
Goldman's men are supposed to move the whole village 30 klicks to the
south. However the Vietnameses' religious beliefs say they can't move..
. no matter what. Despite the fact that this was supposed to help PR
-- not hurt it -- in the end the platooon ends up escorting the
civilians at gun-point away from their village. Goldman meets and
becomes attracted to the beautiful native woman, Lang. And, as the
flight turns to a fight, it is -- interestingly enough -- Lang's VC
husband who ends up saving Goldman's life.
Guest Cast: William Sadler (Major Rigby), Tia Carrere (Lang), April Tran (Dep)
Writer: Steve Smith.....Director: Aaron Lipstadt
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4 - War Lover
"A soldier in Vietnam had one chance in 55 of being killed during his Tour of
Duty..."
Bravo company locates a bunker complex and is about to call in a fire
mission when a Huey approaches the area and opens fire on the complex,
narrowly missing Zeke and the others. When Bravo arrives back at
Firebase Ladybird, they are furious and want something "done" to the
hotdog flyer. The person responsible for the "near miss" turns out to
be Earl Ray Michaels, a seasoned combat veteran and "war lover".
Unfortunately, Anderson, Goldman, Percell and Horn find themselves
assigned to the man to go on a special mission to destroy an
enemy-held bridge. Anderson knows Michaels, they'd disagreed before,
Michaels cares only for enemy kills, Anderson only for his men. Goldman
nearly detonates a mine, Anderson and Michaels save him. During a
firefight, Johnson is hurt. Michaels finishes off the rest of the
enemy soldiers. Tempers finally reach the breaking point when Anderson
finds a living child and Michaels wants the kid killed.
Guest cast: William Russ (Sgt. Earl Ray Michaels)
Writer: Rick Husky.....Director: Jim Johnston
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5 - Sitting Ducks
"From 1963 to 1967, more than 20 Buddhist monks committed ritual suicide to
protest political oppression in South Vietnam."
The platoon is moved to an area where an irrigation project is
underway, and they have been given the "cushy" job of providing
security for engineers working there. The irrigation project is
part of the "Redevelopment Program" to bring modern technology to
the peassants of Vietnam. Bravo Co arrives to relieve, only to find
that the CO was killed while taking out a patrol. It seems that the
VC know the American's every move. Before the old outfit leaves, they
introduce Goldman and Anderson to their Kit Carson scout -- an ex-VC,
named Tran. Tran advises more patrols to counter the problem, and
Goldman agrees. But everytime the Americans leave the village they
are ambushed. Meanwhile, Horn has become fascinated with the Buddhists.
During his visits with the priest in his search for understanding,
Horn accidentally discovers how the GI's are being set up: it is
the monks, using their temple bell.
Guest cast: Make (Tran), James Hong (Quang)
Writer: Steve Bello.....Director: Aaron Lipstadt
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6 - Burn, Baby, Burn
"The armed services were desegregated by President Harry S. Truman on July 26,
1948 -- Executive Order #9981..."
In a time of great racial tension and violence in America, the same
problems were carried over to Vietnam, where it was not unusual for
bars -- or sometimes entire sections of towns -- to cater only to
whites, blacks or hispanics. To wander into the wrong "territory"
was a mistake that could lead to violence and death. Taylor and
three of his brothers encounter such a problem when Percell asks
them to meet him at what turns out to be an all-white redneck bar.
A fight breaks out between one of the blacks, Tucker and a KKK member,
Innis. Both end up in Bravo Co, and while on a patrol, Tucker's
friend is killed when Innis fails to provide coverage. Racial
tensions mount. As the black soldiers discuss their own people dying
at home to obtain some equal rights, they see Innes put up a
Confederate flag. Violence breaks out, and, in the end, Johnson gets
accused of starting it. A conflict at the brig nearly ends in gunfire
but, in the end, Tucker -- the trouble-maker is transfered out and
things quiet down... although they are not resolved.
Guest Cast:Mark Ronald William Lawrence (Darden), Hung Quoc Han (Tran), Michael Hasegawa
(Quang)
Writers: Steve Duncan & L. Travis Clark.....Director: Ray Villalobos
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7 - Brothers, Fathers, and Sons
"It is estimated that over one million children were orphaned or
became homeless during the Vietnam War."
Anderson, Baker, and Johnson are shot down while catching a ride in a
helicopter, which explodes just after it hits the ground. They are
unhurt but the pilot is dead, and VC soldiers are firing at their
position. Zeke manages to kill all of the VC but one, who escapes.
With the fighting over for the present, they begin the long trek back
to base, all the while being hunted by the VC. The enemy group is led
by Trang, a man who wants to kill the Americans for revenge. The three
Americans stumble upon a village of Montagnards who have been wiped out,
all but a pregnant woman who is dying... and does just as the child
is born. Anderson is adamant about leaving the baby behind, but
Johnson and Baker consider that move barbaric. Anderson ends up
taking care of the baby and forming the strongest bond. Meanwhile,
Goldman is out looking for Zeke and the others. Back in the jungle,
Anderson risks his life to get milk for the baby and keeps the child
from being killed. In a heated exchange of gunfire, Zeke and Trang
end up fighting, all others are wounded... in the end Trang won't
kill Zeke because Zeke risks his life, yet again, for the baby.
Guest Cast: Peter McKernan (warrant officer), Thuan Van Duong (Doc Thien)
Writer: Bill L. Norton.....Director: Bill L. Norton
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8 - The Good, The Bad, and the Dead
"In 1967, there were 486,000 American combat troops in Vietnam."
A drunken GI steals a chaplain's jeep and goes on a joy ride with
a Vietnamese hooker. They nearly collide with a jeep-load of MPs
who chase him down. His arrest is witnessed by Zeke, who recognizes
him as Decker, his former drill sergeant and role model. Anderson
rescues Decker from a certain court-martial (his second) and drafts
him into the squad without checking with Goldman first. Decker is
popular with the guys but he almost immediately starts to disobey
orders. Decker mans a listening post with Horn to watch for enemy
troops movements, but he gets drunk and falls asleep. As a result,
Horn is nearly killed.
Guest cast: Tim Thomerson (Sgt. Aubrey Decker)
Writer: Bill L. Norton.....Director: Bill L. Norton
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9 - Battling Baker Brothers
"From 1965 to 1973, 15,000,000 eligible American youth avoided the draft."
Baker insists his fellow squad members follow him to an incoming
helicopter. The incoming "VIP" turns out to be Baker's twin brother,
who brings along a skate board that the whole squad uses for fun.
Carl Baker turns out to be nothing like his brother: he is hard-
drinking, womanizing, party-goer. The two brothers end up in a
fight, nearly destroying the base in the process. Carl celebrates
their birthdays by bringing in a truck-load full of Vietnamese hookers.
They all party down and, in the end, Baker ends up doubly-mad as his
brother "steals" his girl. Carl leaves the next morning with neither
brother on speaking terms and everyone in trouble. Carl's helicopter
goes down and Baker goes in after him, managing to get caught by the
same VC who have his brother. They are both tortured by the VC and
Anderson and Goldman must go in to rescue the two.
Guest cast: Carl Bruskotter as Carl
Writers: Bill L. Norton and J. David Wyles.....Director: Bill L. Norton
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10 - No Where to Run
"In World War II, the average age of a combat soldiers was 26. In Vietnam, it was
19."
Two sappers make their way into Firebase Ladybird without being
detected, but Percell sees the third one, killing him. The other
two manage to set off their explosives before they can be stopped.
The next morning, Capt. Wallace orders Anderson and Goldman to have
their men police up the dead bodies.. Anderson complains his men
are beat, but Wallace isn't concerned. Percell is upset both over
a friend's dying and having received a "Dear John" letter. Goldman,
meantime, runs into an old friend: Lt. Nikki Raines, and promises
to meet her later. Goldman, Anderson and the squad go out to destroy
a bridge, which they blow up. Percell, in the midst of chasing a
running VC, accidentally kills an 8-year-old. Percell is devistated
over the incident.
Guest cast: Ed Monaghan (Hazzard)
Writer: Rick Husky.....Director: Randy Roberts
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11 - Roadrunner
"1,679 Air Force plans were shot down in combat during the Vietnam war -- 704
crewmen were killed; 1,226 were rescued"
One of a GI's big events is the arrival of his mail. When Zeke
opens his mail to find that his ex-wife, it is to find that she
is complaining that he is not writing letters home often enough to
their 3-year-old daughter. Zeke already has enough responsibilities...
this one isn't wanted. However he has little time to worry about it
before he finds himself out on patrol. Goldman orders the squad
forward when Anderson warns that they are walking into trouble,
Anderson scouts out ahead and ends up in a near-lethal mortar barrage.
Anderson is nearing his limit when he finds out that the squad's next
destination is a valley where Zeke's last outfit was nearly wiped out.
Anderson fights going tooth-and-nail and it is obvious to everyone that
Zeke is falling apart. There is little time to help him, though, as
the men have to consider their mission first. The squad ends up going
after a downed flyer... and while Zeke continues to deteroriate.
Guest Cast: William Allen Young (Capt. Slaney), Phil Adams (chaplain)
Writer: Robert Burns Clark.....Director: Jim Johnston
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12- Pushin' Too Hard
"Sixteen American journalists lost their lives in the Vietnam War."
Anderson, Goldman, and Captain Wallace are checking out a new weapon that has
been added to the platoon's arsenal: a flamethrower. Zeke and Goldman are
unhappy that the next mission will also include a beautiful female reporter,
Vicky Adams. Zeke fights against the woman's urges to "get the good stuff"
and his own men's attempts to impress her, at the risk of their own lives.
A prisoner is caught and tells the unit that they are surrounded by an NVA
regiment. Wallace refusees to go back to safety, though, and a bad situation
continues to get worse and worse.
Guest Cast: Talia Balsam (Vicky Adams), Khoi Tran (the cameraman)
Writer: Steve Phillip Smith.....Director: Bill L. Norton
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13 - USO Down
"Although often called upon to perform in hostile battle zones, all USO
entertainers worked on a voluntary basis."
A USO band comprised of three female dancers, a sax players, and a singer,
completes their performance at an outlying base, and are rushed to a
helicopter to be flown to their next destination. None of them get a chance
to even change their costumes. The helicopter is shot down and the entire
crew is killed. Meanwhile, Bravo company is out on a recon, and Taylor who
is on point, thinks he must be going crazy when he sees the girl in hot pants
and leather boots. Bravo company takes the girls with them but can't call in for
help because the radio's batteries are dead.The USO people make the transition to
"soldier" with various degrees of success.
Guest cast: Pat O'Bryan (Long John Vivian), Cynthia Bain (Colby), Linda Jameson (Christy)
Writer: Jim Beaveer Director: Ron Schwary.
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14 - Under Siege
"I am absolutely certaini that, whereas in 1965 the enemy was winning, today he
is losing. The enemy's hopes are bankrupt -- Gen. William C. Westmoreland, November 21,
1967"
The men of Bravo are certain that Westmoreland has not yet informed the enemy that
they are losing, as Firebase Ladybrid continues to come under daily long-range
artillery fire. Suddenly a helicopter approaches and lands despite the fact that
the base is taking fire. It is the new company commander -- Captain Larry Heath --
a man who initially wins over the favor of his troops with gifts, but he proves to
be a complete fanatic. Heath wants to attack despite the fact that it appears that
the base is about to be attacked. Zeke and Goldman set them men to putting up a
defense and get in trouble because of it. A large attack proves that Anderson was
right when the firebase is over-run and Doc Matsuda, with only 15 days left of
his tour of duty, is killed when he refuses to abandon his patient.
Guest Cast: Kristoffer Tabori (Larry Heath), Ched Parrott (Caldwell)
Writers: Steve Bello and Bob Clark......Director: Steve Posey
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15 - Soldiers
"More than 134,000 military personnel were severely wounded or disabled during
the Vietnam War."
The squad is in heavy contact with a group of enemy soldiers, and after taking
several casualties manage to be retrieved by two helicopters. Danny hears that his
father is hospitalized after a near-fatal heart-attack and is given emergency medical
leave. Danny finds that his father and mother have separated and his father has
taken up with a younger woman who is loyal to him. Danny feels left out and
alienated from a man who he already wasn't close to. While waiting for his father
to get better, Danny meets Rudy Morales, a vet handicapped by wounds -- a bitter,
broken man. Danny is seriously upset by this and further upset by an argument
with his father. Meanwhile, Taylor and Ruiz decide that they need to be by
Danny's side, so they talk Anderson into pulling some strings and getting
their R&R in Bangkok changed to Honolulu. Once in Hawaii they are exposed
to the "real" world of mini-skirts and negative attitudes about the war.
Guest cast: Robert Fuller (Jack Percell), Michael Carine (Rudy Morale)
Writer: Rick Husky.....Director: Bill L. Norton
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16 - Gray-Brown Odyssey
"In 1965, the Viet Cong announced that over 1,000,000 women were active in their
movement."
Goldman, Horn, Calhoun, and Pointer are retruning to the base after spending
two days int he rear. Their jeep hits a mine, wounding Calhoun and Pointer.
Goldman is blinded when a fire extinguisher blows up in his face. A squad of
VC arrive and open fire. Calhoun and Pointer are killed by the attack,
Goldman is blinded. In the end Horn chases after the sole surviving VC only to
find that she's a woman. He captures her and takes her back to the hut where's
he's left the blinded Goldman. Horn then, after much argument, goes after help
for Goldman. The woman manages to signal to other villagers for help and so
Goldman, blinded, must rig his rifle to her head, marching her off into his "blind
landscape" so that they can escape the VC that she has called on to help her.
As they escape they run into a great deal of trouble, starving families, groups
of VC and even a group of Americans who fire on them. In the end, by the time
Horn finds them, the woman has died in Goldman's arms, leaving Myron to return
to the firebase with a far different perspective on the "enemy."
Guest Cast: Rosalind Chao (Li Kiem)
Writer: Bruce Reisman.....Director: Randy Roberts
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17 - Blood Brothers
"By 1970 it is estimated that 10 to 15 percent of all US troops serving in South
Vietnam were addicted to heroin in one form or another."
Retired Major General Goldman arrives by helicopter at Firebase Ladybird on
a fact finding mission for Washington brass. Seeing another helicopter landing,
he goes to greet and question Anderson and his soldiers about the mission they
have just returned from. They later learn that the general is Goldman's father
but it is clear when they meet that the two don't have a good relationship.
They were estranged when Myron's mother died five years before and haven't spoken
since. The Major general finds that his son's leadership methods appall him.
Ruiz befriends a new man who joins the team, mainly because he is also a
hispanic. But the man manages to get himself killed due to his careless
attitude. Dalby orders Goldman's men into an impossible attack which Myron
refuses to go on. Zeke and Goldman realize that the new man was on dope and
set out to cure the problem themselves.
Guest Cast: Jon Cypher (Major Gen. Goldman), Leo Garcia (Alvaro)
Writer: Christian Darren.....Director: Charlie Correll.
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18- The Short Timer
"40% of the soldiers killed in Vietnam died during the first three months of
their tours of duty."
Bravo company is on another S&D mission. A new man is on point, and he stops
the patrol when he sees some blood, which he follows to a Vietnam booby trap.
He's killed. Taylor takes over point, even though he is a short timer. Later,
he manages to survive an encounter with an NVA machine gun nest after he
destroys it. Taylor must address his mixed emotions about his near return to
home. His fear and distaste for Vietnam is equaled only by the darkness of
the life waiting for him at home. Taylor, after a "Dear John" phone call
from home, signs up for another tour.
Guest Cast: Marshall Bell (Sgt. Ralph Carlton)
Writer: Bruce Reisman.....Director Jim Conway
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19 - Paradise Lost
"More than 45 thousand Montagnards were trained by US Army Special Forces
1961-1971."
The men from Bravo company are patrolling in the jungle when they find a fresh
trail, one that leads to a trap by a group of VC soldiers. The Americans are
out-numbered and in a very bad position. Suddenly they are rescued by Montagnards.
Anderson trusts them, and has the squad follow them back to their village where
they meet the translator -- an ex-GI (Kithem). The American is obviously hostile
to the presence of Goldman and the rest of the Americans. Against Kithem and
Anderson's better judgement, Goldman follows orders to help fortify the native
"compound" against the VC. Kithem warns that all the American attention will
only bring down the ARVN and NVA forces. Which is exactly what happens.
Guest Cast: Everett McGill (Kithem),
Writer: Robert Burns Clark.....Director: Jim Conway
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20 - Angel of Mercy
"The first American combat death in Vietnam occurred on 8 July 1959, the last on
29 April 1975."
In a small South Vietnamese hamlet, an NVA officer arrives to brief his
men that they will soon begin infiltrating towns and villages through-out
the country in preparation for the Tet Offensive. Meanwhile, Bravo is in
the bush, while Baker is losing a battle with his dysentery. As he "answers the
call of nature" he sights VC closing on the unit and then, pulling his pants up,
gets a frog down them, and starts screaming. As the American's come running,
a fire fight starts, ending with the capture of an NVA Colonel Trang. Goldman
catches a bullet in the helmet and in his jacket as they try to retreat.
Though saved by his clothing, he still does need to go to the hospital along
with Anderson, who is hit with shrapnel. While Goldman and Anderson recover, Trang
dies under mysterious circumstances during interrogation.
Guest cast: James Hong (Colonel Trang)
Writer: J. David Wyles.....Director: Bill L. Norton
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21 - The Hill
"How can we justify sending our boys against a hill a dozen times or more until
soldiers themselves question the madness of the action? -- Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, May
1969."
Goldman and Nikki have a great time on a brief R&R that they spend together on
China Beach. Their reunion is marred by the fact that Nikki refuses to marry him,
fearing he will be killed in combat. Goldman returns to Firebase Ladybird to find
that his unit has been assigned to help take Hill 1000. They've taken it before
and lost it before. And this battle promises to be the worst. Even after the bunker
is finally taken, it is found empty. They go back down so that a plane can spray a
defoliate. They must go back and take that hill yet again. Horn has, in the
meantime, gotten in trouble with a young -- and new -- officer. Sitting at the
bottom of the hill and awaiting the court-martial, he sees a wounded Taylor and
he decides to go back with his buddies and fight. Horn is seriously wounded and
sent home.
Guest Cast: Rob Garrison (Lt. Biggs)
Writer: Steve Smith .....Director: Robert Iskov
© 2001 Mika