We Were Soldiers:Characters

History Through Film

Mr. Clark

DAY 1

Lt. Col. Hal

Moore

Lt. Col. Hal Moore•West Point & Harvard grad•Army Paratrooper•New to “Air Cavalry”•Loves to train•Concerned about troops

Major Bruce Crandall•Nicknamed “Snake”•Helicopter pilot•Not traditional military•New to “Air Cavalry” concept

Sgt. Major Basil Plumley•Combat veteran (WW II and Korea)•Moore’s “right-hand” man•Refuses to use new rifle (M-16)•Hostile to Sgt. Savage

2nd Lt. Jack Geoghegan

•Expecting a child (Camille)•“green” officer• good leader, cares about men•Worries about being soldier & father

Julie Moore

•Wife of Lt. Col. Hal Moore•Mother of 5 kids•New to military base; Leads Wives’ Club

DAY 2

Barbara Geoghegan

•Pregnant•Water breaks at Wives’ Club meeting•Gives birth to daughter (Camille)

Lt. Col. Hal Moore

•Worries about enlistments & 7th Cavalry (Custer)•Makes promise to troops & families

DAY 3

Sgt. Ernie Savage •Member of “Lost Platoon”•Takes command of “Lost Platoon” when officer is wounded•Keeps this platoon alive using artilley

Joseph Galloway•Reporter•Family history of military service•Refused to fight; wanted to document instead•Remains with 7th Cavalry in battle

Lt. Col. Hal Moore

•Refuses to leave battlefield

Major Bruce Crandall•Upset that medivac will not land & collect wounded•Provides key air support for LZ XRay

DAY 4

Julie Moore

•Upset about “taxi- death telegrams”•Delivers “death telegrams” with Barbara

Sgt. Major Basil Plumley

•Tells Galloway to arm himself

Lt. Col. Hal Moore

•Calls in “Broken Arrow”

Sgt. Ernie Savage

•Found alive after “Broken Arrow”•Refuses to be evacuated; wants to continue fighting