In The Shadow of The Blade
Encyclopedia
In the Shadow of the Blade is a 2004 American documentary film
produced and directed by Patrick and Cheryl Fries. It won awards in the film industry and with the Vietnam veteran community, including the WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival "Best of Show" and "Gold Documentary" and the Vietnam Veterans of America
President's Award for Outstanding Documentary. The documentary was acquired for North American television broadcast by Discovery Communications
.
"Huey" helicopter on a flight to reunite Vietnam War
veterans and families of the dead with the iconic aircraft three decades after the war as a vehicle for eliciting the stories of ordinary Americans affected by the war.
, Alabama, where many Vietnam helicopter pilots trained before deployment. War journalist Joseph L. Galloway
spoke at the ceremonial event, after which veteran Huey pilot Michael J. Novosel
, a Medal of Honor
recipient took the left seat. The inaugural flight carried Vietnam veterans representing the United States Army
, the United States Marine Corps
, the United States Navy
, and the United States Air Force
. The first landing zone was the Wall South in Pensacola, Florida.
More than 40 more landing zones across eight states captured stories of veterans from all branches and many military roles. Each flight leg carried Vietnam War veterans and/or families of servicemen Killed in action
. The film made its final landing on Veterans Day
at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park
in Angel Fire, New Mexico.
became public "welcome home" ceremonies for local veterans. Others, like the backyard landing zone near Columbus, Georgia where the son and grandson of Charles L. Kelly
heard stories about the founder and legacy of "Dustoff" missions, were more private. A landing near Atlanta, Georgia resulted in a later reunion of a Vietnam War Army nurse with a now-grown Vietnamese baby she'd helped save during the war. General Hal Moore
, commander of the Battle of Ia Drang
was interviewed later by the film producers.
to an audience of more than 1,000. Other major screenings have been held at the Women In Military Service for America Memorial, the Museum of Flight
the Corning Museum of Glass
and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
.
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
produced and directed by Patrick and Cheryl Fries. It won awards in the film industry and with the Vietnam veteran community, including the WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival "Best of Show" and "Gold Documentary" and the Vietnam Veterans of America
Vietnam Veterans of America
Vietnam Veterans of America Inc. is a national non-profit corporation founded in 1978 in the United States that promotes the interests of United States military veterans of the Vietnam War era. It is funded without any contribution from any branch of government...
President's Award for Outstanding Documentary. The documentary was acquired for North American television broadcast by Discovery Communications
Discovery Communications
Discovery Communications, Inc. is an American global media and entertainment company. The company started as a single channel in 1985, The Discovery Channel. Today, DCI has global operations offering 28 network entertainment brands on more than 100 channels in more than 180 countries in 39...
.
Content
The film follows a restored UH-1 IroquoisUH-1 Iroquois
The Bell UH-1 Iroquois is a military helicopter powered by a single, turboshaft engine, with a two-bladed main rotor and tail rotor. The helicopter was developed by Bell Helicopter to meet the United States Army's requirement for a medical evacuation and utility helicopter in 1952, and first flew...
"Huey" helicopter on a flight to reunite Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
veterans and families of the dead with the iconic aircraft three decades after the war as a vehicle for eliciting the stories of ordinary Americans affected by the war.
The aircraft
The film's centerpiece is UH-1 "Huey 091" (tail number 65-10091), which is now permanently displayed in the Smithsonian Museum of American History "Price of Freedom: Americans At War" exhibit. "Huey 091" served during the Vietnam War with the U.S. Army in the 173rd Assault Helicopter Company, "The Robin Hoods, in 1966-67 before being removed stateside after incurring battle damage.Route
The documentary's "mission of healing and reconciliation" lifted off at Fort RuckerFort Rucker
Fort Rucker is a U.S. Army post located mostly in Dale County, Alabama, United States. It was named for a Civil War officer, Confederate General Edmund Rucker. The post is the primary flight training base for Army Aviation and is home to the United States Army Aviation Center of Excellence and...
, Alabama, where many Vietnam helicopter pilots trained before deployment. War journalist Joseph L. Galloway
Joseph L. Galloway
Joseph Lee "Joe" Galloway , is an American newspaper correspondent and columnist. He is the former Military Affairs consultant for the Knight-Ridder chain of newspapers and is presently a columnist with McClatchy Newspapers...
spoke at the ceremonial event, after which veteran Huey pilot Michael J. Novosel
Michael J. Novosel
Michael J. Novosel, Sr. of Enterprise, Alabama was a recipient of the United States' highest military decoration — the Medal of Honor — and a retired Chief Warrant Officer .-Biography:...
, a Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
recipient took the left seat. The inaugural flight carried Vietnam veterans representing the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
, the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, and the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
. The first landing zone was the Wall South in Pensacola, Florida.
More than 40 more landing zones across eight states captured stories of veterans from all branches and many military roles. Each flight leg carried Vietnam War veterans and/or families of servicemen Killed in action
Killed in action
Killed in action is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces. The United States Department of Defense, for example, says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to...
. The film made its final landing on Veterans Day
Veterans Day
Veterans Day, formerly Armistice Day, is an annual United States holiday honoring military veterans. It is a federal holiday that is observed on November 11. It coincides with other holidays such as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day, which are celebrated in other parts of the world and also mark...
at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park
Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park
Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park was the first major Vietnam memorial in the United States. It is currently the only state park dedicated exclusively to veterans of the Vietnam War...
in Angel Fire, New Mexico.
Film Subjects
The producers encouraged Vietnam veterans in local areas to create their own landing zone events in their communities. Some, like the one in Liberty County, GeorgiaLiberty County, Georgia
Liberty County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 61,610. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 60,503...
became public "welcome home" ceremonies for local veterans. Others, like the backyard landing zone near Columbus, Georgia where the son and grandson of Charles L. Kelly
Charles L. Kelly
Charles L. Kelly was a United States Army helicopter pilot during The Vietnam War. Major Kelly was the Commanding Officer of the 57th Medical Detachment from 11 January 1964 until he was killed in action on 1 July of the same year while trying to evacuate a wounded American advisor along with...
heard stories about the founder and legacy of "Dustoff" missions, were more private. A landing near Atlanta, Georgia resulted in a later reunion of a Vietnam War Army nurse with a now-grown Vietnamese baby she'd helped save during the war. General Hal Moore
Hal Moore
Harold Gregory "Hal" Moore, Jr. is a retired lieutenant general in the United States Army and author. Moore is a recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross, which is the second highest military decoration of the United States Army, and was the first of his West Point class to be promoted to...
, commander of the Battle of Ia Drang
Battle of Ia Drang
The Battle of Ia Drang was the first major battle between the United States Army and the People's Army of Vietnam The Battle of Ia Drang was the first major battle between the United States Army and the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) The Battle of Ia Drang was the first major battle between the...
was interviewed later by the film producers.
Screenings
The film debuted in 2004 at the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and MuseumLyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum
The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum is one of 13 presidential libraries administered by the National Archives and Records Administration. The library houses 45 million pages of historical documents, including the papers of Lyndon Baines Johnson and those of his close associates and others...
to an audience of more than 1,000. Other major screenings have been held at the Women In Military Service for America Memorial, the Museum of Flight
Museum of Flight
The Museum of Flight is a private non-profit air and space museum at King County International Airport , south of downtown Seattle, Washington. It was established in 1965 and is fully accredited by the American Association of Museums...
the Corning Museum of Glass
Corning Museum of Glass
The Corning Museum of Glass, in Corning, New York, explores every facet of glass, including art, history, culture, science and technology, craft, and design....
and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Center for Public Affairs is the presidential library and final resting place of Ronald Wilson Reagan, the 40th President of the United States. Designed by Hugh Stubbins and Associates, the library is located in Simi Valley, California, about northwest of...
.