Lt. Col. Iceal Hambleton (Gene Hackman) is shot down behind enemy lines during the waning days of the Vietnam War. Clark hid on the south side of the Mieu Giang River, while Walker was about 6 kilometers (3.7mi) north of Hambleton, who was on the north side of the river about 2 kilometers (1.2mi) from the town of Cam Lo. When the three arrived at Dong Ha, a reporter commented to Norris, It must have been tough out there. However, when they rounded a bend in the river, the NVA fired on them with a heavy caliber machine gun. [1]:75[2]:71 The remainder of the aircraft's six-man crewMaj. Bat 21 isn't quite a war movie, but it isn't quite an anti-war movie either. [2]:6, On the morning of 7 April, 1st Lt. Bruce C. Walker accompanied by naval artillery spotter Marine Lt. Larry F. Potts were flying USAF OV-10A (Covey 282) from 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron. Nguyn and Norris, who was slightly built, donned Vietnamese clothing and disguised themselves as fishermen. Always reminds me of Danny Glover as Captain Bartholomew Clark the FOC in the film BAT-21, although I believe he was actually flying a Cessna O-2 Super Skymaster in that film. As the A-4s finished their deadly work, Norris and Kiet moved Hambleton back into the sampan and headed back to the teams original outpost. California Statutory Will Fillable Form, Hambleton had to be carried to safety, as he was unable to walk, but he was finally safe. For the movie based on these real-life events, see. Affirmed Networks Layoffs, Thomas White, the Troop operations officer. He told Norris he would get the team to the front lines but after that he would take no responsibility for them.. "[2]:30, There were also political overtones to Hambleton's rescue. When it was seen that NVA forces were pouring through the gap unimpeded, the no-fire zone was reduced at 22:00 that night,[39] but not before the action generated considerable debate. Bartholomew 'Bird-Dog' Clark - 1988: Tequila Sunrise Tequila Sunrise (1988) - Dale "Mac" McKussic 1987: Lethal Weapon Lethal Weapon (1987) Sergeant Roger Murtaugh Sergeant Martin Riggs . They could have preserved their suspense and still saluted the close bonds that develop between Hambleton (Gene Hackman) and Clark, who know each only through their radios and by their code names, Bat 21 (Hambleton) and Birddog (Clark). Main Menu Based on true events in the lives of Lieutenant Colonel Iceal Hambleton and Captain Bartholomew "Bird Dog" Clark, which occurred during the Vietnam War. In addition to the direct casualties caused by the rescue mission it is likely that South Vietnamese soldiers indirectly died as a result of their inability to obtain fire support. In Saigon, Navy SEAL Lt. Thomas R. Norris, one of just three SEAL officers and nine enlisted men[30] remaining in Vietnam,[5] had just completed an assignment in the Mekong Delta. A fictional character, Captain Bartholomew "Birddog" Clark (Danny Glover), was created to be the single point of contact with Hambleton. When a pirate crew led by Captain Bartholomew Morgan takes over the ship, Thomas stows away and is I never had to do anything like that before in my life. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia. [2]:66, In April, 1972 he was reassigned from the SAC to TAC and to the 42nd Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron (42 TEWS), 388th Tactical Fighter Wing, at Korat, Thailand. Lt. Col. Thomas Gisson MOS. Their remains were never found. The Rescue of BAT-21. " The above quote is from the English buccaneer captain Bartholomew Sharp and is probably dated some time in the year 1681. Hambleton, an expert on electronic weapons systems and who holds valuable information, is known to the North Vietnamese, who begin an all-out search, attempting to capture him. Original Score: 3/5. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Template:Short description Bat*21 is a 1988 American war film directed by Peter Markle, and adapted from the book by William C. Anderson, novelist and retired United States Air Force colonel. [27]:282 Potts was wounded and captured alive, but later died in Quang Binh prison. [7] Norris convinced them to stay by persuading them that the only way they would get back to safety was to stay with the team. [7]:39 To protect the downed airmen and the search and rescue forces, Muirhead also ordered the 7th Air Force to establish a standard 27 kilometers (17mi) no-fire zone around Hambleton. Hambleton wasn't transmitting on schedule and his occasional radio calls were difficult to understand. DoD photo. By the time the patrol passed by, Clark had floated on downstream. It would last a total of 17 days; 24 sorties would be flown and 13 men would lose their lives. Apr 22, 2005. "Birddog" Clark (Danny Glover). Norris was now left with just three Vietnamese commandos who spoke very little English. Clark and Hambleton were several miles apart. I couldn't stop him. He had written a non fiction about his experience in Vietnam 1964 called The Only War We've Got that covered a similar theme This was a low budget but profe. Their remains were recently returned home from their fatal attempt to rescue a downed navigator in Vietnam; their helicopter crashed after being hit by enemy fire. Two books were written about the search and rescue operation to bring Hambleton out alive: the first was Bat-21 (1985) by William C. Anderson, and the second, published after considerable classified information was released, The Rescue of Bat 21 (1999) by Darrel D. Whitcomb. [31]:239, Hambleton had a much more difficult taskto bypass North Vietnamese-occupied villages and gun emplacements. Sitting in the navigators position, Hambleton was automatically set to be the first to eject in the event of an emergency. [5] Hidden in a clump of trees in his hole, surrounded by North Vietnamese less than 100 meters (330ft) away,[13]:37 Hambleton decided that with only nine months to go until his retirement, he was going to survive and return home. The object of their rescue attempt was Lieutenant Colonel Iceal Hambleton, whose call sign was Bat-21. But with Hambleton in such poor physical condition, slipping in and out of consciousness, moaning and rambling on senselessly, Norris knew he had to get him downriver immediately. The EB-66's mission was to troll for missiles, let them lock on to their aircraft, and then execute a SAM break, a violent turn and dive designed to throw off the pursuing missile. As the realization set in that he could not force the two men into helping him, Norris changed his tactics and asked for volunteers. Capt. Primary Unit. It was now early morning and they would have to wait until nightfall to go back out and get Hambleton. Anderson now planned to rescue Hambleton and Clark. [19]:68 On his own initiative, Norris left his team and swam downstream several hours looking for Clark. Company Credits Fine performances are offered by Clayton Rohner as a grease monkey who is both mystical and remarkably resourceful, David Marshall Grant as the cocky, suprisingly quick-witted chopper pilot, and Jerry Reed (who also served as the film's executive producer and wrote music for it) as Birddog's commanding officer. They wanted me to move southeast 400 yards. The two men continued to paddle upriver, but got turned around because of the heavy fog. [10], After pinpointing Hambleton's location, the Air Force bombarded the area around him for the next three days. Hambleton coolly called in the coordinates of the North Vietnamese around him, watched the ordnance explode, and called in corrections to the FAC above, who relayed the information to the A-1s and the "fast movers", F-4 Phantom fighter-bombers. Release Dates Legacy.com is the leading provider of online obituaries for the newspaper industry. DoD photo. Bartholomew Clark (code name: Birddog), the spotter pilot who flies above Hambleton, relaying vital . Bat21* is a 1988 American war film directed by Peter Markle, and adapted from the book by William C. Anderson, novelist and retired United States Air Force colonel. Very few Americans remained on the ground in Vietnam, and the NVA made it a point to track particularly valuable personnel, even in Thailand. These young Americans were killed in the crash of their helicopter on April 6, 1972 while on a rescue mission in Quang Tri, South Vietnam (see story below). [2]:6, Hambleton assigned himself as navigator on the older EB-66C, which was configured to gather signals intelligence. - July 26, 2010. One Vietnamese petty officer stepped forward and Norris realized that young Nguyen Van Kiet not only had the ability but the determination that was needed for this mission. One commando was killed. John Henry Call III (co-pilot), TSgt. Allen Avery, Auburn, Mass. Hungry, exhausted and desperate, Hambletons lowest moment came at the end of the fifth day, when he watched an Air Force Jolly Green Giant rescue helicopter erupt into a giant fireball, killing all six men aboard. In the 8 kilometers (5.0mi) area between the Cam Lo Bridge and Dong Ha Bridge, the NVA were supported by two tank regiments of 150 Soviet T-54 and PT-76 tanks, 75 tracked anti-aircraft vehicles, an artillery regiment of 47 towed 130mm guns, and the largest concentration of anti-aircraft weaponry of the entire war,[5] including the advanced SA-2 surface-to-air missile (SAM). [18]:318, As a direct result of the rescue operation, five aircraft were lost,[19]:70[28] 11 people were killed,[40]:162[19]:69 and two were captured. Ross Carver: Yeah, I heard you brought in the flyboys. Israel P. Case's Company. As grateful as he is to have avoided the booby trap, he seems even happier to have been reassured that there's still such a thing as decency. [4] About 30,000 heavily equipped[1]:71 NVA troops from the 304th and 308th Divisions and three separate infantry regiments of the B5 Front crossed the DMZ into I Corps zone across the five northernmost provinces of South Vietnam. Hambleton had made radio contact with an O-2 FAC (forward air controller) pilot that was patrolling in his vicinity. I had to stand by and watch six young men die trying to save my life. Iceal Hambleton Danny Glover=Capt. Captain Knight last saw his father at Dallas Love Field Airport when he was deployed to serve in the Vietnam War. Q.M. Jake Scott Joe Dorsey=Col. Golf wasn't big in my neighborhood. Capt. For the 53-year-old Air Force strategist, combat has always been a game, a round of chess or Space Invaders. Bat 21. Cheers, Alessandro Rome, Italy. ", Prater's remains were buried with full military honors on 19 June 2010 by his family. Colonel Mark Clark was a first lieutenant at the time of the Bat-21 search, and was the first to go in trying to extract Hambleton. Clark was present. [14][23], USMC Col. Al Gray suggested a covert, land-based rescue operation. Jacob Boerstler's Company. After World War II, he was recalled to active service by the USAF in the early 1950s. James Alley, Plantation, Fla.; Sgt. capt bartholomew bird dog clarkjack paar cause of death. Bartholomew "Bird-Dog" Clark (Danny Glover), a pilot who helps him craft an escape plan and maintain his sanity. Bat*21 Quotes, Movie quotes - Movie Quotes .com "- Lt. Christ Church. capt bartholomew bird dog clark. Despite the risk, Norris and Nguyn hid Hambleton in the bottom of the sampan, covered him with bamboo, and started downriver. Born at Tiffin, Ohio, July 1, 1936. Lyle Wilson in an O-2 (Bilk 34) forward air controller (FAC) aircraft saw Bat 21 explode. Janet Maslin. With his knowledge of high-level secret plans, Hambleton (code name: Bat 21) would be a valuable catch for the enemy. After landing in a rice paddy just east of Cam Lo village and roughly one mile from the Cam Lo Bridge, Hambleton waited until dark to move into a nearby wooded area. [19]:69 Icke directed Sandy 01 to drop a Madden survival pack containing food, water, ammunition and extra radios[23] to Hambleton, but it fell 50 meters (160ft) away, slightly above him, and he was too weak to climb up to it. Norris was left with five Vietnamese commandos who spoke little English. Bat 21 - Rotten Tomatoes Bartholomew 'Bird-Dog' Clark Jerry . The Movie (1984) and Youngblood (1986) had it in him? 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