Previewing Brothers in War

“Having spent the last two decades researching and writing about the Vietnam War, I must say ‘Brothers in War’ is one of the finest documentaries about that conflict ever produced, featuring razor-sharp editing, masterfully restored archival footage, and a powerful yet understated musical score. The narration by Charlie Sheen is first-rate, as are the interviews conducted with members of Charlie Company, 4th Battalion, 47th Infantry, who offer compelling testimony about the harsh realities of combat and the bonds of brotherhood forged in war. A must-see.” -Dr. Erik B. Villard, Military Historian

There have been countless movies made about the Vietnam War covering probably every angle in the nearly forty years since the last Americans left the country. Of course the best stories are the ones told by those actually there and Brothers in War features one of the last combat infantry companies to be drafted, trained, and sent to fight together in Vietnam. The movie features interviews with those that put boots on the ground and featuring their own home movies and personal audio tapes from the era.

Narrated by Charlie Sheen, who long before infusing himself with tiger blood, rose to fame starring the Vietnam era Platoon, the movie follows a yearlong combat tour that took 26 of their own and wounded another 105 soldier in the Charlie Company. The fist hand account of their time in the foreign country are gut wrench as they mourned their own while trying to kill the guys on the opposite of the battlefield who were not above setting traps at night. We may not need another movie based on Vietnam, but hearing stories firsthand makes Brothers in War one of the few exceptions.


Brothers in War premieres tonight at 8:00 on the National Geographic Channel.