The Last Full Measure, a film about the campaign to garner a long-delayed Medal of Honor for USAF Pararescuemen (PJ) medic SSG William H. Pitsenbarger, was released in theaters in January and recently came out on DVD. LifeZette had an opportunity to view the film and talk to its Director/writer Todd Robinson. The movie was filmed in Thailand in 2018.
The PJ ethos of “service greater than self” permeates the film.
The Last Full Measure, the phrase is a quote from the Gettysburg Address, stars Ed Harris, Samuel L. Jackson, Christopher Plummer, Sebastian Stan, Jeremy Irvine, Dale Dye, William Hurt, and the late Peter Fonda. It is moving that Fonda, whose first major film was the breakthrough countercultural hit “Easy Rider,” finished a notable acting career in a superb performance portraying a mentally scarred yet patriotic Vietnam veteran.
“Pits”, as Pitsenbarger was known to his comrades, was awarded the Medal for actions on April 11, 1966 at the Battle of Xa Cam My in South Vietnam, though it took over thirty years to have the award upgraded from an Air Force Cross to the MOH because of brass hat bureaucratic bungling.
The battle was part of Operation Abilene, a U.S. Army 1st Infantry operation that used the Big Red One to bait the Viet Cong into a major engagement. While approaching the battle area, 1st Infantry troops were ambushed and came under heavy attack. SSG Pitsenbarger came in by helo, evacuated wounded men, and stayed to fight with the 1st Infantry. He died while serving in battle with those troops.
As a later veteran of the 1st Infantry, the film had special resonance for me.
Director Robinson told this publication that the film, and the performances in it, were homages to the men who served that day and the Vietnam veterans who came home after them. Robinson, a pilot and a man very articulate on military issues, attended the USAF 1999 PJ training graduation class ceremony at Kirtland AFB in New Mexico.
Speaking at the graduation was Pitsenbarger’s father, Frank Pitsenbarger. Robinson took note of his words and that address to the PJ class is recounted verbatim in the film. Much of the story revolves around the service to Frank Pitsenbarger, who was terminally ill, of securing the much-deserved MOH for his son. This effort was led by Pits’ USAF and U.S. Army comrades.
The attention to military detail in the movie is impressive. As many vets do, I scanned the film for the military inaccuracies so usually prevalent in Hollywood films. None to be seen here. Robinson did his homework.
Said Robinson, actors like Samuel L. Jackson knew their roles and didn’t need a lot of help from the director. In fact, Jackson told Robinson, “You don’t need to do that much with me.”
Robinson commented that the film has leadership lessons for today, as its “service greater than self” theme recalls the sacrifices and motivating spirit of our current first responders, grocery store personnel, nurses, and other people who are on the front lines in the fight against the coronavirus.
This writer cannot recommend this movie too highly. Its true tale of SSG Pitsenbarger’s courage, service, and the ultimate sacrifice for comrades and country rings as true today as it did on that heroic day in April of 1966.
The film is streaming now and available on Blu Ray and DVD. You can see the trailer here.
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