(explosions booming)
(g*nshots blasting)
- [Daniel] We may have left the w*r,
but the w*r never left us.
(gentle music)
There are a few moments in life that will define you.
Mine was in Afghanistan.
Some say that we were sent there to die.
And a lot of us did.
The rest of us have been dying in bits and pieces
since the first day we came home.
(g*nsh*t booming)
(gentle music continues)
- [Chuck] Son, we live in a world where we make choices,
and we live by them.
I made my choice in Vietnam.
You made your choice after / in Afghanistan.
Our buddies made their choices.
Don't you think it's time for you to make a new choice?
- [Daniel] You call this a choice?
- [Chuck] No.
I call it feeling sorry for yourself.
You have to learn to live a new life now.
Not the life that you wanted,
but the life that you were dealt.
- [Daniel] Was it easy for you to come back?
- [Chuck] sh*t, it's never easy, son.
But we are Marines.
["Born Ready" By All Good Things Playing]
- [Daniel] What is w*r like?
Two soldiers on the opposite sides,
k*lling each other for what they believe is patriotic.
It wasn't hard for an year old to join the m*llitary
after /.
No matter how hard you train,
you do what you're told or take advice from other soldiers.
Nothing can prepare you for w*r.
♪ Whoa, whoa ♪
♪ Whoa, whoa ♪
♪ Whoa, whoa ♪
♪ Whoa, whoa ♪
- [Daniel] There are many untold stories
from countless soldiers.
This is my story.
(thunder rumbling)
I suffer from multiple injuries
from a surprise ambush in Afghanistan
after about seven years in the service.
With multiple surgeries performed on me,
I know now that these doctors saved me
as much as they could at that time.
I truly wanted to thank them,
but I was too devastated of facing my own truths.
(dramatic music)
- Hi, Daniel. I'm Dr. Ward.
I'm here to inform you that you received some very serious
and irreparable damage and injuries,
and we did what we had to do to revive you.
But I'm here to tell you, Daniel,
that your life is never gonna be the same.
Daniel, you're never gonna walk again.
(dramatic music continues)
You're gonna be in a wheelchair for the rest of your life.
And that's my professional opinion.
For myself, don't ever stop the fight.
Don't ever give up.
When you're ready,
you let us know and we'll bring in a wheelchair
and help you get into it.
- [Daniel] I am no longer physically able
to defend my country and serve with my brothers.
I felt like life was over.
This is now my reality.
(dramatic music continues)
(gentle music)
This is my buddy Charles Rooney, aka Chuck, aka Soul,
a Vietnam w*r vet who's assigned to help me
and other veterans
deal with things after coming back home from the w*r.
- [Daniel] How y'all doing, homies?
I know it's been a while.
It's been really hard.
Coming back home isn't what we thought it was.
We are not heroes.
We were expendables and now burdens to everyone.
- [Chuck] You never have to feel ashamed.
- I should've d*ed with them.
- I feel the same way.
Every day, I think of the same exact thing.
- How did you deal with it after all these years?
- First, you have to understand what you're dealing with
when you come back from combat.
I never knew what it was.
I found out years later that it's survivor's complex.
You feel responsible.
Why did I make it and my buddies didn't?
- You know, I can't help but to think,
but I could've done more to save them, you know?
Maybe if I was smarter or trained harder,
maybe if I was a better rifleman,
[ … ]
you know, maybe I was a better-
- A better Marine? You did your best, brother.
You were outstanding.
(birds singing)
So where do you wanna go now, brother?
- You mind if I have a second?
- Of course.
(gentle music)
- [Daniel] I miss you guys.
Maybe I'll join you guys soon.
Hey, Chuck,
can I treat you to that diner we normally go to?
- [Chuck] Yeah. Only if you're promised to behave.
- [Daniel] Of course I will.
Do you mind if I get outta this uniform?
- [Chuck] No, not at all, brother. Think that'd be good.
- [Teen Girl ] Where does he think
he's going dressed like that?
(girls laugh)
Look at him. He can't even push his own wheelchair.
(girls laugh)
- [Mary] So this is the young man
that you've been telling me about.
- Yep.
The last time we were here, you were off, which is rare.
(gentle music)
- So don't let him give you any of his so-called tough love.
He's just an old timer.
- Old timer?
- I have to be frank with you, ma'am.
He's been wonderful.
I think it's been me who's giving him
a whole lot of troubles on my own.
- Well, I'm sure it's not anything that he can't handle.
I've been putting up with him for many years in here.
Chuck, you want the usual?
- Mm-hmm. Yeah. - Alrighty. 'Course.
- I'll take the Daisy Duke special and a sweet tea please.
- Alrighty, I'll be back. Thank you.
- So, did you get the results back from the lab?
- I think it should be any day now.
- You need to understand this.
The way the system operates, it's at a snail's pace.
- Okay, guys, here we go.
We got one sweet tea for you and the usual for Chuck,
black coffee and a cup of milk.
- [Daniel] Thank you. - Food'll be up shortly.
- Thank you. - Thank you, baby.
- Did you ever look back and question it all?
- Sometimes.
But don't get me wrong,
you and I and all the rest of the vets,
we did what was right by enlisting.
It's the way the government handled the w*r
that was so baffling.
- For me, life is harder than anything I've ever faced
on that b*ttlefield.
["About To Get Crazy" By Oh The Larceny Playing]
At least over there, I had my mission,
my unit, my worth.
♪ It's about to get crazy ♪ (marines yells)
♪ It's about to go down ♪
♪ It's about to get crazy, it's gonna be loud ♪
♪ It's gonna be loud ♪
♪ This is our house, do what we wanna ♪
♪ We'll blow the roof up ♪
♪ Everybody's comin' ♪
♪ It's about to get crazy ♪ ♪ It's about to get crazy ♪
♪ It's about to go down ♪
♪ It's about to get ♪
- [Mendoza] What do we have here?
- [O'Hara] What's it say? - [Finch] Give it back.
(Bass music)
- [O'Hara] "Dear Allison...
- [Finch] Gimme back my sh*t.
- [Mendoza] It's a love letter.
(marines laughing)
- [O'Hara] "Dear Allison, my love.
Ooh. - [Mendoza] Ooh.
- [Finch] sh*t. Come on.
- [Mendoza] "I love you so much.
(marines screams)
- [O'Hara] The romantic type.
(background noise drowns out marines)
- [Mendoza] Okay, okay, okay. Okay, okay.
- [Daniel] Hey, guys, cut that sh*t out.
- [O'Hara] You're in trouble. He's upset.
- [Mendoza] Yeah. Chill out.
- [Finch] At least I got somebody to write to.
- Why did you join?
(soft dramatic music)
- Life is rough on the streets where I grew up.
You either end up dead or in prison. You?
- Third generation m*llitary. More over 'cause of /.
But I'm in this for the long haul.
- I just wanna do enough time, get an education,
start my own family.
- Yo, O'Hara. - [O'Hara] What?
- What you gon' do when you get out?
- sh*t. That's easy.
[ … ]
I'm gonna use my money to buy my own gym.
- I bet that man will die happy in a gym.
- [O'Hara] Yes, sir.
- As long as he's happy, I guess life isn't too bad.
- Hm. Don't you want a family?
- I haven't planned that far.
The funny thing is,
we all thought we were gonna be some sort of heroes
coming back home.
- We all thought that, son.
(explosions booming)
(dramatic music)
(plate shattering)
- It's all right, Daniel. It's all right.
You get up now. It's all right. It's all right. You get up.
- What in the world happened?
- What do you think happened to him?
- Pretty sure he used to be in the m*llitary.
- Oh, these darn girls.
Honey, are you all right?
- I think I know someone that you should meet.
- I'm all right. I be fine.
- It's a simple conversation. No commitment.
- [Maddie] Daniel, why are you here?
- [Daniel] I don't know.
- Do you have anything you would like us to talk about?
It's normal to feel the way-
- You think you know how I feel?
(somber music)
- Well, tell me, Daniel, how do you feel?
- I don't know how I feel or what I feel
or why I feel the way I feel.
- That's a good start.
- [Daniel] How do I feel?
(g*nshots blasting) (somber music)
(Daniel screaming) (mirror shattering)
(g*nshots blasting)
This isn't for me.
- I believe there are things we should discuss.
Talking about it might help.
- Maybe other soldiers come in here
and spill their guts with you,
but that's not me.
- That's not you?
So what are you?
- Don't patronize me.
You see what I am.
- I think you want me to see what you're projecting
for me and the world to see.
- You telling me I want this?
I want you and the world to see me like this?
- It's my observation.
- You are entitled to your observation
sitting here in this fancy office,
while I serve and defended this country.
- And we thank you for that.
But fact remains no one put a g*n to your head
to join the m*llitary.
You chose to be a Marine, did you not?
Like I chose this profession.
I sit here day in, day out,
trying to piece back what all happen in there.
So I'm not judging you.
If anything,
I'm simply a punching bag
for you and the other to hit on day after day
once you through with the m*llitary.
- You're right. I shouldn't be angry with you.
- I don't know your story, but I would like to.
But this can happen only in time
when you have the courage to do so.
- Maybe another time.
- We have a group of ex-m*llitary servicemen.
They meet here each week at seven.
Maybe you should drop in.
- I'm not ready for that yet.
- Whenever you are ready, just make an appointment,
and if you have any question
or maybe you would like to share anything...
(somber music)
- [Chuck] You in a hurry, brother?
- Hey, you set me up pretty good back there.
- Could you excuse us for a moment please?
- Sure.
- I didn't set you up.
I really believe she can help you
with a few of those things on your mind.
- How can she help us
if she's never been through what we've been through?
- I wouldn't say that.
Back in my days, we weren't able to talk about this,
about what happened back there.
(somber music)
su1c1de rates for Vietnam vets are sky high.
Nowadays, we at least have su1c1de prevention programs.
More accessibility
to deal with what we went through mentally.
- I just don't think talking about it helps.
- But it's a start.
I know you think you had it rough when you came back home,"
[ … ]
and I know you did.
It was pretty crappy for us also.
Our own people were protesting against us.
Imagine that.
Imagine looking at antiwar protestors, draft dodgers.
They never served like we did.
The majority of the Vietnam veterans came from poor
and working class backgrounds.
We resented the student protestors.
They led rallies against the w*r
in their safety of their own backyards.
So we were getting sh*t from people
who didn't have to go to w*r,
nor understand it.
And then they had the audacity to undermine us
for what we did over there.
They never walked in our shoes.
We were the collateral damage.
w*r just benefits some people, not the troops.
Spit and curses.
You come home without your fallen buddies
and you're greeted with spit and curses.
- I thought we had it bad.
- We all did, but just different degrees of it.
- It's so strange to see how people behave towards you.
- Yeah, well that's just people for you.
You have to pick up the pieces and rebuild your life,
moment to moment.
- And some don't even make it long enough
to see the light of day.
- You know, even some of my friends
treated me like I had bubonic plague.
But you know what, brother?
I know who my real friends are.
People that have my back.
People that would sacrifice their life for me.
And I for them.
You can't put a price on that.
- I got your back, brother.
- I know.
- Look, I really need a favor.
Seriously, man. Stop playing.
- Don't tell me. It's Maddie.
She's a tough one.
- I really need you to put in the good word for me.
- Why? What did you do?
- Look, I was an ass to her and...
- I'll ask her for you.
But you need to apologize to her face to face.
- Thank you.
- So you sure you don't wanna get out for a little bit?
- Nah, I think I better go home.
- You know you're not alone in the fight.
(emotional music)
- [Daniel] I never thought that I would beg
for the simple things in life,
such as walking, running,
or just be left alone.
You wonder how I got here to this point.
My injuries.
That is one of the most frequent asked questions.
At the age of , I was diagnosed with cerebral palsy,
which affects the lower part of my body
and nerve damage to my lower back
due to carrying backpacks and equipment for so many years.
I felt like my life was over.
- Maddie, glad I caught you just in time.
- What is it?
(soft dramatic music)
- Is there any way you could accept an apology
from me for Daniel?
- If he wants to apologize, he will have to do it in person.
Why are you doing this for him?
- [Chuck] I feel responsible for him.
- No one is responsible for his wellbeing, but him.
- I understand.
You see, I'm a mentor in this program called Veterans Court.
It's a program established to help veterans
who have gotten into trouble with the law,
helps keep them out of prison,
gives 'em a chance to turn their lives around.
Daniel is one of two vets that were assigned to me.
- [Maddie] You say two.
- [Chuck] I did.
- What happened to the other one?
- I did my best.
I did all I could to pull him out of it.
His name is Rudy.
But sadly, he took his own life
to save his wife from any further suffering and pain.
- I'm very sorry, Charles.
Why didn't you come see me?
- You have enough on your plate.
I feel like a failure not helping Rudy.
Daniel is my last chance.
If you can agree to see him, not only will it help him,
but it'll also give me an opportunity
try and make a difference.
(somber music)
- [Jocko] w*r teaches you about sorrow
[ … ]
and loss and pain.
And it teaches you about the preciousness
and the fragility of human life.
(somber music continues)
In w*r,
you are forced to see humanity
at its absolute worst.
And you are also blessed
to see humanity in its most glorious moments.
- [Soldier] No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
(somber music continues)
- [Jocko] But w*r also teaches you
about brotherhood and honor. - [Daniel] See you guys later.
Okay?
- [Jocko] And humility and leadership.
- [Daniel] Move forward.
- [Jocko] And in that fragility,
w*r teaches you about death.
(somber musical buildup)
(g*nshots blasting)
(Daniel gasps)
(somber music)
- I'm not gonna lie to you and say that I'm always strong,
positive, and upbeat.
I'm human just like everyone else,
but with more physical and mental difficulties.
I fell into a great depression.
I knew I would have a new battle ahead of me.
I don't think those doctors knew how to help a guy like me.
I knew it was time to make a change
or I'm going to die.
Hey.
- Hey. We haven't seen you in a while.
Good to have you back.
- Good to be back. But this time I plan to stick around.
- Good.
(gentle music)
- [Daniel] Hey, man.
- [Greg] Hey, Daniel. Welcome back, man.
- [Daniel] Thanks, man. I'm ready to do this.
- That's good to hear.
One day at a time, one moment to the next.
I need you to raise your legs as if you kicking somebody.
Come on, raise it up. Raise it up. Come on.
Come on. That's it. Come on, stretch it out.
(Daniel groaning)
Just gimme another one. Gimme another one. Come on.
Raise it.
(Daniel groaning)
Come on. Come on. Yeah. Come on, come on.
Ooh, that's real tight. You got it.
You have my work cut out for us. That's it.
Hey, Daniel, I know this left one's a little harder,
but you can do it.
(Daniel groans) - That hurts.
- Yeah, yeah, yeah. Last one, best one.
Okay, come on.
(gentle music)
(Daniel groaning)
All right.
- [Daniel] See you next time, huh?
- Yes, sir.
- [Daniel] Thank you, brother. - Good job.
- [Daniel] All right.
(gentle music continues)
Hi.
- [Maddie] Oh. Hi, Daniel.
You shouldn't sneak up on people like that.
- You got jokes.
Who am I gonna sneak up on when my condition's like this?
- Fair enough. What's up?
- [Daniel] This will only take a minute.
- [Maddie] I have a few.
- I want to personally apologize
for my behavior the other day.
- I accept.
- Although I'm not ready for a group session,
(sentimental music)
I just thought maybe we can speak from time to time.
- You mean like therapy session?
- Not exactly, but yes.
- I'm curious. What made you change your mind?
- Let's just say that I did some soul searching
and I would like to say that I've tried every opportunities
to deal with my conditions when it's all said and done.
- You know it won't be easy.
- Fair enough.
You come here often?
- Oh, from time to time.
Why do you ask?
- Oh. It's nothing. I mean, it's good to see you here.
It's just that we come here quite a bit
and maybe if, you know, we can speak to each other
if you in a neighborhood.
- What's wrong with the office?
- The office is unsettling for me.
- We'll see.
- Is that a yes?
- See you later, Daniel.
- It's not a no.
[ … ]
(bell rings)
- Can I help you?
- We've been waiting here for a bit. What's the hold up?
- I'm sorry for the delay. We're understaffed.
- It defeats purpose of making appointment
for a specific time.
- Sir, I'm gonna need you to calm-
- Calm down? You want me to calm down?
I don't wanna calm down.
- What happened? - Nothing is happening.
- I apologize, miss. He doesn't mean any harm.
- Don't apologize for me or any one of us here.
- You're not gonna get any further
by yelling at this young lady.
It's not her. It's the entire process.
Why didn't you guys stop him?
(somber music)
- Big man here, he's the hard one.
- He just needed to blow off some steam.
- You blew off some steam all right.
- Not like that.
I'd love to be punching someone,
but civilians don't need to be treated like a punching bag.
I hate to bother you, miss,
but is there any way that you can look into his files,
see what process he's in?
- Sure. What's his full name?
- Daniel Hernandes.
- That's Daniel Hernandes with an S, not a Z.
- Let me take a look at his paperwork in our system.
Shows he's missing this form and this other form.
- How can that be?
- I'm only looking at what the notes are under his profile.
- Can you give us those files,
so I can have him fill it out now?
- I can, but it won't be looked at and approved
for further procedures until an assessment is made
by a supervisor.
- So I completed my form, and at some point,
someone here lost it or misplaced it.
So now I have to refill it out again
and to see if I'm eligible.
- Unfortunately, yes. That's just the way the system works.
- Well, your system is full of sh*t and it doesn't work.
- You see how he can be so frustrated
with this damn process.
- I'm very sorry,
and I wish there was something that I could do to help.
- You can help.
So you can get the supervisor of his case
to get the paperwork to Daniel
so that he can fill 'em out now and get his treatments.
It's simple.
Slow down a bit.
I can't breathe.
I can't breathe.
- Are you all right?
I mean, I'm sorry I lost it in there, man.
But, you know,
I just don't like the way things get done around here
or not getting done.
- I get it. But I'm like you.
We walked in each other's shoes, brother.
From time to time, I can't handle it either.
- I mean, I don't know what they expect us to do.
Give up outta frustration
or just not be bothered with us at all.
- Maybe you're right.
- Right about what?
About me being an ass,
or the way they treat us when we get back home?
- The system. I don't blame you for being an ass, brother.
(sentimental piano music)
sh*t, I... I was an ass so many times.
I don't even know why I did half the sh*t I did.
My wife told me I was always wrong.
She suggested I talked to my good buddy Irwin.
He talked to me.
And he help me.
I have PTSD, brother.
I guess I always will.
But you know, through therapy sessions,
support of my wife, talking to my buddies,
attending mass, praying,
faith and hope,
you gotta have hope, brother.
That helps you control it.
(helicopter rotors rumbling)
(cinematic music)
- [Jocko] In a country
that most people would struggle to find on a map,
in a compound that few possess the courage to enter,
men from my previous life took the fight to our enemy.
In that compound,
they found men that pray five times a day
for your destruction.
Those praying men don't know me,
they don't know you, and they don't know America.
They don't understand our compassion,
our freedoms and our tolerance.
[ … ]
- I think we all messed up from our deployments.
We weren't ready for the aftermath.
- I won't say that I know how you and other veteran feel,
but you need to know you're not alone in this new battle.
- That's why I'm here.
I feel like I'm always on edge.
You know, ready to fight.
- Were you always like this, on edge, amped up and ready?
- I'm by no mean a lay back guy,
but I think being over there changed me.
It changed all of us.
(gentle music)
- Hey, man, where's your girl?
You haven't talked to her in a while. I know where she's at.
- f*ck you, bitch. You m*therf*cker.
Why the f*ck would you say that?
You know sh*t. - Hey, hey.
- f*ck you, dude. f*ck you. m*therf*cker.
Don't f*cking touch me.
- He's a little frustrated.
- We have news from home.
This guy f*cking said he got an email.
Guy says Jane was f*cking dead.
- No, way. - This guy.
- [Thompson] She's f*cking dead, man.
- [Mendoza] sh*t.
(explosions booms) - [Daniel] Oh, sh*t.
Move, move, move. Incoming. Oh, sh*t.
Where the f*ck you think you going? Get back here.
Where you going?
(explosions booming)
sh*t. - [Mendoza] f*ck!
- [O'Hara] The f*ck is wrong with you man?
- [Daniel] I'm gonna k*ll you myself next time.
- [Finch] Oh, shi-(expl*si*n booming)
- [O'Hara] sh*t. sh*t.
- [Mendoza] Anybody hit? Anybody hit?
- [Thompson] The f*ck is wrong with you?
f*cking stupid. f*ck. sh*t.
- [Thompson] You all right? - [O'Hara] Yeah, I'm good.
- [Thompson] Hey, slug, you all right?
(Mendoza groaning)
Hey, is he all right? - [Daniel] m*therf*ckers.
- [Finch] Mine.
- [O'Hara] That you almost up f*cking d*ed, man.
- [Thompson] We gotta get to the f*cking bunker. Let's go.
Come on, let's get the outta here.
Hope that f*cking cookie was worth it, man.
- Gimme that f*cking cookie.
- They're so good. Here, have a cookie.
Stop talking about that girl's ass.
- [O'Hara] sh*t. - [Thompson] Come on.
(soft dramatic music)
- [Daniel] The anticipation was more nerve wracking
than the chaos itself.
The things that we saw,
so many lives lost senselessly.
- You would think a psychological evaluation
should be mandatory.
- And the fact that we could've d*ed
at any given moment numbed all of us.
- How long were you over there?
- A little bit over eight years.
- Do you miss it there?
(sad music)
- I miss the brotherhood.
- How did this happen?
- If you don't mind, I'd rather not talk about it.
(gentle music)
- [Jocko] Where do you start? Here and now.
You initiate the action aggressively, you go.
You gotta stop thinking about it and stop dreaming about it
and stop researching every aspect of it
and reading all about it and just start doing it.
(inspirational music)
It's about facing your fears.
It takes discipline to face your fears so you can conquer.
(Daniel groaning)
- [Greg] You need to practice these exercises at home.
Okay? It develop the overall strength.
Raise it up.
That's it. Come on, stretch it out.
This one's a little tougher, but try the best you can.
Stretch it out.
- [Jocko] 'Cause the idea isn't gonna execute itself.
Take that first step and make it happen.
Get after it and get after it here and now.
And that's what discipline is.
Discipline means taking the hard road,
the uphill road to do what's right.
- [Greg] Oh, yeah. Come on.
- [Jocko] The easy path,
it calls to us
to give in to the desire and the short term gratification.
But the discipline will not allow that.
The discipline calls for strength and fortitude and will.
It won't accept weakness.
It won't tolerate another breakdown.
Discipline is your best friend.
It will take care of you like nothing else can."
[ … ]
And most importantly, it'll put you on that path to freedom.
♪ Who the f*ck wants to die ♪
♪ Not me, not I ♪ - Dude.
♪ Who the f*ck ♪
- Shut the f*ck up. I'm trying to sleep.
- Do you ever stop around?
- [Mendoza] No. There ain't sh*t to do, bro.
- [Finch] What is wrong with you, man?
♪ I put my hands up on your hip ♪
♪ When I dip, you dip eh ♪
- O' Hara. Wake the f*ck up!
This m*therf*cker's always sleeping.
We are over the hump on deployment.
Now is not the time to slack off or f*ck around.
So listen up.
- [Chuck] I hope you didn't think
I wasn't going to come back to this game, huh?
(sentimental piano music)
Youngsters.
You guys did not believe in the benefits
of sacrifices to divert,
then att*ck to win.
You have to play long enough to learn how to strategize
to bounce back.
In other words, improvise, adapt and overcome, Marine.
- Did you have any? Miscalculated moves?
- I believe we all have.
But it isn't about all those mistakes.
God knows I've had my share.
It's about picking up the pieces
and making 'em whole again.
- I just feel like there's so many pieces to pick up.
It's just overwhelming.
- I think life is designed that way.
It was that easy, everyone's life would be in order, right?
- I just want something to strive for,
something to look forward to each and every day I wake up.
- I think of something that you can consider.
- I just don't think any of those games
in wheelchair can help.
- But didn't you tell me you wanted something
to look forward to?
- I'm not looking forward to those people
making fun of me in public.
- You don't know that.
The greatest thing I've learned in the Marine Corps
is the camaraderie between each other.
(somber music)
It's a bond that lasts forever.
The fire fights, the ambushes, the operations,
(g*nshots blasting)
and those helicopters inserting us in on those skirmishes,
not knowing what to expect.
And they had those plungey stakes.
The VC coated 'em with feces and other poisons.
They were brutal. They'd tear up legs.
Private Parker went through that sh*t.
Then you had the damn vipers. We called them bamboo vipers.
Those were vicious little son of a b*tches.
If you were bitten by one of them,
your chance of survival was slim to none.
And we also called 'em two steps, two step vipers.
'Cause a lot of times
when you were bit by one of those vipers,
after two steps, you were dead.
- And somehow you survived all of that and still here.
- I'm still here because I got help.
We have some options, brother. We need to get you help.
(somber music)
- Hey, guys. I'm sorry I'm late.
- [Maddie] Daniel, do you have anything to say?
- I think I rather listen.
- [Joe] I guess if I had just one piece of advice
that's helped me get to the point where I'm at,
it would be,
don't ever get confused
about the way something looks on the outside.
The closer you can admit to that this is a mess,
the closer you are to healing and we all got it going on.
No matter what it looks like on the outside,
celebrate the small victories 'cause as veterans,
we're gonna relive our defeats a hundred times over.
But make sure you give yourself credit
for the fact that you are still here.
If we were blessed with this ability
to bring a community of veterans together
or to be stronger in numbers,
then that's not only something we should do,
that's our responsibility to do it.
Because the mission's still on
and we're fighting a fight that is in its infancy
and they don't know the perfect way to treat it.
But sometimes we're all we got
because we're the only ones that are gonna understand it.
So don't ever lose contact with your brothers.
And the more support there is around you,
the better chances everybody has.
So just remember on the dark days,
you've come from some dark places
and there's veterans that are coming behind you"
[ … ]
that eventually one day are gonna need your help.
So it's your mission to keep getting better
and to keep challenging yourselves
to jump over that next hurdle,
because eventually there's gonna come somebody behind you
that needs your help
and you're gonna be the only one that understands it
'cause you went through it.
- [David] What I'll tell you, man,
is never give up the fight.
You know, I've been there, done that, man.
I've nights when I wake up, you know, screaming.
I don't know what the hell's going on.
You know, it's memories from what we've been through,
what we've seen.
Deal with a lot of anxiety, you know.
A lot of times, man,
I'll be standing in a room with people.
I could be happy as could be and teardrop rolls down my eye,
you know?
And it's tough, man. It's tough.
There's been nights, man,
I've woken up and I've looked at that safe,
you know, where my g*n's at, and I'm like,
"No. Hell, no. Why the hell would I do this, man?"
You know? 'Cause I got my family and my kids, man.
And that is my fight, man.
That's why I'm gonna keep going, you know?
So never ever give up, brother.
You have me, you have us,
you have your brothers and sisters.
Together, man, I promise you we can do anything.
We can overcome anything.
- Hey, Greg, can I try the walker?
- Are you sure?
- Yeah. I feel some movements in my lower extremities.
I think I can do it.
- I don't want you to fall and get hurt.
- If I get hurt, you're not liable.
- It's just not about liability or negligence.
I don't want you to tear or damage any new muscle tissues
or ligaments and tendons.
- Please, Greg.
I gotta try it man.
- [Greg] Please do not try that at home alone
in case nobody's there to look after you.
- Well, I'll be there.
- Okay.
(Daniel groans)
- [Daniel] You're gonna work with me one way or another.
(dramatic music)
It's not even a fact that I am a disabled veterans
that get to me.
I think what bothers me the most is that I,
among many others,
joined the m*llitary to preserve the American way of life.
And yet when we return,
we are the laughing stock of society.
It's pretty much a slap in the face.
(Daniel groaning)
(dramatic music continues)
(Daniel thuds and groans)
Hey, help me up.
- Come on.
You know, you don't have to do all this all at one day.
- I don't know how much time I have.
- [Nurse] I'm sorry you ain't dead yet.
- [Daniel] I'm a little bit harder to k*ll than that.
We signed up for two wars.
The w*r there and the w*r back home.
Although I signed up to make a difference,
I often question myself what it all means in the end.
No one wins in a w*r. No one.
- [Dr Syliva] I know you've been diagnosed
with some form of cerebral palsy.
After looking at your CT scan,
I don't think you have cerebral palsy,
which is a good thing.
You've been in this wheelchair for so long though,
that you've suffered extensive nerve damage
in your lower extremities,
and to correct the situation would take multiple surgeries.
- I'll do it.
Whatever it takes for me to get out of this damn wheelchair.
- But there are risks, permanent risks.
- What kind of permanent risks?
- Like you could lose all feeling from your waist down.
- You mean almost like how I am now?
- [Dr Sylvia] Yeah.
- Well, Doc, I don't have nothing to lose.
- [Dr Sylvia] We're gonna do our best.
(dramatic music continues)
(dramatic music continues)
(footsteps tapping)
- I can walk. I can really walk.
We are called jaw heads.
Maybe it's our propensity to follow orders
regardless of consequences or personal safety,
because of our single minded willingness
to put our duty before ourselves.
[ … ]
Jaw heads equal hard on the outside
and empty on the inside.
(dramatic music)
How do I look?
- Do you know if...
- The fight's not over.
- That is an improvement.
- I feel a bit unbalanced
but at least I'm out of the wheelchair, right?
- You'll get better, hon. Right?
- You mind if I get a few more laps in?
I'll meet you guys at the diner later.
- Sure, brother.
- Okay. - [Daniel] Okay.
(dramatic music)
- [Chuck] I hope he gets better.
- [Daniel] Is it me or is it that life has a funny way
of f*cking with you?
I used to believe there's a God.
But if there is, then explain this to me.
(dramatic music continues)
(heels clicking)
(sad music)
(sigh)
I'm getting kicked outta my place.
- Why? What happened?
- The landlord raised the rent
and he wants me out by a certain date.
- What about a side job?
- I've always wanted to have a job.
But the wheelchair stopped that.
- Maybe now you can.
- [Daniel] Now I would have to.
- I don't understand.
- Now that I'm out of the wheelchair,
my disability pay will decrease.
- How can that even be possible?
- According to the codes,
I'm technically not disabled anymore now that I can walk.
Therefore, I have to get a job.
- There have to be a way.
- Unfortunately, this is why so many of us either end it all
or go back for those who can.
On that k*lling field, it was so much easier.
It's just you, your r*fle,
against the other person with their r*fle.
- Were you scared?
- At first. But then you get used to it.
- I don't understand how a normal human being
can get used to that.
- We learn to become numb to so many things.
I guess that's why so many of us can't close our eyes
when we come back home.
When you see human beings at its worst form,
it makes you question everything you've ever known.
- I really appreciate you sharing that with me.
I heard many stories
and now I understand why most soldiers
don't wanna talk about it.
- We usually take it to our graves.
- Take a lot of courage for you to speak up.
- You remember when you asked me what really happened?
- Mm-hmm.
(intense dramatic music)
(truck engine rumbling)
(intense dramatic music continues)
(g*n cocking)
(expl*si*n booms)
- [O'Hara] Oh, sh*t. What was that?
Did anyone see where that came from?
- [Finch] Contact left. Heavy fire, heavy fire!
- [Mendoza] I don't think we can go any further.
(g*nsh*t blasting)
- [Finch] Get down, get down!
- [Mendoza] O'Hara!
Stop, stop, stop. Get out, get out, get out.
(g*nshots blasting)
- [Daniel] Move, men. Move, men. Move.
(g*nshots blasting)
(Mendoza yelling) - [Finch] Incoming.
(expl*si*n booming) (g*nshots blasting)
(intense musical buildup)
- [Mendoza] Grenade! Incoming.
- [Daniel] Move, move.
- [Mendoza] On it. (g*nshots blasting)
They're moving.
- [O'Hara] Hey, up there. RPG, RPG. RPG.
- [Mendoza] RPG. Get down, get down. Move.
Get out. Get out.
Somebody get that son of a bitch.
(g*nshots blasting)
- [Daniel] O'Hara, move!
(g*ns cocking)
(g*nshots blasting)
(expl*si*n booming)
(emotional music) (explosions blasting)
(g*nshots blasting)
(marines yelling indistinctly)
(emotional music continues)
(marines yelling)
[ … ]
(emotional music continues)
- [Mendoza] Come on. Come on!
Come on!
Get him into the truck. Get him into the truck.
(g*nshots blasting)
- [Thompson] Get off (g*nshots drown out speaker).
(g*nshots blasting)
(emotional music)
- I honestly don't know what to say.
- You don't have to say anything. You've done enough.
I have a few people in my life who have been there for me.
And I'm learning to appreciate them.
- [Coach Axel] Right upper cut.
Right hand. Left upper, left hook, right hand.
Very good. Three uppercuts, right, left, right.
One, two. Step at two.
(inspirational music) Again. Again. Good.
One, two. One, two.
One, two, three, four. Again.
Left hook, right hand.
Left hook. Right upper cut. Very good.
- [Nicholas] Daniel, I know why you're here.
I'm not gonna thank you 'cause the fight just started
and everybody's got a demon inside of 'em.
(gentle music)
And it doesn't matter what you did,
it doesn't matter what happened to you.
Your story for today can be the worst one in the world.
But until you get that demon out,
we can only crush it together.
But you gotta get it out.
We pretend to be so tough 'cause we are tough.
But in our weakness, we hide behind that,
and it creates more pain.
And we think we're tough for not talking.
We think we're tough for not going in to see a specialist
and we're just weak.
That's why. 'Cause we're alone. We're alone in our thought.
'Cause we made it about ourselves.
And then once you make it about yourself,
then nobody can help you.
I got my girls' names tattooed on me so that,
you know, they would go with me everywhere I went,
and I finally sought counseling when...
I yelled at my daughter.
You know, she was eight.
And she didn't do anything wrong.
I just started yelling at her.
And I didn't know why.
She's the most precious thing in the world to me
and I treated her like the worst person in the world.
It's because I was being selfish.
It's 'cause I had all that pent up frustration and...
Who was it really about?
I made it about me.
And I started destroying everything around me.
Told myself if I ever talked to my daughter like that again,
I'd blow my head off.
And again, I made it about me.
I made what I did wrong about me again.
I just did it over and over again.
I finally got help. And that's hard, you know, and...
But when my soldiers saw me go get help,
you know, it helped them too.
And I'm gonna thank you when you keep coming and you help us
because you're gonna help us,
I'm gonna help you get the demon out.
It's not about you, it's about your brothers and sisters.
It's about your family.
And I'm gonna help you till the day I die.
And I need you to give me % just like I'm gonna give you.
And we're all gonna give each other that.
And that's why we need you here. We need everybody here.
- [JC] I'm here.
(gentle music continues)
And a lot of times I think I shouldn't be,
but I have
two ex soldiers of mine and my daughter,
they're the reason I'm here.
Doesn't matter how far apart we are,
we know that any moment we can call any one of us
and that we have someone to talk to,
someone that understands.
- Hey, brother. Brother, wake up. Wake up, brother.
- Where we going?
- [Chuck] I got some old buddies I want you to meet.
Come on. - Okay.
- Come on. - [Daniel] All right.
- [Irwin] Most of us are young kids. I mean, let's face it.
sh**t, I was , years old.
Most, the majority of 'em were like that.
- I was years old and I was considered-
- You were a old man. Yeah. He was a pops.
He had to be an old man.
- [Ignatius] You were how old? - .
- I was when I was drafted.
- Well, you a grandpa. - Well, that's okay.
I was called grandpa a couple times.
(laughter)
I said, with respect, you say that, right?
[ … ]
- You know, that's what he's talking about too,
the relationships you build up
with your fellow soldiers or Marines or airmen.
When you're in a combat situation,
you're not really fighting for your country,
you fighting for the guy next to you.
You want him to come out of that alive too, to make it home.
That was the whole thing about us,
trying to make it home, trying to survive.
But on the other hand, you're , years old,
you're full of testosterone and you don't care.
The guy takes a sh*t at you.
You, you know,
"Oh, yeah, man, I just missed that.
That just went past this way.
It, you know, it really didn't sink in
until you got home.
And I think that's what happens
to a lot of these guys with PTSD,
they really don't understand how it's gonna be
when they come home.
You know, for instance, you're in a combat situation, okay?
Two days later you got orders, your unit's going home.
So you were fighting, k*lling people.
Two days before, you get on that plane, they fly you home,
and the next day you sit with mom and dad and Susie Q
at the dinner table and they asking you,
"Well, how was it over there?
You know? Well, you have the psychological effect.
You say, "Well, I'm back in the country.
I'm back in my home.
I was just over there k*lling people and you know,
seeing death and destruction
and evil sh*t, you know?
So here I am back in home, I'm supposed to change.
I'm supposed to come back normal.
And it just don't work out like that.
- But, you know, when we went overseas,
we went overseas by ship.
- [Irwin] Yeah. - We left Seal Beach.
We stopped at Hawaii for a couple days
and went on to Okinawa.
- Yeah, that was old Brown Boot Army, man.
- Brown. (veterans laugh)
- [Ignatius] We wore Brown Boots.
- We took the ship to Okinawa.
We're at Camp Schwab.
We took our train over at Okinawa
and we stationed at Camp Schwab.
And then we took a ship from Okinawa to Vietnam.
We made an amphibious landing at the beach near Chuang.
Man, we didn't know what to expect.
So we were all ready. We were strapped and ready, man.
- Thought it was gonna be like D-day.
- We did. We didn't know what to think.
Well, we hit the beach
and there were little kids walking around
selling Coca Colas.
(laughter)
But guess what, baby?
It wasn't much longer.
About two days later, sh*t got bad, you know?
- [Irwin] Yeah.
- I didn't realize until years later
that prayer was so critical.
But I'm sure my comrades felt the same thing.
"Am I gonna go home?
There was despair.
The first night in country, we were att*cked.
We had no weapons drawn yet. It was a long year of prayer.
And sometimes I slipped out of that, just wondering.
But then once we began to build the friendship
and having the cold beers,
well, they were sorta cold, after our duty,
the bonds began to grow.
Now, will I ever see these guys again? I don't know.
But right now, this is my home.
But the traumatic parts,
and we all dealt with them.
Sometimes short lived, sometimes not so short lived.
But when put our head on a,
well, if you had a pillow at night, you know, huh?
Thank God that I'm aware that I'm still alive,
I'm still breathing, I see another sunrise.
After all is said and done,
I'm so richly blessed right now
(gentle music)
to be with these guys and to share with you.
There's so much to live for,
but at the time I didn't realize that.
But now I do.
And it's been years ago that I began to realize it.
And I'm not sorry for being emotional
because that's how deeply I feel this rich blessing
that I have.
And my Lord and savior, Jesus Christ,
brought me home to my family,
to the country where I was born,
that at times I didn't appreciate.
But by golly, I appreciate it now.
[ … ]
Thank you, my brothers, and welcome home.
- Thank you, man.
- I...
really appreciate you guys sharing your story with me, man.
I guess that sometimes at some point in my life
I did give up.
But seeing you guys not giving up and still here
and still doing it, still going through the fight,
going through the struggles,
it gives me that strength.
Thank you.
- You're welcome.
- Don't ever give up.
- Love you, brother.
- [Ignatius] God bless you.
(gentle music)
(steps)
- What are we doing here?
- I came to pray for you.
- Pray for me?
Pray for me for what?
No thanks, brother.
- I wanna ask God to heal you.
- Take a look at me.
Does it look like prayers are working for me, hm?
Does it look like I am healed?
- We don't always see His wonderful work, but He is there.
- [Daniel] Yeah. He doesn't exist.
Not anymore.
- You can't say that, son. We all need Him.
(dramatic music)
- That's funny. Where was He when I needed Him?
- You still-
- No, no, no, no, no, no. You let me finish.
Where was He when all those nights I was laying
in those ditches,
praying and seeing if we were gonna be alive or dead, huh?
You know, at some point I pray to God
to let me die on that b*ttlefield
instead of coming home looking like this.
Where was He when my mother needed Him?
(Daniel sobbing)
My mother was a good woman, man.
All she did was take good care of us.
And then what happened? She got sick.
And as if one stroke wasn't good enough,
and a second one.
They had to cut her skull.
(dramatic music continues)
Where was He while she's just laying there lifelessly, man,
on that bed in that nursing home?
Where was He? She didn't deserve that.
The funny thing is, up until that point,
I was still praying to God.
I was still praying that He would spare my mom
and take me instead.
Huh? Where was He?
Then that dreadful day came
when I finally got that phone call.
After waiting for three years,
brother, mom d*ed.
- I'm sorry about your mother, son.
- You pray for my mom.
Did it work? Hm?
You know, your God might have worked for you,
but for me, man, He has forsaken me.
(dramatic music)
- It isn't hard for men like me and you to die.
It's the will to live that is difficult.
(dramatic music increases)
God, please have mercy on him.
Please place your hands on him
to not only heal him of all of his wounds,
but also to heal him of his heart.
- So what you're going through
is truly more than anything I've ever seen.
You know, I've worked with tons of kids here
who've gone through a lot of bad things, but nothing,
nothing compares to what you're going through right now.
So, like I said, I can't even imagine it, you know?
But I think if you can fight through this,
you're an inspiration.
And I can tell your story to the rest of them.
When they think they have it bad, I'll tell 'em your story.
You know?
And not only do I notice, but you know,
I think there's a lot other people who are noticing also.
- Look, I love it here, Coach.
Not only that it's all about family here,
but it gives me something to look forward to
each and every day.
And I really thank you for that.
- Well, I'm glad you said that.
So I wanna talk to you about the Kenner Boxing Club.
And I know you were hesitant at first,
but I think it'll really work for you.
And I think you can really reach these kids here, you know?
I know you're hesitant, but still,
I think you can reach them and they look up to you.
You know?
[ … ]
I really do think you should consider it.
- Okay, Coach. Thank you.
- You're welcome.
- [Chris] I wish more than anything,
I could give you some grand piece of advice or wisdom
that would help you go through
whatever you're going through.
But if I knew that advice, I wouldn't be here.
I'm still figuring this stuff out myself.
It's a day by day battle that never ends.
All of us have our own story that we deal with.
Our truth is our own.
And for me, I used to have a ring right here.
(gentle music)
It was what I cherished more than anything.
I have two daughters
and I don't get to see them as much anymore
because I thought I could deal with this on my own.
I think a lot of us start that way.
We feel like we can deal with things on our own.
We're strong,
but I wasn't.
We can only bottle things in for so long
before it boils over, before it explodes.
And the things I've said and done
to the people I say I love,
I can't take back.
But what I can do is work on myself going forward.
It's very isolating,
going through some of the emotions we go through here.
We think nobody will understand.
These guys here have been a blessing to me
because this gives me a place to vent,
to let these emotions out,
and then I don't have to hold it anymore.
And while I don't know your story yet,
I hope that at some point you can open up to us,
not bottle things in.
Know that while we can't control what happens out there,
you have all of us right here.
- Yeah.
- Where's JC?
- [Lily] Hey, Dad. - Hi, Lily.
- You're leaving again?
(sad music)
You can't do this to me.
- Believe me. The last thing I want-
- You promised you would be here for me.
- I'm always gonna be here for you, honey.
(sad music continues)
(sad music increases)
- We were supposed to make a new life after mom d*ed.
Promise me you'll come back.
- I promise.
- And...
And promise me you won't come back in a wheelchair
like that man that we saw at the diner.
(sad music)
- I love you, kiddo.
- Love you too.
(Lily sobs)
- It's never easy for me
when I see an empty seat or two at our meeting.
- I used to think it was easier to go down that path.
It was selfish.
I just didn't wanna be a burden to anyone
or even my family.
- It is so hard to accept help
when you are so used to do everything yourself.
What about physical therapy? How is it going?
- Oh, it's not bad. It's not bad at all.
I mean, I'm able to straighten out my legs a bit more.
Lots of training, lots of stretching, but I feel better.
- And what about the boxing training you mentioned?
- That's going great. You should stop by sometimes.
- Oh, okay.
(inspirational music)
- Let's get some rounds in.
- [Jocko] Discipline is your best friend.
It will take care of you like nothing else can.
It'll put you on the path to freedom.
So often the easy path,
the easy path, it calls to us to be weak for that moment,
to break down for that moment.
But the discipline will not allow that.
The discipline calls for strength and fortitude and will.
It won't accept weakness.
It won't tolerate another breakdown.
When you need motivation yourself,
look at yourself and remind yourself why.
With that motivation,
go forward into the fray, into the storm,
into the heat of the battle where victory is forged.
(gentle music)
- I used to look for acceptance from society.
Although I will never be who I was,
I am writing new chapters for my life.
I now have learned how to accept myself first and foremost.
Too often in life we have a certain path
that we created in our minds,
[ … ]
but when that path is changed,
we have to accept it and move forward.
Thanks for checking on me.
- You're welcome. That's the least I can do.
- I don't want you to... I know.
I don't think you are, but for me,
I may never be ready for that kind of stuff again.
- Me and you both.
I don't think I was ever ready for that kinda stuff.
It's too scary.
(gentle music)
- I reach a point in my life where I work,
I take care of my daughter.
It's been too long and hard to integrate anyone else in.
- I understand.
- Hey, don't think I'm turning you down.
I'm just sharing something with you.
- Oh, sh*t. I'm sorry.
It's just, I'm so used to being rejected
that that's the first thing that come to mind.
- I don't blame you.
We are all traumatized with things in our life.
- I couldn't have said it better myself.
- Too many people focus on having someone
because society deem it necessary to have,
but are they happy?
Probably not.
- For me, it's more about companionship.
- Exactly.
- I mean, having someone to share things with
when you're going through something
is so much more meaningful.
(bell rings)
(clock ticking)
- [Coach Axel] Breathe.
- [Coach Felix] Drink some water. What are you doing?
- [Ortiz] Just fighting, Coach.
- Now look, man, it's supposed to be an exhibition match.
Okay?
- How I'm doing, Coach?
- You took a good sh*t.
- He's really good.
- [Coach Felix] Okay.
- It's just free flexes, man. I'm just-
- Would you please keep it friendly? Please. Okay?
- You need me to stop this?
- No.
- You don't need to get hurt, Daniel. It's not worth it.
- Please, Coach. I really need this, man.
- You want me to fight him,
but you don't want hit him, Coach?
- No, no. Just keep it friendly. Okay? Take it easy.
- You remember when you told me about those kids, hm?
- I remember.
- Not just about me anymore, Coach.
I can't let them see me quit.
- All right. But you gotta show me something Daniel.
Don't stay inside. You gotta move around. Use your jab.
Stick and move. - Okay.
- Look, take it easy, okay? Please, slow down a little.
Let's go.
- [Coach Axel] Finish strong.
- Come on, Daniel, you got this.
- Keep it friendly, please.
(epic music)
- Come on. Jab, jab, jab, jab. (fists slamming)
Move your hands.
Come on, Daniel.
(Daniel groaning)
Step out. Step around, step around.
Come on, Daniel. Jab.
(fists slamming)
Move your head.
(Daniel groaning)
- Come on, Daniel. Work, bruh.
(epic music continues)
- Daniel.
(grim music)
(heartbeat)
(heartbeat)
(heartbeat)
What am I done?
(heartbeat)
Daniel.
Daniel.
Daniel.
Daniel.
Daniel.
Daniel.
Daniel.
Hey, Daniel.
- Hey, Coach. Sorry, I was training.
- Remember that exhibition we had set up for you?
- Yes, Coach.
- It's canceled. This pandemic got us.
(gentle music)
- I was really looking forward to it, but I understand.
- Maybe they'll reschedule it.
- Maybe.
Hey, Coach.
[ … ]
- Yeah?
- You would've been proud of me.
- You're kidding me, Daniel.
Everything you've accomplished, everything you've done,
I'm already proud of you.
- Thanks, Coach.
- Now, get back to work. - Yes, sir.
(heart b*at)
I believe getting knocked down in life is inevitable.
(reflecting music)
But I'm learning how to get up each time life hits me.
I'm learning how to hit back.
For so long I lost my way.
Fortunately, I have found a new purpose.
I truly must thank my coach.
He believed in me even when I didn't believe in myself.
Come on, few more.
I teach a group of young kids.
One, two. Oh, good. There you go. Come on, come on.
In them...
Come on, come on.
Good. Don't get tired on me now. Good job.
I find my strength.
Good. Breathe.
And in me, they find theirs.
Good job.
- [Jocko] In that dusty compound,
a man you have never met gave everything he had
so that you have the freedom to think, speak,
and act however you choose.
He went there to preserve the opportunity and privilege
to believe, to be, and to become what we want.
This country,
every single person living inside of its borders
and under the banner of its flag...
- It's Chuck. - [Jocko] Owe that man.
We owe that man everything.
(emotional music)
- [Maddie] Mary.
- [Mary] Oh, Daniel.
(emotional music continues)
- What happened?
- They're... they're looking for a blood clot.
And because he had the stent last year,
they're also checking his heart.
- My God.
- So what are they planning to do about it?
- He's being prepped for the surgeries.
- Do we know if...
- We're not sure if he... If he what?
If he's gonna make it?
- From the respiratory infections,
dislocated shoulder to the ruptured disc.
And now this.
- This is some bullshit. They gotta help him.
(emotional music continues)
- Sir, You're not supposed to be back there.
- Was he always like this? All the conditions?
- He was healthy before he went to w*r in Vietnam.
When he came back, all the symptoms, they began.
I think it had something to do with that Agent Orange thing.
So I've heard.
- He looks so healthy. No one would've known.
- He hides it well.
(sad music)
That's what soldiers do.
They go overseas,
and they do what they do.
And when they return, they're never the same.
- There are so many that need help.
- You help more than you know.
- I wish we can do more.
- Yeah.
Well, when our soldiers come home,
they're often forgotten.
(sad music)
- Hey, buddy. How you doing, man?
I've...
I never got to thank you for not giving up on me.
I mean, I know I can be an ass sometimes, but...
I didn't think we'd be here right now.
There's so much I wanna say,
but it's never the right time.
Time. Time is something that we all take for granted.
Thinking that we always gonna have time,
but the fact is, we don't.
I finally get it now.
(sad music continues)
I love you, my brother.
I'm sorry for everything.
I don't think I can do this without you.
- How is he?
- I think they sedated him before he goes in.
- It's all my fault.
- It's no one's fault.
- I have to take him to surgery.
- I think I need to be alone now.
- What in the world just happened?
- They got into it over faith and God.
- Oh, Charles.
[ … ]
- I worry for him being alone.
["With You Till The End" By Tommee Profitt Playing]
♪ I see it in your eyes ♪
♪ You're losing all your life ♪
♪ Each day feels longer than the day that came before ♪
(fists slamming) ♪ Can't see a way out ♪
♪ Run out of time now ♪
(Daniel grunting)
♪ You've lost your heart inside this w*r ♪
♪ Never give up, don't give up now ♪
♪ There's still hope in the darkest hour ♪
♪ Never give up, don't give up now ♪
♪ I'll take this pain for you ♪
♪ I will pull you through ♪
♪ I'll be with you till the end ♪
♪ Through the fire and rain ♪
♪ I will be your strength ♪
♪ I'll be with you till the end ♪
♪ With you till the end ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪
♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪
♪ With you till the end ♪
- I've had my battles with God,
but I also made peace with God.
(sad music)
I hear you, Lord.
I hope one day I'll make it to the kingdom of heaven.
Please, forgive me all my sins.
My buddy Chuck used to say to me,
(machine buzzing)
you can't change what happened to you in the past.
You can only change your future.
(machine buzzing)
I've working on that.
- [Jocko] I'm sorry you've never tasted the salt
from your own tears
as you stand at flag-draped coffins,
burying men you were humbled to call your friends.
I'm sorry you've never felt the alarm bells ringing
in your body,
the combination of fear and adrenaline
as you move towards the fight instead of running from it.
I'm sorry you've never heard someone cry out for help
or cried out for help yourself,
relying on the courage of others to bring you home.
(dramatic music)
I don't wish those experiences on you.
Most will never understand the sacrifice required
to keep evil men like those from that distant compound
away from our doorstep.
But it would not hurt you to try and understand.
It would not hurt you to take a moment
to respect the sacrifices that others make on your behalf,
whether they share your opinions or not.
It would not hurt you to take a moment
to think of the relentless drain on family, friends,
and loved ones that are left behind,
sometimes for weeks, sometimes for months,
sometimes for years,
sometimes forever.
(dramatic music continues)
Ideas are not protected by words.
Paper and ink may outline the foundation and principles
of this nation, but it is blood,
only blood, that protects it.
We send our best and lose them
in the fight against the worst evil this world has to offer,
the best we ever had to offer fought and bled
and d*ed for it.
Don't ever forget that.
(steps)
- [Maddie] Hello.
- What do you have there?
- Look what came in.
- Wow. This looks great.
Thank you.
- Oh, I think you have a new visitor.
(Chuck laughs)
- [Daniel] Hey, man.
- Hey, my brother.
- Hey, man.
- Great to see you. Boy, you look-
Hey, Maddie. How you doing?
What you been doing lately?
- I'm good, I'm good. Have a seat.
- [Chuck] Sure thing. Working hard?
- [Daniel] Hi, Mary.
Trying to.
So when did you get out?
- [Mary] Only a few days ago.
- I thought I almost...
I mean, we almost lost you.
- That was a close call, Chuck.
- It was a tough battle, brother.
But don't you ever count this old salt out.
- You may not be so lucky next time.
- How are you feeling?
- I've seen better days, my brother,
but I'm here and I'm in the fight, right?
- Right. Right?
- I don't know if I can ever thank you enough.
[ … ]
So, thank you.
- You're welcome.
- Shouldn't you be at home, resting?
- I tried to tell him the same thing, but he insisted.
- I was laid up in that hospital long enough.
- Mm-hmm. The stubbornness. I tell you.
- Hey, brother, you look awfully squared away.
Ought to bring you down
to the Marine Corps recruiting office
and have you re-up.
- Yeah? Well, I'll go if you go.
(Chuck laughs)
(Daniel laughs)
So what made you stop in?
(dramatic music)
- I came here to check on you, my brother.
But more importantly,
I came here to sign up.
- You mean like a therapy session?
- Yes.
- Yeah. Okay. Yeah, sure. Of course.
- We came just in case he had a change of heart.
- I oughta give him the same tough love of.
- You should. Uh-huh.
(Daniel laughs)
- I'll be right back.
- Staff Sergeant Hernandes.
Semper Fi, Marine.
- Oorah.
(dramatic music)
My story isn't finished, but for now,
I will keep fighting that good fight one day at a time.
This film is dedicated to the men and women
who d*ed defending this country,
and to our veterans
who are still fighting for their own lives every day.
We thank you for your service.
(dramatic music)
(dramatic music continues)
(dramatic music continues)
(soft dramatic music)
(soft dramatic music continues)
22: The Unforgotten Soldier (2023)
Moderator: Maskath3
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History/Civil Wars, Cold w*r, WWI, WWII, Rebellions, Revolutions and more! w*r movies collection.
History/Civil Wars, Cold w*r, WWI, WWII, Rebellions, Revolutions and more! w*r movies collection.