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The World
Affairs Council hosted a special evening on July 24 featuring
the award-winning documentary, Shakey’s
Hill produced and directed by Norman Lloyd.
The film was introduced by our own member, General
Maury Edmonds, who also had a staring role in the film.
General Edmonds served in the army for 35 years, including
serving in Vietnam
twice. He and his
wife, Jane, currently reside in Ponte Vedra.
Shakey’s
Hill is a true story of one group of young Americans who
braved the dense jungles of Cambodia
in 1970. In the
early days of the war, we knew the North Vietnamese were
shipping huge quantities of weapons, armament, food and
medicine to the Vietcong to supply their troops. These caches
of supplies were in Cambodia, but the rules of engagement did not allow
U.S.
troops to enter Cambodia. The rules were changed for a 60-day window.
Maury Edmonds, who was the commanding officer of the 5th
Battalion 7th Cavalry sent his troops in to find the North Vietnamese and
to follow the fight until they found the storage sites. A
brave young CBS cameraman, Norman Lloyd, went into combat with
the men of Bravo Company. He took footage that was aired on the nightly news with
Walter Cronkite. Mr.
Lloyd retired after 39 years with CBS with nearly every award
a photojournalist can win. He then devoted his time and
resources into creating this extraordinary documentary.
The film is
not about the battle or the war, but rather it is about the
soldiers who describe their lives and their experiences. We
saw their commitment to each other and felt their sacrifices.
The documentary is a blend of the battle itself and the
reflection of the experiences by many of the soldiers and
their family members some 34 years later. No one left the room
after the film without feeling great passion and gratefulness
for our servicemen and women who protect us. Below is a
picture of a group of men from the audience, all of who are
World Affairs Council members, and who served in Vietnam. If you are interested in purchasing a copy of the DVD, call
1-866-703-3777 or visit www.commitmentandsacrifice.com.
-Robin
Webster
Board
of Directors
World
Affairs Council of Jacksonville
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