I recently had the privilege to see an advance screening of The Last Full Measure an upcoming movie to be released on January 24th.
The movie, which is based on the actual events revolves around the heroic actions of Senior Airman (SRA, E-4) William H. (Pits) Pitsenbarger in Viet Nam, for which he was eventually posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, and the efforts of those who wanted his sacrifice to be recognized properly.
This post is totally off topic for MDT; long time readers now this rarely happens. This movie isn’t Disney related or put out by a Disney company. But it is very important to our military community for reasons that I’ll get into later.
The movie takes place in 1999 and ends in 2000, with flashbacks to 11 April 1966, the day of Pits’ valorous actions.
Flashback scenes peppered through the more modern story show the selfless acts of Pitsenbarger, an Air Force PJ (Pararescue Jumper) as he voluntarily exits his rescue helicopter during the heat of battle because the first casualty they bring aboard is the army unit’s medic. He continues to stay on the ground providing aid and triage, sending many wounded to safety before the position is overrun.
Although Pitsenbarger did not escape alive, nine other men did, partially thanks to his courage and devotion to duty.
Afterward he was put in for the Medal of Honor, but the award was downgraded to a lower one.
The modern day portion of the story follows Scott Huffman a Department of the Air Force civilian working in the Pentagon, who was assigned to investigate a Medal of Honor Upgrade Package for SRA Pitsenbarger. At the beginning of the film he is a typical bureaucrat, only concerned with his own rising career, annoyed at being pulled off his important budget project.
But as the film progresses and Huffman interviews the surviving witnesses of the fateful day in 1966 he undergoes a slow change and becomes Pitesnebarger’s biggest advocate and ends up succeeding in in getting the Congressional Medal of Honor awarded to Pits.
This is a very powerful and moving movie, which honors the sacrifices (sometimes the ultimate one) that our community make and have made. Specifically, Pits, but also the military in general and those of military families as well. It also speaks to PTS in a compassionate, pragmatic way, unlike most of what Hollywood puts out.
Why This Movie Is Important
Movies like this rarely get made!
There are a couple reasons for this.
Political – Hollywood has changed over the years from post World War Two, when those who worked in Hollywood were just like other Americans and many positive movies were made about the military, to the culture that exists there today where those who represent American values are shunned.
Hollywood does not like normal Americans. They like the military even less. Any project that paints us in a positive or understanding light is difficult to get made.
Monetary – The broader US Military Community is not the demographic that they are making movies for. They are making movies for the male 16-22 demographic.
It takes a big star or a considerable fight to get a movie like this made, they’ve been trying to get this movie made for over a decade! And those who participate stand to lose work by being a part of a project like this unless they are the biggest of stars.
Why I’m posting about this movie
This is an opportunity for our community to show Hollywood the kind of content that we want them to make.
How can we do this?
Sales on the opening night of a movie are what really matter to Hollywood!
The more people who go to the opening night of The Last Full Measure, the bigger the message that will be sent to Hollywood.
Don’t wait, go opening night!
Hopefully this will result in more positive movies like this being made.
The Last Full Measure opens on 24 January 2020!
You should go opening night!
Tell all your friends to go opening night or take them with you!
Heck, buy an extra ticket in honor of Pits! Imagine if every military group that goes opening night does this, it would greatly increase the numbers Hollywood sees.
Please share this post on all of your social media and with your friends!!!
Thanks, and I’ll see you at the opening!
Last Full Measure Links:
- The Last Full Measure Website
- Last Full Measure Movie Facebook Page
- Last Full Measure Promo Facebook Page
- Last Full Measure IMDB Page
- Last Full Measure Movie Wikipedia Page
- Wikipedia Page on SRA Pitsenbarger
Share your thoughts about The Last Full Measure in the comments section below!
This MDT Post By: Steve Bell Steve is the the Military Disney Tips Founder. He a retired U.S. Military Member who's been touring the Disney Parks since 1971! Steve's mission is to help military families with their Disney vacations in every way. Check out Steve's Bio. Subscribe to Steve's email newsletter to get website updates and news by clicking this link. |
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