The Last Full Measure Dvd

The Last Full Measure is a 2019 American war drama film written and directed by Todd Robinson. The story follows the efforts of Pentagon staffer Scott Huffman and many veterans to see the Medal of Honor awarded to William H. Pitsenbarger, a United States Air Force Pararescueman who flew in helicopter rescue missions during the Vietnam War to aid downed soldiers and pilots. The film stars Sebastian Stan, Christopher Plummer, William Hurt, Ed Harris, Samuel L. Jackson, Jeremy Irvine and Peter Fonda, in his final film role.

Production began in the United States in March 2017, and the film premiered in October 2019 in Westhampton Beach, New York. It was released in the United States by Roadside Attractions on January 24, 2020, and grossed $3 million against a $20 million budget. The film’s title is taken from Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, where Lincoln honored the fallen, saying that they “gave the last full measure of devotion.”

Plot

The true story of Vietnam War hero William H. Pitsenbarger (Jeremy Irvine), a U.S. Air Force Pararescueman (also known as a PJ) who personally saved over sixty men. During a rescue mission on April 11, 1966, Pits (as he was called) willingly chose to leave the relative safety of the rescue chopper to aid people on the ground when he saw how bad the situation below was. When others in his team declined to go, he put himself at risk to do more to help his fellow Americans. After saving many already, he was ordered to take the chance to escape on the last helicopter out of a combat zone heavily under fire, but he stayed behind to save and defend the lives of soldiers of the U.S. Army’s 1st Infantry Division, before making the ultimate sacrifice in one of the bloodiest battles of the war.

Thirty-two years later, Pentagon staffer Scott Huffman (Sebastian Stan), on a career fast-track, is reluctantly tasked with investigating a Medal of Honor request for Pitsenbarger made by his best friend and partner on the mission (William Hurt) and his parents (Christopher Plummer and Diane Ladd). Huffman seeks out the testimony of Army veterans who witnessed or were saved by Pitsenbarger’s extraordinary valor, including Takoda (Samuel L. Jackson), Burr (Peter Fonda) and Mott (Ed Harris) and Pitsenbarger’s parents. Many of them carry their own demons from their experiences and trauma of that day and the war in Vietnam. But as Huffman learns more about Pitsenbarger’s courageous acts, he uncovers a high-level conspiracy behind the decades-long denial of the medal, prompting him to put his own career on the line to seek justice for the fallen airman.

Through out the film in multiple flashback scenes, the Vietcong ambush of Army soldiers as they fight and die in the Vietnam jungle is shown in graffic realism. The attack is known as Operation Abilene. Young soldiers play Tully (Ethan Russell), Takota (Ser’Darius Blain), Burr (James Jagger), Mott (Zach Roerig), Kepper (Cody Walker), Holt (Richard Cawthorne) and Pitsenbarger as they fight. One sees the heroic service of airman Pitsenbarger as he drops into the firefight from a helicopter and goes to work as a medic. He waves off the helicopter, picks up a gun and starts to fight with his fellow comrades. Saving many, he dies a hero. The film also details the PTSD effect on each of the now old surviving veterans of the Vietnam War.

When a Senate effort on the floor of Congress fails, Huffman goes public with the story and ultimately a Medal of Honor is awarded to Pitsenbarger. At the awards ceremony Mott delivers Pitsenbarger’s last letter to the woman he loved. The airman’s cancer ridden father and mother are in attendance as their son’s duty, courage and sacrifice is recounted. The Airforce Secretary presents the Medal of Honor to the parents and then recognizes all in attendance. The epilog points out, that of the millions of veterans that have served their country, only 3,489 Medal of Honors have been awarded.

Cast

Sebastian Stan as Scott Huffman
Christopher Plummer as Frank Pitsenbarger
William Hurt as Tully
Ethan Russell as Young Tully
Ed Harris as Ray Mott
Zach Roerig as Young Ray Mott
Samuel L. Jackson as Takoda
Ser’Darius Blain as Young Takoda
Jeremy Irvine as William H. Pitsenbarger
Peter Fonda as Jimmy Burr
James Jagger as Young Jimmy Burr
LisaGay Hamilton as Celia
Michael Imperioli as Jay Ford
Diane Ladd as Alice Pitsenbarger
Amy Madigan as Donna Burr
Linus Roache as F. Whitten Peters
Alison Sudol as Tara Huffman
Bradley Whitford as Carlton Stanton
John Savage as Kepper
Cody Walker as Young Kepper
Dale Dye as Holt
Richard Cawthorne as Young Holt
Julian Adams as Lt. John Quaid