MovieChat Forums > Stripes (1981) Discussion > We Are 10 + 1?

We Are 10 + 1?

posted 15 years ago by Mannlaw99
41 replies | jump to latest

My memory tells me that Winger says something such as "we (Americans) are 10 and 1" (in wars). Since I get most of my information from comedy movies and DVD covers, I ask this: was 10 and 1 America's record at the time this movie was made? It seems to me we had victories in:
1. The Revolutionary War
2. The War of 1812
3. The Mexican American War
4. The Civil War
5. The Spanish American War
6. WWI
7. WW II
8. Korea

We lost in Vietnam. So I see our record as 8 & 1. Good enough for a BCS Bowl Game but not 10 & 1. Anyway, did Winger say 10 & 1, and if he did, what wars am I missing, or was the hero of this movie wrong about an important historical fact (which would be very difficult for me to accept).

[–] lroy77 14 years ago

Korea was an armistece (if you know what I mean, spelling doesn't count), not a peace treaty. We are still in conflict with North Korea so technically we didn't win. I believe the same with Vietnam.

[–] timgdx 14 years ago

Vietnam was lost after we left in 1973, having "secured" peace through the Paris Peace Accords.

Who could have thought that the Communists would renege on the deal two years later...and Congress would have done nothing to help our ally in the South?

[–] MikeHawk 12 years ago

I wouldn't get too caught up expending thought on what would constitute the "10"---the focus and intent of the line is the addition of the "and 1!" for comic effect. The number preceding it is pretty much irrelevant. It might as well have been one hundred.

[–] Brian-69 12 years ago

If you look on wikipedia for "List of wars involving the United States," it's a long list. Many battles with Native Americans; and often multiple listings connected to one major war (Revolutionary War, the World Wars).

[–] awesomexchicki 12 years ago

It was a joke..a line created for the charactor of John to be funny..hence why Russle makes a funny face after hearing it..other exaples of facts being wrong for a peptalk is in In The Army Now when Bones is talking to the full time millitary about being friends with the reserves,none of what he says is correct but its funny...so take all the facts John says in the movie as a joke.

also as an american i must say in order of losses we are *beep* and have actully not "Lost" any wars...the reason we are one of the only countrys to salute pulm down is evidence of that... i would never tell a veteran this however all losses are considered Conflicts not Wars..korea was a Conflict Not a War which is why to this day tho we technicly didnt win we can still salute pulm down.

ImChicki&&ImAwesome!
--Broken By Battle,Wounded By War,I Love You Forever, This I Swear: I Will Quiet Your Silent Screams,Help Heal Your Shattered Soul, Til Once Again,My Love, You Are Whole!-- BattleingBarePledge
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[–] chrisisstressed 11 years ago

That explains why historians in multiple countries and veterans alike refer to it as a war, lol.

And saluting palm down has nothing to do with your losses or victories. Nations generally have multiple different ways of saluting for army and navy. You're either very ill-informed, don't care about the reality of what you're saying or just plain trolling.

As for the movie line, maybe he's referring to the Barbary Wars or something. Generally, if you are kicking someone's ass and they concede to your demands or agree to sign a treaty that could be seen as a victory. Just my thoughts.

"What the hell is a Fuzzy! And why do they make such good Druids?!" - Spoony

[–] bonesjackson 10 years ago

I think it was made up numbers, but if you look at declared wars plus the Revolutionary war... The US would be 6-0.. Some claim that the War of 1812 was a draw or whatever but the US got what they wanted out of the war and the Brits paid compensation at the end.. Winners don't often pay the loser.

[–] Tim-Buktu 10 years ago

Korea and Vietnam were not "wars" they were "police actions"

"Attention all units. Attention all units. We have a domestic dispute in South-East Asia. There is a report of a man with a gun. Approach caustiosly."

[–] frankstallone1 9 years ago

I hope he wansn't counting the war against obesity, or the war against drugs

[–] BaltimoreBob 9 years ago

The only thing I believe in is that I’m Right most of the time.

When I left Vietnam in 1971 we were winning the war
( I’d say us Military had little to do with losing the War )
The Republican Presidents who held power from 1969 to 1/1975
And the Congress and Senate lost the war along with the
Non-Vet Americans who number about 92.5% of most Americans.

Bill Murray in STRIPES (1981) states
“I cried my eyes out. So we're all dogfaces, we're all very,
very different, but there is one thing that we all have in common:
we were all stupid enough to enlist in the Army. We're mutants.
There's something wrong with us, something very, very wrong with us.
Something seriously wrong with us - we're soldiers.
But we're American soldiers! We've been kicking a** for 200 years!
We're ten and one!.“

But the war was only about keeping the American Economy – strong.
It was a FAKE war.
Held at the expense of us Vets lives.

What lost Vietnam is a Country of 75% COWARDS - America
A Country that has DIS-RESPECTED us Vietnam Vets since the 1960's.
A Country that gave WWII Vets & Korean Vets Excellent Benefits
but decided to discontinue those benefits to future Vets.
Why because 75% of Americans are Cowards
this includes most people's Parents and Grandparents.
These WWII and Korean Vets STIFFED us future Vets thru the present.
Why can't America just do the RIGHT thing ?

That is why America should pay us Vietnam Vets Reparations
at least $1,000,000
because one thing about America it stands for
SUING WHEN YOUR WRONGED.

Thank You
Righteous Robert
Baltimore Bob

[–] Rheli 9 years ago

No one has mentioned the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Seminole Wars yet.

[–] tallkennj 9 years ago

You can probably count the Texas War of Independence. After all, it was (eventual) Americans who defeated Santa Anna.

Then, I've always just counted the various battles with the native American tribes as a single war to get to 10.

If you don't like the wars against the native Americans, I suppose one could also consider the French and Indian war as well on the same basis as the Texas War of Independence since it was mostly (eventual) Americans who did the dying against the French and "Indians".