 Sandra Gustvassons character Hiep Thi Le was named after real  Vietnamese actress with the same name; (Hiep Thi Le (qv)). The  characters Maddox and Turner are named after the two patrol boats  that were attacked early in the war, and, according to some sources,  was the reason for Americas involvement in the war. Colonel Stone is  named after (Oliver Stone (I) (qv)) who also made Heaven and Earth  with Hiep Thi Le.