I want three volunteers.
It's a long walk, Pop.
-I need a fourth for bridge. -I'll be the dummy.
You don't have to, Layton.
Maybe you'll find some more eggs.
What are you looking for, Kipp, your discharge?
-I lost my teeth. -You lost them?
They were searching me on a roadblock, so I put them in my pocket.
-And they jumped out? -Dropped out.
I hope it's nice and warm back where you're going.
I can't chew on K rations with my gums.
No! Keep your eye open.
He used to see snow way off in the mountains.
They say it's just like going to sleep.
He was a religious kid.
When anyone got hit...
he used to say it was God's will.
-What's the Bulge? -Search me.
"Hitler's mighty counteroffensive swept on yesterday under a news eclipse...
"from which filtered the fact that German armor had plunged 20 miles into Belgium."
We're in Belgium, aren't we?
Thought it was Luxembourg. Let's see that.
"War Department authorities report that morale is high all along the front.
"Battle-hardened doughboys fresh from epic-making triumphs--"
Skip the commercial, Jarvess.
"Air activity was halted by thick, swirling fog.
"At Bastogne, the 101st Airborne...."
Hey, that's us.
Then you'll be proud to know that you are making a heroic stand...
"hurling back the best that Von Rundstedt can throw at you."
-Who's Von Rundstedt? -A Kraut general. The best they've got.
Is the 101st the only division up here?
It doesn't say. We'll have to wait for the next edition.
-Where's Pop Stazak? -Him and Hansan are on a roadblock.
Well, this might be it. It looks official.
Chatsburg News.
And The Dogpatch Gazette.
Get back to the aid station, Kinnie, before those feet of yours get any worse.
They won't take frozen feet unless they start to change color.
No combat fatigue, no fever cases. You have to be bleeding from a wound.
All they got at the aid station is aspirin and iodine.
-What about the field hospital? -Captured.
Medics, casualties, equipment, the works.
It must have been after the meat wagon got there with Wolowicz.
I guess Standiferd was there, too. Some of the walking wounded were killed.
They say the fight they put up was one for the book.
Layton, you're learning too fast. How about spelling me for a bit?
The dreams are getting better all the time.
I was back home in Baltimore...
loading up on hard-shell crabs and beer.
That dream's against regulation, soldier.
You know what our boys overseas always dream about.
-Mom's blueberry pie. -Why, certainly!
That's what we're fighting for. Boy, when I get home...
just give me a hot dog and a slice of that pie.
Am I gonna kick if I don't get my job back?
No sirree. All I want is a....
So long, Holley.
So long, Pop.
-Au revoir. -I found them!
I found them in another pocket!
You're just in time to work Pop's shift. Go up and get Hansan.
-Where you going? -Special Orders, Number 1437:
"Private Ernest J. Stazak will proceed to Paris...
"where transportation to the US will be arranged."
-Relax, chum. You ain't going no place. -I ain't?
Here, read it yourself.
I don't care what it says.
Nobody's leaving Bastogne, and nobody's coming in...
except maybe some Krauts riding tanks. We're surrounded.
Surrounded?
If this is one of your crummy jokes...
I'll knock those Gl teeth right down your throat.
Take it easy, Pop.
He wouldn't have those teeth back in his mouth if there was any way out.
Tough break, Pop.
You know, I can get them in a lot of trouble for this.
It's against the rules of war to shoot at civilians.
I'm sorry, Kipp.
Them poor devils in the footslogging infantry...
nothing but walk, walk, walk.
The airborne, that's the life.
It's great up here in these gliders, drifting along over the clouds.
They're liable to have you up in juvenile court for smoking.
This your first time away from home, Layton?
Basic training was. That wasn't quite the same.
My folks stayed for a while at a town near camp.
Did Mama rub your little footsies after those nasty 20-mile hikes?
She made me brush my teeth twice a day...
so I wouldn't have to have them all pulled out.
-Hey, look at that. -What?
I thought it was a shadow. It's just some burnt-out powder.
You'll die of old age before you see a shadow around here.
This fog ain't never gonna lift.
Did the planes have to wait? Haven't they ever heard of flying blind?
Nobody cares. They just don't care.
I don't believe that, Kipp.
Reverend Layton will now lead us in prayer.
Might not be a bad idea.
The C.O. says you're to dig in at that railroad embankment.
The rest of the company's moving back 500 yards.
Right.
Third platoon, whenever there's a dirty detail.
Let's go, men. On your feet.
Check your rifles. See if they're froze up.
Listen to Holley, making a noise like a sergeant.
He's really Gl now since he took over the squad. Right on the ball.
Yeah. Strictly chicken, that's me.
Let's be chicken those bolts.
Check your rifles.
Why can't they pass down some information?
If a man gets hit, he must at least know what country he's dying in.
Now, that's for sure. That's for dang sure.
I've asked you 800 times--
I won't say that no more, Jarvess. That's for sure.
Can't see them.
I'm with you, Holley.
Come on.
Second squad! You, too, Mac! Follow me!
Let's go, Abner!
Mama.
Wait till it clears.
Hold your fire.
Tell them to come out with their hands up.
Layton, you and Joe check them for maps and papers.
See if any of them are still kicking.
Get the prisoners and wounded back to Bastogne, Sergeant.
See if we've got enough men left, Holley.
I'm going to put this man in for a Silver Star.
You know, a guy ought to be able to get $100 for this back in Paris.
I thought Holley was running away. That's why I ran after him.
How do you know what Holley was thinking?
How do you know if he was thinking at all?
Things just happen.
Afterwards you try to figure out why you acted the way you did.
I know why I ran. I was scared to death.
You just joined the biggest club in the Army. Everybody belongs.
Just drop me off at the psycho ward. Why did I have to get up and start firing?
A good thing somebody did.
Yeah. It didn't have to be me. A volunteer.
It happened so fast, you had no time to look at your watch.
Yeah, sure forgot what time it was in Springfield.
-Hansan, I hate to ask you, but-- -You can have it.
Let's get out of here, chum.
Thanks, Pop.
I'll drop back later.
Just don't get carried back.
Say, miss, how about giving him a shot?
Morphine. Him.
No more morphine?
That's great.
She pours him one more, I'm gonna get myself shot.
They're way too big.
I wished we'd found them yesterday.
Let's go, men. Chow!
-What? -You heard me. Hot chow!
I've been pulling KP ever since. We was bombed out twice.
I'm telling you, I never saw so much incoming mail.
Yeah, things are getting rough all over.
I wanted to go back on the line.
But they're short-handed in the kitchen, see.
A couple more KPs got hit this morning.
I wouldn't mind a little action for a change.
How about you and me switching?
Oh, no. They'd never let me go. I've been learning how to cook.
-Bettis, anything left? -No.
But it's clean. It's only leftovers.
I don't even see those things.
I wanna see them. I wanna remember them.
We'll start back in about an hour. Better stick around this area.
Where's the kid?
Who, Layton? He's in the barn, I guess, putting on those dry clothes.
Bettis, how about breaking loose with a bottle of cognac?
We ain't got any.
I'll settle for some hot water to wash my feet in.
Coming right up.
Bettis, you got any trading material?
The belly robber keeps everything locked. But there's half a loaf of bread.
A half a loaf is....
Where is it?
I could have sworn it was on that table.
Hello, soldier.
Pull up a chair, Holley.
Today you are a man.
This is Antwerp, up here.
To the north and the east are the British and the Canadians.
Down at Belfort, over 300 miles away, is the French First Army.
The Americans are stretched out all the way in between.
If the supply line to Antwerp is cut...
at least 20 Allied divisions will be strictly out on a limb.
-Where's Bastogne? -There.
This is where the Krauts found a soft spot in our line.
You see why Bastogne is so important.
It's at the main intersection of seven main highways...
one of them leading straight to Antwerp.
Don't know if we can hold out.
That sounds like ours.
It is ours!
Can't see a thing.
The supplies they've got to drop, we wouldn't want.
A crate of eggs for Berlin.
If bombers can get through, why can't C-47s?
In this pea soup?
-They're flying way over, you know that. -The air corps.
London this morning, Berlin this afternoon. Headlines tomorrow.
Fellows, come on back. It's getting lonesome here!
Nobody cares. They just don't care.
You can say that again.
I thought they had us surrounded.
Halt.
I speak English. Who is here in command?
I am here in command.
We have a message for the commanding general.
I'll get a jeep and take the officers back. Blindfold them.
Try it again, Jarvess.
All I can get out of them is their name and rank.
Loosen up, chum. Give us the lowdown.
You can talk now. Hitler kaput.
How would you like some nice K rations?
Now we're getting somewhere. He says he'll talk for a pack of cigarettes.
What did he say?
They want us to surrender.
"Surrender or be killed," he says.
Us?
Tell him to go take a flying leap at a rolling doughnut.
The Major thinks General McAuliffe must have misunderstood.
We've appealed to the well-known American humanity...
to save the people of Bastogne from further suffering.
We have given you two hours to consider before raining destruction upon you.
We do not understand General McAuliffe's answer.
I'll be glad to repeat it. The answer is, "Nuts! "
Is that a negative or an affirmative reply?
"Nuts" is strictly negative.
We will kill many Americans.
On your way, bud.
I feel better. For once we know what's going on around here.
For once we get the story...
before my wife writes it up and it's the daily news.
Here goes my last butt.
Don't tell me your problems. Tell the chaplain.
Chaplain. I forgot.
We've got nothing to worry about.
Holy Joe is going to pray for us at the Christmas services.
"They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.
"They shall mount up with wings as eagles."
If the fog lifts.
"They shall run, and not be weary."
Unless they have frozen feet.
"And they shall walk, and not faint."
If they don't lose too much blood before the medics come up.
Another airmail message from the Krauts.
"Merry Christmas, soldier, and our deepest sympathy.
"It's tough being away from home at this time of year...
"especially when you're surrounded and outnumbered 10-to-1.
"Don't you feel your loved ones worrying about you, praying for you?
"Yes, old boy, praying and hoping you'll come home again.
"Man, have you thought about it? What if you don't come back?
"Just remember this: Where there's a will, there's a way.
"Hot chow and safety are waiting for you only 300 yards away."
Anybody here from Ohio?
-Buckeye Lake, sir. -Cincinnati.
-Maple Heights, sir. -Tippecanoe City, sir.
I'm from Chillicothe. Any of you men Lutherans?
Here, sir.
-I am, sir. -My wife is, sir.
So am l.
These services aren't just for Lutherans, any more than just for men from Ohio.
I merely happen to be in your area.
In other areas, there are other chaplains of various denominations and religions.
All of us Holy Joes are switch-hitters.
Earlier this month in Holland, I held Hanukkah services...
for some of the men of the Jewish faith.
How did I do, Levenstein?
Not bad for a beginner, sir.
Now it's nearly Christmas...
and here we are in beautiful Bastogne enjoying the winter sports.
And the $64 question is:
"Was this trip necessary?"
I'll try to answer that.
But my sermons, like everything else in the army...
depend on the situation and the terrain.
So I assure you this is going to be a quickie.
Was this trip necessary?
Let's look at the facts.
Nobody wanted this war but the Nazis.
A great many people tried to deal with them, and a lot of them are dead.
Millions have died...
for no other reason except that the Nazis wanted them dead.
So, in the final showdown, there was nothing left to do except fight.
There's a great lesson in this.
Those of us who've learned it the hard way aren't going to forget it.
We must never again let any force dedicated to a super-race...
or a super-idea, or super-anything...
become strong enough to impose itself upon a free world.
We must be smart enough and tough enough in the beginning...
to put out the fire before it starts spreading.
So my answer to the $64 question is:
Yes, this trip was necessary.
As the years go by, a lot of people are going to forget.
But you won't.
And don't ever let anybody tell you...
you were a sucker to fight in the war against Fascism.
And now, Jerry permitting, let us pray.
Let us pray for this fog to lift.
Almighty God....
The organist is hitting those bass notes a little too loud for me to be heard.
So let us each pray in his own way, to his own God.
When you hear planes, men, don't bother to look up.
They'll be ours.
Yeah, they'll all be going to Berlin.
Layton, you haven't got a beat-up, old chocolate bar, have you?
I'm on that new lemonade diet.
Drop another nickel in the jukebox, will you, chum?
We interrupt this program with an important announcement.
A careful study of the most scientific instruments and maps...
lead to the following weather forecast.
Continued cold, more snow, and no sign of the fog lifting.
And now an old favorite, which is growing more and more popular...
with the men of the 101st: I Surrender, Dear.
Krauts walking around down there. Tanks, too.
What am I supposed to use for ammunition? Spitballs?
We've got 10 rounds left for Old Betsy.
-What about the tank at the roadblock? -Can't move up. They're out of gas.
Try and get some news on that radio.
Krauts have got it jammed up, everything except their own wavelength.
I'll try again.
They ain't even dug in.
-Holley. -What?
Is there anything to those stories about Krauts shooting prisoners?
-Where'd you get that? -It's going around.
I heard that if you've got a Kraut pistol on you when you're captured...
they blow your brains out with it.
Don't fall for them rumors, Layton.
Anybody want a Luger? It's worth $100 in Paris.
Thanks a lot.
It's a violation of the Sullivan Act for a civilian to carry firearms.
If I was you, Lieutenant, I'd hightail it out of here.
Other side of the hill! Dig in!
A careful study of the most scientific instruments and maps...
leads me to believe that German bombers are over Bastogne...
fog or no fog.
Kind of rough on rear echelon tonight.
Yeah, I've been thinking...
the Mess Sergeant, the Supply Sergeant...
the pill roller who gives us those shots with a square needle....
I'm bleeding for them.
...let me avoid death...
let me have forgiveness...
the eternal farewell.
Fall out in and draw a rifle!
-A rifle? -They just made you a rifleman. Me, too.
The medics told me I wasn't supposed to go up anymore. You can check.
Get your blanket.
Fall out. Draw rifles and ammo right now!
-Chow? -You ain't even warm.
Follow me, all of you, on the double!
That's all, brother.
Hey, you! Front and center!
Good thing they didn't send me up. I never even fired an M-1 rifle.
Last time I was out on the range, they were still using the .03.
All litter cases will prepare to be evacuated immediately...
to air raid shelters.
All walking wounded will fall out and draw rifles.
This is a .30-caliber, gas-operated, clip-fed, semiautomatic rifle.
Look, you ain't selling it to me. You're only showing me how it works.
To load it, you just pull the bolt back like this, and stick the clip in.
-What's up, Smitty? -Battalion says to pull back.
-Go ahead. -You, too, sir. They said to tell you.
It's a cinch we ain't pulling back that way.
I guess maybe we ain't pulling back at all.
Lieutenant, take the second squad.
First squad! Third squad! Over here.
Save it, Layton.
They'll be getting a lot closer, and we'll still be here.
It's shining!
How have you been?
Jarvess, look at them! They got here!
Drive them out of there! Blast them!
C-47s!
What was that about eagles?
"They shall mount up with wings as eagles.
"They shall run and not be weary."
-Well, what are we waiting for? -Let's go!
-Save me a couple of drops for my lighter. -Lighter?
I got a little old lamp I got to fill back in Bastogne.
K rations.
All dinners.
Hey, fellows, here it is.
Hey, fellows, come and get it.
Here, take your watch.
Daddy, what are them things?
It's a new kind of warfare, son. Mechanized, I think they call it.
Read about it in the Stars and Stripes.
What will they think of next?
Tank job, cigarette for papa?
Got a Stars and Stripes?
It's two days old. Heard it's been pretty rugged up here.
That's for sure. That's for dang sure.
Hey, handsome.
Good luck!
The folks back home knew we'd get out of this.
They heard relief was breaking through two days ago.
Fine. I'd hate to think they'd been worrying.
You'll be happy to know we're in Belgium, not Luxembourg.
Just so we're going back. That's all that counts.
You mean you're not happy in the service?
I didn't say that. I love it.
You found a home in the Army, chum.
Me, too. Never had it so good in my life.
Third platoon, on your feet.
Fall in.
Oh, no!
About face.
Forward march.
Whatever happened to Jody?
All right. Come on.
What do you want these guys to think, you're a bunch of WACs?
All right. Pick it up. Hut, two, three.