Looks abandoned.
Or worse.
Let's go, Shortwave.
It was Chinese New Year.
The Tet holiday.
The communists had called a 36-hour truce.
It should've been a routine patrol.
But we weren't taking any chances.
Get DiNardo up here.
DiNardo was my right hand.
Go!
The kind of gung-ho fighting machine
that Marines are famous for.
We'd been to this village before
and a lot of smiling,
shaking hands and bowing
to show that we were the good guys.
The people were friendly.
We like them and they liked us.
DiNardo knew enough Vietnamese
to be a big hit.
So it really hurts to see their heads on stakes.
This rotten war was getting to us.
We'd stay too long,
we seen too much.
Jesus Christ. . .
Sonofabitch!
DiNardo!
Got more in the wells.
Jesus. . .
No amount of training
could prepare you for an experience like this.
Shortwave said he'd seen worse
on the streets of Detroit.
But that's the kind of bullshit
you use to keep from going crazy.
Murphy was the one that's hit the hardest.
He was a green college kid from Indiana.
The closest he'd been to death
was his grand dad's funeral.
Sergeant Hafner!
Yo!
This is insanity.
This is effective.
Charlie's got this valley by the balls.
Won't nobody step outta line around here.
Sergeant Major!
Yo!
We got a boy, Sergeant Major.
He's alive!
Please, kid.
Calm down.
C'mon, Juicy?
Wanna Juicy?
Juicy, Juicy, Juicy.
There ain't no ceasefire around here
that's for damn sure.
Somethin' comin' down.
Somethin' heavy.
Oh, we gotta find out what it is.
We gonna leave the village like this?
Torch it.
We radioed headquarters,
but they didn't read the signs
like we did.
Just another bunch of dead gooks
What else is new?
DiNardo was pretty steamed up inside
so I put him on point.
Best therapy I could think of.
As point men go,
DiNardo had few equals.
He had a sharp eye
and a good nose for trouble.
Hold on. It's DiNardo, sir.
What do you got?
Two VC by a cave. I'm gonna pop 'em.
We got contact.
Murphy, I want you to check out the area.
Need to know how many dinks we're dealing with here.
You sure you wanna do this alone?
Yeah.
My turn.
Besides, I had needed a bath.
Okay Nard, you got the ball. if I ain't back in ten,
use your imagination.
Sure..
Stay on 'em.
Jesus Christ.
You look like a fucking ghost.
Whose were these?
I lost. . .
Lost my whole patrol.
What's your unit, son?
There were thousands.
We saw. . .
We saw thousands of 'em.
What's your name, son?
I don't. . .
I don't know.
No. . . No. . . I'm whip-bounding.
Two clicks back. . .
Abandoned camps.
Looked about company size.
Well, there's a company,
there's a battalion. - Come.
Tell DiNardo to get everybody
ready to pull out. -Right.
C-4's in place, Sergeant Major.
Might be a pretty good idea to blow it up.
Yes, sir.
Dinks up ahead!
Twenty, maybe thirty.
You know the program, DiNardo.
Do your thing.
I want you bunched up around the casualty.
Let's move.
DiNardo was like a brother I never had.
He's always getting into trouble.
And I was always gettin' him out.
But when the times got tough,
he was the one I knew I could count on.
For a while, there had been some tension between us.
And it needed to be resolved.
But now was not the time.
Now, I needed the best rifleman in the squad
covering my back.
Any VC in your area?
No VC here.
Only fish made in bottles. -Yeah, I bet.
Where the boy come from?
We found the boy in An Lap village.
An Lap village?
I don't like it. Let's move.
Let's get outta here.
I don't like the looks of this at all.
Get on the horn.
There's not a swinging dink here
that ain't recruiting age.
Tell DiNardo to lock and load.
Watch the one with the hairy face.
Lock and load, DiNardo.
It don't look good.
Sergeant Major's saying: watch the one with the beard.
Shortwave, get your dumb black John Wayne ass down!
Get down!
Get that Fifty on the boat!
Ceasefire! Hold your fire!
I want these boats under water.
Don't use our frags.
There's plenty of dink grenades up here.
I'd like to know where these needle-dick
dinks are getting new AK-fuckin'-47s at.
What the hell's goin' on here, Spider?
You on Rand R?
Get down here and help Hawk sink those boats.
Shortwave, you get in touch with the damn chopper yet?
No, sir. Sergeant Major.
Keep trying.
Hey, DiNardo!
Yo!
I want an accurate body count.
I got it!
Twenty males. Nine females.
Three goddamn tots.
You'll love this shit.
VC regulars.
Just beautiful.
Happy Chinese New Year.
Murphy, are you ready yet?
I want that chopper in here, right now.
Doin' my best, Sergeant Major.
Yeah, well. That's not quite good enough.
Try harder.
Golden Eagle, this is Shortwave.
What the hell am I gonna name you, huh?
How 'bout, Pee Wee, huh?
Can you say, Pee Wee?
Pee Wee.
- Pee Wee
Pee Wee, I named you Pee Wee.
Pee Wee Reese.
The greatest baseball player
for the Brooklyn Dodgers that ever lived.
Don't get too goddamn attached to that boy.
You know, what?
He sure as hell doesn't look like Jimmy.
But he's got the same spark in his eye.
You know what I mean? Look at him.
It doesn't get any goddamn easier.
Does it Nard?
Nope.
So, Sergeant Major. Where the hell are we going now?
A little goddamn firebase.
Gloria's the name of it.
What?
Gloria!
Ain't too far from here.
Shit!
Fuck! We're we hit?
Don't worry 'bout it.
We're comin' down.
Take it port side. - Sergeant Major!
This sucker's dead meat.
Get us down. Now!
You got it, chief!
Set it down. Now!
It's alright. It's alright.
We'll be getting outta here.
Be cool!
We're goin' down.
Just cut the fuel!
Get the fuck outta here!
C'mon! C'mon!
Jesus.
C'mon, let's get the Ghost down to the aid station.
Murphy, see to it that the kid gets de-loused.
DiNardo, your radio with me.
Let's move. Let's move.
Where's your CO?
He's in the CP jackin' off.
Yeah, he's at the pod now, sir.
Must've jerked off for the second time by now, baby.
Good afternoon, sir.
You are the CO?
Who're you?
Sergeant Major Hafner.
Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol, sir.
Yes.
The French Foreign Legion had
difficulty in this country, you know.
Difficulty.
Street Without Joy.
You read it?
Yes, sir. I have.
Your opinion?
It's history, sir.
History.
Very good.
And you know that fortified positions
linked by mobile reconnaissance
has survived the strategy?
Are you paying attention, soldier?
Sir. we have just encountered heavy enemy activity
in the vicinity of An Lap.
Don't be impertinent, soldier.
The Sergeant Major and I here were discussing history.
History.
Well it seems to me that you would like to know what the hell. . .
Nothing is 'seems to be'.
You remember that, soldier.
Yes, sir.
Even the incomparable Clausewitz
underestimated the value of airborne artillery.
Then, how could he possibly know
given the historical contexts.
Sir, the gooks are on the move out there.
Of course they are, Sergeant-Major.
It's the Tet holiday.
Every gook in the country is on the way to his mama-san's
for fucking fish heads and rice.
We just rescued an American prisoner,sir.
And he's given us vital information
about heavy . . .
Soldier.
Come here. Come here, soldier.
What?
Lemme I ask you a question.
Does she or doesn't she have
the greatest set of tits
you've ever seen in your entire life?
Yes, sir.
Yes, sir!
That'll be all, gentlemen.
Dismissed.
Oh, by the way, Sergeant Major.
Put your men to work on
repairing the mess tin refs.
Haven't had ice cream in two weeks.
Complete air superiority
and they can't freeze a couple
gallons of fucking ice cream!
Let's get outta here.
So. . .ah.
Staying, Sergeant Major?
Hundreds of places to live.
Sergeant Major. . .
I would say, this is a perfect time
for a change of command.
For Chrissakes,
he's already brain-dead
If we don't do it
it's gonna get everybody killed
including ourselves.
Sergeant Major. . .
Sergeant Major!
Goddamit, Nard, I hear you.
Wait until nightfall.
I don't want him killed.
No problem.
Incoming!
Ceasefire! Ceasefire!
What the fuck was that?!
Incoming rounds.
Oh, hell. They got the CP.
Medic!
Get the fuck here, now!
Goddamit. . .
Huh. Nobody.
Mighty Mouse never get us out this shit.
Okay. . .
Mighty Mouse and Underdog.
I don't know. . .
Yet. . .
No. No. No.
How much time you got up here?
Yeah. Seventeen more days.
I'm gonna miss you.
Yeah, I'll miss you too.
Varia, it's Jones here.
I read you, Sergeant.
I'm on my way.
Who're you?
Sergeant Major Hafner.
Where's Captain Williams?
Unconscious, down at sick bay. We had incoming last night.
Poor guy.
Shit.
What's your status?
First Sergeant Jones, sir. just in from patrol.
Sit down.
Well, you're my First Sergeant now, Jones.
Wha'd you see out there?
Three hundred on the move.
Maybe more.
All regulars.
Yeah, we can add about two thousand to that.
Maybe in ballpark.
Where?
An Lap. Yesterday.
Crap's gonna hit the fan, Top.
And this fuckin' place ain't prepared for the shit.
This firebase can't be defended.
How many people do you have out there, that ain't brain-dead?
I don't have anyone who's willing to trip over
his guts for the Vietnamese way of life.
-This I know...
Any illusions about yours or my brand of democracy, First Sergeant?
We're gonna re-fortify this shit-hole,
then we're gonna protect it like it was your daughter's cherry.
I hate, I'm gonna die here.
Right.
There's no doubt in my military mind
that we are in a deep-shit situation, people.
Now, if any of you dog-faced dope smokers
don't feel like pulling your share of the load around here,
you can pack your shit and get your young asses
off of my firebase right now.
Sandbag this west sector, now!
Move your ass!
Somebody get me a goddamn vehicle up here
and drive this heap of shit outta here!
I want these fresh lines squared away.
Break your legs and do a purpose dig.
You find them, tonight.
there is hope, damn tomorrow.
It's as simple as...
What the fuck is that?
Combat photographer.
Crazy as a bedbug.
They say, he's got the best Cambodian Red around.
Yeah?
Oh, we'll see about that.
Hey. . .God what a defensive fighter.
Matter of fact, not a bad idea.
I understand you got some pretty badass Cambodian Red.
Ain't the truth, isn't it?
Fine, my weed here. Been smoking opium for a month.
This takes the edge off ev'rything.
Goddamn. That's my favorite kind.
No, shit.
Give it to me.
Wha-why should I give it for?
I said fucking give it to me.
Hey man. This should cost me two cases of peaches, man.
-Nard. You've been strip-searched by a Marine.
Because I suggest you reach in and find it.
But you sure as hell, you don't want me to do it.
Now, do it right now!
Now!
All right, all right!
Hey, call a dog laugh. Hey, all right.
Shit.
I hate this game.
Sergeant Major.
Can I keep it?
Yeah, you found it.
It's all yours, Nards.
Give him a rifle and put him on the line.
Yes, let's go Doctor Leary.
You can't do this. I'm a civilian.
Yeah, well you've just been fucking drafted, sweetheart.
I'm an innocent objector. Hey, alright I'm comin'.
We work for a living now.
So you're staying!?
What about the nurses?
Nurses?
Yes, there are nurses up at the station.
Doin' this field exercise.
Shit's gettin' pretty goddamn deep around here.
Is there any nuns or Girl Scouts, that I should know about
on the firebase?
That's what happens when you inherit wealth.
Lucky you.
Yeah, lucky me.
Aid station, Sergeant Major.
Alright,
I want these troops patched up and back out on the line,
ASAP.
If they can fire a rifle, they can send my gratitude.
I take it you're in command?
You take it right. What's your trade or field?
Captain Flanagan.
199th Evacuation Hospital.
Sir, did I hear you say you want
my wounded back on the line?
That's affirmative, Captain.
We're facing a regiment of VC out there.
Breaking it down into layman's terms,
that's five to one in their favor.
I'm not too goddamn crazy about you ladies
being on my firebase in the first place.
But I guess I can learn how to live with it, can I?
I understand.
I want you to get a list of supplies together
that you gonna have to have turned over to
First Sergeant here take care of this.
Good morning, Miss Flanagan.
Captain...
The rank's Captain.
I'm real impressed.
Maybe you are made to see it.
C'mon, First Sergeant.
Headquarters still didn't buy my analysis of the situation.
Hell, they had experts staying in air-conditioned offices in Saigon
who understood that we're a whole lot better than anyone in the front line.
We had asked for ammunition and reinforcements.
What we got was the mail run, a few cases of beer and a VD film.
They just wouldn't believe we were up against a regiment of Vietcong.
They didn't even bother to send a replacement CO.
Nice knowing you, sir
There were times when we all wondered whether
headquarters was fighting the same war.
Incoming!
Cover!
Get me the fuck outta here!
Shit!
Damn, all you arty motherfuckers.
I'm an officer.
An officer?
If I'd knew you were officer,
I'd left your ass right out there, motherfucker.
Nardo, we got contact.
Visual. Two figures.
Two hundred yards.
Hello.
Yeah. Hi! Hi!
We friend.
No, no. Stay there, stay there.
American, mai loi.
What you got, Murph?
Ah, just a couple of girls.
Wanna come out? Whaddaya think?
Me friend.
Bullshit.
I smell sapper.
Cut 'em down.
Goddamit, Murphy.
I said take your weapon. . .
Fuck you, you just fuck it...
No!
For God's sakes, no!
Listen to me.
This is Vietnam, you understand?
Pretty girls got balls.
Instead of their mommies putting books in their hands,
and sending 'em to school,
they wrap 'em up in dynamite and send 'em off to kill GIs.
You got that?
That's the enemy, Murphy.
That's the enemy!
Get it together!
Charlie just reminded us he had nothing to lose
and everything to gain.
You had to admire his strength of purpose.
He'd been fighting off foreigners for hundreds of years.
The Chinese, Japanese, the French and now, us.
We knew. We just knew he was never going to give up.
That night, Charlie pulled the biggest publicity stunt of the war.
The last thing the folks at home were expecting to see
on their tv sets that day was a ravaged embassy.
Any news that the Tet offensive had started.
Had been told the war was almost won.
They would not be so trusting again.
All headquarters told me was to hold the firebase,
whatever it took.
A little religious communication
might not be a bad idea this late in the game.
I myself, I don't take any chances.
I talk to Mohammed,
Buddha
and to Jesus H. Christ
and any other religious honchos I can come up with.
There is no sense staying as an atheist in a combat situation.
Now we don't have a chaplain here,
but I don't see that as any major setback.
You can rest assured,
you will not go in that bag
until I've said a few appropriate words over you.
I figured about 450 yards. Set up the main tube.
Pound them!
Recoil 25 four!
Fuck their guns!
All right, hold your fire!
Wait now. Wait for my command!
Forceps.
Captain.
I can help.
Give me something to do.
I've done field dressing. -Uh-huh.
This is a big chance to be a hero.
I want you to maintain constant contact with DiNardo.
You got it?
Yes, Sergeant Major.
Hold your fire, goddamn it!
Fire!
Yeah, what's it like?
What's it like!?
How many of 'em?
Medic!
Charlie was testing us.
He lost his first assault on the northern side
when we were better prepared.
Then through his waiting, DiNardo's position
on the east perimeter was tougher for him.
but not so strongly defended.
Nice thinking, Charlie.
You damn your fathers with our pants down.
Pull back!
Get on the horn to Haffner!
Tell him we're being overrun!
Shortwave! This is Murphy!
Tell Hafner we need backup. Now!
Right now!
That's affirmative!
Let's go!
Jones, this is Hafner!
DiNardo's getting overrun.
There are gooks through the wire.
Gather as many as your troops together as you can spare,
get 'em over to him, right now!
We're on our way!
Move out!
Let's go!
Let's go. Payback time!
Now!
Howdy, you scumbag!
That's right! Go back!
All the way back to Hanoi!
Murphy, Spider, Hawk!
You're all on death detail.
Get out there and kill the wounded.
I don't want any surprises, overnight.
Murphy, if you can find it in your sweet little heart
to bring back a prisoner. I'd appreciate it.
No problem.
Murphy.
What's goin' on with you?
Everything?
Jesus Christ! They're killing wounded.
Don't tell me you're feeling sorry for 'em, Sergeant?
They're soldiers just like us.
Wounded!
Snipers! There!
Yes!
You have a good time?
You're fuckin' crazy, you know that?
You're really diggin' this shit.
What were you back home, a rapist?
No.
I'm just another dumbass, like you.
All right, hang in there. It'll be all right.
This is your ticket home, man.
It'll be all right.
Hang in there.
Okay, Mr. Commanding Officer. Where's the medevac?
I've got eight people who will be dead within the hour.
We're running out of morphine.
Where are the supplies I ordered?
You listen to me, Flanagan.
You listen good.
Communications bunker is history.
We are on our own.
There will be no resupply.
So you tighten up and make do with what you've got.
You're a captain.
Be a goddamn captain.
Just the guy I was looking for.
Woo! Hot damn it, Murphy.
I told you to bring me back a live one.
Hey, he's still alive.
He's fine, pretty still alive.
For that matter, so am I.
Get him at the aid station.
I want this little dink talkin' to me in twenty minutes.
No problem.
What the hell are you doing?
Leave him alone!
Look lady, this is called extracting information.
You understand that?
So we torture prisoners now, do we?
You goddamn right. This ain't Nebraska, lady.
But you don't do it in my hospital.
No?
Goddamn it, talk to me!
Talk to me!
What kind of animal, are you?
Animal?
Yeah.
Lady, you have any idea
if Charlie got in here.
What will they do?
He will rape you.
Your nurses.
Until you are dead.
But you know what?
They'd have to kill me first.
Animal?
I'm not that --- The Animal.
Sergeant Major.
Now, I mind being your radio operator.
I was trained Recon.
No patrols.
Goddamn it, you're a short-timer.
You just don't need it.
Hi guys.
Can you stand a little more excitement?
Whaddaya got, Nard?
They're digging.
Where?
At the edge of the tree line.
And they're headed right this way.
My little Cong tells me that
two big guns are arriving the first thing in the morning.
Where's your little Cong now?
He's probably shaking hands with Buddha right now.
You'd think you could get into their camp?
Sergeant Major.
You're in Bangkok.
It's Friday night.
And you got a fistful of dollars.
You think you could get laid?
Yeah, I think so. - Yeah, I think you could too.
Shortwave, let's go to Bangkok.
Okay. Go on.
Alright.
Keep your head down.
We learned we were up against the Dong Nai Regiment.
under the command of Colonel Cao Van.
He wasn't exactly one of my favorite people.
He'd overrun 9th Motor Transport last year.
and that'd really pissed me off.
So I thought I'd let him know we weren't
gonna lay down and die that easy.
It was time to sprinkle some shit in Charlie's rice.
Goddamn it, Jones. You have any idea
how close you just came to get blown away?
Where the hell do you think you are anyway, Iwo Jima?
No, this ain't exactly Suribachi, either.
I didn't know that you were a flag-waver, Jones.
I care.
I don't care for a lot of it.
What I care for, care for a lot.
Know what I mean?
I've been a dedicated soldier
for twenty-three years.
Does that tell ya something, hmm?
Yeah, I came in the Marine Corps
when I was seventeen years old.
So hell no.
I wouldn't change a goddamn thing either.
Shit!
Goddamn it!
DiNardo!
DiNardo, I'm on a mine.
Closer, Coates.
Give me a knife, man. - I got ya. I got ya.
Goddamn it. There's a patrol up there.
I'd like to see you back in one piece. You understand me?
Oh, we'll just leave him here, man?
Yeah, we're going.
Now!
DiNardo! Comin' in!
Password!
Fuck your password!
Yo! Comin' in !
What's the password?
♪Moonlight over Saigon.♪
♪It's so enticing.♪
How you've been? -Lovely.
You're little flat, Murphy.
It's the wording.
I think that got my name on it.
Good night.
How did you do this?
With a knife.
That's a little silly.
Silly?
I guess it is a little silly.
What's your name?
Cathy.
Kinda remind me of my girl.
Her name's Polly.
We're gettin' married in May.
We're supposed to be married last November.
But leave got canceled.
But that's okay.
I like May better, anyway.
You got a piece?
What?
A rifle.
You have a rifle?
Uh-uh.
You might need one.
Tomorrow, were gonna be attacked for sure.
Why don't you take mine?
Aren't you gonna need it?
I'll find another one.
Safety on. Off.
It's got a full clip.
Thanks.
Wish me luck?
Good luck.
Soup's up. Let's break a leg.
All over the country, Charlie was giving us big trouble.
Nothing was out of his reach.
I just hoped there was someone,
somewhere who hadn't forgotten us.
Fuck me dead!
No love for you today, mother?
Where we going, Skipper?
A fuckin' outpost called Gloria. It's on the map.
Don't wait for it.
It's gonna go! Get clear!
There goes our escort.
Picked a fine time to leave me, Lucille.
Alright, saddle up!
Attack!
Eat this!
All right!
They're breakin' through.
Murphy, you hold this line!
Get back! Get the fuck back!
Let's go!
Fill it in!
Quickly, get it moved out, right now!
C'mon, Murphy!
Hold the line!
Is that it?
Sure is.
Which ones are our guys?
The ones in the middle. I think.
Alright, squeeze the cheeks together.
This fucker's gotten warmer.
Guys, I'm goin' in low.
Just see 'em where you see 'em. I'll come out over the trees.
Let's make it hard for Charlie.
This is fucking hairy.
Alright.
Boys maul up that Twelve-Seven.
I see it!
In the tree line.
Alright, I got it. I got it.
Got a rocket right up your ass.
Damn it, missed!
Fucked up their garden. Somethin' awful.
Yes! Yes!
Hi. May I take your order?
Yeah, we need C rations, ammunition, radio
and above all, bring back the Air Cav.
You want French fries with that?
No, but I'll tell you what
you can have a clean shave
next time you come back.
You look a goddamn hippie!
Aye, General.
Back at noon.
The Air Cav has bought us a little more time.
God knows when they'll come our way again.
The dead piled up
and too many of them were ours.
We were killing Charlie wholesale.
But he didn't seem to care.
Yes, we'd do the same if Charlie occupied South Carolina.
Jesus. . .
Fuckin' war.
They called it a 'police action'.
You took some hits, Skipper.
You've estranged the game through this thing.
Gimme another one, Chief. I need fifteen, yeah.
Got it.
Guys, I know you got other missions
but I need some volunteers.
I'm on vacation.
There's a ceasefire. Can't you tell? -Yeah.
We cease. They fire.
You guys like a little excitement?
There's a firebase in rat's ass called Gloria.
They're in deep shit.
How 'bout it?
Fuck it, why not?
Beats the mail run.
Check!
We're like heroes.
Yo, Skipper. -Yeah.
We gassed and done, the fuckin' CO wouldn't give us the aircraft.
What?
The supplies are waiting too.
Says who?
Fucking ground officer.
Okay.
It's time to play captain.
Hey you. Boy.
Who you callin' 'boy'?
Number One, shut your mouth.
Number Two, I'm Captain Moran.
Sorry, Captain. I was just...
I don't care what the fuck your name is.
What I care about is the aircraft, right over here.
I'm taking that one. I'm taking those two, as well.
I swear to God, if you waste any more of my time.
You're a fuckin' dead guy.
Yes, Captain.
Start cleaned up, soldier.
Carry on.
Six-One-Two, this is Six.
Thirty second pass, over the canopy.
Let's burn Charlie's ass.
Gunners on your left, you'll notice targets of opportunity.
Please fire at will and thank you for flying Moran Airlines.
Yeah, yeah!
Help's coming. Help's coming!
It's down. Let's get 'em in a hurry. C'mon, crates. Move!
The choppers were bringing what they could.
But it didn't change a lot of line.
We were surrounded, outnumbered
but no place to go.
There was no doubt in my military mind
the next attack could be the last.
It was a do or die situation.
As ordered, General.
Outstanding.
Don't call me "General", no more.
I got you arms and some medicals and a radio.
Hope that works.
I gotta go.
What's this?
Thought you said, you needed a shave.
Good luck, General.
Six-One, Two. This is six.
Let 'em know who we are on the way out.
Six, this is Six-One.
Ah, I got some rockets left.
We don't get paid to bring them home.
Leave some widows behind.
Six, this is Six-One.
Sweep the deck, set Two-Niner-Seven.
Them motherfuckers.
They're at it again!
Alright, that's it.
Deadeye, you cut those fuckers down
before we go out of business. - Got ya!
Out-fucking-standing!
Yeah! Baby!
Ah, yes.
Pee Wee.
The nights were always beautiful that time of the year.
But you were no safer at night
and the long hours of stillness.
worked on your fears.
Night was the time you wondered what the hell you were doing here.
And when do you get your balls blown off tomorrow.
You can do some ugly pretty thinking at night.
For some of us, the nights were gettin' far too long.
You're turning to shit on me, Nard.
Huh?
Look at yourself.
You don't look like any kind of goddamn Marine I've ever seen.
What is this?
You turnin' into some kind of goddamn
Cambodian witch doctor on me?
What's next?
A hole in your nose?
A fuckin' plate on your lower lip?
Fuck the Marines.
I'm gonna act like I never heard that.
What?
I'm gonna act like I never even heard that.
Fuck the Corps. . .
. . .and fuck the war.
If I didn't raise you from a puppy
and hold your hand all the way up
through the United States Marine Corps,
I would step on your goddamn dick
right here and now.
Do you think I care?
I mean, do you think I'd give a shit anymore?
Aw hell, now seventeen are dead.
When I was seventeen,
I want to be just like you.
Badass Marine
Go out and find myself
a shitty little war
and fight communism.
Okay?
You're goddamn war hero.
But I tell you what,
at seventeen years later,
I don't even know what a communist is.
What? Some dink in
black pajamas
runnin' around in rice paddies.
Ha, that's a commie?
Hell, that poor sonofabitch hasn't even heard of Karl Marx.
This has dick to do with dinks,
commies, or Karl fucking Marx
and you know as well, as I do
it has to do with your little boy Jimmy.
But he died, he took you right along with him, didn't he?
No.
Sergeant Major.
You just got too personal.
That's right.
Turn your back on him.
Go out there and bury your goddamn head in the sand
like a fuckin' ostrich.
Maybe it'll all go away.
Goddamn it! He was the only thing I ever loved!
You let me down, Nard.
I let you down.
That's right.
When the boy died, you can come to me.
You let me put my arms around you
and cried with you.
You left for San Francisco and stayed drunk for three weeks.
AWOL.
Got busted all the way down to corporal.
I didn't go AWOL.
I went crazy.
And I went to hell.
May I please be dismissed?
Go to bed, Nard.
Go on.
How's it goin', soldier?
I'd rather be home, sir.
Where is home?
Little Rock.
You're better off here, boy.
Think so?
Yeah.
Just keep your ass down, you hear?
I hear you, sir. - Okay.
Shit!
Hafner.
East 50. On the double.
Anyone know who these belong to?
This is Corporal Miller.
He's dead.
Hell the whole gun crew's dead.
And to add insult to injury,
Charlie took the Fifty fucking caliber machinegun with him.
I don't any respect for Corporal Miller anymore
Because he allowed his group to relax.
They let their guard down for five fucking minutes.
And Charlie took advantage of it.
Look at 'em God damn it!
Pay attention.
Stay alert.
Stay alive.
It's as simple as that.
All right. Move back to the secondary.
Get back! Get the fuck back!
Gaines! Get over here.
Take the Fifty!
I'm goin' out on the flank.
Murphy!
With me!
Go!
Polly. . .
C'mon!
Yeah!
♪ Fightin' first the cavalry.♪ ♪Ya-hoe. Ya-hoe.♪
♪ Fightin' first the cavalry,♪
♪ Higher it goes, the shootings free.♪
♪ We might prevail, we save the day.♪
♪ Yahoe, yahoe, yahoe.♪
♪Suicide mission, yes to me.♪ ♪Ya-hoe. Ya-hoe.♪
Ain't that fun!?
Yeah right! All right!
Hey!
Hey, c'mon in!
Now, let's get fuckin' hot!
I'll be right...
Pee Wee!
Pee. . .
Out-fuckin'-standing.
How ya doin', Champ?
Out of luck.
I can't feel nothin'.
Don't worry.
We'll medevac you out. You'll be in Saigon in no time.
I bet.
Bill?
Yeah, yeah Nard. I'm here, man.
Do me.
Do me, now.
Get the hell outta here, Flanagan.
You ain't needed.
No...
I said, get the fuck outta here, right now.
No.
Don't. . .
I can't.
Goddamn it. We had a deal.
I ain't going home like this.
That fucking deal was for me, man.
You do it, now.
Do it!
Remember the kids who sit damn straight. . .
Ah-ha. . .
Remember the kids who. . .
Oh, yeah.
Laid out the jewels. . .
Taped it to their heads. . .
To lace this goddamn broad
and his fuckin' pain.
I lost a lot of good men at Gloria.
But then, so did the Dong Nai.
The Air Cav shot them up all the way back to the Phu Loi river.
In the four months of the Tet Offensive,
Charlie lost 55,000 men.
After that, the Vietcong ceased to exist as an independent fighting force.
And Hanoi took control of their war.
DiNardo,
Joseph L.
Corporal.
United States Marine Corps.
1-9-5-6-0-3-9
End of the story, Nard.