- Colonel Gilfillan will address the men. - Aye aye, sh.
Now hear this, now hear this.
Marines, Company B, 1st Battalion. This is Colonel Gilfillan.
We're gonna be landing on a Jap-held island.
Couple of things I've said to you before I think are worth repeating.
When you hit that beach, there's gonna be a lot of noise, smoke and confusion.
You're gonna have to keep your eyes on your platoon leaders.
I don't want any lost little lambs running around. You know where lambs end up.
This is a big island. There's a lot about it we don't know yet
And a lot we're gonna have to find out from the Japs themselves.
We used to say that the on; good lap was a dead lap.
I remind you that that's changed.
From here on in a good Jap is also a Jap prisoner who tells us things.
Now, this is an order. Whenever possible you will take prisoners.
I say again: you will take prisoners.
Some of us were together at Guadalcanal and again at Tarawa.
I was proud to be with you. I know it'll be the same after this.
Believe me, this trip is necessary.
All hands, good luck. I'll see you on the beach.
Wouldn't you know I'd get a stinking cold?
- What's the matter, Whitney? - I don't like the dreams I've been having.
Don't let it worry you. I've landed on two Jap islands and I'm still here.
Yeah, but this guy I'm a replacement for, where's he?
Got a half-inch of whisky, all I've got left. Want it?
- I don't drink. - You will.
- I'm gonna make some more. - No, thanks. I don't drink.
OK, just take this ashore for me. Come on.
- What is it? - It's a "goes into".
This goes into that.
- W; astill! - Sh!
Just get it ashore. Watch out for Sergeant Zelenko.
- But I don't drink. - Yeah, I know. You told me. But I do.
Now hear this, now hear this.
All troops lay below and prepare to debark.
Hey, Whitney. What are you carrying, a still?
- Sergeant, I don't... - Pal, we've a war to fight.
Yeah, and you're going to fight it sober.
Sergeant, I don't drink.
Come with me.
Now, listen to me. You new men. Step up here.
Don't let Slattery get you into trouble.
He's got no more sense than a settin' hen in a hurricane.
That's why he's been a private longer than any man in the marine corps.
And he'll die a private. Don't have nothin' to do with him.
Except when things get tough. Stick to him like plaster.
Best fightin' man I know.
But before and after, he's a no-good money-burnin', gin-drinkin' horse head.
Now, let's get moving. Got a lot of coal to dig.
Zelenko, where's Lieutenant Anderson?
Coffman, you shouldn't worry so much. He'll be here.
He said he'd meet us on the deck like always.
Take your pack off and loosen your leggings. Did he ever miss a train before?
- Where's the lieutenant? - I don't know.
Lieutenant, I...
Lieutenant, I... I can't make it. I... I'm sick...
You gotta scratch me out.
Please, Lieutenant.
You've gotta get me out of this landing.
I can't get away with it any more after Tarawa, the canal.
Call me a psycho, court-martial me, I don't care!
The war's coming out of my ears! I'm sick!
So am I.
Do you hear me, Lieutenant? Do you hear me?
I hear you.
Both of us have it comin' out of our ears.
So what do I tell him? Think of ice-cream sodas, Fourth of July?
There are no bands playin' here.
The first time I saw him he was just as scared.
A hundred years ago.
Greetings on this first day of the new term.
I see we have a transfer from Clinton High School.
Mr Conroy, have you ever had chemistry before?
Conroy?
Speak up. Are you tongue-tied?
- I... - He s-s-stutters.
Quiet.
I apologise, Mr Conroy. You may sit down.
All right, Conroy. Repeat slowly after me.
Hope is the mother of all men.
H-h-hope is the...
Read that top line, will you?
The top one.
Sep... September...
23rd...
1940.
You don't stutter as much when you read.
No, not much.
Stuart, listen to me. Stuttering is a matter of conflict and fear.
Maybe, in your case, fear of failure.
We may not be able to cure all of it, but we'll fix that stuttering.
After all, we've got a whole year to try. So let's get started.
Close your eyes and pretend that you're all alone
And you see words in your mind,
The words "Hope is the mother of all men."
Now close your eyes and read what you see.
Hope... is the...
Mother of... all men.
- It worked. - Good! Now, let's try it again.
Hope is the mother of all men.
Swell.
Mr Principal, members of the faculty,
Honored guests.
Fellow graduates of the class of 1941.
Hope... Hope is the mother of all men.
And as we leave these hallowed halls,
We must each one of us fearlessly hold on to the belief in the promise of the future.
There is no limit to our achievement.
What are you thinking, Lieutenant? That I'm a coward? Is that what you're thinking?
Thinking of dear old school days. That's a laugh!
I was thinking you handled fear once, you can handle it again.
Mr Conroy, have you ever had chemistry before?
Now hear this, now hear this.
All hands go to debarkation stations. All hands go to debarkation stations.
OK, Lieutenant. Let's walk.
You men who've never been in combat before, it's OK to be scared. We're all scared.
But if anybody feels like vomiting, do it now.
What's holding us up? Let's get rollin'.
How many landings you gotta make to learn we
circle out here until they're ready for us?
I'm in a hurry to get home, that's all.
You and Pretty Boy buddies, are you?
Sure. We look after each other.
- He's tough. - He's a nice fella, but he is tough.
- Something the matter, Lieutenant? - Get outta here.
Doc, you better talk to Anderson. He's in some kind of pain.
- Did he ask for me? - No.
Then let me alone. If he needs me, he'll ask for me.
- I'm an old friend... - Let me alone, I told you!
I'd do anything for Anderson, but it ain't up to me.
I oughta be on my farm where I belong, workin' with cows.
It's easy to figure right and wrong with cows.
That's a honey of a pipe, Lieutenant.
- Say, thanks a lot. - Forget it, Doc.
The principal of my old school sent it to me. I don't smoke pipes.
You did a fine job getting that plasma into me at Tarawa.
Forget it, sir.
The medical brass say I'll be outta here soon.
- That's fine, Lieutenant. - Yeah.
Sit down. Go ahead. It's all right.
There's an old witch of a nurse out there with
an ear like radar and a tongue like a fire bell.
You know what psychological migraine is?
Lot of pain in the head, no functional disorder.
For a guy who was a manure spreader three years ago, you're pretty hep.
- Always wanted to be a doctor. - You know where a migraine comes from?
I ain't that hep, Lieutenant. - From being scared and wanting to run away.
And not running away. I got it.
- What do the doctors say? - I haven't told them. I'm not going to.
I want you to see that I'm supplied with enough of these to keep me going.
If the lieutenant will excuse the expression,
the lieutenant is a five-star fool.
Don't you wanna go back to the States?
The gentleman on the middle aisle says no.
That's no explanation. What about the future? What about your teaching?
I used to get a bang, standing up there pretending to know all the answers.
But now? Teach high-school boys the bright, new world of science after this?
Doc, you can have the future for peanuts.
I had 44 men in my platoon when I started out. Now I've got 37 replacements.
I believe in nothing but the survivors.
Pigeon Lane, Slattery, Pretty Boy, Coffman, Conroy, Zelenko and you
Are all I've got left in the world.
I wanna stay out here till I'm dead or till we're all dead.
Now, how about these painkillers?
They ain't gonna help. They're only temporary.
So am I.
About this psychological migraine.
It's something you've gotta beat down without medicine,
Or you're gonna be like a man hanging on to your mama's apron strings.
Yes or no?
Is that an order?
- No. - OK, I'll do it.
- Thanks. - But you're wrong about the future.
If we didn't believe in the future, we'd never grow wheat to make bread.
- Beat it, Doc. I'm tired. - Sorry.
So long.
Hello, Doc.
- You sick? - No, I came to see the lieutenant.
Hi, Coffman. Come on in.
- Lieutenant, I brought you a book. - Thanks. Thanks very much.
Lieutenant, I just dropped by to thank you. - For what?
For pulling me out of the drink at Tarawa.
I pulled no one out of the drink at Tarawa.
- They told me... - In this war everybody's a life-saver.
A man saves your life, it's decent to thank him.
Forget it.
What is this, a clambake?
The old witch, huh?
I see the lieutenant's been complaining about me again.
He spoke very highly of you.
You're a liar.
I'm sorry.
What's the matter, Doc? You nervous?
- You dropped your pipe. - Thanks. Thanks a lot.
Did I do the right thing?
Shouldn't! Have told the doctors? How can he go
on fighting this war with his head in a vice?
I feed him the pills and he keeps getting the pain.
Doc.
Yes, sir.
Yes, sir?
Did you check the men's packs?
Yes, sir.
OK, that's all.
We're approaching the line of departure. Get down!
Pansy Baker, Pansy Baker. This is Pansy Baker 2. Over.
- Our naval gunfire's coming in OK. - There isn't a Jap home today.
We're on the beach. No resistance. Moving up to the ridge. Over and out.
We're moving up! Let's get to that ridge!
Let's go!
- Coffman, get me the CP. - Pansy Baker, Pansy Baker.
- Get out of this hole! Spread out! - You want me to get killed?
Somebody's gotta get killed. - Zelenko said to stick to you like plaster.
Joe, they got us pinned down at the ridge.
- What's in front of you? - Two pillboxes, half a dozen machine guns.
We need tanks, need 'em bad. Over and out.
About time you got here!
Get behind those tanks!
Come on, come on! Open up!
Spray the whole hill. It's lousy with Nips.
My squad's dug in, Lieutenant. Everyone's in position.
Nobody gets trigger-happy tonight. And keep the gab down.
See anything?
- What are you writing? - I'll show it to you some other time.
If you can see to write, your eyes are better than mine.
Get up there.
Man, am I jittery.
See anything? It's me, Anderson.
- Do you see anything? - Everything, nothing.
We never had that problem in chemistry.
You don't have to worry about me any more.
They can kill me but they can't eat me. The rules of warfare, you know.
Good.
Let me know if you see anything.
Down with marines!
How long is this thing gonna last?
- We've been here a week already. - You're crazy. It's only three days.
Monday, Tuesday... Wednesday and Thursday.
You're both wrong. It's four days.
What difference? Four days, a week...
If we only set long enough so I can warm up my mash and get the still going.
At night, when you can't have a fire going, we stay put.
The marines never get a break.
Hey, what's the range on your meat can there?
It depends.
- See if you can get me the flagship. - Shall I ask for the admiral?
No, the chef. I wanna give him the recipe for this.
I cannot be selfish. I must share it with the navy.
Marines, you die!
You said it, pal. You can't trust 'em.
- What's the joke? - My being here.
- Some joke. - Yes, it is.
I was fighting in LA in January 1942.
A marine colonel asked me if I'd put on an exhibition for them.
So I did.
I was walking around camp and the general comes up to me and he says
"We can use a fella like you to teach our fellas how to box."
I said "Me?" He said "Sure."
He said "You can box, get all the fighting you want."
So I joined.
I haven't boxed since but, boy, I got all the fighting I want.
Down with marines!
Wonder what he's got against the marines.
Death to marines!
- Why don't we go and get those monkeys? - You'd love to get killed, maybe?
Just in a hurry to get home, that's all.
What are they gonna do when you get home? Give you a big parade?
Listen, my folks is important people in California.
I lived my life in a two-story house with five bathrooms.
- You can only use one at a time. - Down with marines!
- I'd like to get my hands on that Jap. - Stop being such a hotshot.
Knock it off.
Ain't gonna be a nobody. They ain't gonna forget Pretty Boy Duncanon.
Riley!
Riley, I want you to go into town and find your father.
How many times I gotta tell you? Stop playing with that pistol.
- You'll kill me with that someday. - I will if you don't stop nagging me.
You've never been any good since your mother died.
This letter come for your father. Get him.
You'll find him in a saloon somewhere.
Letter's from Hawaii. Your sister was married last week.
OK! OK for her!
TO a Jap!
You're a liar, a liar!
Read it yourself. Ain't no one in this family ever been any good.
You keep your mouth shut about this or they'll ride us out of town.
They can't! They won't! I won't let 'em!
I ain't gonna be a nobody.
Someday I'm gonna be the biggest man around here.
I'll have my own gang. They'll do whatever I tell 'em.
Anybody dare talk about me or my sister and I'll cut his tongue out.
I gotta learn how to do things smart.
I gotta learn.
I gotta learn with this.
Brother, did I learn.
Don't you say I'm gonna be a nobody. Don't you ever say it again.
Cut the gab, will you?
Think you're big?
- Get down. - I want my Luger! Get my Luger!
Why don't you leave the kid alone?
He gets on my nerves. Big talk, big wind.
He saved my life. His life's worth saving too.
He pretends he's something he's not. I know that.
What you don't know is why.
It's because he hates what he is.
How you doin', kid?
Look, now, I didn't mean to hit you like that, but... I can't let you get killed.
I need you, Pretty Boy.
You're my manager.
I want my Luger.
I'll get it for you in the morning, OK?
Leave me alone.
Where we going, Slattery?
See that nice range of juicy hills?
What's so special about them?
They've ordered us to take 'em before lunch.
Oh.
Let's go! Get outta there! Come on!
- What are they throwing at us? - Just get going!
- Move it! - What is it?
Move it, that's all! Move it!
Hurry up. Get yourselves in here.
Lieutenant, company passed word for us to pull back to the ridge and dig in.
Zelenko, pull your squad back to the ridge and dig in, pronto!
Get back to that ridge!
We don't need a special invite for this one. Whitney, move out.
Come on, take cover!
Doc.
- How many got it? - Enough.
- How many of the old bunch? - None.
- Give me some. - I gave you some this morning.
I still got my head on. I want to run like crazy and I'm still here. Give them to me.
Don't worry about the apron strings. I told you I'm not going home.
Company passed the word down for us to dig in.
The navy's gonna plaster the hills.
We're convinced that's where the rockets are coming from.
- What's the matter, Doc? - Nothing's the matter.
Dickerman asked for this pencil. Give it to him.
Come on, scram!
Doc, let's have 'em. Let's have 'em.
Here.
There's the navy. - They'll wipe us out before the navy gets 'em.
I gotta get to CP.
- Think this'll do the trick? - The Nips don't have rockets.
They're just kiddin' around.
If we don't get outta here, we're gonna get k...
Coffman. Coffman?
Coffman!
Doc, it's Coffman! I was just talking to him.
Shut up.
He kept pestering everybody. He wanted to know who pulled him out of the drink.
- You should have told him. - You know how to work that radio?
Get back and work it and connect me with the CP.
Cover him up.
It's Coffman. Give Whitney a hand, will you?
OK, OK.
I don't understand it. I was talking to him just a couple of minutes ago.
I was getting to know him real well.
Give me his bayonet.
First dead pal, huh?
Well, you're now a member of a great universal fraternity.
Congratulations.
Pansy Baker, Pansy Baker 2.
Come in, come in.
Sol pulled him out of the drink.
I gave him six more months to live.
For what?
This is Andy. Was it you who said the Nips don't have any rockets?
All right, we learned that the hard way.
Let's not waste time saying we should have known.
Question is, where are the rockets? Where?
Sir, if my memory serves me right, the rocket is a high-angle fire weapon,
Designed primarily to fire over mountains and ridges.
Therefore I guess the rockets are located on the reverse slopes of the hill.
Sergeant Dickerman, for your information, I'm
aware of what the rocket is designed for.
For hours we've been pounding those reverse slopes and so far we haven't touched 'em.
Why? Where are they?
Does the colonel have a theory?
I sent out a patrol instructed to take prisoners.
They killed Nips and no prisoners.
When will they understand the importance of live Japs?
You can't teach men to hate and kill and suddenly teach 'em not to kill.
- We teach 'em to follow orders. - With the right kind of indoctrination...
Sergeant Dickerman, you're what's known as a combat correspondent.
Since this is your first combat, correspond,
And don't worry about things that don't concern you.
I'm concerned about everything. This war is as much mine as yours.
We did get one Nip, Colonel. Charlie Company found him an hour ago.
- What's the scoop on him? - Regiment said for us to work him over.
- Sergeant Johnson's questioning him. - See what he's found out.
Rockets or no rockets, we've been ordered to secure these hills.
It's 0255 now. We jump off at 1200.
That's exactly nine hours and five minutes from now. Any comments?
If we try to take those hills, the whole battalion will be wiped out.
Unless we find a way to wipe out the rockets first.
The general made this our baby and we're gonna
see that it's well diapered. Are you...
He'll be right in, sir.
- Johnson. - Yes, sir.
Any resemblance of your present attire to a marine uniform is...
- You're impossible. - Yes, sir.
It's a mistake to let war interfere with one's comfort.
- Get rid of that cigarette holder. - It's the only way I enjoy smoking.
What about the Nip?
The Nip was in a cave, cut off by our artillery
from his own forces, bypassed by us.
Rather a pocket. He tried to make contact
with his blokes but ran into Charlie Company.
He says the men he left behind, ten of them,
Have been commanded to fight to the death,
But they're pretty well gone now and he rather guesses they'll surrender.
- Where's the cave? - The approximate position... May I, sir?
Is here.
- The rockets? - He knows nothing about them.
He thinks maybe his friends do. I've persuaded him to guide a patrol for us.
- Mac? - We ought to take him up on it.
- I didn't ask you. - I'm an expert on the Japanese.
That's the only reason you're not in the brig. Well?
Sir, to me it don't look kosher. He's persuaded the Nip to guide us to the cave.
But remember what happened 12 August on Guadalcanal.
Remember Colonel Goettge's patrol. He was informed some Japs wanted to surrender.
So he went out to bring 'em in. 25 marines went with him. Only three came back.
Colonel, it's an ambush. It's a dead certainty, and I mean dead.
Joe?
It's a big risk. What else is there to do?
Frank?
Maybe we invest six men. Maybe we save 600.
Lieutenant Butterfield?
In my opinion, they sent this Nip over to suck us in.
- It doesn't make sense. - You're way off base.
- This war isn't gonna last for ever... - It's a nice thought, sir.
Colonel, there may be an ambush. I don't know.
But this Nip isn't in on it. He's tired and hungry.
He wants to live and go home, like the rest of us.
Stinkin' cold.
It'll take us about two, two and a half hours to get in there. Anybody got a match?
- If there's gonna be a patrol, I'd like... - Joe, you got some experienced scouts?
Yes, sir. That's why I asked Lieutenant Anderson to come over.
Anderson.
It's the same old question.
Gambling the lives of a few against the lives of many.
I want you to take out a small patrol.
Use this Jap as a guide and Johnson'll go along to interpret.
- Hello. - Sir.
I want prisoners. No yes, buts and howevers. - Aye aye, sir.
McCreavy, bring that Nip in here.
- Can you fire an M-1? - I shot expert, sir.
Take this writer along. He's pining to get his head blown off.
I suppose I'll be the villain of your great American war novel.
- Well, sir... - Don't tell me.
Jump off soon. You got eight hours and 55 minutes.
I'll lay a harassing fire on the cave area. Let me know when you want it lifted.
- Do I have to take the sergeant along? - Up to you.
Take him along. It isn't every patrol that has its own private historian.
Here's your Nip, Anderson.
Old Willie here doesn't look like a decoy, now, does he?
If that's all, Colonel, I'll be seeing you.
- That's all. - OK, Johnson. Dickerman, let's go.
- Anderson. - Yes, sir?
Don't cut your corners too sharp. Good luck.
Thank you, sir.
And... I hope your cold gets better.
Pansy Baker, Pansy Baker, this is Andy. Over.
Ask Willie where the cave is.
Pansy Baker, this is Andy. Over.
We've reached the cave area. Going in.
- He says it's up ahead, around that bend. - Out.
OK. It's now 0530. Six and a half hours to go.
OK, Johnson, we'll walk.
Let's walk.
Lieutenant.
This is the place.
OK.
Tell Willie to call 'em up.
- Go on up with him. - OK.
Tell 'em we got food and a doctor here. We'll take good care of 'em.
I guess I was right about Willie.
Keep your eyes on him.
Tell him to shut up. - He's offering the hospitality of the house.
Zelenko.
Come on!
My eyes! My eyes!
My eyes-My eyes!
Zelenko's hit.
One of them's still moving.
I'll finish him!
- Lieutenant, prisoners. Remember? - I know.
Hold your fire!
He says there are five left. All enlisted men.
The ambush was their officer's idea.
They'd like to surrender but they're afraid we'll kill 'em all.
- Let me go up there and parley with them. - No!
OK. No prisoners, then.
All right, go ahead.
OK.
Keep Johnson covered. He's gonna try to talk 'em out.
He's a screwball. He'll get himself killed. - Stand by!
I'm going in!
- Where are you going? - To pick up that samurai sword.
Stay where you are.
Samurai swords - worth a very pretty drop.
I persuaded three out of five to come out.
Number four has decided to join the 47 heavenly warriors.
So has number five.
And there's a wounded officer down here who wants some help.
Keep 'em covered.
If you just keep pointing me in the right direction, I'll be able to make it.
Stay down.
Good boy. Doc, come with me.
I want you to see if we can get that wounded Nip back alive.
Dickerman, watch Zelenko.
Lane, you and Slattery frisk the Nips for grenades.
On the double. We wanna get outta here quick.
Good goin', Johnson. See that the men search 'em, will you?
- Please, tobacco, give me. - No tobacco, give me.
Always treat a human being like a human being. You'll be surprised what happens.
What d'you think? We don't have much time. - I don't know.
I speak English. My name is Captain Ishio Makino.
It is my misfortune that I'm still alive.
That's all right. We don't mind. You understand you'll be treated decently?
I wish only to die. - First we'd like to ask you a few questions.
I only know that I've brought disgrace to my family.
- To them I'm now dead. - You're an educated man...
I was never educated to become a prisoner and I will speak to you no more.
If I give him some plasma, I think he can make it.
We haven't got the time.
In the cave, quick! Run those Nips back up here!
Inside.
Our own artillery. Are they trying to kill us? - Those are Jap mortars.
Probably got an observer up on one of those ridges.
Better give him the plasma, Doc. We're stuck here for a while, anyway.
- How am I gonna see? - I wanna take a look around.
- Someone tell me where we are now. - We're up in the Nip cave.
We'll never get outta here.
- Why don't you spit in it, Doc? - Knock it off.
Where's the lieutenant?
Johnson.
Talk to him. The old duffer's scared.
The captain must have talked the family into
hari-kiri but this one was too shell-shocked.
Whitney.
You're right. He's too frightened to know anything.
Have Doc take a look at him.
We've got five, maybe ten minutes, so start working on the Nips.
If we get any dope on the rockets, we can radio back.
- Here's a map I took off the captain. - OK.
Duncanon, search the dead. Lane, you can give him a hand.
I want all diaries and maps. Step on it. Let's go.
- How's he doing? - I don't know.
Whitney, you set up here. We're gonna have to wait till those mortars lift.
Picked up your carbine and your radio, Lieutenant.
And that's not all.
Now find a spot where that radio'll work.
Without getting your head blown off.
Lieutenant, I think I got something.
- What's up? - Take a look at this map.
According to Colonel Gilfillan, the rockets are coming from these hills.
Here's a sugar-cane field next to them.
This man was in an infantry company ticked off to defend that field.
He didn't see any rockets, but he did see a few hundred coolie carts,
And they all had grooved wheels.
- So what? - Coolie carts seldom have grooved wheels.
What does that suggest to you, Lieutenant? - Railroad, I suppose.
What would it be doing here?
If you've got any ideas, spill 'em. We've no time for guessing games.
Could be a rail road carrying rocket shells.
Or sugar cane.
- I've got the company, Lieutenant. - Hold 'em.
See if you can get some confirmation on your wacky idea while I pass the word on.
This is Andy. Find target area 274 Love and Mike.
West of hills, sugar-cane field...
Tobacco, sir. I tell very good truth for tobacco.
- You speak English? - Very good English.
Before war, I am Tokyo guide for Americans.
I am called Romeo. I buy everything for Americans -
Kimono, painting, girl...
- I very good man. - How long have you been on this island?
- Maybe a year before you come. - What's your work?
I tell truth. I am truck driver.
This is a big sugar-cane field here. Did you ever truck things up there?
What things?
Maybe I have the tobacco for later.
Yeah.
A whole pack.
I be very good to American. I buy kimono, painting...
What did you carry in the trucks?
Concrete, small rail, big rail, little rail. Little engine also.
- What did they do with them? - I don't know.
The mortars have lifted. Let's get outta here.
Slattery, take the point. Whitney, you cover the left flank.
Dickerman, stick with Zelenko. Doc, you nursemaid Grandpa.
Conroy, go with Slattery.
Lane, you bring up the rear. Duncanon, right flank.
Johnson, get those Nips to make a litter for the officer.
- What did they say about the field? - Wrong spot. They say they blasted it.
The rockets are still coming in.
We'll start back on a first leg of 67 degrees, till we hit Susana Creek.
Six hours left. We gotta get back in three.
- Where are you going? - My sword.
There's no time for souvenirs. You've got your orders. Get goin'.
All right, let's walk.
Would have brought a pretty drop.
This looks like the best place to cross. Conroy, get over. We'll cover you.
Slattery, get the BARs into position. Have the rest stand fast. Hurry it up.
Conroy's goin' across. Cover him.
Hold fast.
Conroy's goin' across. Cover him.
Hold fast.
OK, now.
You're rear guard. Don't cross till I signal.
- Hold it up. - Hold it up.
Snipers! Take cover!
Into that gully. Let's go.
Lane, you stay here with the prisoners.
Doc, Dickerman, up on the road. Keep your eye out for the flank.
The rest of us'll get after those snipers. Let's go.
Zelenko, are you nuts?
Lane, watch Zelenko. Keep him with you.
Water. Water, please.
Water. Water.
Give him some water, Pidge.
- Fresh out. - Well, go get him some.
Who is it?
- Pidge? - They all gotta die.
Pretty Boy, are you nuts? After all we've gone through to get these prisoners.
- They all gotta die. - Get back.
Pidqe!
OK, Tojo, you're first.
No, Pretty Boy. Don't make me shoot you.
Pidqe!
Bugs and lice! - They'll save the lives of our men, you fool!
Pidqe!
- They all gotta die! - What you trying to do, Pretty Boy?
He wants to kill the prisoners, Pidge.
Don't, Pretty Boy. Don't. I can't let you do that.
They stink. They crawl. They all gotta die.
Don't do it, Pretty Boy.
I don't like 'em any more than you do, but we gotta follow orders.
Come on, drop your gun.
Sit down over there.
What'd you do, you crazy punk? What'd you do?
You dope. Why did you pull the rifle?
Pretty Boy...
Kill 'em for me, will you?
Doc!
They ain't gonna drive me outta town. I'll cut their tongues out.
I didn't mean it, Pretty Boy. You pulled the rifle. It was an accident.
Kill them for me, Pidge. You're my friend.
I'm a big shot in my town. Don't you forget it.
You shouldn't have pulled the rifle!
Pidge.
I don't wanna die. I don't wanna die.
Come on, men. Hurry it up.
Conroy, you and Whitney pull in Doc and that writer. They're down on the road.
And snap it up. We're late. Come on.
Who else got it?
I killed him.
- What? - I murdered him.
No. He didn't do it, Lieutenant. I heard it.
Pretty Boy blew his top. He wanted to kill the prisoners.
- Pidge did it in the line of duty. - I'm a murderer. He pulled my rifle...
All right, shut up!
Is that the way it happened?
Yes, sir.
Sir, he was just a mixed-up kid. I...
I could have straightened him out if I'd only had a little more time.
He was gonna be my fight manager.
For a bunch of crummy Japs...
Take it easy. I liked Pretty Boy too, but he disobeyed orders.
It happens sometimes.
Not often, but it happens.
Slattery, you and Johnson bury him.
Sorry to hurry you, Lane, but we gotta get outta here fast.
I'll bury him myself.
You won't lose any time, Lieutenant.
Now I can go back to being a farmer.
Sure you can.
Fine corpsman I am.
I ain't supposed to be on the receiving end.
Take it easy, Doc. Don't talk.
- Do you like Anderson? - Yeah.
I've known him from the beginning. He is the best.
I'll take your word for it, but relax now, will you?
OK. I'm OK.
Men like Anderson gotta live and go home... tell them what it's like.
Please, Doc.
- I am a corpsman, right? - Yeah.
Then I know my condition.
Will you talk to him about it... sometime?
- You speak his language, bein' a writer. - Sure.
I... I put down on paper something... I've been trying to tell the lieutenant.
It ain't finished but... will you take a look at it, maybe fix it up?
- You know what I mean. Bein' a writer... - OK, but pipe down now, huh?
Pipe.
It's Doc.
- How bad is it? - He'll be OK, I think.
Doc, what are you trying to pull? You can't...
Dead?
Yeah, why not?
Bury him quick. We gotta get outta here fast.
What happened?
Will someone tell me what happened?
It's poor old Doc.
What's the matter with you guys? Get on with it! We gotta walk.
Someone get the dead men's personal effects.
And take a compass readin' of this place.
We'll have to notify the graves registration.
And someone take their weapons and ammo.
My patrol has just been reported in, sir.
Yes, Colonel. I know what time it is.
Aye aye, sir.
Between this stinkin' cold and those stinkin'
rockets, I'm gonna end up a mental case!
Where's that patrol? It was reported in 10 minutes ago.
What's the scoop?
We got four prisoners for you and a shell-shocked old man.
These are their effects.
I lost two men. One of them was a corpsman.
CE 'Doc' Jones.
- Anything on the rockets? - No, sir.
We've bombed and shelled every inch of those
reverse slopes and they're still comin'.
McCreavy, start interrogating those Japs. Time is the essence.
- All we got are 90 minutes. - All right, sir. Pascowicz, Davis.
Colonel, I'd like to get back to my men as soon as possible.
No, work with Mac and Johnson. You know the prisoners.
Yes, sir. Johnson's already at work.
- Anderson. - Yes, sir?
Thanks. That was a good job.
Thank you, sir.
You must put your mind on different thoughts.
When the war's over, you can rebuild your country.
You've much to live for. You'll live well.
Sergeant, you seem to have forgotten
That for generations my people think not of living well but of dying well.
Have you not studied our philosophy, military science, our judo wrestling?
Do you not remember that we always take the obvious and reverse it?
So, reverse the role of life.
To us, it is death that is desirable.
It is the source of our strength.
Do not say to me that I have anything to live for.
And now, Sergeant, I believe I know what information you are seeking.
- Will you help us? - Go bring commissioned officer.
I'm the expert here, but this is no time to stand on pride.
- How's it going? - Pretty good, sir.
The captain's willing to talk to an officer. - Good.
Take care of this mess. The boys are aiming better.
What's happened to him?
- He's committed hara-kiri. - And with your knife, Sergeant Johnson.
I thought I'd lost it. It never occurred to me someone had taken it.
- It's custom to finish hara-kiri with gun. - We don't allow for peacetime customs.
- Get a corpsman. - I'm afraid it's too late.
- He's dead. - Take his body outside.
Your negligence cost us a prisoner.
Take it easy. It could've happened to anyone.
- Forget it. - Lieutenant.
Pretty Boy's and Doc's personal effects, what shall I do with them?
- Hey, put this on for me, will you? - Sure.
I guess it's up to us to pay off this stinkin' business.
You're the big brain. What do we do first? - Let's start on Romeo.
He's one of those know-it-all types. If you
flatter him, he'll chatter like a gooney bird.
- I'll finish it. - OK.
Lieutenant, what do I do about this stuff?
- What's that? - Doc's and Pretty Boy's.
Check for anything embarrassing to their families and then send it on.
OK, Johnson. Let's get rolling.
Romeo, we're looking for a man who can handle important matters.
Yes, sir. In Tokyo...
- One who can speak English well. - Make speak greatly.
A man who'd be in charge of a big Japanese prisoner-of-war camp.
- I are good man. - But we gotta trust you.
- Yes, you trust me. - If we can trust you...
I've found something in Pretty Boy's stuff... - I told you what to do with it.
- But... - Later.
- You gotta look at what I've found. - Will you please not interrupt?
Will you just take a look at it, sir?
Hold it till I get back.
What have you got?
Call Johnson.
Johnson.
Take over.
This is a Jap overlay. It shows one of their positions in the hills.
What does this symbol mean?
- It means fire. Where'd you get this? - In this case, in Pretty Boy's stuff.
The question is, did Pretty Boy find it in the cave? He might have had it for months.
I'll find out.
Andy, the colonel sent me to take over the interrogation.
No, I'll stick with it.
Need a torch to keep 'em lit out here.
Yeah, it is from the cave. Belonged to his sergeant.
Buttelfield, fit this overlay to the map I took off Makino.
- It's a good idea, but it'll take hours. - Give it a whirl, anyway.
55 minutes to go.
Come on, baby. Start pouring.
Give with that first pretty drop.
I ain't got all day, sweetheart.
Make old Slattery happy. Come on, let's see some of that angel juice.
Andy.
Don't be scared. Don't be scared.
I'm not frightened. You know it, Andy.
It doesn't hurt me.
No.
- Boy, that was close. - You don't count the close ones.
Come on, baby. Start pourin'.
That thing's never gonna pour. You've done everything but sing to it.
? Sitting in O'Reilly's bar, listenin' to the tales of blood and thunder
? Came a thought into my mind - why not love O'Reilly's daughter?
? Fiddle-i-ee, fiddle-i-o, fiddle-i-ee for the one-eyed Reilly
? Rub-a-dub-dub, kiss and hug, rub-a-dub-dub, love on
? I grabbed that sea witch by the hair...
Corpsman! Corpsman!
I think I got it...
Andy... Andy...
Where is he? Get him for me, will you, Pidge?
He's gotta know.
Hope... is the mother of all men.
We must hold... on to that belief.
Andy!
It's too late, Mac. He got the count.
Bill, what's holding you up?
Andy, all I got on this overlay is three little wiggles.
There's three wiggles just like them on this map.
All I gotta do is find them. You like to try it?
- OK, go ahead. - If we only knew where to start with it.
Forward slope, reverse slope, east flank, west...
Here's where we were when the rockets first hit us.
The Nips probably stuck 'em on the reverse slope.
Reverse slope. Check.
Man, what a job. I'll be here the rest of the war.
Just keep pushing. Johnson, you better get back to friend Romeo.
Come on, come on.
Lieutenant Anderson, you got an old Nip to go?
Yeah, he's in there. First door.
- Texas? - Yes. How did you know?
- How could I miss? - My uncle's got a big business in El Paso.
Yeah, well, that explains it.
I come for the old Nip.
Come on, old sport. I'm gonna take you to a nice quiet place.
Come on, Pops! I ain't got all day.
Get over there!
Hold it, chum. Lieutenant.
- Did he get it? - No, just knocked cold.
It's important that we keep the old man with us.
Take him to the aid station. Let me know as soon as he comes around.
- What's the story? - He didn't want to be taken from Nomura.
- Nomura kicked him to shut him up. - Did he say anything of value?
He called Nomura Matsuoda, which must be his real name. Nomura is Matsuoda.
Good for Grandpa. Let's get acquainted with Matsuoda.
Let's first find out from Romeo why Matsuoda's lying.
Nomura.
Romeo, who is this man?
Oh, yes, sir. He is Nomura, private in labor battalion, like me.
- What was his job? - He do many things.
- Did he mix cement? - Yes.
Tell him to hold out his hands.
- His hands are soft. You're lying. - Stand up and tell us the truth.
We know that his name is Matsuoda. Now, who is he?
He is officer.
He are a big man. Very big in all Japan.
Of course. A big general, maybe?
Navy captain? Air-force colonel?
Oh, no. He are a major in army.
But in Japan I know his name. I make gamble money on him.
- He is big, very big baseball player. - What team?
Meiji University. But surely you're not interested in baseball.
I am. Come on, Johnson. Let's go.
Lieutenant Anderson, we brought the old man around.
Good. You get back to him. Talk to him. I'll handle our major.
If I may make a suggestion, tear down his ego. He's rolling in pride and vanity.
Meiji University teaches engineering, doesn't it?
- Japanese universities teach everything. - What kind of engineer are you?
Railroad. I've three university degrees.
In spite of your three degrees, your rank and
your name, you hide in a private's uniform.
- Lieutenant, you're a fool. - What's your story?
You'll know when you see the number of dead you have.
You probably got to be a major because your family had influence.
I became a major because I planned a big...
Lieutenant, you seem to know Japanese psychology.
But I am smart too. I know you know. I say no more.
The rule of war states I give only my name and rank.
Major Kenji Matsuoda. No more.
This is important, Lieutenant.
Dickerman, tell the colonel we stumbled onto something.
One of the Nip privates is a major. Hurry it up.
- What'd you find out? - Matsuoda lived with him and his son.
After a while he moved them out and the army built a tunnel for wolf-tails.
- What are wolf-tails? - Rockets.
Don't you remember what I said about grooved wheels?
They're using their tunnel to transport rockets.
That's why we couldn't see the rail line from the air.
- Where's the house? - He said it's on a sugar plantation.
There was that sugar-cane field you found on Captain Makino's map.
Let me take a look at this, Bill.
Let's see. There it is, and there's the house.
- How can we be sure it's his house? - He says there's water on his left.
Here we are, water. It's a lake. It's to one side of the ranch house.
- And on the right hills and woods. - Hills and woods to the right.
In front of his house there's a hill with a road on the other side.
There's the hill. There's the road. Bill, those rockets are near that ranch house.
Work the overlay around there quick.
This climate is sure death on a man's pleasures.
Let's have a look at that Nip.
It's no use. I've been at him. He won't talk.
- What have you got? - A Jap overlay.
If we match it, the rockets'll be pinpointed.
That'll take all day. We got 45 minutes.
Will you wipe my forehead?
Wasn't there a General Sherman who once made a vulgar comment on war?
Yeah, he said "War is hell." What did he know about it? He never left the States.
If we don't get it in time, can't we postpone H-hour?
With 20,000 men jumping off in 41 minutes?
I want a crack at that Nip. Get him out here.
- Still not gettin' anywhere. - You're doin' your best. Stay with it.
Major Matsuoda.
If you didn't wanna live, you wouldn't be wearing that disguise.
You're gonna answer my questions, Major Matsuoda.
You will not find rockets. They will fall on you like rain.
You Americans do not learn very good from Japan.
You should learn to accept your fate, to die well.
We die well. As Captain Makino said, we all die well.
Wait a minute. He's told us something.
Die well.
While I was talking to Captain Makino, there was something he said.
- Dickerman, you were there. - I got it here. Where shall I start?
When he talked about judo.
"Have you not studied our philosophy, military science, our judo wrestling?"
"Do you not remember that we always take the obvious and reverse it?"
- "So, we reverse the role of life." - They reverse the obvious.
The Japs thought we'd figure they'd put the rockets on the reverse slope.
So instead they dug a tunnel to the forward slope. It's that easy.
Get him outta here.
- Work? - I'll find out in a hurry.
- I've got it! - There are your rockets, Colonel.
Seal the mouth of the tunnel on the forward slope and there'll be no more rockets.
Buttelfield, get that stuff over to my map.
Get the air liaison officer and find out what planes he's got.
Any planes at all
Piper Cubs, kiddie cars, slow boats to China. The stinkin' time!
- Dickerman, Anderson. - Yes, sir.
You people have done...
Thanks.
Johnson, I told you to get rid of that...
Yeah, I remember. That's the only way you enjoy smokin'.
You see? Give him time, he'll learn.
Try and contact 2nd Platoon, Baker Company.
Johnson, tell me something, will you?
- How'd you ever get to be a sergeant? - Straight from civilian life.
But how in the name of green apples did they ever pass you through boot camp?
Pass me, sir? I taught there.
Maybe you got an in with the angels too. Start
praying those rockets are stopped in time.
Good luck, Lieutenant. Good luck, Dickerman.
By the way, for your book, it's Randolph Johnson.
2nd Platoon, Baker Company ready, sir.
I'd like to go back to your platoon with you for a while.
It's your book and your neck. Hello, who's this?
'?attery, ta the men we hunt! The rockets.
Pass the word along they won't have to start without me.
I'll be right there. Let's go.
Why do you writers take such chances?
You could hang around officers' bars and pick up the greatest stories of the war.
- I got something that Doc asked me... - Lay off. I don't wanna talk about Doc.
Lieutenant...
- Did you take care of Zelenko? - They're gonna fly him out tonight but...
I want you to take his place. From now on you're a squad leader.
You will be as long as you stay sober.
You'll take over the squad. Conroy'll be your assistant.
- You'll have to get me another assistant. - Why, don't you like Con...
What's the matter? What is it?
All the way, Lieutenant. It's Conroy.
Conroy? Conroy?
- That hit him six feet deep. - I'll talk to him.
Let him alone.
- Lieutenant. - Beat it.
- I have a paper addressed to you, sir. - Tear it up.
It's from Doc.
Yeah, Doc.
I told Doc I believed in nothing but seven guys. Now one's blind, four are dead.
The rest of us are gonna get it too.
The Japs have got the right idea.
Kill yourself.
His last words were "I put down something I've been trying to tell the lieutenant."
"It ain't finished but will you take a look at it, maybe fix it up? Being a writer."
- I tried. It didn't need any fixing. - I don't wanna hear it.
You're gonna hear it, whether you want to or not, Lieutenant.
"From Pharmacist's Mate, 2nd Class, CE 'Doc' Jones to Lieutenant Anderson, sir."
"I ask the lieutenant's permission to read this to the men of our platoon."
Doc wrote this. He wanted you men to hear it.
"We all ask ourselves why it is that some of us are killed while others remain."
"The only answer is our faith in the wisdom of a supreme being."
"If he has chosen us to live, there must be a reason. I've tried to reckon out why."
"Perhaps because we are needed as witnesses"
To remind each other, our folks and folks everywhere
"That war is too full of horror for human beings."
"Let us never forget that some of what we went through and our losses came"
"Because our country was weak."
"Now we are part of the world and the world is part of us."
"If any part suffers, all suffer."
"If any part loses freedom, all will lose it."
"We, the survivors of the 2nd Marine Platoon,
Company B, 1st Battalion, hereby swear"
"That if any of us return home, we will not forget what we saw and what we suffered."
"We must keep our country strong, courageous and wise in spirit,"
"And be unafraid in the knowledge that we are on God's side. We must..."
He never finished it.
Our Father, who alt in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory for ever. Amen.
We're movin' out! Two minutes to go! Two minutes to go!
They'll never be stopped in time.
What good was the patrol?
Doc, Pretty Boy... What for?
- They got the rockets! - That's right.
We did it, Lieutenant! We did it!
Come on, men! Give 'em hell!