Bataan

---

- That's a monkey, Jake.

- Yeah.

I missed him, anyway. I'd hate

to have hit him by mistake for a Jap.

- Let's go, boys.

- What?

Yeah. We're movin' out again.

Too bad we can't quit retreatin'

and make a stand this time.

Yes, it is too bad.

We've already moved half way

down the Bataan Peninsula.

- We can't back up further.

- Not without gettin' our feet wet.

Sergeant, you and Corporal Feingold

are to report to Captain Lassiter...

...of the 26th Calvary about

the special duty you volunteered for.

Better get started.

It won't seem like the same war

without you around in my outfit.

I heard any place you're at,

it's the same war.

It's not right when the infantry

takes orders from the calvary.

That's because you're prejudiced.

Wound?

Bunion.

Maybe we ought to take this thing

along with us, huh, Jake?

I think you got somethin' there, Sarge.

It saved our lives this time.

Soldier!

Holy Mack!

If that stuff had blown up, it would've

knocked those planes out of the sky.

I get your point.

That's Captain Lassiter over there

in front of the hospital.

Wait.

So long. See you down south somewhere.

- So long, Lieutenant.

- Good luck, boys.

- You in on this too, Soldier?

- Yeah, I guess I am.

Do you know this Captain Lassiter?

No, I don't. You see, us engineers

don't mix much with the cavalry.

By the time they get here

we're usually gone, and vice versa.

- Captain Lassiter?

- Yeah?

Sergeant Bill Dane, 31st Infantry.

Reporting for duty.

Private Francis Xavier Matowski,

3rd Engineer Battalion.

Corporal Jake Feingold.

4th Chemical Company.

Feingold?

Excuse me a minute, Captain.

Feingold, I can't see your name on the list.

- Lost my squad, Captain.

Hitched up with the 45th,

and got shot loose from that outfit.

So, here I am.

I got a little tired of bein' an orphan.

If the Captain's got any work,

I'd sure like to get it.

He served four hitches with the regulars.

All right, we can use you.

You join up with the patrol in the grove.

Up the slope, against the cliffs.

That will be our center of operations.

Good spot. You men better

get on over there.

Okay, Sergeant.

- I asked for my own sergeant, naturally.

- Yeah.

A sniper got him a couple of hours ago.

I wish I knew you better, Sergeant.

This is the first time I've met the Captain.

Well, so we start even.

What's your record?

Two enlistments, no serious demerits.

Takes handling,

it says in the company book.

I got out of West Point in '40.

We'll get along.

Our orders are to demolish this bridge

to prevent a breakthrough.

Our job to keep the Japs from moving

their tanks and artillery here.

Stop 'em any way we can.

- For how long?

- For as long as we can.

The idea is General MacArthur

needs time to reorganize...

...and consolidate down below.

If the Japs can flank our main army

by pouring heavy stuff...

...through this pass, the Battle of Bataan's

going to be all over too soon.

That's our patrol, Sergeant,

over there in that grove.

We've got some natural advantages.

Being up on that shelf ought to give us

some protection.

That cliff at the back ought

to help us a lot.

Here's the detail.

Any of the names familiar?

Yeah, a few of 'em.

Well, they're a mixed crew.

All experts in their own line.

They've never served together before.

This assignment isn't going to be easy

on anybody, Sergeant.

Are you satisfied?

Can you handle the men?

Well, if the Captain thinks so.

We'll get along.

Oh, Captain!

Captain Lassiter!

What'd you do with your plane?

She's in the grove, all stowed away

and camouflaged.

Lieutenant Bentley,

5th Interceptor Command.

This is Corporal Katigbak,

Philippine Army Air Force.

They'll be staying with us for now

till we get our ship in the air, and if.

The Lieutenant'll want to borrow two men

to help work on his ship.

Better check the patrol now.

How'd you like to draw them in a raffle?

''Are any of the names familiar to you,

Sergeant?'' says the Captain.

What difference does it make

what their names are?

Three months ago they were all selling

shoes or punching adding machines.

Do you see a soldier in that lot?

I said ''soldier.''

You can't always tell.

Some of those kids learn pretty good.

Kind of quick.

My name's Dane. Bill Dane.

You can call me Sergeant.

That'll be easy to remember.

All right, fall in over here.

I said, fall in!

At ease.

We'll have a few minutes to organize

before the Japs send their planes.

When they report back, we'll have

a little more time to get organized.

So, let's get organized.

Sound off, Sailor.

Name and classification.

Name's Leonard Purckett. Musician,

2nd Class, United States Navy, sir.

We don't say ''sir'' to sergeants

in the Army, Sailor.

How'd you get here?

I started from Cavite by boat

but the Japs laid a few eggs on the boat...

...so what there was left of us swum.

I kind of lost the other boys somewheres...

...and then, first thing I knowed,

I was here in the Army.

I joined the Navy to see the world.

Reckon this is still part of it.

Fine. We want to know

all the interesting facts about you.

Well, sir, before I joined the Navy

I was an usher in a movie...

...and played in our town band. And...

...this here's my cornet.

I'm glad you brought that.

Where are the rest of your sidearms?

- Hang 'em onto you.

- Yes, sir. I mean, Sergeant.

Yankee Salazar, Private,

4th Engineer Battalion, Philippine Scouts.

It seems to me I saw you box somewhere.

Maybe Thanksgiving,

Manila Olympics Club?

I fight the windup.

Knocked him out in the fourth.

Yeah, I was there.

You did a nice, handy job.

Matthew Hardy, Private.

12th Medical Battalion.

Felix Ramirez, Private.

Provisional Tank Corps.

- National Guard?

- Yeah.

192nd Tank Battalion...

...California.

Wesley Eeps, Private.

3rd Engineer Battalion.

You're quite a hand at demolition.

Had no complaints from officers.

We got the explosives necessary

to fix the bridge?

Private Matowski and me made

a special collection.

We didn't get time for signed requisitions

for some of what we collected, Sarge.

As long as you collected enough

right stuff there'll be no kick out of me.

You men served together quite awhile?

- Only since December 1.

- Where are you from?

Pittsburgh, Pa. And I sure will be

glad to get back.

Malloy, Sam.

Motor Transport Service.

Cook.

Present.

Corporal Jake Feingold,

4th Chemical Company, U.S.A.

Barney Todd, Corporal,

Provisional Signal Battalion.

Todd?

Yeah, Todd. T-o-d-d, two d's.

How long you been in?

I enlisted in San Francisco,

February 5, 1941.

Volunteered for duty in the Philippines,

September 11, 1941.

Anything else you'd like to know?

I'm sure Captain Lassiter can tell you.

I was attached to his troop in Lingayen.

Relax. That's reconnaissance,

not bombers.

Patrol present and accounted for.

All right, Sergeant.

Give the men their orders.

We're going to blow that bridge.

When the Japs get here,

they'll try to rebuild it.

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