Battle Cry Page #5

What have you done, son?

Shame, shame, shame!

- How could you have done this?

- I'll see you behind bars!

- I suggest we all lower our voices.

- I'm taking this to court!

We didn't do anything wrong.

No? You and your mother wait in the car.

Mom, Dad, please!

- We were married in Upton.

- What?!

- We were married in Upton.

- Married?

- You're not even dry behind the ears yet!

- But, Daddy, I love him.

Heaven help us!

Oh, Mom.

- You sent for me, sir.

- Yes, I sent for you.

What have you got in that radio platoon

of yours, the battalion clowns?

- I'm afraid I don't understand the major.

- Then the major will explain.

On every field problem, your boys get

the 3rd Battalion to lay miles of wire...

...and then they just sit back

and tap the lines...

...let the other guys do the work.

Not only that, but they've fieldstripped

the 1 st Battalion's radio shack...

...taken everything that wasn't nailed down.

While the rest of the regiment

transmits dull, routine military messages...

...your boys want to liven up the party

by sending limericks.

They seem to be under the impression

we hold field problems...

...just to allow them to express

their poetic souls.

Now, listen to this.

This was decoded yesterday.

Here's the answer Weapons Company got

when they sent an ammunition

There was an old sheep from Algiers

Who said to his harem, "My dears

You may..."

There's nothing funny about this,

this is just plain filth!

I know it is. The first time I received

that message was in Shanghai in '31.

A young 2nd lieutenant sent it to me.

I believe his name was Huxley, sir.

Well, you ought to have him

show a little discretion.

Tell him to use a better code.

If Regiment got ahold of this,

I might have trouble explaining it.

- I'll square them away, sir.

- Okay, Mac.

They're shaping into a real outfit.

Beginning to look like Marines.

Yes, sir.

- Shipping orders?

- That's it.

Looks like we'll be shoving off any day now.

What do you think?

Well, they've come a long way

in the last 30 days.

Of course, we could always use more time.

Time is something we're not going to be able to buy.

The reports from Guadalcanal look very bad.

Yeah.

Well, get your working parties organized.

- Give them all the liberty they can handle.

- Right.

I guess I ought to run in to

San Diego a few hours, see the wife.

You better produce broads.

You think I'm dishonest?

Don't worry about it, I'll get them there.

The boys are really gonna start celebrating.

I wish I could go in and get crocked with them.

Sometimes I'd like to take off

these oak leaves and be a human being.

Maybe you and I could just shove off together, Sam.

It's not the same thing as being

surrounded by your buddies.

You know, Wellman, this uniform is the only thing...

...that's ever really meant anything to me, except Jean.

I haven't been able to give her much of a life.

She's married to a Marine, Sam.

It's these last days I hate.

The anticipation starts, and we both get quiet.

I'll come in, she'll set the table.

We'll talk of small things,

pretending nothing's wrong.

And then when the ship's loaded...

...standing by...

Every morning when I leave her...

...neither of us knowing whether

maybe this is the last time.

And then I go back again that evening.

That look on her face when I open the door...

Then we start pretending all over again.

Pretending that nothing's happening.

But in the middle of the night, she'll...

She'll cry.

She'll go into the next room so I won't hear her.

I guess we should be used to it by now.

What is it that makes a woman go on loving a man...

...that she can't even claim belongs to her?

Hold on a minute, honey.

Quiet, you guys!

This dame will think we're drunk!

Why don't you pick up a couple

of gals and come over to the club?

I want to propose a toast

to the best outfit in the Marine Corps.

Huxley's Hookers! Come on!

Now you're a real outfit.

And a toast to the girl who ain't

with us on our last beer

Good old Danny Forrester!

- I'll drink to that!

- I'm not gonna drink to that jerk!

- Why not?

- Getting married! Wouldn't listen to Andy.

- Wait till he gets in tomorrow!

- You should try it.

Me and my faithful Indian companion here

have a terrific idea.

We think we should all make a vow to have

a reunion when this here war is over!

That's the most beautiful idea I ever heard.

We also think that we should be

blood brothers. Real blood brothers.

Because blood brothers is thicker

than, than beer brothers.

- Most beautiful idea I ever heard.

- Speedy, the knife.

So's we can all cut our thumbs

and shake like a Navajo.

- Right in the meaty part.

- Cut it up. Cut it, cut it.

I guess it's not gonna work.

It's a good idea, but it's just...

Okay, brother, let's have some blood.

Let's do it first thing tomorrow.

Come on right over.

- Bartender, bring them brews!

- Did you get those broads?

Did I get them? They'll be right over.

But remember, you guys, lay off

my personal babe. She's mine.

Wait'll you see this number.

She's as good as she looks.

Marion, come on, drink up.

Joe's got some broads coming over

with his personal recommendation.

He don't drink, smoke or go out with women.

What's he live for?

He lives for the Marine Corps, kid.

Live it up, live it up!

The broads are finally here!

Hi, baby, how are you?

Sit down, I'll get you a bottle of bourbon.

Harry, double bourbon.

This here is the only gal that can

make a Jerry lose his marbles.

Spanish Joe's babe!

Rae!

Marion.

- Now what's the matter with him?

- Shut up!

See what happens when you fall for one dame?

Easy, Marion. Take it easy.

November 1942, 11 months after Pearl Harbor...

... our battalion dropped anchor in Wellington Bay.

The fighting men of New Zealand

were far away in the Middle East...

... while their courageous country was armed

with not much more than pitchforks.

And it was, quote, "Condition Black,

enemy invasion anticipated, " unquote.

At Camp McKay, 30 miles outside

of Wellington, we set up for business.

From here on out, we would be

racing against the clock.

For on another island miles to the north,

the 1 st Marine Division...

... had taken the first step

of the long road back.

Major, whoever drew up

this training schedule is wacky.

It calls for a hike tonight

and a 25-mile hike tomorrow.

That's right, I drew up that schedule.

But these boys have been cooped up aboard

ship for three weeks. That's a bit rough.

It's gonna get rougher where we're going.

First we're gonna get this camp shipshape...

...then we're gonna work out the kinks

before anybody gets liberty.

High Pockets promised he'd work the kinks

out of us, and he kept his promise.

The field problems ran day and night.

We were on the move from dawn to dusk

and back to dawn.

- Ready to move out, sir.

- Let's go.

And it was 10 long days before

he eased up and gave us liberty.

The wonderful people of New Zealand

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