Battle Cry Page #9

Wet feet and hard dirt aren't teammates.

There must have been 10,000 blisters in the column.

In 17 hours' marching time, the column

stood on a hill overlooking Foxton.

Hold up the column!

And it would be a cold day in July

before anyone cracked this record.

There's the 1 st Battalion.

Looks like they just got in.

Didn't they leave camp the day before we did?

- That's right.

- We just radioed the 1 st Battalion.

We beat their time by five hours.

And it looks like we beat

the 8th Marines' record by three.

Their trucks are coming tomorrow

to take them back to McKay.

Don't you think maybe we rate priority?

Our boys should ride back first

after the job they turned in.

Company commanders, take charge!

Meiskar, Clark, Kreb, out!

Hookens, over here.

- Gomez, set up there.

- Smoking lamp is lit!

Corporal Forrester requests permission

to speak to you.

All right.

What's on your mind?

I know this is out of line,

but we haven't got much time...

Get to the point.

Well, PFC Andy Hookens is in bad shape.

His feet are all bloody,

and I think he's got a touch of the bug.

He refuses to turn in.

Could you send him back with the 1 st Battalion?

You're out of line.

That's for Sick Bay to decide.

- I don't grant special favors to any man.

- Colonel Huxley...

Just a minute, Mac.

You know this is out of order.

Let's have the real reason.

Hookens and Pat Rogers want to get married.

The scuttlebutt has it we're shipping out

as soon as we get back.

If he waits for those trucks to come

back for us, he ain't gonna have time.

Not with all the red tape they have to go through.

Request denied.

- Thank you, sir.

- Mac.

Tell Major Wellman to form up

the battalion. We're moving out.

Yes, sir.

Have you gone mad?

I've stood by through all your torture sessions...

...but I'm putting my foot down.

Don't put it down too hard.

It's probably sore.

Why won't you wait for the trucks?

You can't hike these men back to McKay.

They've only had three hours' rest.

Twenty men dropped out coming up here.

You'll hospitalize the entire battalion.

So I'm just a wartime officer,

but I know where humanity ends.

I watched you hike these boys back from Guadalcanal...

...because you wanted to prove how tough you were.

I'm not only gonna hike them back,

but we're gonna break our own record.

What are you trying to prove? You haven't

got a drop of human blood in your veins.

Do you think that enemy

is gonna show us any humanity?

We're in a war, Wellman.

I'll drive them, and I'll drive myself.

When we go into battle again, not one of my

boys will die because he's a straggler.

Not one's gonna die because he's weak.

Get out of my outfit if you can't take it.

I'll make it back if you will.

Company commander, get your men on their feet.

We're moving out.

- Pass the word to the other companies.

- Aye, aye, sir. On your feet!

- Saddle up!

- On your feet!

Boy, I could sure go for a cold glass of beer.

Shut up!

Why don't we keep going?

Every time I stop, I get these shooting pains.

At least I'm good and numb while we're hiking.

I'm going to keep on my feet as long as Huxley does.

Same here.

We're only one day from McKay.

Speak to me.

All right.

Let's hit the road!

On your feet!

Count up!

Come on, kid. On your feet.

You ain't gonna get married out here.

Our feet were pounded into numbness.

The packs cut deep into our shoulders.

But the murderous cadence never let up.

The stronger ones kept the weaker ones going.

Pass the word back.

We're picking up the pace.

All right! Pass the word back!

We're speeding up the pace!

- Keep it closed up back there!

- High Pockets has gone crazy.

Bet he drops before we do.

You laying any odds on that, cousin?

Then, as a man, the whole battalion

became obsessed with a single

To keep marching, pushing Huxley

until he fell flat on his face.

Ten kilometers from Camp McKay.

It might as well have been 100.

We were whipped.

If we hit that road again, I'm dropping out.

That makes two of us.

How about you?

I honestly don't know.

I think I'll sit right here and wait

for them big buses.

I ain't blaming any man in this squad for dropping out now.

But I'm getting back to McKay

if I gotta go on my hands and knees.

We're finished, Sam.

If we try this last 10 kilometers,

we'll lose half the battalion.

I know what's held them up.

They'll hike because they're mad.

And what's more,

they won't quit because they're mad.

We'll make that last piece on our feet.

You're mistaken, we'll need a miracle.

We may have that too in just about a minute.

Well, if you men want to sit

and cry with the 1 st Battalion tonight...

...l'll have them send back

those trucks for you.

A lot of people in this division

don't believe we can make it.

What do you think?

When we hit that camp gate...

...let's give them a look at the best outfit in the Corps!

Left face!

Column left!

Hut!

Come in.

- Hello, Mac!

- Sir, how are you?

What are you doing,

spying for Father McHale?

No, sir, I leave that to G-2.

I want you to meet two men from my outfit,

Corporal Forrester and PFC Hookens.

- Hookens has got a little problem.

- That's what I'm here for. Sit down, boys.

What seems to be your problem?

Well, sir, that picture

on the bulletin board out there...

...it's a dead ringer for my girl.

Hookens, of course.

Colonel Huxley called me from Foxton.

He said you'd be around.

He also said that girl's too good for you.

- I won't argue that, sir.

- Looks like I've been blackmailed.

The colonel said if I didn't get you two

hitched without this red tape...

...he'd take his battalion to Father McHale.

Everything's been arranged.

Three-day passes for your squad.

Man in the loan office said just sign there.

You've got orders from the colonel

to get to Wellington on the double.

- Yes, sir!

- Okay.

Thank you, sir.

- Blood brother.

- Thanks.

Ladies and gentlemen, please wait a minute.

A Marine toast to Pat and Andy.

Come on, let's go!

Come on, boy!

It was a wonderful wedding and a wonderful party.

And a terrible headache the next morning.

Two days later we were ordered

to break camp and board ship.

Wait a minute.

- Mac wants you on a work detail.

- Take the detail.

Don't blow your top.

Who do you think you are?

This outfit's been knocking itself out for you,

giving up liberty so you could get ashore.

- Remind me to send them medals.

- What's the matter? Are you yellow?

- Want me to break you in half?

- Stop feeling sorry for yourself.

I've been living with letters

for 13 months.

- There's nothing we can do about it.

- That's what you think.

May I come in? Please.

I should've phoned you, but I didn't have time.

Pat, we've got a problem.

It's been reported to me Andy plans to desert.

I didn't stop him from jumping ship.

I could have.

I can have him taken back in irons now,

but I don't want that.

I want that boy to come back

to his ship on his own two feet.

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