Born on the Fourth of July Page #2

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nothing finer, nothing

standing as straight

as a United States Marine.

Now, they've got the Army.

They got the Navy.

They got

the Air Farce.

And if you want

to join them,

be my guest.

But if you want

a challenge...

if you want to try

something difficult...

if you want to try to

achieve the impossible...

you try 13 weeks of hell

at Parris Island,

South Carolina,

and you'll find out

if you got what it takes.

You'll find out

if you really are a man,

then the Marines may be

what you're looking for.

Tarawa...

Iwo Jima...

Belleau Wood...

the frozen

Chosin Reservoir.

First to fight.

We have never lost a war.

We have always come when

our country's called us.

Now, Sergeant Bowers and I

would like to open this up

to questions.

So if any of you young men

do have questions,

go ahead

and raise your hands.

Come on, now.

Don't be afraid.

Don't forget, a good

Marine's a thinking Marine.

Billy Vorsovich, sir.

When would I get to wear

a uniform like you?

You can be wearing this

in 13 weeks.

Go! Go!

Go, Massapequa!

Go! Go! Go!

- Yay!

- Yay!

Hi, Donna.

Go! Go!

Go, Massapequa!

Go!

My brother's at school

at Adelphi.

He said there will be a war in...

what is it?

Vietnam.

The Marines will be

the first in,

and it won't

last long.

So if we don't sign up

soon, we'll miss it.

I've already decided.

I'm going in.

Really?

Just like that?

I'm not waiting.

I'm going in now.

You're crazy.

Our dads

got to go to WWII.

This is our chance

to be part of history.

Yeah, just like

our dads.

Think about

what you're doing.

It could be dangerous

over there.

You could

get yourself killed.

Where are you going,

squirrel head? College?

I want to do something

with my life.

I can get a degree in

business administration.

You don't need

to serve your country?

Don't you care

about anybody but yourself?

Better dead than red.

They got missiles pointed

at us everywhere. ICBMs.

Coming in

all around us.

Cuba now.

90 miles away.

They're taking over.

When will we stop them?

You can't stop them

by yourself.

Communism is

moving in everywhere.

Where, Ronnie?

I don't see them.

They're not here

in Massapequa,

so I'll just take care

of number one.

That's right.

Me... Stevie, number one.

Someone's got to stay

with the women and children

while the men

go do the fighting.

All I'm saying is,

think about it.

Think about it,

Ronnie.

Stevie, who are you taking

to the prom?

Wendy Daniels.

Wendy Daniels?

Wendy Daniels?

He got desperate.

Well, who are you taking,

Joey, your mother?

Ronnie, who are you going

to take to the prom?

You don't know her.

She's a pretty girl

from Ronkonkoma.

What's her name?

You don't know her.

What's her name,

Ronnie?

Her name

is Lombardi.

Lombardi?

Yeah.

Vince Lombardi?

Rosanna Lombardi.

She's from

out of town, right?

She going

to get a motel?

'Cause I'd like

to get in on that.

Ronnie, would you take this

to section three?

Check the stock

for dog food.

Dog food.

Then finish

stacking the potatoes.

Come on. Let's go.

Let's do some work

for a change.

This goes

in section three?

Section three.

O.K., Dad.

Hey, Donna.

Hi, Ronnie.

Hi, Ronnie.

Hi, Ronnie.

How you doing?

How's...

Good.

I heard that you were going

into the Marines.

Yeah, yeah.

It's better than

working at A&P.

That's great,

Ronnie.

That's wonderful.

I'm going

to boot camp soon.

I joined

for four years,

so I go to Vietnam,

probably on

the front line.

Really?

I'll see

a lot of action.

Wow.

That's neat.

Heard you got

into that school.

The letter?

Yeah.

Yeah, Syracuse.

It's going to be

really hard.

Could I... Could I talk

to you in private?

Oh, yeah. Sure.

I've been meaning

to call you.

I was wondering,

are you going with

someone to the prom?

Yeah. I'm going

with Jed.

Oh, yeah?

That's great.

I mean, he's

a nice guy... Jed.

Stevie Boyer told me

that you were taking some girl

from Lake Ronkonkoma.

Yeah. No, no.

No?

No. I don't have time

for that stuff.

There's a lot of things

to take care of

before you go

in the Marines.

I didn't even know

how much stuff.

Maybe I'll see you

before I leave, O.K.?

Soldier boy

Oh, my little soldier boy

I'll be true to you

You were my first love

And you'll be my last love

I will never

make you blue

I'll be true to you

In this whole world

You can love

but one girl

I told you

I love you.

You promised.

Let me be

that one girl

For I'll be

true to you

The batter is

Mickey Mantle.

Mickey has two strikes

and the chance

to put the Yankees

ahead in this game.

The pitcher

gets his sign,

takes his stretch,

checks the runners.

Here's the pitch.

Mickey swings,

and he connects!

There's a long drive

deep to centre field!

It is going, going!

It is gone

into the bleachers,

455 feet away

for Mickey's

491st home run!

How about that?

The crowd is

on its feet,

giving Mickey

a standing ovation.

And rattle your walls

For the times,

they are a-changin'

Come, senators

and congressmen

Please heed the call

Don't stand in the doorway

Don't lock up the hall

For the times,

they are a-changin'

There's absolutely

no question.

The First Cavalry Division

is the latest concept

in mobile warfare.

One division is worth

21/2 Russian

and 6 Chinese divisions.

How well will

the individual soldier

stand up here

in Vietnam?

What do you think,

Dad, about that?

I don't know.

13,000 miles...

that's a long way to go

to fight a war.

They fought the French

and the Japanese

for 30 years.

Can they

be weeded out?

Anything

that lives in a cave

can be weeded out.

I just hope they send you

to Europe or Korea or...

They can't.

Someplace safe.

Every Marine has

a tour of duty there.

It's not like the Army.

What's wrong with you?

You served.

Uncle Bob served.

I know, Ronnie.

I know.

Remember what

President Kennedy said?

There won't be

an America any more

unless people are willing

to sacrifice.

I love my country.

I know.

And you're right,

Ronnie.

You're doing

the right thing.

Communism has

to be stopped.

It's God's will

you go.

We're proud of you.

Be careful,

that's all.

Up there in Hanoi,

they don't allow magazines,

newspapers, and televisions

to cast doubts

on the military system.

Don't you know what being a Marine

means to me, Dad?

Ever since

I was a kid,

I've wanted

to serve my country,

and I want to go.

I want to go

to Vietnam,

and I'll die there

if I have to.

The attitude of people

on the home front

is very important

in this war.

Not a nice night

for the prom.

Can the South Vietnamese

government

stand up

to the North?

We wouldn't

be here

if we didn't

think so.

Sometimes, God,

I'm so confused.

Sometimes

I think I'd just...

like to stay here

in Massapequa

and never leave...

but I got to go.

Just help me, Jesus.

Help me to make

the right decision.

Please, dear God.

Ron.

Ronnie, what

happened to you?

Ronnie.

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