Faith of My Fathers

We're going after the thermal power plant

in the middle of Hanoi...

with an attack heading of 090.

Be alert to the warning tones.

Missile tracking. Missile lock.

You may have to lose altitude

to get the SAM out of phase...

and if you do, you're going to D-Cell.

They're going to want to bleed you down

to parade rest...

and then slam you with AAA.

Attack formation will be combat speed,

rolling in at 6,000 feet.

From there, you're on government time.

Study your aim points.

Designated aircrafts will engage

in diversionary maneuvers...

Twenty-two mission bombing truck stops

in Haiphong.

Think you're ready for the show?

Been ready

since I buzzed my first cow in an A-1.

You're most exposed when you roll off...

Livestock don't shoot back.

Remember,

you can't defend against what you can't see.

Smoke on the ground

means possible launch.

You lose sight, you lose the fight.

Now I want to see all of your ugly faces

back here for chow at 1700 hours.

Red Crown, Saints dry and inbound.

Switching Blue 5. Buster to target.

- Go blow something up.

- Roger.

Keep it loose. This is Fox.

This is 02. I got strobes. Eyes out.

Lot of flak at 12:00. Heads up!

All right, let's get in and out.

They've lit it up here.

Missile lock! Where the hell is he?

02, SAM at 7:
00.

I'm hit!

- 2:
00!

- Got it!

- Easy!

- 04, break off!

Target in 10.

Release and head on your 50 to the pond.

- I see it.

- Missile launch. Smoke on the ground.

- I'm going in!

- SAM at 4:
00.

- Break off, 08!

- Less than five to release.

- McCain.

- It's Tom.

Yes, sir?

Apparently John was on a mission

over Hanoi, and he was shot down.

Did anyone see him eject?

No, but we got a report,

his plane took a hit from an SA-2.

Thank you, sir.

- Is there anything we can do?

- No, we will be fine.

We would appreciate

any status reports of consequence.

- I'm really sorry about this, Jack.

- Thank you, sir.

Johnny was hit over Hanoi.

His plane exploded.

There was no sighting of a chute.

- Night-night, sweetheart.

- Night-night, Mommy.

- Come on.

- Move over.

Quick, hide!

Boys, get under the covers right now!

Hello?

Carol, it's Jack and Roberta.

I've got some bad news I'm afraid.

Johnny was shot down over Hanoi.

We're trying to figure out

whether or not he's been located.

- Are the kids still up?

- No, the children are all in bed.

- We're doing everything we can.

- Yes, I'm sure.

Are you okay? One of us could fly out there.

I'll be all right.

As soon as we've heard anything,

we'll call you.

My leg!

Thank you.

I shoot down plane you fly.

Morning.

The names of your squadron.

Go piss up a tree.

I do not think that's the answer I'm wanting.

The names of your squadron.

I said, go piss up a tree.

Starr, Gregg...

McGee, Davis...

Adderley, Brown, Ringo, Wood.

Ten points, McCain.

Ray Nitschke, our C.O.

Thank you, Mr. McCain. Get some rest.

The '62 Green Bay Packers.

16-7 over the Giants in Yankee Stadium...

for the championship.

Your C.O. Recovered two fumbles.

MVP.

Deflected a pass for an interception, too.

I'm John, John McCain. What's your name?

What's your name?

Come on, Johnny!

Yeah. Watch it!

Get up, Johnny.

- Can I offer you some coffee, Capt. McCain?

- No, thank you.

- You wanted to see me regarding my son.

- Yes.

John is walking a very dangerous line.

His grades place him

near the bottom of his class...

and I see him on a regular basis

for disciplinary matters.

My concern is that

his appointment to the Naval Academy...

is highly unlikely.

He won't make the grade.

My suggestion is

that you apply to some other colleges.

Just cover your bases, so to speak.

- Has he broken the Honor Code?

- Excuse me?

Has he lied, cheated, or stolen anything?

We have one of the oldest Honor Code

traditions in the country, Captain.

- I know what it means.

- Good.

Then I would appreciate it

if you would call me if he breaks it.

Thank you.

- What happened?

- He die.

Where are you taking him?

Morning, McCain.

What is the name of that soldier?

- Too many. I don't know.

- His name?

- How could you let him die?

- We did not invite him here.

We did not invite you here.

You have a visitor.

A French journalist, Mr. Chalais,

to interview you.

You will say how grateful you are

to the Vietnamese people...

and how sorry you are for your crimes.

If you do not cooperate,

your cast will be removed...

you will be sent back to your cell.

Your limbs will rot, and you, too, will die.

Okay?

Hello. How are you being treated?

I'm grateful...

for the medical aid I've received

and for the operation...

the doctors have promised to perform

on my leg.

Are they feeding you well?

It's not Paris, but I eat it.

You have revealed information

about your military unit.

The names of the men in your squadron.

Can you repeat them for us?

That would be okay, I guess.

Starr, Gregg...

McGee, Davis, Adderley...

Brown, Ringo...

Wood, Nitschke.

That's fine.

Is there anything

you would like to say to your family?

I would just like to say...

to my wife...

that I will get well...

and that I love her.

And I hope to see her soon.

Thank you.

- McCain, more. We need more.

- I have enough, thank you.

- McCain!

- The interview is over.

Well, we put out the fire...

but the leak in the conning tower

flooded the pump room...

and grounded out

the air-compressor, air-conditioning unit.

At 300 feet below the surface,

we turned off all auxiliary engines...

to minimize the noise

while the destroyer circled above us.

The temperature hit 120, humidity was 100%.

We stayed there for 18 hours.

We were pretty much inhaling

our own breath...

when I gave the crew a choice:

Surface and fight,

or surface the sub and scuttle her.

- What did you do?

- It was unanimous. Fight.

- So what happened?

- Well, I'm here, aren't I?

- The destroyer. Where was the destroyer?

- About 3,000 feet from us...

going in the opposite direction.

Yeah, I figured if we'd started our ascent

five minutes earlier...

we'd have bumped right into its hull.

- You never told me that story before.

- It wasn't your first day at Annapolis before.

- You scared?

- No.

Yes, you are. Everybody is.

And you should be.

This place is no vacation.

And you've got a lot to live up to.

Both me and your grandfather

were close to last in academics...

and first in demerits.

You and Slew did okay since.

- I guess we fooled them?

- Yeah.

- You think I'm gonna like this place?

- You're not supposed to like it.

Sir, Midshipman Second Class Witt.

May I be of assistance, sir?

Thank you, Witt.

I'll leave my son in your capable hands.

Aye, aye, sir.

It's all about character, son.

That's what it's always been about

in the end.

You didn't think I was gonna unpack it, too,

did you, plebe?

Do you think you do as you please here?

Do you not know

your bombs kill our families?

You do not hear the screams of them

above the clouds.

This is my prison and you will pay

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