Flying Leathernecks Page #4

A hundred yards to the rear,

you'll see this arrow.

If possible, your run should be made

parallel to our lines.

Exactly at 1340, my mortar crews

will outline the target area.

We're counting on you

to kick the door open.

That's just what we'll do. We'll come in

from seaward hugging the deck...

...and holding our fire

until we're right on top of them.

- Did you say something?

- No, sir.

Well, yes, sir. This mission

comes as a surprise to me.

There was a bright rumor

about a vacation.

Here, you believe 1 percent

of the bright rumors...

...and 200 percent of the dark ones

and you'll win most of your bets.

I know you fellas haven't

been trained for close support...

...so observe my first run.

I'm coming in at treetop level.

I don't wanna see anybody above me.

Just remember those guys need our help...

...and we can't do them any good

unless we come in low. Questions?

Yes, sir. If we're gonna be

that close to the deck...

...l'd like to get a bayonet

on my propeller hub.

That might be pretty hard to rig. But if

you hop in the jeep with the colonel...

...and go to the forward area

as our observer...

...l'm sure somebody will hand you

a bayonet with a rifle attached to it.

And you may get a chance to use it.

That's an order.

- Colonel.

- Thank you, major.

See you, men.

Texas.

Sir.

Carry on.

Your brother-in-law.

That idiot.

Making jokes in a briefing session.

I'll eat him out when he returns.

You should. It's your fault

he's acting the way he is.

This "bring your troubles to Pop" attitude

is what's making them all act like kids.

- Well, that's what they are.

- Not out here.

This is where we separate

the men from the boys.

I'm still saying what I think

until you tell me to shut up. Here it is.

This is no time to play eager beaver

to prove a pet theory.

- These guys rate a rest.

- Nobody rates a rest out here.

- Why isn't Castle in flying gear?

- I scheduled Black in his place.

Castle's been throwing up too much.

He's high-strung...

Castle flies. Nobody's ducking

these missions because of bellyaches.

We're all sick.

We don't have to gas by hand no more.

I rigged a dishwashing machine pump.

- A dishwashing machine?

- Yeah.

Imagine them Seabees in the mobile field

kitchen with a dishwashing machine.

What's the Navy coming to?

Can't wash dishes with their hands?

The rate we're going, we'll be

able to refuel with an eyedropper.

Can't you put more in the air?

My conscience bothers me

about a few going on this mission.

Hey, you flyguys. Major.

- You flyguys got your own galley?

- No.

We eat with the mud Marines. Why?

I'm checking all the galleys.

Some joker stole my dishwasher.

Somebody stole his dishwasher.

What's the guy look like?

- Ain't a guy. It's a machine.

- A machine? For washing dishes?

Has everybody gone nuts?

Have you ever heard anything so crazy?

- Never did.

- I have.

It's part of a mobile kitchen unit

and checked out to me. If I find the guy...

Did you look in the artillery mess?

Them artillery men steal.

No ethics. They're over in that area.

All right. Thanks.

Clancy!

I'm beginning to worry about

your chances in the hereafter.

Does the major mean he approves

of using dishwashing machines...

...with amphibious assault groups?

The major means that he approves

of line chiefs who can improvise.

Here they come.

- You a flyguy?

- Yeah.

- Can't fly much lower than that, can you?

- Only if you're a bachelor.

In here, colonel.

We were late because we tangled

with Zeros on the way to the target.

- How'd it work out?

- Could've been tragedy.

We thought you weren't coming.

A patrol overran the panel.

Well, that's what we've

been screaming for.

We need better coordination

between ground and air.

- Did we hit any of your men?

- You didn't.

- Can you make another run at it?

- That we will. How about 1500?

Fine. I'll get an okay

from the old man.

Billy Castle.

- How many of us have jungle nausea?

- Almost everybody.

Castle have it any worse

than anybody else?

No.

We lost Castle today.

Schedule another mission.

1500. Same target.

Roger.

Shall I take your observer along?

Get me airborne. It's too rough

down here with these ground guys.

Flying scares me.

- I'll send you up another man.

- Right.

The strafing runs looked really great.

If the target had been right...

...you'd have clobbered that Nip position

and the mud Marines would've been set.

Why don't they always use

this close-ground air?

Because the brass

hasn't been convinced yet.

Griff will probably want you

on this strike.

Yes, sir.

Well, why hasn't the brass

been convinced?

I don't know.

My grandfather claimed there'd

never be a horseless carriage.

- Two divisions warming up.

- Good.

You take Cowboy on your wing,

I'll take Ernie on mine.

I'll lead the run.

Major, I found a couple of tents.

Three of them, to be exact.

We sure can use them.

Where do you want them?

- Anyplace in the area.

- You'll find a small hole in the side.

Artillery gyrenes came over

claming they were their tents.

They claimed that the hole

is where the serial number was.

So I said, "Prove it.

Otherwise, knock it off."

Very intelligent attitude, Clancy.

Thanks.

Yeah, there's officers.

Then again, there's officers.

- Sergeant!

- Yeah?

There was a supply truck parked

over there about an hour ago.

Ten Coleman lanterns

are missing out of it.

Got any ideas that might help?

Don't quote me, but I saw some of them

Seabees over there this afternoon.

They're down in that area.

- Thanks.

- You're welcome.

Copper.

Hey, fellas! Hey! Fellas!

Clancy found it.

He says he found it.

One of them mud Marines

give me a big beef.

Said he had it stashed

in back of a palm tree...

...after he took it off a Nip officer

which he killed.

I gave him a smash in the kisser,

this mud Marine, that is.

He was smaller than me.

Them guys will lie about anything.

Sake, huh? Now, you gentlemen

know the regulations.

Why don't you stop it.

Beware of booby traps,

particularly foodstuff or potables.

- Potables?

- That means booze, gentlemen. Booze.

I think we can find a little regulation

that'll allow us to open the bottle.

Who will volunteer?

Eenie, meenie, minie, mo,

catch a Cowboy by...

- What do you know?

- It's me!

Attaboy.

You know, this stuff

could be booby-trapped.

It is.

- Major.

- Fix it?

Fix it? It's better than brand-new.

Quite a clambake they're having.

They're really sopping up all that sake.

- You ought to go over...

- Thanks, Clancy.

Yes, sir.

Dear Dan, this is for you at Christmas,

wherever you may be.

Go ahead, Tommy.

Hello, major... Dad.

This is for you and all the flyguys.

And the mud Marines. And you.

We miss you.

We miss you.

And it's hard to say good night

when you aren't here.

When I say good night,

I say, "Our Father... "

I didn't mean to read

over your shoulder, Dan.

That's all right, Joe.

But listening to that kid made me feel

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