Merrill's Marauders Page #3

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and then fight a pitched battle...

...when they get there

is not only unfair, it's impossible.

And it's your job to do the impossible.

- Not without replacements.

- Replacements?

Every theater commander

is crying for replacements.

Eisenhower has got

first priority in Europe.

Then come MacArthur and Nimitz.

I'm a low man on the totem pole.

Frank, you're all I've got.

May I remind the general...

...every one of my men

is a two-year combat veteran.

They gave up earned furloughs so they

could volunteer for one mission.

They had one job to do and they did it.

Their job is to keep

the Japanese out of India...

...keep them from linking up

with the Germans.

That's my big nightmare, Frank.

One million Japanese

joining forces with the German army.

Myitkyina is the linchpin to Burma.

And Burma's the road to India.

It's gonna be tough, Frank,

but it's got to be done.

Oh, by the way, the newspaper boys

have made up a name for your men.

They're called the Marauders.

Come on, Eleanor.

Come on, Eleanor, come on.

- Come on, Eleanor!

Come on, Eleanor!

Lieutenant, lieutenant.

General Merrill wants to see you, sir.

Hey, you're gonna get the word now,

Sto... Lieutenant.

Tsk.

Hey, maybe they'll give us

a private plane.

Who cares what kind of a plane

as long as it's Bombay.

How far is Bombay from New York?

Maybe they'll give us a big parade

up Dewey Blvd. In Manila.

- Now, for some real chow.

- San Francisco, here I come.

- You sent for me, sir?

- What shape are your men in?

They're rich.

Our mule just won the race.

- And you?

- I didn't bet.

You know what I mean.

I have to admit, I'm looking

forward to getting back to Bombay.

Those eight men you lost,

that hit you pretty hard, didn't it?

They were my friends.

You think you can face

losing more of your friends?

We're not going back to Bombay,

are we?

Nope. We're going to Shaduzup.

There's a railhead there,

it has to be taken and held.

They're gonna be looking for us.

So we're gonna go there the hard way,

through the swamps.

Yes, sir.

Your men have been out at point

for a long stretch now.

They've got a break coming.

If you want me to,

I'll put another platoon out front.

You leaving me that choice?

That's right.

Well, that's a tough decision to make.

Can I think it over?

We're moving right out.

Why don't I get going?

Yeah, why don't you?

Frank.

Don't you think you might have

told him about Myitkyina?

It's tough enough for him

to tell them what he's telling them now.

All right, take 10.

Oh, baby.

Well, how's it going, Chris?

Beats milking cows back in Kansas.

Better radio the column,

tell them we're taking a break.

Stock to quarterback, we're taking 10.

Okay.

Battalion reports are no good.

They're out of food, water.

Sick list is growing.

They need more rest.

Who doesn't?

Behind our timetable now

on account of all this muck.

I don't know how they're doing it.

Typhus, malaria.

We're hurting. We're hurting, Frank.

You better get the column started,

Barney.

All right, Frank.

What's the matter with you?

You look funny to me, general.

Heh. Funny.

You're not gonna pin

one of those little tags on me.

Pin it on your back,

they'll drag you out of here.

I told you, all I had was a dizzy spell,

maybe a touch of fever.

Nothing to it.

Open your shirt.

Will you stop apple-polishing?

You already took my blood pressure.

Open your shirt.

You're wasting my time.

Would you like me to cough?

How long you been getting away

with this?

Away with what?

- You don't have to lie, I'm your doctor.

- The last physical, I was topnotch.

- I don't believe you.

- A captain always believes a general.

How long have you been having

chest pains?

When was the last time

you had a pain in your left arm?

Did you go in a pool of sweat?

I'm in one now, damn it.

My men are liable to die in this swamp

without firing a shot.

Okay, okay.

I had one about a year ago,

three years ago, I...

In Tokyo, as military attach.

I was treated at a private hospital.

What was the diagnosis?

I'll tell you what it was. Heart.

Coronary thrombosis.

And you're on your way to another one.

Doc, keep this under your hat.

Captain Kolodny,

I'd like you to regard that as an order.

- Hey, Stock.

- Yeah.

Ain't this column got any food?

What do you bet

they're holding out on us?

Nobody's holding out on you,

Chowhound.

We're all in the same boat.

Yeah, we could use one around here,

you know.

/I didn't know we have enough blood left

for these damn leeches.

Medic.

Get Doskis.

Hey, Stock, on the level,

when we getting out of here?

Like I told you,

when we hit the railroad tracks.

Railroad tracks? Heh-heh. Is he kidding?

There ain't nothing at the end of this

swamp except maybe more swamp.

Relax, Bullseye.

Take advantage of the break.

How did you even get into this outfit,

Muley?

They drafted Eleanor.

Where she goes, I go.

Yeah, you're two of a kind.

Boy, if my mother could see me now.

- You know, there was a time...

Hey, what time is it?

Seven-fifteen.

A.M. Or P. M?

A.M., you knothead.

Taggy, it's P.M.

It's night, it's getting dark.

You're out of your head.

It was night already.

Now, I'm watching very carefully.

It's P.M.

Okay, wise guy,

if you're so smart, what day is it?

It's Tuesday.

Everybody knows it's Sunday.

- It's Tuesday.

- It's Sunday.

You been hearing church bells

or something?

You both got battle fatigue.

It's Wednesday.

How do you know? You got a calendar?

- It's my birthday.

- Let's bake a cake.

No.

I got a better idea.

Let's have some steaks.

You better knock that idea

right out of your mouth, Chowhound.

People eat horses. What's the matter?

Nobody eats mule meat

until I tell you to.

Now, get some shuteye

for a few minutes.

All of you.

Whoa, baby. Now, just settle down.

That's it.

When I close my eyes,

I see a mule's behind.

Also when I open them.

What's wrong with Doskis?

Typhus.

Typhus.

Are you sure?

He's got the rash,

and I found a bug bite in his leg.

He's running 105.

Does he know it?

He thinks it's malaria.

Tag him that.

Yes, sir.

All right, knock it off.

Knock it off, knock it off. Come on.

Muley.

Chowhound. Come on.

You guys wanna fight,

wait till we find some more Japanese.

I caught Chowhound

going through my pack.

This phony muleskinner's

hoarding the food.

What did you do with the K rations...

...I saw you put in that pack?

- I gave them to you last week...

...you crazy tapeworm!

Let's go.

Lieutenant Stockton.

- What's holding you up?

- One of my men's down.

- Who is it?

- Corporal Doskis.

What's the matter with him?

Typhus.

- What did you tag him?

- Malaria.

- Got many cases?

- Got too many.

Railroad tracks

shouldn't be too far away now.

I wonder if he made contact

with anybody.

Over here, general.

I found the railroad tracks.

Barney, send for a food drop.

See, just like I told you, Eleanor...

...Uncle Muley said

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