Objective, Burma! Page #2

how do we get back?

We'll fly back. Two transports are going

to pick us up at an abandoned airstrip...

and fly us back to the base.

I'll ask Maj. Fitzpatrick

of the Burma Rifles to tell you more.

- Go ahead, Major.

- Thanks.

Two years ago,

shortly before evacuating Burma...

we had an occasion to construct

an emergency airstrip here.

It's still there, and the latest aerial

reconnaissance tells us it's still usable.

Following the action against the

radar station, your route of departure...

will be track "E"...

along here to the abandoned

airstrip at "R2" here.

To make sure that you hit the airstrip

on the nose we've assigned...

two Gurkha guides from

the Burma Frontier Force to go with you.

Col. Holgerkin?

They don't speak English

to any worthwhile degree.

But they're extraordinarily familiar with

the terrain and the Burmese language.

I believe that you will find

them excellent guides.

- That's all from me.

- Thank you, Major.

The march from the radar station

to the airstrip will be a forced march...

that shouldn't last over 11 hours at most.

Here's the administration information:

No musette bags, shelter halves

or toilet articles are to be taken.

Each man will be issued

four D rations, two K rations.

You'll carry SOP ammunition loads.

You'll take two.30 caliber machine guns,

1,000 rounds of ammo per gun.

Each man will take six hand grenades.

You'll carry SCR - 536 radios,

one set of panels, four mirrors...

for signal communications.

That's about it.

Stations and HR will be announced later.

You'd better hit the sack early,

get some sleep. You'll need it.

Write your letters now. There's

no mailing service where we're going.

The chaplains of each faith

will hold services in half an hour.

That's all, fellows. Dismissed.

- You're Williams? American news service?

- That's right.

- Nice to know you. I'm Nelson.

- Glad to know you.

- The colonel said you'll be at the briefing.

- He didn't say why.

I don't think you'll fall on my neck

and kiss me when you find out.

But the fact of the matter is,

I'm going along with you.

Yes. GHQ said it was okay for one

correspondent to accompany the mission.

We drew lots for it and I won,

and here I am.

If you got the authority, I can't stop you.

But I ought to warn you...

it's going to be very tough.

Really? It sounded to me

just like a routine job.

It won't be routine,

not even for the kids who are trained.

I guess I can take it for a day or so.

All right. Let's go get your equipment.

Mr. Williams, it's your life,

so I'll give it to you straight.

This isn't a job for you,

it's a young man's job.

I'm not exactly decrepit.

Maybe not. Do you know how old

the colonel is in there?

Thirty-four.

Do you know how old

our commanding general is?

Thirty-seven.

Young men, all of us. We've got to be.

Do you know why?

I'll give you two good reasons:

We jump out of planes,

and guys shoot at us.

This isn't exactly healthy,

unless you're young enough to take it.

Pardon my asking,

but how old are you, Mr. Williams?

That's a military secret. Wait a minute.

Let me tell you something.

You know what I did before the war? I sat

on a soft cushion in a pine-paneled office...

I gave orders, people jumped

and I made a bucket of dough per week.

Now I'm out here.

I came here as I wanted to be here.

Because I wanted to do what I could...

so the people back home would know

a little better what war is about.

I'm making no dough, Capt. Nelson,

and I may wind up with...

a bullet through my...

typewriter.

I know it isn't easy.

I didn't come here expecting it to be easy.

And you're not fighting this war

from behind a desk, are you? No.

I'm not writing it from behind one, either.

Okay, Pop. Maybe you're a little old,

but you'll do. Glad to have you with us.

I ought to be 20 years younger,

maybe in better condition.

When you get back,

you'll be in a worse state...

you won't be any younger,

I guarantee you.

- Sergeant, I got a customer for you.

- Yes, sir.

Everything from soup to nuts.

Complete jump outfit.

Ever jump before, Williams?

Yes. Several times.

Did you like it?

Doesn't bother me.

- Bothers me.

- Here it is, sir.

Thank you. There's something missing.

What's that, sir?

The jeep to carry it in.

Everything's set, Nelson.

Stations, 3:
45 a.m.

Right. Thanks.

Thanks. Thank you.

Hi, Barker.

- Hello, sir.

- You'll haul us?

- Yes, sir.

- Swell. What time you got?

I got 3:
25 a.m. On the nose.

That check with you?

- What time do we meet with our bombers?

- 50 minutes out.

Right.

- Hi, Sid.

- Hi.

This is Mark Williams,

the American news syndicate.

- I think you two know each other.

- Yeah. How do you do?

Meet Capt. Li, Chinese Republican Army.

How do you do, sir?

Better get your chute on.

The chute. Yeah.

Sid, I think you better take Capt. Li

and one of the Gurkhas with you...

and I'll take Mr. Williams

and the other Gurkha with me.

3:
26 a.m.

On the nose. Okay.

Good jump, partner. Take care of yourself.

You say you've jumped before?

- Several times.

- Didn't it bother you?

- What?

- Landing on your head.

- You're sticking it on upside down.

- That's funny. I didn't notice.

You would have eventually.

Get the lead out, you guys!

You're holding up the war.

- Keep your pants on.

- Soapy, give me a hand with my bustle.

Sure. If it doesn't work,

you can bring it back.

Times like these, I wish I were in the Navy.

If you was in the Navy,

I'd sell my war bonds.

As I was telling you about her. I says,

"Honey, this is love at first sight...

"as I only have a 10-hour pass."

Soapy, Hogan,

give him a hand with his chute.

- You going to jump with us?

- Got any objections?

It's your funeral, Pop.

Did you hear that? Grandpa's gonna jump.

He's off his rocker.

Like I always said, civilians got no brains.

I'll stick you behind the newspaper guy.

If he freezes, you know what to do.

- Give him the works.

- It's a pleasure.

All right, boys. Fall in, in this order.

Gordon, 18.

Miggleori, 17. Jarod, 16. Brophy, 15.

Chedrees, 14. Schwartz, 13.

Helvicki, 12. Negulesco, 11. Hollis, 10.

O'Brien, 9. Hogan, 8. Rafferty, 7. Hooper, 6.

Rankin, 5. Higgins, 4.

Treacy, 3. Williams, 2.

You'd look silly

if you fell out of that thing in the air.

Okay, load up!

- Brother, I'm getting sick already.

- Take it easy, fellows.

Ready, boys? Here we go again.

Pass these maps out, Treace.

Pass them out.

So my sweetheart back home

writes to me...

and wants to know what

this gal in Bombay has, that she doesn't.

So I just wrote back to her and says,

"Nothing, honey, only she's got it here."

I know what you mean.

Boys, after this war is over,

I might even make a jump.

If this trip gets a little rough for you,

there's a bucket back there. Use it.

Certainly is hot in here.

You'll cool off.

Just wait until we get up to 11,000 feet.

- Brother, you'll freeze your tonsils.

- 11,000 feet? That's over two miles.

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