Sands of Iwo Jima Page #4

We're gonna be killed here.

I'd like to get at them!

Why rush? This is a nice place.

- They got the lieutenant!

- They'll get all of us if we don't move.

We are like fish in a barrel lying here.

- Did we train to take it lying down?

- Sarge, do something about it!

Stay where you are until I tell you.

You gotta get us out of here!

If you're nervous count your toes.

I'll do the masterminding around here.

- Where's Lieutenant Baker?

- Machine-gunned.

- Is your squad all right?

- All but one. What's holding us down?

That bunker, an old power plant. All

these bombs and they're still killing us.

- Smoke, sir?

- Thanks.

I've sent for flame-throwers to assist.

Your squad will support. Follow me!

You heard! Move out and stay down!

We've gotta silence that bunker!

Request naval gunfire

be lifted on target areas, coordinates...

...two-four-six-zero-sugar-tare. Over.

Roger and out.

Flame-throwers out! Demolition in!

Demolition out!

Shipley!

Give me a hand with this pack.

Throw it!

Move out!

Get him out of there!

- There goes one of your nine.

- Now we got tanks.

Better late than never.

Come on!

Corpsman! Corpsman! This way!

Don't wait. They'll find me.

Keep going. Hit 'em for me.

Find Stryker. Stick with him.

He's good people.

Tell him I...

I'd like to know

where the rest of the squad went.

- What's this place?

- Whatever it is it ain't healthy!

Let's go!

That was close.

Next time don't be in such a hurry.

- You're across, ain't you?

- Across what? To where?

- I'm running low on ammo.

- I am too.

Forgot about that.

We gotta get some more.

- I'll go.

- Wait! Pick a number from one to six.

- Two.

- Five.

You're both wrong.

That guy kills me.

Thomas better hurry!

- How about some bandoliers, Mac?

- Help yourself.

- How are things going up front?

- Pretty rough.

- Keep it coming.

- Good luck.

- Is that coffee?

- It sure is. Do you want some?

Do I want some, he says!

I haven't had any joe

since we left the ship.

You mortarmen sure live

the life of Riley here.

Here you are.

Beautiful!

- Where's Thomas?

- Probably dead.

No, not that guy. Let's get out of here!

- Can I have some for my buddies?

- Sure. Break out your canteen.

Tell me, how's everything been going?

Couldn't be better, Mac.

Oh, this is the life!

Come and get it, you guys!

Ammo and fresh hot joe!

Hellenopolis!

Bass!

Hey, Greek!

Hey, Greek!

- What kepts you, Thomas?

- Where's Bass?

Gutted.

No ammo.

What kept you, sports?

Major Crowe, sir.

- Jim? How you doing?

- "It's tough going, Dave".

I've committed every man.

We're dug in and staying.

Good. I've been getting reports all day

that the Nips are slipping in to your front.

If it's "banzai" tonight,

target area 2-41 is a hot spot.

What outfit have you got there?

Joyce and Stryker.

Pass the word they gotta dig in

and stay put.

No noise or movement.

Don't risk anybody unless you have to.

Hold on until we get more men there.

Yes, sir.

Major Crowe says the Nips have been

filtering into these tank traps.

Disperse your squad along this section.

Tell your men there's to be no smoking,

no moving or unnecessary talking.

If they find out how thin we are,

they can get to the beach.

That's a platoon area. All I got's

a beat-up squad, short three men.

- Couldn't you...?

- Can I give you three men?

The battalion can't give the whole

company three replacements.

Your squad is covering

the hottest spot in the line.

If it's an attack tonight they'll strike you

first. They want to know our disposition.

I repeat, your men are not to move.

- Aye, aye, sir.

- Stryker, we're going to hold this line.

- Aye, aye, sir.

- Good luck.

All right, saddle up. Follow me.

Everybody go!

Drop off at intervals, two-man foxholes.

We're gonna be spread out thin tonight.

Don't give away your position or strength.

You Flynns stay here, and no quarrels.

Dunne and Smith, drop out here.

No gab tonight!

You and Harris here! Come on, Conway.

Corpsman!

Listen.

- Corpsman!

- That's a marine.

Corpsman!

- Stryker!

- Get down and stay down!

- You had your orders!

- Somebody's wounded!

- Quiet.

- Let's get him!

Stay down! It may be an old Jap trick.

They pulled it on the canal.

- It doesn't sound like a Jap to me.

- I don't care. You'll tip our position.

Stryker!

It's Bass!

How many Japs know your name?

- You know his voice.

- Shut up.

Aren't you human at all?

A friend of yours may be dying!

Knock it off!

This is what my father taught you.

Be a great marine, be tough.

Sit here if you want. I'm getting him.

The only way you'll stop me is to kill me.

That's just what I'll do!

Stryker!

Stryker!

Sarge!

Stryker!

Please, Sarge!

Tarawa was officially declared secure

at 13.30 on the fourth day of battle.

The replacements came ashore,

our wounded were cared for

and the assault troops were relieved.

- How am I doing, Chaplain?

- God has been good to you.

You're going home.

Per istam Sanctam Unctionem,

et suam piisimam,

indulgeat tibi Dominus

"quidquid deliquisti. Amen".

Somebody beat me to it.

Skipper gave out some news.

Part of it's good, part of it's bad.

- They found Hellenopolis. He's dead.

- He was a good Greek.

Choynski, Soames and Bass are on

a hospital ship Stateside-bound.

- I wish I was with them.

- Let's get cleaned up.

Wash out those dungarees

and let's look like marines.

You too, Thomas.

- Dunne.

- Yeah?

I got a couple of bottles of sake

in my gear. Give it to the squad.

- Right.

- Tell them you got it off a dead Nip.

Why don't you break down a little?

You got it off a dead Nip.

Aye, aye.

- What's eating you?

- Know what Stryker plans tomorrow?

Another squad problem

and I'm so tired of problems!

I'm tired of Stryker!

I'm also tired of beautiful Hawaii.

Me, too.

Hey, champ, what do you think

of beautiful Hawaii?

- I don't want to talk about it.

- Clamming up again, ever since Tarawa.

- Why the silence?

- Knock it off!

- Hi! You got room for me?

- What do you know!

- You got time off for good behaviour?

- Yeah.

- Where were you? Pearl Harbor?

- Yeah, nice place. Pretty nurses.

I'll give somebody $5

to shoot me in the foot.

- I'll do it for $2.50.

- You're too willing!

Some replacements out here

assigned to our squad.

We build up the joint

and they come and live in it.

This is Stein and Fowler and McHugh.

He's Fowler. Mike McHugh, from Cedar

Rapids to see this war's over in a hurry.

- How old are you?

- Nineteen.

- How old?

- Well, eighteen... going on eighteen.

We heard that the squad leader's tough.

- There are rumours to that effect.

- Tough sergeants roll off my knife!

You're gonna find your first few days

with Sergeant Stryker very interesting.

You new men come with me.

- Attention!

- Charlie! How are you?

- Certified fit for duty, so the medics say.

- Good.

The replacements came up with me.

They get younger all the time.

- Or we're getting older.

- Or both.

- I can stand having you back.

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