The Bridges at Toko-Ri

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Jet launch has been cancelled.

Clear both catapults.

Two flights returning. Expect

to recover aircraft in ten minutes.

Stand by with fire bottle

for helicopter turn-up.

Shake a leg, Forney!

There are two flights coming in!

We're here! Keep your jumper on, sir!

Don't put that hat on

till you clear the deck.

- Captain Parker doesn't like it.

- Very well, sir.

Prepare to launch helicopter.

Top off all jets and check Fly One

for ordinance load.

Launch helicopter.

My hat and scarf, please.

Can't you wait

till we get off the ship?

- What if the captain had seen you?

- We save pilots not captains.

In the icy water, it makes them

feel good to see this hat.

I know that, but you're gonna get

yourself in trouble.

And another thing. Quit sassing

them officers like you just did.

You can say anything you like to them

as long as you put "sir" on the end.

Take 215 and 207

down the deck-edge elevator.

Prepare to re-spot aircraft for recovery.

We've got two flights of jets

to land, low on fuel. Look alive!

Stand by to land jets.

Clear the catwalks portside aft.

Check number 6 wire.

The centre fiddle bridge is down.

Let's hear the checks, boy.

- Wheels down.

- Wheels down.

- Flaps down.

- Flaps down.

- Hook down. All down, sir.

- All down.

- Clear deck.

- Clear deck.

Come on, keep your nose up

so your hook will catch. That's it.

Good boy.

202, number 3 wire. He did real good.

Clear the catwalk aft.

211 to Bluejay. Flame-out.

CIC is reporting an emergency, sir.

Go ahead, CIC.

211 will have to ditch.

Will dispatch a helicopter.

- What's his position?

- 18 miles out.

- Is there another jet with him?

- Affirmative, 210, his wingman.

- Can he ditch near the destroyers?

- Negative.

Keep me advised.

- Have you got their position?

- Affirmative.

- How much fuel's the wingman got?

- 1,200 lbs.

Angel from Bluejay.

Your vector, 345 magnetic.

211 will have to ditch 18 miles out.

Your vector, 345 magnetic.

- Bluejay out.

- Bluejay from Angel. Roger.

210 from Bluejay. Helicopter on way.

- What is the condition of 211?

- 210 to Bluejay.

211 is losing altitude rapidly

and is all set to ditch.

210 to Bluejay. There he goes.

211 just ditched.

Aircraft sank immediately.

Pilot got out! Dye marker is visible.

Downed pilot afloat and in sight.

- I'm staying here.

- CIC to Flag Plot.

210 requests permission

to stay with downed pilot.

Permission granted.

Who is the pilot in the water?

- Brubaker, sir.

- Brubaker?

Just an hour ago a dispatch came in.

His wife and two kids are in Tokyo.

- Keep me advised on Brubaker.

- Aye, aye, sir.

- Brubaker, huh?

- You know him?

I don't think I've seen him,

but I can describe him.

He's about 30, well built,

a good-looking boy with a temper.

That's Brubaker all right.

Did you ever notice the admiral takes

special interest in pilots like that?

Now that you mention it, yeah.

That's what his son

would have looked like.

CIC to Flag Bridge. 210 has sighted

helicopter approaching.

Tell 210 to return quickly. We can't

hold this course much longer.

Angel from 210. Come on, Forney,

I can't hold him in sight much longer.

210 from Angel. I see him.

Go home. Dinner's waiting.

Roger.

Jump in. I'll wait

till the Hornet sends a 'copter.

He looks froze! I'll have to go down.

Sorry you have to ride in the rumble, sir.

But I haven't got anybody here

to haul you in. Savo Angel to Bluejay.

Two Angels coming home

with two frozen mackerel.

- Admiral.

- Go ahead.

Helicopter reports Brubaker aboard.

The Hornet's helicopter

picked up Forney's crewman.

- Good.

- Helicopter lands in three minutes.

- Turn right 90 degrees.

- Aye, aye, sir.

Round Table, this is Jehovah.

Turn right, zero-three-five.

Stand by. Execute.

Wish you could see this, Lieutenant.

Awful pretty sight.

Looks like they're coming to meet us.

Land the two helicopters aft

and stand by with a stretcher.

Keep clear of those rotors.

Clear a passage for that stretcher.

- How are you?

- He's all right.

- That water's cold.

- Not when you're used to it.

- He's too young for brandy!

- You weren't in the water.

I know, but I had the hatch open.

It's awful cold in there.

Hello, Harry. You don't look so bad.

- Hi, CAG.

- How's it going?

I didn't know water could be so cold.

- Feel like talking to the admiral?

- Now?

Whenever you feel up to a chat.

The doctor thinks you'll be fine tonight.

- I'll send for a uniform.

- No, just come up in your robe.

- See you later, Harry.

- Right.

The admiral wants to see me.

I'm Brubaker.

He's in his cabin.

I'll tell him you're here.

From Chez Paris in Chicago,

overlooking Lake Michigan,

the Armed Forces Radio Service

brings you the music of Henry Busse.

This way, Lieutenant.

Come in.

- You sent for me, sir?

- Yes, come in, son.

- Coffee?

- No, thank you, sir.

Sit down.

- How do you feel?

- I guess I'm thawed out.

I got the report on your ditching.

How long did it stay afloat?

- After one bounce I was a submarine.

- No time to get your life raft out?

It hooked on the seat.

I was lucky to get myself out.

Those helicopter boys

are pretty good fishermen.

They deserve every medal in the book.

You're out there by yourself,

you know you can't last long.

You're scared and freezing,

you curse and pray.

Suddenly you see that Mixmaster

whirling out of nowhere.

You look up and there's Forney

in his green hat.

You relax, 'cause you got it knocked.

I'm mighty glad they pulled you out.

We can use you around here.

- Coming from you, I appreciate that.

- I mean it.

You fly well.

You go in low, you do your job.

You'd have a great future in the Navy.

Why not make it your career?

- You know what I think of the Navy.

- Still bitter, huh?

Say what you think. I always do.

Of course, I've said it

a couple of times too often.

The organised reserves were

drawing pay but weren't called up.

I was inactive and yet I was.

I had to give up my home,

my law practice, everything.

I'm still bitter.

So bitter I could put on an act to

the surgeon and get myself grounded.

Why don't you?

That's what I kept asking myself

when I was in that ice water.

You think about your friends who

are back home leading normal lives.

I wonder if you were back home

whether you wouldn't do the same.

It's not a question of indifference

but of distance.

They act that way

because they're there.

You go on doing your job because

you're here. It's as simple as that.

The progress this world has made

has always been

because of the efforts

and sacrifices of a few.

I was one of the few at New Guinea,

Leyte, Okinawa. Why me again?

Nobody knows why he gets

the dirty job. And this is a dirty job.

- Militarily, this war is a tragedy.

- We ought to pull out.

Rubbish. If we did, they'd take Japan,

Indo-China, the Philippines.

Where would you make a stand?

The Mississippi?

Men fight the wrong war in the wrong

place. The one they're stuck with.

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