The Fighting Seabees Page #7

- Thank you.

So that leaves the situation

something like this...

Oh, by the way, Kane, have you made

preparations for landing the galley equipment?

- Yes, sir.

- Fine.

Uh, how's Hunter, Wedge?

He's making the trip by rail.

I was just telling the boys that yesterday a

marine landing force cleared out our sector.

- We're ready to move in.

- No Japs left?

Only snipers and small patrols.

Naturally, you're expected to

protect yourself against them.

Good.

Our main base will be here.

We'll disperse our installation so the Japs

can't lay all their eggs in one basket.

Kane and Brackett will handle

the beaches, Stewart the docks.

Hunter's outfit'll take

care of the airfield,

that is, if he ever gets

over his seasickness.

- That leaves the oil farm for me.

- That's right, it's a hot corner too.

Five miles from anybody.

These shoal waters have some

narrow channels in 'em.

Watch 'em, Wedge.

The Japs might try to sneak

in patrols in small boats.

I will.

When do we land?

Tomorrow at dawn.

Japs or polecats.

- Looks like we're alone.

- Yeah, so far.

This'll be the campsite.

- Lt. Hood!

- Aye, aye, sir.

We'll go up the crest and

establish a line of resistance.

Whanger, Sully, Murph,

Brick, Yump, Swede, Jacobs.

I'll stay here and

mind the fire.

Yump, get down.

Don't worry, Commander.

There ain't no Japs here.

Yump!

Brick!

Turn me loose!

I'll get that Jap sniper!

Brick, get ahold of yourself!

- Jacobs!

- Yes, sir.

I want a machine gun emplacement

here and one over on that spur...

so we can cross-fire this area.

Aye, aye, sir.

Signal the ship we're ready...

- to start unloading operations.

- Aye, aye, sir.

Keep your chin up, kid.

Harcroft!

- Yes, sir?

- Where's Mr. Donovan?

Tank number five, sir,

over back of the ridge.

Hello.

I was wondering when

we'd rate another visit.

I meant to get over

sooner, Wedge,

but I'm kinda busy myself.

Hey, you're doing fine here.

First tankers ordered in next week..

Good!

Fifty thousand barrels of oil

oughta whet our appetite.

Could take a hundred if it

weren't for these snipers.

Had three men hit today.

- Where'd they get you?

- Only the leg, Wedge.

- I'll make it.

- Stay put.

Bill, get a stretcher!

What do they expect a handful of patrols

to do, clean out this whole jungle?

Give me a couple of companies...

and I'll clean it out, pronto.

You're not here to fight Japs. You're

here to fight time, and you're doing great.

Yeah, doing great, watching my men get

knocked off like ducks in a birdbath.

What's the sense of it?

That's what I'd like to know.

Wedge...

Our job is to see that

our task force gets oil.

Task force?

Yes. There's a carrier, a couple of

cruisers and three transports coming in.

You're here to see that

this depot gets finished.

Defend it if you have to,

but get the job done.

Yes, sir.

That's it, Wedge.

That's it if Powers has

finished the main gate.

Lt. Hood's compliments, sir

I mean respects, sir.

The tanker's ready

to start pumpin'.

We'll open the main valve as soon

as the last section is completed.

Thanks, Collins.

Stand by to load stretchers!

She's ready, chief.

Open 'er up.

Mr. Powers, we've done many

a job together, you and I.

Sure, with me doin' the

work and you the thinkin'.

Nevertheless, you're gonna get

the honor of finishing this job.

Turn that valve. And remember,

you're not windin' a watch.

Yes, sir, Mr. Donovan.

Yes, sir.

Ireland

must be heaven

For my mother came

From there

Ireland

ya-da-da-dee

Dum ya-da-da-dee

Ireland, de...

Tell Lieutenant Hood I want

every man not on guard duty...

with full combat equipment.

But, Wedge, Commander

Yarrow's coming here today.

I don't care if the old man's

comin' here. That's an order!

Your orders clear?

Aye, aye, sir.

Proceed with your

scouting parties.

Carry on, men.

Here it is, sir.

Big fog bank north

of the island.

I don't like that. Japs

might sneak in behind it.

In pea soup? They're as

blind as we are in that stuff.

I wasn't thinking of

planes, Lieutenant.

A lot of surface craft could

float in under that blanket.

I'll be over at Lt. Comdr. Donovan's

headquarters if you want me.

Yes, sir.

- Where's Lt. Comdr. Donovan?

- He's out there, sir.

Took about the whole force to run

the Japs out of the jungle cover.

Who's in charge here?

I am, sir. Couldn't get along

so good with this game leg.

How many men have

you got in the camp?

Counting cooks, yeomen and

everybody, about 15 men, sir.

I want every man that can walk

or hold a rifle to fall in immediately.

Aye, aye, sir.

They won't fight.

They just fade away.

How about Lt. Hood?

It was the same there. They got a

few. The others kept movin' back.

Well, there's 10 or 12 here

won't go back.

Pass the word to reform!

Tell them we'll refuel them as

fast as they can get here. Yes, sir.

All guns, commence firing.

D-21 tower from fox 20.

Carrier flight planes coming

in for fuel and ammunition.

Tell them to come in low

at east end. Condition red.

Roger.

They're all here, sir.

Coast battalion's under attack

from the sea. Unable to send help.

A strong Jap force approaching

up the north canyon, sir.

- Carry on.

- Aye, aye, sir.

The Japs know this

island as well as we do.

The best approach to our

tanks is up the big ravine.

We'll post our men and command

the entrance. - Aye, aye, sir.

Fix your bayonets and

follow me, on the double.

Fall back!

Fall back, men!

Fall back to the ridge!

See if... Commander

Donovan's back.

Get word to him.

I want to see him.

Yes, sir.

Commander Yarrow wants

to see you, sir.

He's up there

behind those rocks.

Tell Lieutenant Hood to consolidate

positions and hold here.

Aye, aye, sir.

Reporting, sir.

Upon completion of this mission,

I'll be making a full

report about your...

disobedience of orders.

Probably mean a court-martial.

Yes, sir. Is that all?

Island is under general attack.

I know.

If those oil tanks

are destroyed,

every ship,

every man in our task force

will be left helpless.

Protect those tanks at any cost.

They will be, sir.

Go on, Seabee. Hold the island.

Can do, sir.

- Jap tanks. Tell Donovan.

- Okay.

Jap tanks are coming up

the north canyon, sir.

Get back to your post.

Mike, have 'em get that heavy equipment

moved back where it'll be safe.

Aye, aye, sir.

They're bringin' in tanks!

That'll teach 'em to monkey

with construction men.

- What did you shoot him for?

- I was afraid the fall might kill 'im.

Get on that tank!

A hundred and fifty yards.

Another column.

Looks like they're

trying to outflank us.

He says there's another Jap

column comin' up the canyon...

moving in behind the oil tanks.

- Wedge, if they fire those tanks...

- Yeah, I know...

it'll barbecue every

Seabee in this ravine.

We can't split our forces.

We're outnumbered now.

Get me a thermite

bomb and some wire.

Aye, sir.

What are you gonna do?

Beat 'em to those tanks.

Gonna set off number three and

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