The Frogmen Page #2

Now, based on aerial photographs|and intelligence reports...

the enemy expects us to hit Red Beach...

but the admiral wants to fool 'em|and hit over here on Green Beach...

if it's at all accessible.

Our job is to find that out.

Mr. Klinger, you'll take Flannigan|and these 10 men.

You'll go in on Red Beach strictly|to create a diversionary feint.

Blow up enough obstacles, man-made|or otherwise, to convince theJaps...

that we're coming in here...|Red Beach.

I'll go in the other boat|with Hodges and the rest...

to do a complete reconnaissance job|on Green Beach.

- Is that understood?|- Yes, sir.

We shove off at 0600.|Roger hour 7:30. That's all.

"Create a diversionary feint.|Make a complete reconnaissance. "

How do you like that? Remember when|we hit Iwo and Mr. Cassidy briefed us?

All he said was, "I'll take half the gang|and have a look-see on Green.

The rest of you go over on Red|and kick up a rumpus. "

He makes everything sound|like a presidential directive.

I'm happy to string along with him.|It isn't gonna be so rugged on Green Beach.

Naturally. Why do you think|the commander picked Green for himself?

Knock it off, or you'll both|sit out the mission in the brig.

- Is that bad?|- See you manana.

- Good night.|- Good night.

Now hear this.|Hear this, you jokers.

The show goes on tomorrow morning.

Everybody's in the act.

The commander's going to do the recon job,|and Mr. Klinger's gonna turn on the fireworks.

We're gonna leave this bucket|at 0600, so be on deck...

ready, willing and able.

- Who are you going with, Jake?|- Horseshoe luck. Klinger.

- Then I'm your man.|- Me too, Jake!

What's the matter with him?

That's it, all right.

Looks deserted.

Deserted as a beehive in June.

- We're beginning to lob 'em over.|- Yeah.

0500. Time to put the boats|in the water.

Franklin?

- All engines ahead one-third, turns for five knots.|- Aye, aye, sir.

Put Boats 2 and 4 in the water, Bill.

Have them drop aft|for loading immediately.

Put Boat 3 in after they shove off|with orders to stand by in case it's needed.

Aye, aye, sir.

All right, fellas.|Let's get the other raft over.

Shall I go below and tell|Mr. Lawrence everything's set?

No. You can bet me|he'll be here promptly at 0600.

Not one minute before|or one minute after.

I think you'll find everything aboard|according to your orders.

- Rosemary 4-1 is alongside.|- Okay.

My group will go in Rosemary 4-1,|your group Rosemary 4-2.

- Right.|- All right. Over you go.

- Shove off soon as you're loaded, Mr. Klinger!|- Aye, sir.

All right, fellas. Over the side.

The skipper said we'll|pick you up here at 0900.

- Right.|- Good luck.

Thanks. Shove off. Full speed ahead!

Rosemary 4-2, this is Rosemary 4-1.|Testing.

Rosemary 4-2, this is Rosemary 4-1.|Testing. Over.

Hello, Rosemary 4-1.|I heard you loud and clear.

Hello, Rosemary 4-1.

- I heard you loud and clear.|- Right.

All right!|Put the boat in the water!

Slow it down.

- All secure?|- Right.

Full ahead.!

All right. Fins and masks on.

Rosemary 4, this is Rosemary 4-1.

Request smoke on Green Beach.|Over.

Ask the bombardment group commander to|lay down smoke in sector two, grids nine to 12.

Aye, aye, sir.

All right. Now, remember,|the flag's waiting for this information.

I don't have to tell you how important it is|that the flag gets it.

On it may depend the initial success|or failure of the invasion.

So take a good look at everything,|and don't trust to memory.

That's what those slates are for.

When you're through, come back|to the pickup line, stand by for the boat.

Okay, let's go!

Looks promising.

Yup.

- You ready?|- Right now!

Get set for the pickup run!

- Everybody here?|- Yes, sir.

- Good job. Thanks.|- Thank you, sir.

As soon as Mr. Lawrence gives us the signal,|you touch off the time fuses.

- Remember, you've just got 10 minutes delay.|- Roger.

- ThoseJaps sure got this beach staked out.|- It's as bad as Iwo.

Worse. Nothing could get by|that jungle of concrete and steel...

All right, Hodges. Green flare.

Pull the pins!

Turn around and pick up|Flannigan and Kinsella.

- What happened, boy?|- They winged me.

Bone looks okay.|It's just a flesh wound.

We'd better get out of here though.|Those fuses aren't gonna burn forever.

Hang on to my belt.|I'll take you out to the pickup line.

Direct hit.

We'd better start paddling out of here...

or they'll pick us up with a sieve too.

Hodges.

Rosemary 4, Rosemary 4.

This is Rosemary 4-1.

Rosemary 4-2 received direct hit|opposite Red Beach.

Request standby boat|to pick up possible survivors.

Exercise extreme caution. Demolition charge|due to explode in six minutes. Over.

Rosemary 4-1,|this is Rosemary 4. Wilco. Out.

Figure our boys were back in the boat|when it happened, sir?

They must have been.

Hey, Commander!|I think I see a couple of fellas!

Full speed ahead.|Maintain your course.

Aren't we gonna pick 'em up, sir?

- There's a rescue boat on the way.|- But those men are ours.

Don't you think I know it?

- All right. Swimmer 10.|- That's me, sir.

Go ahead.

Nineteen, 19, 18, 16...

14, 10...

three, two, four.

Check. Okay.

There's a concrete hedgehog|about 45 yards from the shoreline.

- All right.|- There's a coral crib about 15 yards from the shoreline.

- Okay.|- No other obstacles.

Will powder take care|of the hedgehog and the crib?

- Yes, sir. About 125 pounds.|- Okay. Swimmer 11.

Ditto with what Pappy said,|only add one hedgehog at 30 yards.

Who's Pappy?

- Creighton there, sir.|- He's got two sets of twins.

Glad you're back, Flannigan.|How's Kinsella?

He lost a lot of blood. The doctor gave him|some plasma, said he'd be okay.

Good. Good.|Were you both in the boat?

No. It was hit before we got there.

- Could you see it?|- Yeah. It was a direct hit.

Then there were no possible survivors?

I couldn't say for sure, sir.|Under the circumstances, nobody could.

All right, prepare|a missing-in-action list...

inventory the personal belongings|of each man.

Aye, aye, sir.

What did Red Beach look like to you?

They've got it pretty well loaded, sir.

We blew out some of the stuff,|but not enough to mean anything.

You'd say that Red Beach|was highly fortified and impassable?

- Yes, sir.|- Okay.

All right.|You all did a good job.

I'm sorry it cost a few lives.|It may save thousands.

I hope so.|Get some rest. That's all.

Well, it looks like theJaps|are in for a little surprise.

- How much time before we come alongside the flag?|- Couple of hours.

- Two?|- May be a differential of 10 minutes, one way or another.

That'll give me time enough to get on|some clothes and prepare my report.

When are you gonna hold the service?

- What service?|- Service for the dead.

I hadn't thought about it.

- Obviously.|- Well, I hadn't!

I know you hadn't, or you'd have|said something to the boys.

Never entered my mind.|Never did it before.

You were lucky not to|have had casualties before.

No, no, no. That's not what I mean.|I've had casualties before.

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