They Were Expendable

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All boats from Brick.

Make them look good. It's the

first time they've seen PT boats.

All boats from Brick.

All boats from Brick.

Nice going.

Brick from Rusty.

That ought to show them.

They maneuver beautifully, sir.

- A splendid-looking lot of men.

- Thank you, sir.

Gentlemen, we're late.

Those boats of yours

maneuver beautifully.

But in wartime, I'm afraid I prefer

something more substantial.

It's wonderful the way

people believe...

...in those high-powered

canoes of yours.

Don't you believe in them, Rusty?

And I let you sell me that stuff

about a "command of my own. "

You skipper the 34 boat,

don't you?

I used to skipper a cake of soap

in a bathtub too.

Secure from inspection.

Dismissed!

- Nice show today, fellas.

- Thank you.

Lieutenant?

Good evening.

I'd like you to meet some boat skippers.

Shorty Long, Lefty Aiken...

What the-?

I want you to meet Andy Andrews.

He just reported. Shorty Long.

- Happy to know you.

- Thank you.

Lefty Aiken.

Where's Rusty?

Looks like he's doing his paperwork.

- Andy!

- Hello, Rusty.

Lefty said you'd checked in.

What'll it be?

Beer.

Figuring your income tax?

No. I had to work out a smooth line...

...to convince the admiral

I belong on a destroyer.

So you're really quitting

the squadron?

Can't build a Navy reputation

riding a plywood dream.

What are you aiming at?

Building a reputation...

...or playing for the team?

Look, Brick, for years I've

been taking your fatherly advice.

It's never been very good.

From here on in, I'm a one-man band!

Send in your request.

I'll forward it.

How about a beer, Rusty?

Five San Miguels.

Nice music.

Oh the monkeys have

No tails in Zamboanga

Oh the monkeys have

No tails in Zamboanga

Oh the monkeys have no tails

They were bitten off by whales

Oh the monkeys have

No tails in Zamboanga

Oh he won't go back to Subic anymore

Oh he won't go back to Subic anymore

Oh we'll hoist the jib and spank her

And we'll pipe, "All hands, up anchor!"

But he won't go back to Subic anymore

Lucky dog!

Small beer! Small beer!

Very small beer!

Milk! Sarsaparilla! Sarsaparilla!

Ginger ale!

Paint varnish and dash of red peppers!

Gentlemen!

I want absolute silence.

Boats here has a little speech to make.

I'm not going to make a speech.

Just got something to say.

Tomorrow our old pal Doc here

is going out.

He's being paid off after 30 years.

I know most of you kids got a ways

to go before you find out...

...what 30 years in the Navy means.

It means service.

Tough and good.

It means serving your country

in peace and in war.

So let's raise-

We interrupt this program

for an important announcement.

This morning, the Sunday calm of

Pearl Harbor was broken by the thunder-

So let's raise our glasses

and drink to Doc...

...with all the solemnity that

this occasion demands.

To Doc.

Sorry to have to interrupt you.

Ladies and gentlemen.

I have a very important

announcement to make.

This is official.

The Japanese have attacked

Pearl Harbor.

There are no details.

All Army and Navy personnel

must report to their posts immediately.

I repeat:

All Army and Navy personnel

must report to their posts immediately.

Let's go, Rusty.

Didn't you forget something?

Land where my fathers died

Land of the pilgrims' pride

From every mountainside

Let freedom ring

Hold it.

I don't know. I'm just doing

what I'm told. You know.

Any hot dope, Whitey?

Nothing yet, Brick.

That's probably where they'll attack.

Carry on.

We'll do our best, sir.

This just came in, sir.

Gentlemen.

You may assume that a state

of war exists between...

...the United States

and the Empire of Japan.

Govern yourselves accordingly.

My compliments, gentlemen.

Here are the orders.

Hooley.

Got anything for us?

What do you call that outfit again?

Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Three.

No orders for you now.

Maybe tomorrow.

What do you want us to do?

Sit on our duffs?

I'll ask the old man.

Stand by.

Have one boat patrol the bay

and one stand by for messenger duty.

All boats fueled. Torpedoes will

be loaded within a half-hour.

Any dope?

Our orders are to stand by.

Those destroyers aren't standing by.

They went down that channel

like a rat race.

Somebody might have given

them orders to go.

You got 20 boxes of 50-caliber there.

Give 12 to Lefty.

Now hear this.

Unidentified aircraft approaches Cavite.

Unidentified aircraft

approaching Cavite.

Those are Jap planes.

Headed this way.

All boats out in the bay.

Follow me, and stand by for signals.

Is that another drill?

Can't be a drill.

All we get in this Navy

is drill, drill, drill.

Fire in the paint locker!

One formation.

Breaking off.

Heading up our way, sir.

Stand by to disperse.

All boats from 41.

All boats from 41.

Stand by for scatter plan.

Stand by for scatter plan.

Thank them, Smokey.

Scatter plan Baker.

Scatter plan Baker.

Execute.

Execute!

Good shooting, Smokey.

Recognize him?

Iknew him well.

Shaved his father.

Get him, Junior!

All boats from 41.

All boats from 41.

Return to base.

Return to base.

Pretty rugged, isn't it?

Let's go, Rusty.

We've checked everything, sir.

The storeroom's gone.

No torpedoes, no motors,

no spare parts, no nothing.

Wonder if they have

any torpedoes at Corregidor.

- Might be.

- I'll check on it.

Hi.

A little rugged.

You got wet clothes on

underneath that blanket?

Just scared.

You haven't got

a monopoly on that.

What are you looking at?

Just looking for the Arizona

to come steaming up to base...

...with her 14-inch guns blazing...

...and the best cook stoves

in the Navy.

Arizona?

Arizona.

Some Army boys told us a Jap task force

is headed for Lingayen Gulf.

- Planes spotted it at sunset.

- Must be another landing.

Lingayen?

Give me those scissors, Doc.

That's only about

200 miles from here.

Two thirty-five.

Why don't we knock those babies off?

What with? A cake of soap

and a bathtub? Give me that pencil.

Mr. Brickley, the admiral, sir.

Right away.

Check your gasoline.

Feel better?

Take over.

Line up your engines, check all boats.

Step on it, men.

Fire in the paint locker.

- Yes?

- Brickley.

Mr. Brickley, sir.

You sent for me?

Yes, get a boat ready

to move my staff to Corregidor.

You'll run messenger trips

between Manila and The Rock.

Work out a schedule

with the Chief of Staff.

Cavite is finished as a base.

Move your outfit

to Sisiman Cove on Bataan.

Is that all, sir?

That's all.

Is it true that a Jap task force

is moving into Lingayen Gulf, sir?

Type that and send it.

Sit down, Brickley.

That task force will land.

You and I can't stop it.

Pearl Harbor was a disaster,

like the Spanish Armada.

Listen, son...

...you and I are professionals.

If the manager says, "Sacrifice,"

we lay down a bunt...

...and let somebody else

hit the home runs.

We know about those destroyers...

...out of commission,

tied up around San Diego.

We could use them here...

...but they're not around.

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