They Were Expendable Page #5

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We might rig up a side-wheeler or two.

And some motored sailors.

I'll arrange for supplies at once.

Let's give her a whirl.

I've got work to do.

See you later.

Oh, Snuffy.

How about getting torpedoes from you?

For those cracker boxes of yours?

No telling when we'll see

a mother ship again.

How long you been on patrol?

Since the war started.

What did you get?

Two small freighters.

We had hard luck.

While you've been cruising, those

cracker boxes have sunk 2 cruisers...

...an auxiliary aircraft carrier...

...a 10,000-ton tanker,

a large freighter...

...a flock of barges

and numerous sons of Nippon.

And also in our brief career...

...we've carried more messages

than Western Union.

I'd like to help you out,

but I got orders-

Who played the leading lady

in "Tess of the d'Urbevilles"...

...in 1932 at the Academy?

And does your crew know about it?

How many do you want?

You've got 16.

We'll take 8.

And we'll try and put them

where they belong.

Thanks.

Do you mind?

I finally have good news for you.

Tomorrow, bombers will take off

from Australia...

...and blast every Jap ship here.

We've been hoping for that.

But there's a catch in it.

A cruiser is headed this way.

Probably has destroyers with her.

Information says she's

of the Mogami class.

Does that mean anything to you?

That's about as big

as they come. Yes, sir.

She'll shell these food ships

before they get away from the dock.

Unless you boys can stop her.

Can do?

- Can try, sir.

- That's fair enough.

Better get going.

Take my driver and good luck.

I'll drive.

Mogami-class cruiser mean

anything to you, Mr. Ryan?

- What's up, Skipper?

- Any news, Brick?

How soon can you get them ready?

Not for three days,

with the 35 boat.

- You can go quicker than that.

- Them bearings take time!

Rusty's boat's ready, but her

hull ought to soak 24 hours.

The 41 boat will

have to go alone, then.

Get her ready.

All right, gang, let's go.

This has gone far enough.

That 41 boat is always

hogging the good jobs.

We'll soak on our way

to hit the Japs.

What do we do? Sit on our duffs

until they get back?

The 41 can't handle this job alone.

How about it, sir?

But if she starts taking water...

...turn back.

Ready here.

There she goes, Esperanzo.

Like water off a cat's back.

Rusty!

I ain't a drinking man.

But I'm saving most of this

till you get back.

There she is!

Jumping Jeremiah, there she is!

Rusty from Brick.

I'll make my run from the beach.

You make yours from seaward.

Over.

Brick from Rusty.

Wilco.

Stand by.

Fire one!

Fire two!

Rusty from Brick.

Start your run.

Start your run. Over.

Brick from Rusty. Wilco.

Here we go!

Stand by!

Fire one!

Fire two!

Stand by your torpedoes!

- One!

- Fire three!

Fire four!

Stand by torpedoes!

Let's make these good!

Yards.

Fire three!

Fire four!

Let's drag our tails out of here!

We're lee of the land, sir.

They've lost us.

Take over.

Think Mr. Brickley had a chance

to get away, sir?

He usually does.

Running low on 50-caliber!

- We can't control the fire!

- Grab Mahan!

Take cover!

What's the score?

Ninth inning, kid.

I'm sorry. The father is not here, sir.

He has been at the

hospital for two days.

A serviceman is supposed

to have a funeral.

That's a tribute to the way

he spent his life.

Escort...

...firing squad...

...wrapped in the flag

he served under...

...and died for.

In war you got to

forget those things...

...and get buried

the best way you can.

You all knew...

...Squarehead Larsen

and Slug Mahan.

They were just a couple of

bluejackets who did their job.

Did it well.

34 boat couldn't have

got along without them.

Squarehead Larsen.

He's the best cook in the Navy.

He loved the old Arizona.

Now they're both gone.

Slug...

...he was always...

...quoting verse.

Bits of poetry.

So...

...here's one for him.

It's about the only one I know.

Under the wide...

...starry sky

Dig the grave

And let me lie.

Glad did I live

And gladly die

And I laid me down with a will

This be the verse you grave for me

Here he lies where he longed to be

Home is the sailor...

...home from the sea

And the hunter home from the hill.

Is it all right, sir?

Sure.

Thank you, son.

Sorry. Bar closed.

- We go away!

- Sorry, bar is open.

No, no!

Jap come, Jap come!

Musica, Seor Teniente.

Musica. Es San Francisco.

WBKR San Francisco.

A brief interruption, please.

This is spot and tragic news

from the Philippines.

The white flag of surrender

was hoisted...

...on the bloody heights

of Bataan this afternoon.

36,000 United States soldiers...

...hungry...

...ragged, half-starved shadows...

...trapped like rats

but dying like men...

...were finally worn down by

200,000 picked Japanese troops.

Men who fight for

an unshakable faith...

...are more than flesh.

But they're not steel.

Flesh must yield at last.

Endurance melts away.

The end must come.

Bataan has fallen.

But the spirit that

made it a beacon...

...to all lovers of liberty

will never falter.

The white flag was hardly

hoisted over Bataan...

...before Jap artillery began

slamming away at Corregidor...

...our last strong point

in the Philippines.

Men, with Mr. Brickley gone...

...I'll carry on the way

I think he would.

I think you're right

about Leyte Island.

There's Army men over there.

Maybe we can hold out till help comes.

Dig in at every

bridgehead and pass, Lefty.

Make them pay.

- Good luck, fellas.

- So long.

Repeat your orders.

To find and report to General Martin

and keep him up to date.

All right, get going.

- Old Franklin High, Junior.

- Roosevelt High, sir.

Dad, I'm going to try

and find Brick.

Why don't you come along with me?

I've worked 40 years for this, son.

If I leave it, they'll

have to carry me out.

Hello, kid.

We thought the Japs got you.

I thought they got you too.

What happened?

Ran south through shallow water.

Where's your crew?

We lost Mahan and Larsen.

- Couple of the kids got hurt.

- How'd they get Slug?

Machine gun from a plane.

That's great.

Glad to see you back.

Where's your boat?

Jap bombers got her.

We burned the 35 boat.

The gang headed for Leyte.

She's through.

General Martin turned her over

to the Army...

...to run errands on Lake Lanao.

Okay, Navy. We're taking over.

Okay, Army. Take her away.

All right, gather up your gear.

We're heading out.

You looking for the Arizona too?

Brickley.

I have orders to fly

you and Ryan to Australia.

Also ensigns Gardner and Cross.

- They're west of town.

- We'll find them.

Why us? We're just

a couple of lieutenants.

You men have proved that PT boats

have some value in this war.

Washington wants you

in the States to build them up.

Those are my orders.

And the men?

There isn't room.

- General Martin, those men-

- There isn't room for them.

- Bridge ready, sir.

- Let her go.

I think we're making a mistake-

There isn't room.

Report to the airport right away.

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