Wake Island Page #5

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And for those men,

there's a job to do-- to fight,

fight with guns and bayonets

and tanks...

and ships and planes.

Fight to destroy... destruction.

We've got to destroy destruction.

That's our job, Bruce.

[ Man ]

Enemy fleet approaching.

Some destroyers, light cruisers.

Troop ships. Possible submarines.

Bearing:

1-3-0 true.

Range:

1-7-0-0-0.

Range:

1-7-0-0-0.

About 10 miles.

Looks like they have

no intention of stopping.

That's our job.

Sir?

I'm going to try and pull

an old Chinese trick.

Talker.

Yes, sir?

Observation reports

smoke screen.

Smoke screen.

Smoke screen, smoke screen.

Wind force:
two.

Direction:
1-8-0 true.

Range:

1-5-0-0-0.

Operator.

Yes, sir?

Get me the observation tower.

Yes, sir.

Observation Tower, sir.

Major Caton here.

Vacate the tower immediately.

Take up your secondary

battle posts. Right.

Range:

1-4-0-0-0.

Orders have been executed, sir.

All guns well concealed?

Yes, sir.

Planes?

As much as possible, sir.

All men under cover

and standing by?

Yes, sir.

Thank you.

Single enemy plane

approaching, sir.

Reconnaissance, probably.

I'm beginning to understand

the major's idea now.

Warn our men again

that they must stay under cover.

Yes, sir.

[ Speaking Japanese ]

[Japanese ]

Enemy changing formation.

Changing formation.

Preparing to attack.

That's what they came for.

They're certainly closing in.

Looks like my Chinese trick

might have some success after all.

They've fallen for it hook,

line and sinker.

Range:

9-0-5-0.

Awful lot of money

being wasted around here.

What do you mean?

The price of one of them shells

would set me and Myrtle up

pretty on a chicken ranch.

I thought you were all set for hogs.

Nah, hogs is out.

Why?

They stink!

Range:
8-0-5-0.

Range:
8-0...

5-0.

What's the big idea?

Why do we have to leave our gun?

Don't ask me. I don't know.

Range:

7-0-5-0.

Check the phone

and see if it's still working.

Number three gun checking.

Number three gun checking.

Yes, Number Three,

I can hear you.

Communications are okay.

Trouble?

Number three checking

communications, sir.

It's working, all right.

I hope they know

what they're doing.

[ Bomb Whistling ]

Range:
6-0...

5-0.

[ Explosions ]

The major must want 'em to get

close enough to throw rocks at us.

Those ain't no rocks

they're throwin', brother.

Give me the range

every hundred yards.

Aye, aye, sir. Every hundred yards.

International code pennant--

two hoists.

Roger, Negat, George--

Range:
5-4-0-0.

Signal from the Japs, sir.

What is it?

Will you surrender?

We'll give them their answer

in a few moments. Thank you.

Range:
5-3-0-0.

Range:
5-2...

0-0.

Lewis, did you ever hear

of Colonel William Prescott?

No, sir.

Well, he was the gentleman

at the Battle of Bunker Hill who said,

"Don't fire till you can see

the whites of their eyes."

You know,

I've always remembered that.

I'll certainly remember it

from now on.

Range:
5-1-0-0.

Might as well take a crack

at them right now.

Wait a minute.

You heard the orders.

We're to hold our fire.

I don't know what for.

We'll never have

a better chance than now.

If they get any closer,

they'll blow this island to bits.

What do you care?

It ain't your island, is it?

Range:
5-0-0-0.

[ Man ]

Range:
5-0...

0-0.

Range:
4-9-0-0.

Number four gun.

Range:
4-8-0-0.

Range--

Range:
4-8-0-0.

Range:
4-7-0-0.

Range:

4-7-0-0.

To all batteries.

To all batteries.

Open fire.

Open fire! Yahoo!

To your stations!

Fire!

[ Speaking Japanese ]

[ Man Screaming ]

We seem to have cut down

their firepower. Bruce, suppose

you go up and take a look.

With the greatest of pleasure, Bill.

Probenzki, roll her out and wind her up!

Boy, what a shellacking.

Talker.

Yes, sir?

To all batteries.

To all batteries.

Cease firing.

Cease firing.

Cease firing!

Cease firing!

Plane number five reports.

That's Cameron.

Plane number five reports.

What is it?

Enemy eight-inch

gun cruiser sighted.

Bearing:
2-3-0 true.

Distance:
about 15 miles.

Fifteen miles.

Not so good.

That's way beyond our range.

They can lay out there

and smear us at will.

Strip off everything you can and

drain out all but 1 5 gallons of gas.

But, Lieutenant, with only that

much gas, it will be impossible to--

You heard me. Get at it.

Oh, hello, gentlemen.

Lieutenant Cameron

has a request to make, sir.

Yes?

I think I can get that cruiser, sir.

What?

Yes, sir.

How do you propose to do it?

If I strip my plane to the bone

and limit the gas load,

I can make a takeoff

with a double load of bombs,

enough to do the job, sir.

If you get two direct hits.

I think I can, sir.

Request granted.

Thank you, sir.

I, uh--

Good hunting, Bruce.

Thank you, sir.

Bombs all set, Probenzki?

Yes, Lieutenant.

Two little Christmas presents.

One from you and

one from me, huh?

Here goes the mail.

[Japanese ]

[Japanese ]

[ Turrets Firing ]

[ Bullets Ricocheting ]

Glad he made it.

And a sweet job it was too, sir.

What did you do to the arm?

Oh, trying to salvage another engine.

It was a little hot.

Where's your first aid pouch?

Uh, it's empty, sir.

Well, we've been using 'em

plenty around here.

Here, let me have it.

Excuse me, sir.

I want to be the first

to shake the big lug's hand.

Captain.

You better don't go there.

Huh?

You better don't go.

He's dead.

Patrick!

Carry on, Sergeant.

The sergeant's right.

It's better that you don't see him.

Let's have that arm.

[ Taps ]

This one isn't ready yet.

[ Mutters ]

[ Continues ]

[ Bugle Stops ]

"Man that is born of a woman

hath but a short time to live

and is full of misery.

He cometh up and is

cut down like a flower."

[ Sniffles ]

Here, son, you finish it.

"He fleeth as it were a shadow...

"and never continueth in one stay.

"In the midst of life,

we are in death.

"Of whom may we look

for succor but of thee, O Lord,

"who for our sins are justly displeased.

"Yet, O Lord, God mostly holy,

"O Lord most mighty,

O holy and most merciful savior,

"deliver us not unto

the bitter pains of eternal death.

"Thou knowest, Lord,

the secrets of our hearts.

"Shut not thy merciful ears

to our prayers,

"but spare us, Lord most holy,

"O God most mighty,

O holy and merciful savior.

"Thou most worthy judge eternal,

"suffer us not at our last hour...

for any pains of death

that fall upon thee."

Lower away.

You sent for me, sir?

Yes, Lewis, I did.

Have a cigarette.

You know,

we've been getting it

pretty steady for some time now.

I've got a hunch we're in

for a few hours breather.

Your hunches are usually right, sir.

I contacted a navy patrol plane.

They're gonna take a chance

and come in.

I hope they make it.

Yeah.

How'd you like to be home

for Christmas?

Christmas dinner in Honolulu

with your missus and the youngsters.

How's it sound to you?

You know good and well

how it sounds.

All right, get your gear together

and stand by.

Not this marine, sir.

Thought you'd say that.

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