When Willie Comes Marching Home

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This is Punxatawney, West Virginia.

It isn't a very big town,

and I guess it isn't a very small town.

It's just, well, a town, I guess.

My hometown.

It's Sunday and, like in hundreds

of other American towns...

people are on their way to church.

That man taking up the collection

is my pop.

And that's my mom.

That's Marge Fettles.

The Fettleses live next door to us.

I guess I like Marge

more than any girl in town.

I've liked them all in my time,

but I guess I liked Marge more than any other.

I'm not with her there,

because on Sundays after church...

me and the gang always have band practice

in the back of Gilby's drugstore.

- We always practice there, well...

because Oscar's old man

owns the drugstore.

It's not really much of a band-

not good, and not bad.

We play at the school dances

and on the local radio station.

Next year we hope to get

an audition on The Big Time.

Get me. I'm the guy with the trombone.

Somebody stole his gal

Somebody stole his pal

Somebody came

and took her away

She didn't even

say she was leavin'

Those kisses you love so

He's getting now

we know

Oh, gee

- I know that she

- We know that she

- Would come to me

- Would come to he

- If she could see

- If she could see him sittin'

here cryin' in his beer

Brokenhearted lonesome pal

I'll take it

Somebody stole my gal

- Hey! Hey, Billy! Listen to me!

- You're late. Sit down.

- It's war! Hey, fellas! I'm telling you, it's war!

- Will you-

- Are you on the level?

- It just came over from Washington.

The Japs have attacked Pearl Harbor!

Dive bombers, they sank the Oklahoma-

If you're kiddin' us, I'll personally

kick you every step of the way home!

- But it wasn't a joke.

It was the real thing, all right.

They suddenly dive-bombed...

attacking Pearl Harbor,

the great navy base...

the army's Hickam Field

and Ford Island.

A report expressed the belief that there

had been heavy damage done in Hawaii...

and there has been

heavy loss of life.

- This was subsequently confirmed.

Like all the other guys in town,

I forgot about the band...

and Marge and Punxatawney.

Let's go.

Let's go.

- Take it easy.

- This is the first one, Mr. Mayor.

- Bill, my boy.

- Hello, Mr. Mayor. Judge Tate.

- I wanna enlist and join the army right away.

- Well spoken, son.

I've known Bill here since the day he was born.

I've watched him grow.

And now I see him a man,

the first to fight from Punxatawney.

And I wanna tell you

that there's no one better suited...

to be the first soldier

of our town...

than the son of

the junior vice commander...

of the American Legion

Punxatawney post.

Those are pretty big words,

Mr. Mayor.

- Save it, Kluggs. Come here and watch the birdie.

- What's the idea?

- A picture.

- A picture for the Bugle.

- Oh.

- Now, as the first man to enlist in Punxatawney...

have you anything to say

for publication?

Well, all I've got to say is...

the sooner we get at it,

the sooner we get it over.

Hold it!

Still!

Good-bye, Mr. Fettles.

Good-bye, Mrs. Fettles.

Good-bye, Bill.

I guess this is it.

So long, Mom.

- Take care of yourself.

- Take care of yourself, son.

I will.

Don't you worry, Mom.

- So long, Pop.

- Good-bye, son.

Don't forget to send me

one of those Jap swords for a souvenir.

- I'll send you one you can shave with.

- All aboard!

- Marge.

- Bill! Hey, Bill!

- So long, Charley.

- I tried to get in, too, but they wouldn't take me.

- Said I had to wait a year.

- Take care of your sister, kid. I'll do the fighting.

- Send me one of them Jap machine guns.

- Stick to a cap pistol.

- Charley, please get lost. We're saying good-bye.

- So long. Good luck.

- So long, kid. Keep the band going.

- I was only-

- Charley Fettles!

- So long!

They shipped us out to Fort Wayne in Missouri.

And they didn't waste any time

putting us through our basic training.

That army taught us dumb johns

everything from "A" to "Z."

Yes, sir, from "A"-

to "Z."

To the rear, hut! To the rear, hut!

To the rear, hut!

To the rear, hut!

One, two, three, four.

After basic, I applied for the army air forces...

and trained to be a pilot.

I'll never forget my first solo.

Yes, sir- l- I mean, no, sir.

I'll never forget my first solo.

Set it down!

Set it down, you idiot!

Somehow or other,

I just couldn't get the hang of it.

Gunnery was something else again.

It was a lead-pipe cinch for me.

Everybody in Punxatawney knew

I'd been the best duck shot...

since I was old enough

to be knocked down by a recoil.

Just like shooting ducks.

I was up there just leading.

That was the end

of shooting at targets.

No more training.

And when they shipped us out,

we knew this was it.

They wouldn't tell us

where we were going...

but a rumor started flying.

Sarge, if I didn't know better,

I'd almost swear that this was my hometown.

All these jerkwater burgs

look alike.

All right, you guys!

Front and center!

This is where you get off!

- Go on.

- Sarge, look at that.

- Something's screwy. You made a mistake.

- Aw, turn it off, Kluggs.

This is my hometown.

There's never been any Loring Field here.

- There wasn't a month ago, but there is now.

- How long are we gonna be here?

- Not long enough to blow your nose.

- Think the C.O.'d give me a pass?

Who knows?

Listen, pick up those bags!

Get the lead out!

Thanks, Joe.

Cut it out. Nix on that.

What do you think I am, a Nazi sympathizer?

I was only gonna pay you.

You think I'm gonna charge the first guy

that enlisted in this town?

Nothin' doin', Bill.

From now on you ride in this cab free.

What do you know!

A real patriot.

I'd have been in a uniform, too,

if it hadn't been for the wife and kids.

Stick with 'em.

Us guys'll take care of this war.

Mom! Mom?

Where is everybody?

Fine homecoming this is.

Hey! Pop! Pop!

Son!

Oh, my boy! My boy!

Oh!

Son.

Well, I'll be doggoned.

- How are you, Pop?

- Why didn't you let us know you were coming?

- I didn't even know it myself.

- You sure look fine, son.

That army grub

must be agreeing with you.

- Ma, look! Decorations!

- You call this decorations?

A sharpshooter's tag and a Good Conduct Medal.

Boy Scout stuff.

That's right.

Wait till they really start decorating him.

When they start shooting,

I'll have so much tin it'll spoil my posture.

- Let me fix you something. I bet you're starving.

- All right, Mom, fix dinner.

I'll tell you all about everything then.

I want to see Marge.

- All right.

- Bring her back with ya!

Hey, Marge!

Marge?

Marge, honey!

Marge!

Hello, Mr. Fettles, Mrs. Fettles.

I bet you're surprised to see me, aren't you?

Well, I'm surprised to be here.

- We got a sergeant on a train-

What happened to her?

Hello, William. It's good to see you.

Welcome home.

- Did I do something, Mr. Fettles?

- It's the uniform.

This is an American uniform.

- Charley.

- Charley?

- He wants to join the navy.

- He's too young.

No, no, they'd take him

for pilot training.

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