All language subtitles for The.Gallant.Hours.1960. 720p.WEB.x264-REGRET.HI

MALE VOICE: ♪ I knew a lad
who went to sea

♪ And left the shore
behind him

♪ I knew him well,
the lad was me

♪ And now I cannot find him

CHORUS: ♪ Away, away
away he went

♪ To deep and salty water

♪ His girl,
she waited years for him

♪ She was
his neighbor's daughter

♪ Away, away, away he went

♪ And left the shore
behind him

♪ I knew him well,
the lad was me

♪ And now I cannot find him

♪ Away, away, away he went

♪ Away he went

♪ And now I cannot find him

♪ The rolling sea
he would embrace

♪ The rolling sea had took him

♪ And passed him on
a lonely beach

♪ The rolling sea forsook him

♪ Away, away, away he went

♪ And now I cannot find him

♪ Away, away, away he went

♪ Away he went

♪ And now I cannot find him

♪ Away, away, away he went

♪ Away and no one can find him

♪ Away, away

"From the Secretary
of the Navy

"to Fleet Admiral
William. F. Halsey, Jr.,
U.S. Navy.

"Subject, retirement."

NARRATOR: 22 November, 1945.

He was born in
Elizabeth, New Jersey,
62 years ago, this date.

Graduated from the
United States Naval Academy
at Annapolis in 1904.

There were 62 men
in his class.
Scholastically, he stood 43rd.

His speech is salty.

On his right shoulder
there is a tattooed anchor.

He once owned a parrot.

He wears the wings of a pilot
earned at the age of 52.

He is a sailor who has always
been welcome on any ship
at any time in any ocean.

He now goes to his cabin
where, tradition dictates,

he will change
to civilian clothes before
he can take leave of his ship.

Everything's
ready, sir.
Thank you.

NARRATOR: Manuel Salvador
Jesus Marlvilla,
one of 17 children.

Born on the island of Luzon,
28 years in
the United States Navy.

Cheerfully and reverently
he has served his God,
his country and his Admiral.

He too is retiring today.

Manuel.
Yes, sir.

What are your plans?

I'll go back to Luzon, sir.
My brother has a farm.
I'm invited to live there.

That sounds peaceful.
Yes, sir.

You may find it
too peaceful.

If I do, sir,

I have only to remember
the unpeaceful times
we have known.

It was enough excitement
for one lifetime.

Yeah, I guess so.

Manuel?
Yes, sir.

What do you remember
best?

Sir, I can remember
the Gilbert Islands,
the Marshall Islands,

the Tokyo raid, Kwajalein
and so many others,
their names I cannot remember.

But the one that will
always stay clear in
my mind is Guadalcanal.

NARRATOR: 16 October, 1942.

What's our ETA
for Guadalcanal?
06:30.

I've had it.

You can't read it
if you can't see it.

NARRATOR: The Admiral's staff
recruited from his
former flagship

the aircraft carrier,
Enterprise.

Captain Frank Enright,
Plans Officer.

Captain Bill Bailey,
Operations Officer.

Captain Horace Key,
Senior Flight Surgeon.

Lieutenant Commander
Andrew Jefferson Lowe III,
aide and pilot,

an authority on the Civil War
and the Charleston.

(CLEARS THROAT)

How we doing, Andy?

We'll land before daylight,
if there's anything
to land on.

Tokyo Express
has been shelling
Guadalcanal all night.

They estimate 6,000 more
Japanese troops will land.

Six thousand.

Why couldn't the old man
have chosen someplace
else to inspect?

Yeah, someplace
where they got some nurses
or some pretty girls.

(ALL LAUGH)

Probably on account
of you.

Casanova.

Old man asleep?

Thanks to Doc.

How'd you manage
that, Doc?

With a great
big pill.

You mean you got the
old man to take a pill?
Sure I did.

No, I don't
believe it.

(SHUSHING)

He's out like a light.

It's the first time
he's closed his eyes
since we left Pearl Harbor.

Yeah.

Say, wouldn't this be
a good time to sneak in there
and give him his shots?

He needs the sleep more.

I thought you gave him
the shots last week?

No, no. We came close,
but he got away again.

I never seen a body so afraid
of a little old hypodermic
needle as the old man is.

Well, you got him
to take a pill, that's
a major victory in itself.

That's right.
Yeah.

NARRATOR: Yes, Guadalcanal
is the next scheduled stop
on their inspection tour.

But the schedule
could be changed.

The report of the sighting
of the aircraft

starts on its way to
Japanese headquarters
on the island of Truk.

(TELEGRAPH BEEPING)

The underground message center
in the basement of
Japanese headquarters.

The sighting report is handed
to a decoding officer

who will see to it
that it is delivered
to the appropriate authority.

Rear Admiral Jiro Kobe,
Chief of Staff under
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto.

He is putting the
final touches on a detailed
plan for the ceremony

that will take place when
the allies surrender
the island of Guadalcanal.

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

(SPEAKS JAPANESE)

(KOBE SPEAKS JAPANESE)

NARRATOR: The decoding officer
feels that the message of the
sighting is important enough

to bring to the attention of
the Chief of Staff at once.

(SPEAKS JAPANESE)

NARRATOR: Admiral Kobe is
a little annoyed at
the officer for bothering him

with what he considers
a routine matter.

(SPEAKS JAPANESE)

(INTERCOM BUZZING)

(MAN SPEAKS JAPANESE
ON INTERCOM)

NARRATOR: In spite of the fact
that the message appears
to be of little importance,

it is still
a classified document.

And Admiral Kobe,
a very careful man,
does not leave it on his desk.

He takes it with him.

(SPEAKS JAPANESE)

NARRATOR: The gentleman
you are about to meet
is Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto,

Commander-in-Chief of the
Combined Japanese Fleet.

(YAMAMOTO SPEAKS JAPANESE)

NARRATOR: Born of seafaring
stock on an island north of
Japan, April 4th, 1884.

He graduated from
the Japanese Naval Academy
in 1904.

Americans who knew him when
he was a naval attache
in Washington, D.C.

remember him
as an excellent poker player.

He was especially good
at bluffing.

(SPEAKS JAPANESE)

NARRATOR: Admiral Yamamoto
asks Kobe

for his latest estimate
of the enemy situation
on Guadalcanal.

Kobe tells him that
Japanese naval
and air bombardments

have put almost all
Allied fighter aircraft
out of commission.

Imperial Japanese troops
have practically surrounded
Henderson Field.

Allied ground forces
have had no supplies
or reinforcements.

In his opinion, Guadalcanal
will be in Japanese hands
within four days.

How sure is he?

Well, here's a plan
for the surrender ceremony.

Yamamoto is delighted
with the plan.
Lauds Kobe for his initiative.

(BOTH SPEAK JAPANESE)

NARRATOR: The paper draws
Yamamoto's attention.

An American flying boat
spotted enroute
to Guadalcanal.

To Kobe it is an item
of no consequence,
but Yamamoto is interested.

Several high-ranking American
officers at Pearl Harbor

have been unaccounted
for the past three days.
They could be anywhere.

The odds against their being
on that flying boat
are incalculable,

but the old poker player
has a hunch.

When you get a hunch,
bet a hunch.

He orders 20 Zeros
to intercept the flying boat
on its arrival at Guadalcanal.

Won't be long now.

Andy just sent
an ETA for 0600.

That's less than an hour.
We must've picked up
a tail wind.

Yeah.

Sit down,
sit down.

Sleep well,
Admiral?
Fine.

That pill really
did the trick, huh? Yeah.
Slept like a baby.

We've gone through
all the reports
on this area, sir.

What do you make
of them?

What can we make of them?
We're losing our shirt.

Granted. Our job is
to find out why.

Primarily, I think it's
a matter of logistics.

Logistics hell, it's morale.
Command. I say they ought to
send in a new pitcher.

Relieve Admiral Ghormley?
Yes, sir.

Until we've acquainted
ourselves with the situation,

I suggest
we reserve our opinions.

FRANK: Yes, sir.

For your information,
the old man thinks the world
of Admiral Ghormley.

They're old friends.

What's our position,
Andy?

We're three minutes
ahead of
flight plan, sir.

How long you been
on this course?

About an hour, sir.

What's the weather
at Guadalcanal?

Forecast is for clear.

Is anything wrong, sir,
with the flight plan?

How's it going, Chief?
Fine, Admiral.

Been receiving Noumea
loud and clear.

Anything new?

No, sir.

Except this
wasn't sent to us,
but I picked it up.

ANDY: Noumea's reporting
unusual Japanese radio traffic
between Truk and Guadalcanal.

Sit down.

I think we'll pass up
Guadalcanal.

Tell Andy to change course
to Noumea, direct.

Aye, aye, sir.

NARRATOR: Admiral Yamamoto
was not the only hunch player
in the South Pacific.

(WHIRRING)

Sixty-five hundred miles
to the east
in Washington, D.C.,

seated at his desk,
a man is talking
on the telephone.

KING: Good, sir. I'm glad
you concur, Mr. President.

Yes. Thank you, sir. Goodbye.

Operator, do you still have
Pearl Harbor on the line?

KING: Hello, Chester.
Yes, Ernie?

KING: We just got
the green light
from the White House.

He's in the air right now.
He doesn't have any decoding
equipment on the plane.

Pulaski of
Admiral Ghormley's staff.
Good trip, sir?

Uneventful, I'm glad to say.

You were to
receive this
at once, sir.

PULASKI: You will relieve
Admiral Ghormley
and take command

of the South Pacific area
and South Pacific forces
immediately.

Oh, damn. That's what
I call a smart move.

Where's
Admiral Ghormley?

He's waiting for you
on the
Argonne, sir.

All right, Andy.
Let's go.

NARRATOR: He and Ghormley had
played on the same football
team at the Naval Academy.

They'd been friends
for 40 years,

(SHIP BLOWS HORN)

Vice Admiral
Robert L. Ghormley.

Born in Portland, Oregon
in 1883.

At the age of 10 his family
moved to Moscow, Idaho

where he received
all his early education.

Phi Beta Kappa, graduated 12th
in his class
at the Naval Academy in 1906.

In Admiral Ghormley's life
there is no room for anything
but Navy.

(WHISTLE BLOWING)

Permission to
come aboard, sir?

Good to see you, Bill.
Good to see you, Ghorm.

You know my orders?
Yeah.

Hottest potato
they ever handed me.
I don't envy you.

I suppose you were
prepared for it?
No. Not a hint of it.

I still can't believe it.
Neither can I.

What made them do it?
I haven't got your brains
nor your ability.

And after what
you've been through...

They'll never know
what we've been through
down here.

Well, maybe they just
wanted you to have a rest.
Lord knows you've earned it.

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

Come in.

Excuse me, sir.

I've finally contacted all
the key commanders about
your conference this evening.

General Vandergrift
is doubtful,
but the others can get away.

What time will
suit the Admiral?

Up to you, Bill.

Whatever you decide.

Admiral Halsey
will advise you later.
Aye, sir.

Ghorm, why is the Navy
taking such a licking
at Guadalcanal?

That's easy. Our people
are worn out with day
and night operations.

Our search planes didn't
see them coming and we
were taken by surprise.

Yamamoto's commanders
are better trained
for night fighting.

They employed
their torpedoes better.

But we're learning fast,
I plan to...

Let's get this change of
command over with.

Ask Admiral Halsey's Chief
of Staff and my Chief
of Staff to come in here.

Aye, sir.

I saw George Baker at Pearl.

(CHUCKLES)
How is he?
Oh, fine.

He told me he ran into
Joe Masefield
about a year ago.

Good. Bill,

what did I do wrong?

You didn't do anything wrong.
You just got here first.

And I'm going to get a lot
of the credit for many of
the things that you started.

Thanks.

NARRATOR: Admiral Yamamoto
makes it a point to relax

between the hours of 1:00
and 2:00 each afternoon.

Sometimes he naps,
sometimes he reads,
sometimes he plays chess.

Today it's photography.
The camera is a Leica
with a 2,8 lens.

The subject is
a crimson hibiscus.

(SPEAKS JAPANESE)

NARRATOR: In case you do not
understand what is being said,

Yamamoto is being advised
that Admiral Ghormley has been
relieved by Admiral Halsey.

Yamamoto and Kobe
share the opinion

that the American situation
is too far gone to be saved
by a change of command.

They figure it will take
Halsey at least 30 days
just to learn the new job,

and by then,
it will be too late.

Wait just a minute.

It was Halsey who led the
spectacular and successful
raids on the Marshalls.

It was Halsey
who raided Wake Island.

It was Halsey
who raided the Marcus Islands.

It was Halsey who launched the
incredible Doolittle attack
against Tokyo.

The filming of the crimson
hibiscus will have to wait.

We have five days.

Six at the most, before
Yamamoto's next big push.

My immediate handicap
is ignorance of the area.

I've never been
on Guadalcanal.

You know the problem.
You know what needs
to be done.

Do it. I'll back you.
And throw away the book.

The guy who wrote it
was never in this situation.

And one more thing,

forget whether
you're the Army,
Navy, Marine,

Australian,
New Zealand or British.

We'll operate as though
we are all in one uniform,

if I have to stencil
South Pacific Fighting Force

on the seat
of every man's pants.

(ALL LAUGH)

Those of you wearing neckties
may begin by taking them off

because if you're as busy
as you're going to be,

or as you should be,
you won't have time
to put them on.

My cabin door
will always be open.

Good luck.

Captain Black,

will you see me
in my cabin in about
five minutes?

Sit down, Captain.
I'll be with you in a minute.

NARRATOR: Admiral Ghormley's
Chief of Staff,

Captain Harry Black,
class of 1919 at Annapolis.

He knows the book.
He thinks by the book.
And he operates by the book.

A former commanding officer
once commented that

he was too smart
for his own good.

He would be the first
to deny this.

What's the beef,
Mr. Black?

I think Admiral Ghormley
got a bad deal.

For which you blame me.
I didn't say that, Admiral.

You didn't have to.

Now, if it's any
consolation,

I think Admiral Ghormley
did as good a job,
if not better,

than anybody else
could've done under
existing conditions.

It takes quite some time
to learn about conditions
down here, sir.

Yes, I'm sure it does.

And you're going to
educate me.

You want me to stay on?
Of course.

May I ask why, sir?

I'd be a fool not to take
advantage of your experience.

How do I get a quick
and accurate picture

of our situation
on Guadalcanal?

Talk to the key commanders.

Vandergrift, Geiger, Patch,
Carlson, Harmon, Turner.

How soon can
you get them here?

20:00, sir.

Do it.
Aye, aye, sir.

(WOMAN LAUGHING)

(BOTH LAUGHING)

Good evening, sir.

Miss Young, sir, came aboard
on behalf of the Red Cross
Entertainment Committee.

She's making a survey
to see what the men
would enjoy the most.

I'm sure Commander Lowe
will have some
excellent suggestions.

Would you believe it,
sir?

Miss Young and I
grew up in the same town,

but never laid eyes
on each other until
five minutes ago.

About five minutes.

It is a small world.

Carry on.
Yes, sir.

Make yourselves
comfortable.
Sit anywhere.

(BELL RINGING)

Any of you gentlemen
need medication?

I could stand a taste.

I'll have some
coffee, Doc.

Thank you.

NARRATOR: Major General
Millard F. Harmon,

Commander of
the Army Air Force
in the South Pacific.

Won the Croix de Guerre
with Bronze Star
in World War I.

At his order
Flying Fortresses

now drop their bombs
from altitudes
as low as 200 feet.

HALSEY: How about you,
Colonel?
CARLSON: Sir?

The good doctor
has authorized
a combat ration.

Not unless you're
having something, sir.

I'm not eligible
aboard ship.

Maybe when I visit
your raiders
on Guadalcanal.

You'll be eligible,
sir.

NARRATOR: Colonel
Evans Carlson,
enlisted in the Army at 16.

Served in the Philippines,
Hawaiian Islands,

at the Mexican border
and in World War I.

Created and commands
the American Guerilla Unit
known as Carlson's Raiders.

General Vandergrift
and General Geiger,
sir.

Hello, sir.

Roy.
Admiral.

You all know
General Vandergrift
and General Geiger.

Gentlemen.
How are you, sir?

Sorry we're late,
sir.

We ran into
a little excitement
around takeoff time.

Yeah. Washing
Machine Charlie.

Have a seat.

Excuse me, gentlemen.

Archie, how bad is it?

Whatever they've told you,
it's worse.

Mud, malaria, mosquitoes,
dengue fever, dysentery...

NARRATOR: Major General
Alexander Archer Vandergrift,

Commander of
all Marines on Guadalcanal.

Nickname, "Sunny Jim."

His favorite General,
Stonewall Jackson.

We're living on captured rice,
driving our trucks
on captured gas.

What are we short of?
Kelly Turner can tell you.

Ammunition, food, medicine,
tools, spare parts, pilots,

aircraft, ground troops...
Everything except Japs.

It's been that way
ever since we landed.

If you think the Navy's
been letting you down, Archie,

let's you and me trade places
for about 24 hours.

Maybe then
you'll get some idea...

NARRATOR: Rear Admiral
Kelly Turner.

His job, organize the
transports and supply ships.

His motto,
"If you don't have losses,

"you aren't doing enough."
His hobby, gardening.

How the hell I'm gonna give
more naval support

when I don't have the ships,
cargo or combat?

I just don't have the ships.

So we let the Tokyo Express
keep cruising down the Slot

every night pouring shells
onto Henderson Field.

We're down to just one carrier
in the whole South Pacific,

until the
Enterprise
gets back from Pearl.

Roy?

NARRATOR: Major General
Roy G. Geiger,

Commander of all aviation
units on Guadalcanal.

He's had seven and a half
hours sleep
in the last four days.

Maintenance in that mud
is a nightmare.

We're lucky to get up
six aircraft against 30.

Admiral, this morning
I had to kick,

literally kick
a couple of pilots awake

to drive them back
into their cockpits.

They were that beat.

Admiral, unless
the Navy shows
the flag up there soon,

I can't answer
for the outcome.

TURNER: How can we protect
transports in those
restricted waters?

I'd have to commit
what's left of my task force

and risk losing
the whole works.

Which is exactly the risk
I'm running right now.

And me.

Sir, the fact of the matter
is, we all share
General Vandergrift's feeling.

Everybody's asking,
"Where's the Navy?"

Anyone else care to speak?

You painted
a black picture, gentlemen.

It's black, all right,

but it can get
a hell of a lot blacker.

Less than a year ago we were
clobbered at Pearl Harbor

and they've been
pushing us back ever since.

Now, Guadalcanal is
the keystone of our defense.

If we lose Guadalcanal,

there'll be nothing
to stop them going all
the way down to Australia.

They'll cut
our lines of communication,

they'll cut
our lines of supply,

the war could be
prolonged for years. Or worse.

Guadalcanal is our
last chance.

I promise you
everything I've got.

The Navy will be there.

I'll get you more
air support

and I'll step up
your supplies.

But, Admiral, even if I could
scrape up enough supply ships,

every time there's an
air alert they have to
quit unloading and pull out.

Then we'll step up
the unloading.

Yes, sir.

All right.
Let's get down to cases.

OFFICER1: Goodnight, Colonel.
OFFICER 2: Goodnight, sir.

Goodnight, Admiral.
Thank you very much.

Admiral,
good luck.
Goodnight, Admiral.

Come and visit us.

OFFICER ON PA: Now hear this.
Call away number one,
motor whaleboat.

Well, you sure
made them feel better.

Admiral, where you gonna get
all that stuff you promised?

I don't know.

(BELL RINGING)

Now, where can
I lay my hands
on some ground troops

and get them
to Guadalcanal?

I'm afraid the bottom
of the barrel has already
been scraped bare, sir,

by Admiral Ghormley.

Are you sure?

What about this proposed
airstrip at in the Dai,

and the Army ground troops
we're sending in to build it?

They're committed.
They're on their way.

Why can't we divert them
to the island, tonight?

But, Admiral,
there's a specific
directive.

But we are faced
with one hell
of an emergency.

The airstrip
isn't that essential.

It's 205 miles
closer to Henderson
than any we've got, sir.

So we increase
our air search area
205 miles.

But that does not save
25,000 men on Guadalcanal.

Admiral, by the time
we went through channels
to try to change...

There won't be time
for channels.

I tell you,
unless we move now,

there won't be any need
for that airstrip.

And, Harry, there's only
one thing to do,

intercept those ground troops
and send them where
they'll do the most good.

And ignore
the directive?
We can argue with them later.

But, Admiral,
we can't do that.

I think we'd be entirely wrong
to take such a decision
into our own hands.

Is that your best judgment?
It's my frank opinion, sir.

Are you prepared
for the consequences?

I am, sir.

I mean the consequences
of losing Guadalcanal?

Or are you concerned with
repercussions from topside?

It isn't just a matter of
repercussions, sir,

I think it would be fairer
to say, that I believe
that these things

have to be
properly coordinated.

I'm afraid you'll have to
leave that one to me, Harry.

Issue the necessary orders,
and advise Harmon,
Patch and Vandergrift.

Aye, aye, sir.

Harry?
Sir.

Ask Pulaski
to come in, please.

Yes, sir.

MALE VOICE: You know,
I missed that shot.

Lieutenant Pulaski,
the Admiral wants
to see you.

Thank you.

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

Come in.

Have a seat, Mike.

Quite a bunch out there
still waiting to see you,
sir.

I know.

The pieces beginning to
fit together?

Little by little.

Mike, just how good
is our Intelligence?

Well, the Polynesians resent
the Japs, so they help us.

Missionaries
and Australian coast-watchers

in hiding
along the Solomon's chain

tip us to Jap ships coming
down the slot and air raids.

I've got two men with radios,
here on Rendova.

One in the Shortland's,
and several, here,
in the Russell's.

That's right under
the Japs' noses.

How do they evade
capture?
Some don't.

I see.

Mike, they tell me you're
an expert on the Orient.

Not an expert.
Spent some
years in Japan.

Speak the language,
know most of their
leaders personally.

Tojo, Nomura,
Admiral Yamamoto...

What can you tell me
about Yamamoto?

He's the best they've got.
A fine tactician,
a brilliant strategist,

he commands the
fanatical loyalty of his men.

I understand that
when his fliers
are downed in the water,

they don't even
expect to be picked up.

That's right, sir.

They know he won't
spare planes for rescue.

Nice, very nice.

If you'd like
a personal note, sir,

I can tell you
he's quite a poker player.

You've played with him?
Many times.

When he was naval attache
in Washington.

And he was rough?
Very.

Consistently overplayed
his hand and got away with it.

I hear that he's hot
for naval aviation
and carriers.

That's right, sir.

I guess you know
the part he
played at Pearl?

Just that he was there.
He was there all right.

We recently learned that
it was Yamamoto

who planned and directed
the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Actually Yamamoto
was against war
with the United States.

He predicted that in the end
Japan would lose.

However once the higher-ups
overruled him,

he threw himself
wholeheartedly
into the effort.

Pearl Harbor was
his first assignment.

And it could've been
my last assignment.

If it hadn't been
for engine trouble at sea,

I'd of been caught in
the harbor with the rest
of those poor devils.

Well, thanks, Mike.

It'll be your job from
now on to read
Yamamoto's mind for me.

I'll do my best, sir.
I'm sure you will.

Are your whizz kids
making any headway
with the Japanese code?

Some.

Light a fire under them,
will you?

Yes, sir.
Goodnight, sir.
Goodnight.

And send Andy in, please.
Yes, sir.

You wanted to see me,
sir?

Who else is waiting
out there?
Well, now, let me see.

There's that freighter
captain you sent for.

Three newspaper
correspondents,

a psychological
warfare officer...

(YAWNS)

A psychological
warfare officer
just in from the States.

Am I keeping you up?
No, sir.

Who else is there?
Doc Key for one.

He says if you don't
see him next, he's gonna
bust in here anyway.

Call him.
Yes, sir.

Doc, come on in.

Good evening, Doc.

Good morning might be
closer to it, sir.

Does the Admiral
realize he's been
cooped up in this office

seeing person after
person for 16
consecutive hours?

Is that a record?

No, sir,
it isn't a record,

if you'll pardon
my saying so,
it isn't very smart.

As your chief flight
surgeon, I must insist
that you get more rest.

They tell me there are
men on Guadalcanal
who haven't slept in days.

Yes, sir. But they're
not 60 years old,

and they're not fresh
out of a hospital.

Just give me
one more hour.
No, sir.

As long as I'm here,
there's something else
I might as well attend to.

What's that for?
What're you gonna do?

Your shots, sir.
What do I need
those for?

There's no telling
what you'll run
into on Guadalcanal.

How did you know
I was going up there?

I have friends
in high places.

You tell him?
No, sir.

You know me
better than that.

All right, if you'll just
roll up your sleeve, sir.

Now, wait a minute.

You put that ice pick away
and we'll make a deal.

We're not leaving
until tomorrow afternoon,

you can give me
the shots just
before lunch.

Oh, no.
I won't see
anybody else tonight.

I'll have Andy
clear off the office
and I'll go right to bed.

All right, sir.
It's a deal.

Andy, will you explain the
situation to the people
outside and turn in.

Yes, sir.
Goodnight, Admiral.

Goodnight.

I thought we were taking off
to Guadalcanal at dawn.

We are.
Well, you just told Doc...

Oh, now, sir,
that's real sneaky.

Goodnight, Andy.

All this fuss over a couple
of little bitty old shots.

Goodnight, Andy.

Goodnight, sir.

ANDY: The Admiral
isn't seeing
anybody else tonight.

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

Come in.

HARRY: Captain Black, sir.

What is it, Harry?

About the airstrip
matter, sir.

What about it?

Well, in view of
the position I took,

if a change in my assignment
would be for the best I...

Because you
bucked me on it?

Oh, that's part
of your job.

If we both thought
exactly alike,
I wouldn't need you.

Thank you, sir.
The orders have gone out,
sir.

Now we both better
jump to one side.

I think so, sir.

Welcome to
Guadalcanal, sir.
Thanks.

Captain Bailey.
You remember Andy Lowe?

How do you do?
Anyone else with you?

No. I left them all
on the
Argonne.

I brought you
four sacks of mail

and nine drums of
aviation gasoline instead.

No reflection on your staff,
Admiral, but you couldn't
have made a better switch.

Sergeant, a load
of gas drums
for you and mail.

Yes, sir.
Okay, you guys,
you heard the man.

Well, Admiral,
where can we
take you first?

I don't want to
tie you up.
Just give me a jeep

and a driver
who knows
his way around.

I'll be glad to
go with you.
No thanks.

I prefer to have
a look around
on my own,

while Captain Bailey
gets together with
you and your G-3.

All right, sir.
Lieutenant Ludlum.

Take the Admiral
anyplace he wants to go.

Yes, sir.

NARRATOR: First Lieutenant
Harrison Ludlum.

Age 28. Occupation, printer.
Married, two children.

Thirty-six hours from now
a sniper's bullet
will make him a paraplegic.

That's the Padre,
sir.
Padre?

Father Gehring,
Navy chaplain.
Could we give him a lift?

Of course.

Hey, Padre.

Welcome aboard,
Padre.
PADRE: Thank you, Admiral.

This is Andy Lowe.

Pleased to
meet you.
How do you do?

NARRATOR: Fred Gehring,
naval chaplain,
a Vincentian father.

Served in China 1933 to 1940.
Holds the Legion of Merit.

Speaks Chinese,
plays the fiddle.

How far up are you going?

Maybe a mile, maybe less.
Depends on how things are.

How are things, Father?

Lousy, Admiral.

(DISTANT EXPLOSIONS)

NARRATOR: Lieutenant
Tadashi Nasu.

Taught Chemistry
at the University of Tokyo.
Married, three children.

At 1:00 this morning
he led 50 men

in an assault against
a Marine machine-gun position.

He came closest to
reaching the objective.

The others
never made it to the creek.

ERIC: That's the
Tenaru River.

We're here,
they're there.

Got it?
Got it.

Okay. So all night long
we're calling
back and forth,

"Tojo's for the birds.
Babe Ruth stinks."

NARRATOR: Private First Class,
Eric Lauder.

He mans the 50-caliber
machine gun

that was assaulted
early this morning.

In 15 minutes
he killed 38 men.

He is 19 years of age.

I thought they'd
never stop coming.

Well, supposing
they'd come
around your flank

instead of coming
at you head on?

We wouldn't be here,
Admiral.
You know what I mean?

I know what you mean.

Okay, you guys,
let's go.
Come on, let's go.

NARRATOR: Three men
in that squad will survive
the battle for Guadalcanal.

(EXPLOSIONS THUNDERING)

Private First Class
Eric Lauder isn't one of them.

Admiral Halsey,
this is Doc White.

How do you do, Admiral?
I'm pleased to meet you,
Dr. White.

You get on with your work.
Don't let me stop you.

Okay, Admiral.

(DISTANT EXPLOSIONS)

Could you have dinner
with us at Headquarters
tonight, Father?

Well, thank you,
Admiral.

But I've already
promised the
boys of Company F

I'd have chow
with them.

Goodbye, sir.
Thank you.

Goodbye.
Bye, Father.

God bless you.

I think he
meant that, Admiral.

He wouldn't know
how not to mean it.

Which one of you
is Joe Foss?

That's me, sir.

I've been hearing a lot of
good things about you.

Likewise, Admiral.

NARRATOR: Captain
Joseph Jacob Foss.

First Ace to destroy
as many enemy planes

as Eddie Rickenbacker did
in World War I.

Executive officer of
Squadron WMF-121,

known as
"Joe's Flying Circus."

In 1955 he will become the
20th Governor of South Dakota.

Last night's raid
cost us two destroyed,
seven damaged,

but not beyond repair.

How do you feel
about the Zeros?

Well, they've got
a definite edge
in a dogfight.

More maneuverable
and they out-climb us.

Well, you'll be getting the
new Corsairs within two weeks,

and I'll get the P-38's to
the Army as quickly as I can.

That should change
the picture considerably.

We can use a change,
Admiral.

You're doing better than
well with what you have.

But the new stuff should help.
Good to see you.

Thank you, sir.

How's it going?

Great. Just great.

And you can
quote me directly on that.

NARRATOR: Lieutenant
Thomas G. Lanphier, Jr.,

100 combat missions.

Shot down seven Jap planes,
destroyed 10 on the ground.

Soloed at the age of 14.

No sleep at night.
Japs coming in,
dropping bombs.

Nothing but mud.

Whoever dreamed
this one up

ought to be hung
from the nearest
palm tree by his thumbs.

If you mean
General Tojo,
I agree.

Be seeing you.
Yeah.

What did you say
your name was?

I didn't say.
But it's Lamphier.
Tom Lamphier.

Thanks. Say,
who the hell was that?

They say his
name is Halsey.

Halsey?

There's nothing wrong
with this chow.

The problem is quantity,
not quality.

Archie, I have an idea...

(RUMBLING)

NARRATOR: Washing Machine
Charlie. A nightly visitor.

Twin-engines purposely
out of synchronization.

Bombs small.

Mission, keep the
Allied Forces from sleeping.

(DISTANT EXPLOSIONS)

That his calling card?

There's not much
to worry about,

unless some of his
friends drop by later.

I hope not.
I could use some sleep.

(ALARM BELL RINGS)

(AIR RAID SIRENS WAILING)

Air raid, Admiral.

What's the procedure?

The nearest shelter
until the "All Clear."

And leave here
for a hole in the ground?

I recommend it.

HALSEY: Well, no thanks.

Suit yourself, Admiral.

(EXPLOSION)

(EXPLOSION)

MARINE: Sorry.
No more room here.

HALSEY: Sorry to come
barging in like this.

MARINE: Glad for
the company.

HALSEY: You got
a cigarette?

How long do
these things
usually go on?

An hour.
Sometimes two.

You're new, huh?

Yeah. New.

NARRATOR: The man who
occupies the shelter
is Corporal Joseph Halligan.

Single.
Professional ball player.

A week from now he'll catch
a piece of shrapnel
in his left shoulder.

He'll never get higher
than a Class B league.
He'll blame it on his wound.

It's good to see you,
Archie.
Good to see you, Bill.

And you can count
on all the support
we can give,

as long as I have
one ship.

I know that.
And don't forget
your souvenir.

What's this?

They heard that
you were here, sir.

If you'd just say
a few words, they
would appreciate it.

But, my voice
won't carry that far.

Excuse me,
Admiral.

We have
a microphone, sir.

I... I guess...

(FEEDBACK SCREECHING)

I got...

(FEEDBACK)

What the hell's
the matter
with this thing?

(ALL LAUGH)

I guess you want to know
why we're hanging on to
this island.

Well, the Jap has had
everything his own way
since the start of this war.

He's pushed us back across
thousands of miles of ocean

and through countless islands
until the world began to think
that he couldn't be stopped.

Well, he's been stopped.

Right here by you.

Right here on
this stinking island.

You've beaten him
at his own game.

You've thrown back everything
that he's tossed at you.

You men,
and you alone have stopped

the greatest over-water
offensive in history.

You, by what you've done,

have made this the most
important piece of real estate
in the entire Pacific.

Now, you see this?

This is Admiral Yamamoto's
plan for the ceremony

that was to follow
our surrender of Guadalcanal.

It tells us
how we're to behave,

indicates the spot,

specifies where
we're to stand.

General Vandergrift gave me
this captured document

as a souvenir.

Somehow I think
you'd appreciate it more.

Nail it to that tree.
Yes, sir.

(MIKUMA SPEAKING JAPANESE)

NARRATOR: Captain
Sentaro Mikuma.
Operations officer.

He has a wife, two children
and a successful law practice
in Yokohama.

Each morning he conducts
this briefing session.

Today's report contains
a couple of unpleasant items.

In the past 24 hours,
the Japanese have lost
11 bombers and eight fighters

and encountered increased
resistance on the ground
at Guadalcanal.

Vice Admiral Boshiroshima
asks Captain Mikuma to account
for this increased resistance.

Mikuma attributes it
to Admiral Halsey's
visit there four days ago.

Japanese intelligence knows
that in two weeks

American pilots on Guadalcanal
will receive new Corsair
and P-38 fighters.

Rear Admiral Kobe
has just predicted

that in two weeks
there will be nothing
for them to land on.

Everyone finds this amusing.

Well, almost everyone.

Yamamoto will tolerate
no more postponements.

He outlines a blueprint
to be followed at all costs.

On October 22nd,
he will take Henderson Field.

On October 23rd,
he will land troops
under heavy air cover.

On October 24th, his planes
will commence operations
from Henderson Field.

On October 25th,
his battleships, Cruisers

and carriers will engage
the United States naval forces

and maintain contact until
those forces are obliterated.

The occupation and surrender
of Guadalcanal will follow.

Until that is accomplished
he cares to hear
no more laughter.

PULASKI: A patrol plane
has spotted an enemy fleet
sailing south from Truk,

four carriers,
four battleships,
eighteen cruisers.

In addition, we have coast
watcher reports of Japanese
transports and auxiliaries,

plus cruiser escort,
moving down the Slot
from Rabul.

Looks like
the start.
Yes, sir.

I don't get it.
How can Yamamoto
launch an attack

while we still have
land based air
on Guadalcanal?

He's anticipating.
By the time his fleet
moves down to this point,

he assumes
he'll have Henderson Field.

That means Vandergrift
can look forward
to increased pressure.

And we can look forward
to the 25th or the 26th
at the outside,

being Zero day.

What's the matter, Frank?

I guess I didn't expect
them to try anything
like this so soon.

Neither did I.

We have lost the initiative
for the moment,
but I propose to get it back.

The
Hornet
and
the
Enterprise
will throw
the first punch.

Two carriers against
his whole fleet?
Umm-hmm.

That's it, exactly.

Don't forget,
he doesn't know where
our carriers are.

And the trick will be
to keep him guessing.

It could work.

If Kincaid and Murray
made a wide sweep

east of
the Santa Cruz Islands,
beyond their search range,

and then cut back in time,
our carriers could
hit them coming in.

Meanwhile we give
Guadalcanal close support
with our cruiser task force.

What do you think,
Mike?

One thing's sure,
Admiral.

He'll never expect
you to come out
looking for him.

There's an old saying,

"No Captain can do very wrong
if he places his ship
alongside that of an enemy."

Well, that'll
hold you
for six months.

Let me have
the alcohol,
will you?

Well, Andy,
looks like
you're next.

I want to see you,
Andy.

(GASPS) Yes, sir.

Well, as long as you're here,
sir, if you'll just
roll up your sleeve...

No, better set up
an appointment, Doc.

Some day when
I have more time.

Ah, come in when
you're through
here, Andy.

Yes, sir.

Come in, Andy.

Captain Bailey's
been given command
of the
Enterprise.

And now he's trying
to steal a member
of my staff

for one of his fighter
squadron commanders,
you know anything about it?

No, sir.

You been doing
a little politicking?
Sir?

He asked for you
by name.

Oh, oh,
is that a fact?

Yes, that's a fact.

Well, sir,
I'd certainly
hate to leave you,

but if Captain Bailey
really needs me,
why I'm willing to go.

I'll bet you are,

I hear the big "E's"
gonna see action
in three days.

And if you're not
there, you're gonna
be heart-broken.

Yes, sir.

Well, you'll get
your crack
at combat, Andy.

But right now,
I don't think much
of your timing.

But, sir, what...
What purpose
do I serve here?

Well, unfortunately
I'm used to you.

Well, sir, if...
If that's all, I...

Oh, all right,
all right, all right,

on second thought,
you've been a pretty
sorry excuse for an aide,

so Captain Bailey
can have you.

Thank you.
Thank you very much, sir.
Thank you.

Go on,
get out of here.

Yes, sir.
Good night, sir.

Oh... Sir, I...
I wondered if...

If I could ask
a special favor.

Yes, sure, Andy.

Well, sir, I realize
I haven't been the world's
best aide, in many ways

I've slipped up on my duty,
but, sir, my conscience
would be a mite clearer

if I could leave here knowing
that I had at least performed
one part of my assignment.

What's that?

Well, sir,
it was my duty to see
that you got your shots.

Is this in the nature
of one last request?

Well, it's a...

All right.

Get Doc Key.

Yes, sir. Aye, aye, sir.

I'm going after Doc Key.
The Admiral's gonna
take his shots.

If anybody wants me,
I've gone for Doc Key.

The Admiral's gonna
take his shots.

The Admiral's gonna
take his shots.

I never saw so much
commotion about
a couple of shots.

Not just a couple,
Admiral. Five.

Five?
Five, sir.

Watch out for
the hook, sir.

(ALL LAUGH)

Very funny. Very funny.

Here comes number 1.

DR. KEY: Now,
here comes number 2.

This'll be number three.

NARRATOR: Aboard his flagship,
Admiral Yamamoto
expresses anxiety

over the failure of his
search planes to locate
the American carriers.

At midnight, he issues
the following orders...

"Aircraft will continue
to search and track regardless
of weather or enemy planes,

"in an attempt to discover
the size and nature
of enemy forces.

"When the position
of the American forces
has been discovered,

"there is a great likelihood
of a sea battle
northeast of the Solomons.

"The battle for Guadalcanal
still continues."

Fresh PBY contact,
sir.

They report one
large carrier
and six other vessels

200 miles away
on the same bearing.

Issue these orders
to all task force
commanders immediately.

Is this all, sir?

That's all.

Yes, sir.

NARRATOR: The order reads,
"Attack, repeat, attack."

17 years later he was to say,

"It is very easy to order
an attack if you don't have
to do the attacking."

But is it?

Aboard Admiral
Yamamoto's flagship

there is a small
celebration taking place.

Admiral Kobe is a teetotaler.

But the news demands
he break a rule.

They drink to the sinking
of the
Hornet.

It was from decks
of the
Hornet

that Halsey dispatched
Doolittle's planes
against Tokyo.

It was Yamamoto who was blamed
when they penetrated
the island's defenses.

This adds savor to the drink,
personal triumph
to the victory.

We lost the
Hornet.
They damaged
the
Enterprise.

We lost 283 men,
killed or missing.

Aircraft,
they lost a minimum
of a hundred.

Against that,
our carrier plane losses,
from all causes, were 74.

That it?
That's it, sir.

Any discussion?

Harry?

What's there to say,
sir?

We got the
short end
of the stick.

Tactically, yes.
Strategically, no.

But we lost
the
Hornet,
sir.

What was our objective?

To hang on to Guadalcanal.

I'm calling your attention
to the fact that the Marines
are still doing just that.

Yes, sir,
but the Japanese fleet
is still in the area.

We're wide open.

Harry's right, sir.

If they follow up today,
we have nothing
to stop them with.

Sir...

Go on.

I think it's up to
the Staff to recommend
emergency measures

in the event we're forced
to evacuate Guadalcanal.

You feel that way?

It's true
that if the Japs
follow up today,

and their fleet keeps
coming down the slot,

we can't stop them.

But I don't think
they'll do that.

With a hundred planes
and pilots lost,

the air groups
aboard those Jap carriers
have been cut to pieces.

And why should they
come further south

to place themselves
under land-based air attack?

And a second thing,
in our favor,
the record.

Ever since Pearl Harbor,

the Japs have
consistently failed
to follow up an advance.

I'm gambling that
they won't break the habit.

We could still arrange
evacuation measures
for insurance.

No. No.

If they pick up the hint
that we're even
contemplating evacuation,

they'll be down here
like vultures.

In other words,
we lash down
the safety valves.

We lash them down.

I want all the senior
commanders
of the services

to pool their
mechanics in an
emergency repair force

and work around the clock
to restore ship damage,

particularly the
Enterprise.

Well, as far as
I'm concerned, gentlemen,
the battle was a stand-off.

Just when we needed one.

"A PBY contact at 1400

"reports the enemy fleet
in a general retirement
toward Truk."

NARRATOR: On board
the
Enterprise,
Andy Lowe
talks to some of his own men

and some of the survivors
of the
Hornet.

It has not been an easy day.

Howdy.

You Andy Lowe?

That's right.
I was told
to double up with you.

Oh, well,
glad to have you.

Whose bunk was that?

A fellow by the name
of Cerella.

Dead?

He's missing.
Same difference.

Well, now I wouldn't
say that.
Well, I would.

I guess you've got
quite a few extra bunks
on the
Enterprise
tonight.

Yeah, quite a few.

Did he have a family.
Huh?

The man who used
to bunk up there,
did he have a family?

No, no.

Do you mind
if I use your typewriter?

Help yourself.

I... I didn't get
your name.

Roy Webb.
Oh, yeah.

Aren't you
Squadron Commander
of the F-11?

I won't be
when I finish this.

I lost half my
squadron today.

One half of an
entire squadron.

Nine planes. Nine men.

Making out
a strike report?

No.

From the look on your face,
I figure it's no love letter.

I'm asking to be
relieved of command.

Oh, well,
sooner or later we all
need a rest from flying.

Well, I don't need
a rest from flying.

I'll fly combat
again tomorrow.

I just do not want
to command.

I lost some guys today.
We all did.
It wasn't your fault.

Now how can you tell?

You know, my mother
said to me once,

she said, "Never make
an important decision
when I was tired."

I found that to be
a good piece of advice.

I know what I'm doing.

The Big "E."

Yes, sir,
she brought us home.

We've fixed most of
the leaks
in the oil tanks,

but the damage
to the forward
elevator's pretty bad.

Admiral.

Andy.
How are you?

Very good, sir.

Good evening, sir.
Evening.

Congratulations
on those two Zeros.
Thank you.

He splashed
three of them, sir.

If you'll excuse me,
Admiral.
Certainly.

Keep after them, Bill.

Well, I hear your relief
is showing up.

Maybe you can tell me
something about
a Commander Roy Webb?

Oh, yes sir.
He's...

He's Squadron Commander
on the
Hornet.

Would he fit in?

Well, he'd make
an okay pilot for you, sir.

He's...
He's experienced,
he's available.

We need Squadron
Commanders.

Why is he available?

Well, right at this time,
the pilots on the
Hornet
have no ship, sir.

They'll be reassigned,
though.

Andy, I'd like
a straight answer.

Well, the fact is,
Admiral, Webb asked
to be detached.

Said he was unfit
for command.

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

Come in.

Lieutenant Commander Webb
to see you, sir.

Send him in.

Webb?
Sir.

I need an aide
who can double
as my pilot.

Your name has been
submitted. How do you
feel about the job?

I'd be honored, sir.
Frankly, I think
I belong in combat.

Well, according to this,
you asked to be relieved.

Only from command, sir.
Not from combat.

I've looked at your record,
it's a good one.

Navy Cross.

Every job they gave you,
you did well.

What happened?

Sir, I just can't give
any more orders.

Well, you've been
cutting it all right.

As a Squadron Commander,
yes, sir.

Now I'm Senior.

The Air Group Commander
is in the hospital.

If he doesn't get well,
I'll be next in line
for his job.

You don't want
the responsibility?

No, sir.

That's normal.

Sir, I don't think
you have the whole...
Sit down.

I can think of
some wonderful speeches
I could make right now.

Probably have
both of us in tears.

But I just don't
have the time for
such performances.

Webb...

Where do you think our
group commanders come from?

I don't know, sir.
All I do know is that
I'm not the man for the job.

You think the job requires
a great man?

Yes, sir.
Well, I have news for you.

There aren't any great men.

There are just
great challenges

that ordinary men
like you and me

are forced
by circumstances to meet.

Now, you've proved
you can get the job done.

You're hooked
by your own record.

In short,
you don't have any choice.

Sir, I lost
nine planes yesterday.

I lost those same
nine planes
and 17 others to boot,

plus one destroyer,
two submarines
with all hands,

two LST's, and God knows
how many ground troops.

Do you want me to go on?

No, sir.

I guess I... I just had
the feeling I was alone.

You were,
and you will be.

Good luck, Roy.
Thank you, sir.

You better
step on it, Frank.
The boat's waiting

and the old man's
raring to go.

What do you mean?
It's your turn today,

I swam a mile
with him Tuesday.
It's Murphy's turn.

Murphy's pulling OD.

So that makes it
your turn.

Look, I'm still
waterlogged
from Tuesday.

The Chaplain's
right down the way.

Doc, couldn't you
take him today?

Well,
for a consideration.

Like a...
Like a pint
of scotch?

Like a fifth?

It's a deal.

(ALL LAUGH)

Nice work, Doc.
Nice work.

Where's the old man?

Well, he's half way
to Japan the last time
I saw him

and still going
strong.

I said to him,
"Admiral, I think
we've gone far enough.

"I think it's time
we turned around
and went back."

He said, "Is that
a medical opinion?"

I said, "No, sir.

"It's just the opinion
of a drowning man."

Doc, I'll make
a deal with you.

You give me back
my fifth of Scotch,

I'll give you
some artificial
respiration.

He's coming in now.
Look at him
kick and splash.

I wouldn't be
surprised if
he's part walrus.

I'll tell you
one thing,

I go with him again,
it's gonna be in
a row boat.

Quitting so soon,
sir?

HALSEY: No.
Just coming in
for a new partner.

Nothing like a...
Like a good swim
for what ails you.

Eh, Doc?

A man can't be
forced to testify
against himself, sir.

Where's Andy?

Beach combing.

(LAUGHING)

What do you bet
they both come
from his home town?

A beautiful day.

Clear sky.

Not a ship
on the horizon.

Almost make you forget
there's a war on.

Yes, sir.

How soon do you
think Yamamoto
will be back, Mike?

Two weeks, sir.

That's, uh,
11 November.

(SPEAKING JAPANESE)

NARRATOR: Kobe proposes
11 November as Zero day.

The Admiral agrees.

Yamamoto is ready for another
assault against Guadalcanal.

Everything he has
will go into this effort.

Land, sea, air, the Allies
are everywhere out-numbered.

The Japanese have been using
the same code for a year.

They have no reason
to suspect that
the Allies might break it.

But a year is
a long life for a code.

(SPEAKS JAPANESE)

Yamamoto thinks
it might be wise to change.

Kobe says there is not
enough time before the attack

to distribute new code books
to all levels of command.

Yamamoto's thought
was just a passing one.

The code will not be changed.

9 November,

Admiral Halsey rushes
more troop reinforcements

and supplies
toward Guadalcanal,

under the slim protection
of a small force

commanded by
Admiral Kelly Turner.

The question
in everyone's mind,

would these men
or these supplies,

standing naked
off the beaches, ever land?

Well, pull up
some chairs
and let's get to it.

Well, sir,
according to all
available information,

the situation on
Zero Day,
11th November,

should shape up
as follows.

Kelly Turner's transports
should be finished
unloading by nightfall.

That will free
his escort
to move here

South of Savo Island,
to reinforce
Scott and Callaghan

if a night action
should develop.

Callaghan's cruiser force
and Scott's cruiser force
will be here.

Kincaid's force
of battleships
and heavy cruisers

will have escorted
the
Enterprise
to within
flying range of the enemy,

about a hundred
or so miles
to the south,

depending on
when the
Enterprise
is ready to sail.

I just talked to Bailey,
sir.

Repairs on
the
Enterprise
definitely

will not be
completed on time.

Then she'll have to
sail as is.

Half a carrier
is better than none.

HARRY: Admiral,

Frank has been going
round and round
with me on this,

he feels very
strongly that...
Sir...

Is the plan still open
for discussion?

Certainly.

Sir, following
the last engagement,

you correctly estimated
that their fleet
would withdraw.

The rest of us were
a little wrong
about that one.

This time we know
they're coming all the way.

And if we lose this one,

Guadalcanal is going
to be another Bataan.

Impossible to reinforce,
impossible to relieve.

Vandergrift will wind up
another Wainwright.

If we lose.

Well, before we send
Callaghan and Scott

into those narrow waters,
Admiral,

let's see what we've got.

Three cruisers,
a handful of destroyers.

Now, let's take a look at
what they've got.

The latest estimate
shows that they'll
have four battleships,

five heavy cruisers,
two carriers,

and about
30 destroyers.

The least we can do
is detach Lee's battleships

from the
Enterprise
and
send them on ahead to help.

The battleships will have to
protect our one carrier

till she gets within range.

I may detach them later.

Well, sir, how long can three
cruisers and a few destroyers

delay a force
more than twice their size?

Dan Callaghan
and Norm Scott...

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

Come in.

Admiral Callaghan
and Admiral Scott
are here, sir.

Send them in.
Aye, aye, sir.

Good evening, sir.
Dan. Norm.

You know
Harry Black?

Frank Enright.
Gentlemen.

Mike Pulaski.
How are you,
gentlemen?

I won't
keep you long.

I just wanted to
wish you good luck
before you shoved off.

We'll probably need
a little luck, sir.

Looks like
a real brawl.

I wish I could
change places
with you two.

We know you do,
sir.

I don't look for
a carrier action this time.

I think it'll be
a surface battle.

Guns and torpedoes.

Like Norm said,
a brawl.

And you can count on a real
loud rooting section up there.

Archie Vandergrift
and his Gyrenes.

Sir, we can't promise
Archie the Jap fleet
won't get through.

But if it does,
Norm and I guarantee

there won't be much left
afloat behind it.

Is that what you
had in mind, sir?

All I know is,
the job is in the right hands.

Thank you, sir.

BLACK: Goodbye, sir.
ENRIGHT: Good luck.

Good luck.
Goodnight, gentlemen.

Captain Black, sir?

No word?

No word.

Sir, there's something
I better tell you.

We've been waiting
for word on a float plane
overdue on a hop to Efate.

Your son is one
of the passengers.

HARRY: I'm going to
set up a special search.

No, no.

You will conduct
a routine search.

Thorough, but routine.

HARRY: Very well, sir.

NARRATOR: 1,500 miles
to the northwest,

Admiral Yamamoto
moved his headquarters
from Truk to Rabaul,

in order to exercise
closer personal command
of the coming offensive.

Admiral Halsey's visit
to Guadalcanal

inspired his men there
to greater effort.

Yamamoto decides
on the same prescription,

he will visit the most forward
combat areas personally.

Kobe opposes the plan
but can't dissuade him.

As a safety measure,
Kobe suggests
Yamamoto wear the uniform

of a lower
and less conspicuous rank.

Admiral Yamamoto refuses.

He will leave for Bougainville
in the morning.

At a Japanese seaplane base
in the forward area,

a well intentioned
officer jeopardizes

the closely guarded secret of
Admiral Yamamoto's itinerary

by alerting his local
commanders in Naval code

to the impending visit
of their commander-in-chief.

The message is intercepted
and forwarded to Pearl Harbor
and Washington

for analysis
by American decoding experts.

(SONAR PINGING)

MALE VOICE: (DISTORTED)
Right on course 257.

MAN 2: Steady on 257.

MAN 3: Right, on course 257.

MAN 4: Right 257.

Steady on course 257.

MAN 5: Right 257.

MAN 2: Course 257.

Steady on course 257.

Covering course 257.

MAN 4: 257, aye.

Steady on course 257.

MAN 5: Bridge to CIC. CIC 9.

MAN 6: Check surface contact
bearing 090.

MAN 7: CIC, aye.

MAN 8: Bridge to CIC.

MAN 9: Check surface contact
bearing 090.

MAN 10: CIC, aye.

MAN 11: Bridge to CIC.
MAN 12: Aye, aye.

MAN 12: Check surface contact.

MAN 8: Check surface contact.

MAN 13: Bridge to CIC.

MAN 12: CIC, aye.

Check the surface contact
bearing 090.

MAN 5: CIC, aye.
MAN 6: CIC to Bridge.

MAN 2: Bridge, aye.

MAN 6: Hold on course 195.

MAN 2: Bridge, aye, 195.

Steady on course 195.

(VOICES CHATTERING)

Steady on course 195.

MAN 7: Steady on course 195.

Steady on course 195.

Steady on course 195.

MAN 1: (DISTORTED)
CIC to Bridge.

MAN 2: Bridge, aye.

MAN 1: Possible target 070.

MAN 2: Track her.

MAN 1: Aye, aye.

MAN 3: CIC to Bridge.

MAN 4: Bridge, aye.

MAN 3: Possible target 070.

MAN 4: Track her.

MAN 3: Right 15 degree rudder.

MAN 5: Right 15 degree rudder.

Right 15 degree rudder.

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

Come in.

Sorry to disturb you, sir,
but I've got one or two...

All right,
let's have it, Harry.

These are for signature,
and this batch I thought
I could take care of myself

with one or two
exceptions.

Oh, Pearl has asked
for another report.

Any word?
No, sir.

No contact?
None reported, sir.

There should've been
a contact at 2300

if they'd maintained
course and speed.

Well, that last sighting
report may have been
inaccurate, sir.

We had trouble
with communications.

We were guessing
at some of the figures.

Harry, will you tell me
what the hell they want with
all these damn statistics?

Your signature goes
right there, sir.

Who has the duty
in the Com office?

Murphy's the
duty officer, sir.

And his orders are to get
all the dope up to us pronto.

One more, sir.
Thanks.

Is there any
hot coffee out there?

I'll send Manuel
right in, sir.

MAN 1: (DISTORTED)
Left 10 degrees rudder.
MAN 2: Left 10 degrees rudder.

MAN 3: Left 10 degrees rudder.
MAN 4: Left 10 degrees rudder.

MAN 5: Left 10 degrees rudder.
MAN 6: Left 10 degrees rudder.

MAN 7: Left 10 degrees rudder.
MAN 8: Left 10 degrees rudder.

Thank you, Manuel.

The Admiral like
some cake?

No cake.

Manuel, why do you bother
with all this stuff

when you know
that all I want
is some black coffee.

The Admiral might
change his mind.

All right.

MAN 1: (DISTORTED)
No contact. No contact.

MAN 2: No contact.
MAN 3: No contact.

MAN 4: No contact.
MAN 5: No contact.

MAN 6: No contact.
MAN 7: No contact.

MAN 1: Left 10 degrees rudder.
MAN 2: Left 10 degrees rudder.

MAN 3: Left 10 degrees rudder.
MAN 4: Left 10 degrees rudder.

MAN 5: Left 10 degrees rudder.
MAN 6: Left 10 degrees rudder.

MAN 7: Left 10 degrees rudder.
MAN 8: Left 10 degrees rudder.

MAN 9: Left 10 degrees rudder.
MAN 10: Left 10 degrees

MAN 1: Nothing to the left.
MAN 2: Nothing to the left.

MAN 3: Nothing to the left.
MAN 4: Nothing to the left.

MAN 5: Nothing to the left.
MAN 6: Nothing to the left.

Sit down a minute,
will you, Harry?

Oh, Harry, you said
something this afternoon
about a dispatch from Pearl.

On the problem of
unloading.
What was that?

Oh, yes sir.

Here it is.

"Delay in unloading ships
at Noumea is alarming.

"It is noted that some ships
have been at Noumea harbor

"waiting to be unloaded
for three months.

"We unload ships
at San Francisco

"in three days."

Now that's mighty damn
smart of them.

You send them a message.

Tell them if they'll give us
the unloading facilities
they have at San Francisco,

we'll unload a ship
in one day.

Shall I hold that
until morning, sir?

No, send it.

The Admiral might
change his mind.

That's the second time
somebody has said that
to me tonight.

Change my mind.

Yeah, you're right,
I might do just that.

You don't change your mind,

although I know some minds
that could stand changing.

And I won't
exclude my own.

You change the direction
in which you're going.

You don't change your mind.

As you go along
and get higher up

in this organization
or any organization,

each time you change
direction you take more...
More people with you.

More of your fellow men.

It'd be a whole lot easier
if you could go alone,
wouldn't it, Harry?

Yes, sir.

But I...
I don't suppose

anybody ever goes
completely alone,
do you?

Sir?

There aren't very many things
you can really count on,

not really.

I recall a fellow,
end of a long life,

who said he learned
only three things.

He said,

"I believe it's better
to tell the truth than to lie.

"I believe it's better to know
than to be ignorant.

"I believe it's better
to be free

"than to be a slave."

Covers quite a bit at that,
doesn't it, Harry?

Contact, sir.

MALE VOICES: (DISTORTED)
Contact, contact,
contact, contact.

Contact, contact,
contact, contact.

Contact, contact,
contact, contact.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

Contact, contact.

Bridge to CIC.

CIC, aye.

Closing target 539000.

(EXPLOSIONS)

(DISTORTED VOICES)

(EXPLOSIONS)

I don't know, sir.
He hasn't been seeing
anybody this morning.

Yes?

HARRY: Captain Black, sir.

Come in.

Good morning, sir.

Good morning.

May I offer my
personal condolences, sir,

on the deaths
of Admiral Scott,
Admiral Callaghan?

I know how close
they were to you,

and how much their
friendship meant to you.

Thank you, Harry.

I have a dispatch here
from General Vandergrift.

Read it.

"To Scott, Callaghan
and their men
goes our greatest homage.

"With magnificent courage
against seemingly
hopeless odds,

"they drove back
the hostile stroke
and made success possible.

"To them
the men of Guadalcanal

"lift their battered helmets
in deepest admiration."

That was nice
of Archie, very nice.

Yes, sir.

There's another
dispatch, sir.

Read it.

It's personal, sir.

They found him.
Yes, sir.

Coast Watchers located
your son and his crew
early this morning.

They're all well?
All well, sir.

I was just about
to write Mrs. Halsey.

I understand, sir.
I'm a lucky man.

Yes, sir. And the day
is still very young, sir.

Just one more.

They're giving me
another star.

Sets of four stars
are in short supply,
hereabouts, sir.

I had a machinist mate
fix up a homemade pair.

A machinist mate?
Yes, sir.

Well that's...
That's very nice.

Have we anybody from the staff
going back to the States soon?

Yes, I believe
Lieutenant Lockwood
is leaving tomorrow.

Tomorrow?
Yes, sir.

Will you ask him
to do me a favor?

What's that, sir?

Will you ask him
to deliver these
personally

to Dan Callaghan's
widow?

Yes, sir.

And these
to Norm Scott's widow,

with the message,

that their husbands
earned me my new stars.

Yes, sir.

May I add
my warmest
congratulations, Admiral?

Not only on the promotion,
but on the turn of events
at Guadalcanal.

Even Frank Enright thinks
we may have them licked.

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

Yamamoto doesn't seem
to know
that he's licked.

The rest of their force
is continuing down
the Slot on schedule.

Herding 20 transports
loaded with
invasion troops.

According to the book,
we don't send battleships

into waters
as narrow as those,
especially at night.

Forget the book?
Forget the book.

Detach Admiral Lee's
force from the
Enterprise
and send it ahead tonight.

Yes, sir.

HALSEY: The
Enterprise
planes can
follow up tomorrow.

Yes, sir.

May I see the Admiral?

What is it, Mike?

We've broken
the Jap code.

Yes, sir.
That was intercepted
from the Shortlands area.

Yamamoto's plane
is due to land
at the Jap air base in Kahili

at 11:35 on the 18th.

We've hit the Jackpot.
You think so?

Admiral, this was
made to order.

That's what bothers me.

HARRY: Admiral Lee
has been notified, sir.

A chance to
get Yamamoto.

Not only Yamamoto
but his whole Staff.

About 750 miles.

That's out of range
for anything we've got,

but the Army P-38's
could make it.

We break the Jap code
at just the right minute.

Then this message falls
into our lap
at just the right minute.

How do we know
this isn't a trap?

We don't, sir.

On the other hand,
if it is a trap,

wouldn't they go
about it a little
more subtly?

Washington leaves that
up to you, sir.

Advise
Archie Vandergrift
and Geiger

I'm leaving
for Guadalcanal now.

Yes, sir.

(SIRENS BLARING)

I see no point,
none at all in
speculating about a trap.

If Yamamoto
doesn't show,

the P-38's will refuse
combat and hightail it.

The question is,
what's the best
plan of attack?

Well, sir, I don't think
that we should try
to get him in the air.

There's too many variables,
the weather conditions,

he may be late,
he may be early,
we might miss him.

How would you do it,
Andy?

Well, hit him
when he's most vulnerable.

After he's landed
on Ballale island,

he's scheduled
to take a sub chaser
from there to Buin.

ANDY: I say strafe him
when he's on the water.

What do you say, Lamphier?

Oh. Well,
no pun intended, sir,

but I think
that approach is all wet.

Could you be a little bit
more explicit, Captain?

Sure.

Now Army pilot's
are gonna carry the ball
in this thing, correct?

Well, I hate to
embarrass anybody,

but the plain fact is
that Army pilots,
including yours,

truly, are not so hot
on Naval identification.

Based on past performance
I'd say there's
a strong possibility

that we might
pick out something else
instead of the sub chaser.

Oh, now looky here...

I'm not through.

If we do strafe
the right boat,

we could miss Yamamoto,
or maybe just wound him.

And if we sink the boat,
what's the guarantee
that he won't swim away?

Well, there's no guarantee
that you're gonna get him
in the air, either.

Your way might work,
Andy, but...

I think the fellow
who has to do the job
should call the play.

We'll go for him in the air.

(PLANES HOVERING)

I counted
only 14, sir.

Must've been
some mechanical trouble.

Four of those P-38's
didn't get off.

18 was little enough.

Signal from
Admiral Lee, sir.

Lee's lost two destroyers,
but he sank the
Kirishima.

The Japs have
reversed course.

Sounds like our chance
for a field day.

And we're gonna
make the most of it.

Clear the decks at
daybreak and go after

those two transports.
Yes, sir.

I want your B-17Ts
in on this.
Yes, sir.

And notify
the
Enterprise.

I want her boys
in on this, too.

Yes, sir.

They're landing
and taking off again

as fast as they can
rearm and refuel.

It's becoming
a shuttle run.

The Jap escorts
are abandoning
the troop ships.

Well, from here on end
it'll be like shooting
fish in a barrel.

Keep pouring it on.

Yes, sir.

Roy.

General Geiger.

Sir?

Any word on the
Yamamoto thing?

Not yet, sir.

If Yamamoto was
on schedule,

they should have
intercepted him at 9:50.

That was
40 minutes ago.

They'll have
to get well
out of the area

before they can break
radio silence
and report, Admiral.

I think it's
still a little
early for that.

Another flight back
from the transports.

(PLANE WHIRRING)

Andy?

How is it?

Oh, we're rolling up
a big score.

Any word from
that bunch that you
sent after Yamamoto?

Not yet.

Andy, how many runs have you
made over those transports?

This next one
will be my fourth.

(ALL CHEERING)

They got him, sir!
They got him!

Tom Lamphier got Yamamoto.
A confirmed kill.

Rex Barber splashed
the other Betty
carrying Yamamoto's staff.

Both aircraft.
Good works, Admiral,
a complete success.

(MARINES CHEER)

What were our losses?

Four aircraft, sir.

(EXCITED CHATTER)

How do I look?

Unusual, sir.

Well, I guess I better
get it over with.

Yes, sir.

Goodbye, Manuel.
Goodbye, sir.

Request permission
to leave the ship.

Request granted.
Hand salute.

(WHISTLE BLOWS)

♪ I knew a lad who went to sea

♪ And left the shore
behind him

♪ I knew him well
the lad was me

♪ And now I cannot find him

NARRATOR: There are no
great men. There are only
great challenges

that ordinary men are forced
by circumstances to meet.