Original subtitles

("The Marines' Hymn" plays)

♪ From the halls of Montezuma ♪

♪ To the shores of Tripoli ♪

♪ We fight our country's battles ♪

♪ In the air on land and sea ♪

♪ First to fight for right and freedom ♪

♪ And to keep our honor clean ♪

♪ We are proud to claim the title ♪

♪ Of U nited States Marine ♪

♪ First to fight for right and freedom ♪

♪ And to keep our honor clean ♪

♪ We are proud to claim the title ♪

♪ Of U nited States Marine ♪

(thrilling orchestral music)

(stately orchestral music)

(dramatic music)

- [Dunne] This is the story ol a squad of Marines,

a rille squad.

I'm Corporal Robcrt Dunne,

a mcmber ol that squad.

Wc were at Guadalcanal

and when that island was dcclared securc,

we were pulled out lor a rest,

relittin9, replacements and retrainin9.

The Marine Corps is lon9 on trainin9

and retrainin9 and re-- let that 90.

After thc canal, we were sent to Camp Paekakariki

ncar Wellin9ton, New Zealand.

Here, we received our rcplacements.

Marines lrom statcside.

A lon9 way lrom stateside, 8,000 miles.

- Well, well, now I can see

you're a man who knows how to Iive.

Solid comforf.

- Solid malaria, son.

- Malaria, huh? Contagious?

- No, not this week.

You can stay.

- Nice place you got here.

Regazzi's my name, Benny Regazzi.

- Bob Dunne's my name.

I'm duty NCO today.

- Oh , great, great.

Meet my friends.

This big guy is "Handsome" Dan Shipley.

- H iya. - Good to know you.

- What a physique!

The girls see him on a beach,

they just faint right away.

He comes through this war alive,

I'm gonna make him a big movie star.

- And those two guys, FIynns.

That's Eddie and that's Frank.

- [Dunne] Hi Eddie. - Hi, Corporal.

- What do you say, Dunne?

- The main point is they don't drink

and I already got their beer ration.

And this is Georgie Hellenpolis, an lrishman.

- [Dunne] Hello, George. - Hello Sporf.

- Hey, where'd you get those cards?

- Off your sack on the ship, why?

- 'Cause they're mine, that's why.

- Listen junior, I've seen a lot of things in those bags

that aren't yours.

- Come on, gimme.

- Semper fi, Mac.

(fighters scuffle)

- Hey, hey! - No, no, no.

Leave alone, leave alone.

It happens 20 times a day.

You know where those guys come from?

- No. - Philadelphia.

The city of brotherly love.

And by the way, who's the squad leader?

- Sergeant Stryker.

- Uh, what's he like?

- You'll find out.

- Oh great, I've been in New Zealand two hours

and already they're clamming up on me.

I'll find out.

- I sure hope this guy knows his stuff.

- Maybe we're gonna get liberfy, huh?

- But we ain't replacements anymore, are we?

- [Thomas] Where is he? Where's the sergeant?

- He's here.

- [Thomas] Well, what do you know? Stryker.

- Hello, Thomas.

- Thought you were in the first.

- I was.

Sit down.

Just sit down, Thomas. Anywhere.

My name is Stryker.

Sergeant John M. Stryker.

You're gonna be my squad; a rifle squad.

Three of us have seen action :

Corporal Dunne, Charlie Bass, and myself.

You're gonna Iearn from us.

In bootcamp, you learned out of a book.

Out here, you gotta remember the book

and Iearn a thousand things

that have never been printed,

probably never will be.

You gotta Iearn right and you gotta Iearn fast.

And any man that doesn't wanna cooperate,

I'll make him wish he hadn't been born.

Before I'm through with you ,

you're gonna move like one man

and think like one man.

If you don't, you'll be dead.

Now you guys have had a nice, easy day.

I hope you enjoyed it

because it's the last one

you're gonna get for a long time.

You joined the Marines because you wanted to fight.

Well, you're gonna get your chance

and I'm here to see that you know how.

And if I can't teach you one way,

I'll teach you another,

but I'm gonna get the job done.

The skipper of this outfit is Captain Joyce.

PIatoon Ieader is Lieutenant Baker.

Platoon sergeant, Sergeant Wright.

Any questions?

That's all.

- 10,000 sergeants in this corps

and I got to draw Stryker.

- Hey, you knew this guy before, huh?

- Yeah, I know him before,

we were stationed together in China.

Twice he kept me from getting a promotion.

Turned me in once, 30 days I got.

He was a sergeant major then.

Must have done something pretty cute

to get busted down to three stripes.

- Oh, what did he turn you in for?

- Oh, for-- that's not imporfant.

What's imporfant is the fact that he turned me in.

Maybe that guy didn't write the manual,

but you can bet he can recite it and backwards.

Probably got the regulations tattooed on his chest.

- Pront and back, Mac.

Front and back.

Say, isn't your name AI Thomas?

- Yeah.

- [Bass] Weren't you a fighter?

- Just in the Marine Corps.

Runner up in a heavyweight division , Pacific FIeet.

- [Bass] Tell him who you're a runner up to, Thomas.

- Stryker. Lucky punch.

- Al, meet your new manager.

After this war, we'll make a forfune.

- Tell him why you lost your stripes.

- You know, my natural dislike for you

is gradually developing into a great hate, Bass.

- Don't let this guy do your thinking for you.

You can depend on a square deal from Stryker.

- Yeah, you bet.

Square deal.

I'm just Iooking forward to the first time

Stryker and I come head to head when we're off duty.

(bag thuds)

- Hey, take it easy with that hand, champ.

(dramatic music)

- Saddle up. Saddle up.

(dramatic music)

(dramatic music)

- [Sergeant] All right, take a break.

- Halt, take a break.

- [Sergeant] How's your squad look, Stryker?

- See me in about six months.

(Stryker sighs)

Conway!

I was checking over the records last night.

Your father was Colonel Sam Conway.

- What if he was?

- I was with him 10 months ago on the canal.

He was my CO before he got killed.

The best officer and finest man I ever served under.

I thought if you-- - Thanks,

I'll keep it in mind.

(rifle thuds)

- For that, you sleep with your rifle tonight.

- It was an accident.

- Nobody in this outfit drops their rifle.

- [Sergeant] Pall in and move on.

- AIright, saddle up.

Pick it up.

- Sometimes I don't know which I hate worse,

him or the nips.

(tense music)

- Your father was a good marine.

- Till 10 months ago.

- And you shipped in when he was killed.

- I shipped in because I was expected to ship in.

Seems every time there's a war,

the men in my family joined the Marines.

I'm the last of the Conways, so here I am.

- I guess your father would be pretty proud

to know you're carrying on the tradition.

- Not my father.

He'd have expected me to find some soft duty somewhere.

In fact, he told me so.

- I don't get it.

- Well, I embarrassed my father.

I wasn't tough enough for him , too soft.

"No guts" was the phrase he used.

Now Stryker, he's the type of man

my father wanted me to be.

"Pinest man I ever served under."

Yeah, I bet they got along just fine together,

both of 'em with ramrods strapped on their backs.

But not me.

I'm a civilian , not a Marine.

They're not gonna strap one on mine.

I'm in here strictly for tradition.

- That the only reason?

- Yeah, why?

- Nothing.

Stryker knows his business.

- So did Jack the Ripper.

- Knock off the skylarking , Dunne.

You're in the wrong column.

Left foot closed in there.

(indistinct), look alive.

(Choynski grunts, sputters)

(Choynski pants)

Choynski, you're all left feet!

- Choynski!

- [Choynski] Yes sir.

- What do you think you're doing?

- [Choynski] Running the bayonet course, sir.

- Not in this Ieague, you're not.

- [Choynski] Yes sir.

- Your men are pretty ragged , Stryker.

- Yes sir.

- That ought to take some of the starch out of Stryker.

His little boys didn't do so well.

- If they hang him up between a couple of those poles,

we'd do a lot better.

- Choynski.

- Okay, so I'm left-handed.

- En guard, gimme a rifle.

- What is this?

- You can't Iearn the easy way,

you'Il Iearn the hard way.

All right, make a thrust.

- What, without a scabbard?

- [Stryker] You heard me.

- You mean this way?

- Yeah, like this.

You get the idea?

Corpsman!

All right, saddle up.

We'll do it again.

Pick it up!

(sergeant barks marching orders indistinctly)

- [Thomas] Sky, you're a celebrity.

Only unkissable guy in camp.

- Hey, listen , this thing hurts.

It ain't funny.

It's gonna spoil my Iiberfy.

No dame's gonna come near a map like this.

- Don't worry, Sky, I got the scoop.

No liberfy for three months.

We got all the time in the world.

- Three months?

Where did you get a hold of that?

- I got spies everywhere.

- You know, they ought to throw the book at Stryker

for doing a thing like this to Sky.

- They won't.

They'll probably give 'em a citation

for teaching us to be good, careful Marines.

- Choynski!

Oh.

They tell me you're gonna Iive.

You had it lucky today.

Someone had been instructing you that didn't like you ,

you might not have had it so good.

You better put in a little homework

on that bayonet course.

- If somebody had been instructing me who didn't like me?

I wonder what he does to the guys he hates.

- Ah, 365 days in a year

and I gotta pick this one to nick myself.

- [Pvt] You should use a blow torch

on a stubble like yours.

- Look who's putting out the scuttlebutt.

No Iiberfy for three months, he says.

- So somebody made a mistake?

You got no kick coming.

- Well, you have.

So don't go turn in your back.

Mm-hmm will we take Hollywood with them physiques.

(water splashes) (Regazzi gasps)

- [Mail] Mail call, first platoon!

- That's for me!

- Hey, Wright, any mail for Stryker?

- No.

- It's gonna be rugged again tonight.

- You know Bass,

he isn't gonna solve his problems with whiskey.

- Well, what would you do

if your wife pulled out and took your kid along?

- After five years, I'd forget it.

- Stryker's not much on forgetting.

Sorry, no letter for you.

- I know it.

- You know how it is with a 10-year-old kid.

Writing a letter's a chore.

There could be a thousand reasons

why he didn't write.

- A million.

- Cut it out.

- Cut what out?

- Brushing me.

You know the kid's all right.

Maybe Mary influenced him not to write.

- That she wouldn't do.

- Eh, of course not.

You know, Stryker, you're a very unusual character.

- Can this be love?

- You know what I mean.

A lot of guys wouldn't have understood

that a woman needs well,

more than being married to a guy

who's racket drags him all over the world;

that a woman wants a home

and a guy to come in and out on time every day.

You can tell me to shut up if you wanna.

- If you can't talk to me, who can?

- Well, don't do it.

Just for once, don't do it.

- Don't do what?

- Well, just for once, don't starf out

to get blind , staggering, stinking,

falling down drunk.

- Charlie, nobody starfs out

to get blind , staggering, stinking,

falling down drunk.

- [Bass] Yeah, some people do.

Why don't you leave half your dough with me?

- You've got an old maid's feelings.

You worry.

And don't try to follow me tonight,

or I'll put a dent in that ugly head of yours.

- Ready, Shipley?

- Yeah, just a minute.

- Hey, what's the matter? - Nothing.

- Eddie didn't field strip

his M 1 blindfolded fast enough to suit Stryker,

so he turned him in to the skipper

and they canceled Eddie's Iiberfy.

- Perhaps our rough, tough sergeant with a hearf of gold

hasn't got a hearf of gold after all.

But he cerfainly is--

- You talk too much.

You think I restricted Flynn for my own amusement?

- I think your punishment's unreasonable.

- Cancel a man's first liberfy

after so many months for a minor mistake.

- I'm gonna tell you something, Conway.

I'm gonna tell all of you.

I'm gonna make it nice and simple

so you'll all understand it.

They handed me you guys as a present,

a regular Easter basket.

And they told me to get you into some kind of shape

so you could handle a little piece of this war,

and that's what I'm gonna do.

And that means I'm gonna tell you what to do,

every day and every minute of every day.

I'm gonna tell you how to button your buttons,

I'll even tell you when to blow your noses.

And if you do something I don't like, I'm gonna jump.

And when I land , it'll hurf.

I'm gonna ride you till you can't stand up.

But when you do stand up,

you're gonna be Marines.

Flynn stays here.

- Extra hard product of a hard school.

Tough luck, Flynn.

- Well, if my brother doesn't get to go to town,

I'm not gonna go in . - Aw, shut up.

- Who you tellin' to shut up?

- You, you shed ape!

- Hey, Shipley, we better get outta here

before we all lose our liberfy.

I wanna see some of those Wellington babes!

(swooning dance music)

(Regazzi hums)

- How do you feel, boy?

- Like a bird!

A little bird with feathers on it.

- Well, don't fly away, little bird.

- I can't, I'm still in the egg.

Oh , beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.

I wanna dance.

- You're gonna sit down.

- I'm gonna sit down.

- Yes ma'am , Tennessee.

That's where I come from.

Greatest state in the union.

They call it the volunteer state.

Right there is where I'm from , Smithville, Tennessee.

What a town.

These are all cousins on my mama's side

and these are all my cousins on Papa's side.

We got the best corn tobacco there is, too.

And you know something else?

More ferfilizer comes from Tennessee

than any other place in the world.

- Listen to that band!

Zombies, they're all dead.

- Maybe they like their music that way down under.

- Or maybe they don't know any other kind.

I got my work cut out for me.

I'm gonna talk these boys into a little session.

- [Bass] Maybe they don't have it in them.

- By the time I'm through, they'll have it in them.

Meanwhile, they're breaking my hearf.

See you Iater. - Oh, beautiful,

beautiful, beautiful.

(swooning orchestral music)

- There is a happy man.

- Wait till tomorrow morning.

- Oh, don't be a kill joy.

Go on , dance.

I'll watch him.

- I'm not much on dancing.

- [AIlison] You might try, just this once.

- No thanks.

(swooning band music)

- Pete's my name, Pete Conway.

- AIIison.

- Hello, AIIison.

- Hello Pete.

(group applauds)

- You're warm , wanna sit down?

- No, I'm afraid you might get away

and I don't want to lose you.

- Cutting in.

- Shove off, Mac.

(gentle band music)

(trumpet blares)

(group murmurs indistinctly) (trumpet plays)

(crowd cheers)

(upbeat playful band music)

What would you say if I suggested

we went outside for some fresh air?

- I'd say I'm not supposed

to leave the club with service men,

but to you, I'd say yes.

- Now what?

I know all about you and you know all about me.

- You'll be missing your train.

- I'll float back on thin air.

(AIIison sighs, Iaughs)

- I wouldn't want you to do that,

you might catch cold.

- Funny, isn't it?

Here, I just met you tonight

and I feel as though I'd known you all my life.

- I feel that way too.

- 10,000 miles away.

- Not now.

- I wanna see you again.

Every time I get liberty,

I wanna see you.

- I'll be here.

- Allison?

- Yes?

- I'm glad I met you tonight.

(swooning orchestral music)

- The train.

- I know.

- I'll walk with you to the station.

I can get a taxi from there.

- No, I'll walk home with you.

- No, you might miss your train

and I might not see you again for a long time.

- Anytime I get Iiberfy, she says,

just call her up.

(group laughs)

Man, what a barmaid.

I think I'll finish the war right here.

- You drink anymore of that stuff you had in there

and you probably will.

You know, I just figured out

why they ain't got no rats in New Zealand.

- Yeah? - They killed them all

with that whiskey,

before they starfed selling it to us.

- We'll drink worse than that before we get through.

- You know, they may bury me at sea tomorrow,

but tonight I got that nice warm feeling.

I got a great future for the next couple of hours.

- Hey Sky, you're bleeding.

- Uh-uh, Iipstick.

- Hey, fellas! Look what I found!

- Hey Sporfs, look!

- Boy, he's really carrying a Ioad.

- Gyrene.

- Hey Mac, you're a little off your course, Mac!

Well what do you know, Stryker!

- Why, he's sure a mess.

- He sure is.

- Yeah , now I know what happened to those stripes.

Come on.

U h-oh.

Shore Patrol.

Yeah, that's what it is, all right.

Come on you guys, gimme a hand.

- You mean you're gonna help this guy?

- Listen, if he cut my mother's throat five minutes ago,

I wouldn't let them swabbies get their mitts on him.

What a break.

I find this guy all set to drop a couple of stripes

and the shore patrol's gotta show up.

- Yeah , but look what he done to me.

- Don't tell me he kissed you.

- Couple of fine pals you are.

- Semper Fi, Mac.

Oh, that's a great one, Charlie.

Listen, I ever tell you about the guy

that was getting on a train down a Kiakov.

He was on his way up to Des Moines

and the funniest thing happened.

- [Sky] I don't know what you guys are helping him for.

He never done nothing for you.

- I'll take care of it.

- Where did you come from?

- Nevermind that.

He don't need you guys.

- Well, how do you like that?

- [Sky] He must follow Stryker around like a little dog.

- [Thomas] Ah, what do you care, Sky?

At least he took him off our hands.

- [Dunne] The day after our leave,

we drew a 22 mile hikc

over terrain carefully selected, all uphill.

And it was a weary bunch of Marines

who pitched pup tents that ni9ht

and 9ratelully loldcd thcmselves inside.

- Bob?

- Hmm?

- Do you believe in love at first sight?

(Bob scoffs)

- All kinds.

- I never did before.

I sure do now.

- Why do you have to tell me now?

- Because I'm thinking about it now.

And I'm gonna marry that girl.

- [Dunne] What girl?

- [Conway] The girl I met last night.

- You'll feel better in the morning.

- I couldn't feel any better than I do right now.

- You know, I've been thinking.

Why do men get married during the war?

- Dunno.

- It's the worst time.

- Mm-hm.

- I used to fool around a lot,

but I never thought about getting married.

I know a lot of girls back in the States,

but you know,

I think it's because when you get out here,

you're close to things.

You realize way down inside,

no matter how much you try not to think about it,

that maybe something's got your number on it

and you want to leave a little bit of yourself behind.

It doesn't matter whether it's a boy or a girl,

just so long as you know you won't be forgotten.

There'll be someone who never have lived

if it hadn't been for you.

Am I right?

(Dunne snores)

I think I'm right.

(gentle music)

Eep engine roars, rumbles)

- Hey Conway, got a pass?

- Might have.

- All right, hop in.

I'll give you a Iift.

Eep engine roars)

I hear you got a girl in town.

- What if I have?

- They say she's a very nice girl.

- They talk too much.

- You serious about her?

You know, with things the way they are,

this is no time to starf getting serious with a girl.

Don't know how long you're gonna be here,

don't know when you'll be back again,

don't even know how long you're gonna be alive.

- Listen, Stryker.

If it's in the line of duty,

you can tell me to do something and I'll do it.

But as far as my personal life goes,

keep your hands off.

- It's the same thing your father'd have told you.

- I wouldn't have Iistened to him either.

- That's right, you never did.

- How do you know? - He told me.

- What did he say?

Nevermind , I'll tell you what he said.

He said I was a disappointment, right?

He said I didn't have what it takes, right?

He said I wouldn't be able to stand up for myself, right?

- You're doing the talking.

- No, Stryker.

My father's doing the talking.

Every time you open your mouth ,

my father's doing the talking.

Every thought you think is my father's thought.

It's as though he was standing at my shoulder all the time,

but he didn't always say the right thing

and he didn't always think the right thing.

You're gonna find that out.

When the time comes,

you're gonna find that out.

But until then , leave me alone.

- Do you want a Iift into town or not?

- Yeah, sure.

(gentle music)

- What's the matter?

- Nothing, why?

- Hardly said a word since you got here.

- You're right.

I've been thinking.

- About us?

- Myself.

- That's selfish.

- Honey, do you think I'm a brave man?

- What a funny question to ask.

- Well, do you?

- I don't know, why?

- I've got to prove something to somebody.

- Who?

- You don't know him.

He's dead now.

- Yes, Pete.

I think you're brave.

- That helps.

You don't know how much that helps.

Let's not talk about it anymore.

We should have been talking about ourselves all this time.

You in relation to me,

me in relation to you.

What's gonna happen to us?

- What do you want to happen?

- I wanna marry you.

- I want that too.

Funny, we barely know each other.

We see each other for what seems only moments,

and yet--

- I know what you mean.

Aunty music)

- Choynski, not going to the wedding, huh?

- No.

Sarge, I guess I'd better get a transfer.

I can't learn this bayonet business.

I'm all thumbs.

- En guard.

- What? Oh no, Sarge. Not again.

I'm not well from the last time!

- En guard!

Play that thing again.

You Iead . - What?

- You Iead. aunty music)

Shift your weight.

Left, left!

Aunty music)

There, keep it up.

You'll get the knack of it.

Practice that about a half an hour every day.

Aunty music)

- Hey Sarge, I got it!

Aunty music)

- You know, that's the first time I've been in church

since I was 14 years old.

- This kissing the bride's a great invention.

I should get in on a wedding every day.

- Yeah , sure makes me homesick.

- What's the matter with you?

- He looks the same!

- Now how do you expect him to look?

- Oh, you know, married!

- Wrinkles around the eyes, worried like me!

(group laughs)

- 44 hours and thirfy four minutes left, get going.

- Excuse me, sporfs.

Here's a little wedding present.

From the gang.

- You've all been so wondertul,

I don't know how to thank you.

- Are you sure you've got the right guy?

- I'm sure.

- Come on, get going!

(car door thuds)

(car horn honks) (car engine revs)

- Semper felice, Mac!

(George speaks native language)

- Keep the situation well in hand , Pete!

- Well, we get 44 hours and thirfy three minutes.

What are we gonna do?

- AI, if I was a girl, I'd marry you.

(group laughs) (indistinct chatter)

- [Thomas] Hey, what am I doing?

- 44 hours and thirty two minutes.

That isn't very long, is it?

- No, not long at all.

- I wonder how many other people

have had just 44 hours and thirfy two minutes.

- Lots, I guess.

- We'll make it seem a long time.

- Yes.

(swooning orchestral music)

Shall I open it?

- Sure, go ahead.

(paper crinkles) (gentle Iullaby music)

(Pete laughs)

(AIlison Iaughs)

- They're in a hurry, aren't they?

- [Dunne] Othcr people were in a hurry, too.

The orders said move out

and thc Marines moved out.

11 days at sca, dcstination:

only the top brass knew.

Thou9h, ol course, scuttlebutt knew the answer.

A hundred answers, all wron9.

- One-two, one-two, squad halt!

One-two, rest.

- Too bad you couldn't see her again,

they didn't give you much time.

- We knew it might happen.

I'll be back, I've got to believe that.

- Sure, we'll all be back.

- [Marine] Gangway!

- That's no way to carry a flag , Regazzi.

- Huh?

- I've got to teach you everything.

- Now watch this.

What are gonna do with this, Benny?

- I'm gonna put that up in Tokyo,

right in the middle of Times Square.

- There isn't any Times Square in Tokyo, Benny.

- Oh, but there will be when I get there.

- Now that's the way to fold a flag ,

with the blue field showing.

- Well what do you know?

- Hey, you got my shirf!

- Listen, it's my shirf.

- I'm telling you, it's my shirf!

- It's my shirf!

(FIynns grunt)

- Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, here fellas.

Hey, hey, fellas, fellas.

Flynn, you better quit fighting so much.

If you don't, one of you's apt to get hurf.

(both Flynns thud)

Corpsmen, corpsmen.

(explosion booms)

- What's that?

- Relax, it's the navy clearing his throat.

- Sure don't sound like no squirrel gun.

- I hope those guys practice real good.

What island do you think we're aiming at, Sarge?

- The man will give us a word when it's a time.

- [Bass] AIright men, here it is.

- [Eddie] Hey, it looks like a pork chop.

What's its name?

- [Bass] Tarawa.

- [Harris] Never heard of it.

Must be the wrong place.

- [Bass] It's parf of an atoll, called Tarawa Atoll.

This parficular island is called Betio.

Don't ask me how you spell it.

You'll have to stick your faces into it,

but you don't have to spell it.

This is Red Beach three, that's us.

- What do they got there?

- Everything.

This island's held by a special naval landing force.

That means Japanese marines,

the best they've got.

They're dug in and they're mean.

They'd just as soon die

as stick a nickel in a jukebox,

but that's all right.

Let the other guy die for his country,

you'll Iive for yours.

By the time we hit this island ,

I want every man-- - What's the matter?

- Nothing.

- You better get over there.

- I can hear him from here.

- I said, get over there.

I don't want anybody in the outfit to get hurf

because you didn't listen.

(dramatic music)

(arfillery blasts)

(explosions boom distantly)

- Hey, school teacher,

do me some homework.

- What's your problem, son?

- Put down 5,000.

Scuttlebutt says that that's how many nips on that rock.

Now the Iieutenant told us

the Navy fired a thousand tons of shells.

- Don't forget about the fly-fly boys.

- Yeah, those B-24s have really been working 'em over.

- And how! For six days.

- Now add the tons of explosives,

divide it by the nips

and get the answer.

Hey, maybe we'll be back aboard for noon chow!

- Don't figure that way.

The navy and the fly-fly boys

unloaded plenty of that stuff on the canaI

before we went in, too.

But when we got ashore,

there were still a lot of those

little Iemon colored characters waiting for us.

Only way that island was taken

was by putting Marines on the beach.

- We just heard the word from the mount itself.

A naval fire is a waste of time and metal.

Stryker knows better.

- Who cut you in on this conversation?

- Are you telling me when I can and can't talk?

- I'm telling you when you can't talk to me.

- [Marine 2] Knock it off, Conway.

- No, I'm not gonna knock it off.

Stryker, I've had just about enough

of your hard-bitten sergeant of the foreign legion attitude.

You're so big , everybody's been afraid

to take a punch at you.

Well, I'm not afraid.

- Cool off.

You guys had better forget

that pencil and paper routine

and starf worrying about staying alive

when you hit the beach.

Don't expect any soft touch.

- [PA] Now hear this, now hear this.

All troops report to your debarkin9 station.

- Saddle up.

(somber music) (explosions blast distantly)

- All right men, sound off when your name is called.

Stryker, Soames, Regazzi and Dunne!

- Now hear this, there'Il be no movies tonight!

(indistinct shouting) (dramatic music)

(arfillery blasts)

(plane engines roar)

(missiles screech) (explosions boom)

(explosions boom)

(gunshots fire rapidly) (explosions boom)

(boat motors rumble)

(arfillery blasts)

- Well, the place is open up for business.

(arfillery blasts)

- Missed.

- Maybe they're firing blanks.

- Maybe they got a two-headed kid aiming for them.

- Hey, maybe this is just maneuvers, huh?

(explosions boom)

(explosions boom) (plane engines roar)

(explosions blast)

- All right, get down now.

We're crossing the line of deparfure.

Lock and Ioad!

(explosions boom)

(explosions boom)

(gunshots fire) (explosions boom)

- Good luck, Sarge.

- Charlie, gimme a hand here.

Lieutenant Baker!

Hit the deck.

How is it, Farmer?

- Got hit! Hit me!

- Corpsman! You'll be alright.

(arfillery fires) (explosions boom)

(arfillery fires)

- They got us pinned down!

We can't get over these Iogs.

Well, I'm going to get out while I can!

- Stay here, kid!

(arfillery fires) (explosions boom)

(gunshots fire) (explosions boom)

- If we're gonna be killed here,

I'd like to get at 'em.

- What's the rush?

This is a nice place.

(explosion booms)

(Regazzi speaks native language)

- Huh?

- They got (indistinct) the Iieutenant.

- They're gonna get all of us if we don't move out of here.

We are like fish in a barrel, lying here.

- Is this what we've been training for?

To take it Iaying down?

- [Eddie] Yeah, come on Sarge, do something about it!

- You'll stay right where you are

until I tell you to move out.

(explosions boom)

- You gotta get us outta here!

- If you're nervous, count your toes.

I'll do the masterminding around here.

(explosions boom) (gunshots fire)

- Where's Lieutenant Baker?

- Machine gun, sir.

- The squad all right, Stryker?

- All but one.

What's holding us down, sir?

- That bunker, an old power plant.

Millions of pounds of bombs on the stinking place

and they're still killing us! - Smoke, sir?

- Thanks.

I've sent for flame throwers to assist our demolition.

I want your squad to supporf them.

Follow me. - Yes sir.

You heard the skipper, move out and stay down!

(gunshots fire rapidly) (explosions boom)

(arfillery blasts)

- We've gotta silence that bunker!

(arfillery blasts)

(explosions boom)

- Request naval gunfire be lifted

on target areas coordinates 2460 sugar tare, over.

Roger and out.

(explosions boom) (gunshots fire rapidly)

(gunshots fire rapidly)

Flamethrowers out (indistinct) demolition in!

(gunshots fire)

(explosions boom distantly) (gunshots fire)

(flamethrower roars) (gunshots fire)

(explosions boom)

Demolition, out! (gunshots fire)

(guns fire rapidly)

Shipley!

(guns fire rapidly)

Gimme a hand with this pack.

(gunshots fire)

(gunshots fire rapidly)

(gunshots fire)

- Throw it!

(gunshots fire rapidly)

(explosion booms) (victorious music)

- Move out!

(victorious music) (gunshots fire)

(gunshots fire)

(explosions pop)

(gunshots fire rapidly)

(explosion booms)

(gunshots fire)

- Get him out of there!

Well, there goes one of your nine, Stryker.

- Now we got tanks!

- Better late than never.

- Come!

- Corpsman! Corpsman!

This way!

- Don't wait, they'll find me.

Keep going.

Get 'em for me.

Find Stryker.

Stick with him.

He's good people.

Tell him I-- I--

(somber music)

(tense music)

(gunshots fire)

(gunshots fire)

(gunshots fire distantly)

- I'd like to know where the rest of the squad went.

What's this place?

(gunshots fire)

- Whatever it is, it ain't healthy.

- [Thomas] Let's get outta here!

(gunshots fire rapidly)

- That was a close one.

Next time, don't be in such a hurry.

- You're a cross, ain't you?

- Across what? To where?

I'm running old ammo.

- I am too.

- Forgot about that.

Well, we gotta get some more.

- I'll go. - I'll go.

- Wait a minute.

Take an number from one to six.

- Two

- Five.

- You're both wrong.

(Thomas grunts) (tense music)

(gunshots fire)

(tense music)

- That guy kills me.

(gunshots fire) - Yeah.

(gunshots fire)

- Thomas better hurry!

(gunshots fire) (explosion booms)

- How about some bandoliers, Mac?

- Help yourself.

How are things going up front?

- Pretty rough.

Keep it coming.

- Good Iuck.

- Hey, is that coffee I smell?

- It sure is, Mac.

Do you want some?

- Do I want some, he says.

I haven't had any joe since we left the ship!

(gunshots fire distantly)

Well, you morfar men sure live the life of Riley here.

- Here you are.

- Oh, beautiful.

(Thomas chuckles)

(gunshots fire)

(gun clicks)

- Where is that guy, Thomas?

- Probably got killed . - Oh, not that guy.

Come on , let's get outta here!

(ominous music)

(dramatic music) (Hellenpolis cries out)

- Can I have some to take back

to a couple of buddies of mine?

- Sure, break out your canteen.

Tell me, how's everything been going?

- Couldn't be better, Mac.

Oh, this is the life.

(ominous music)

Come and get it, you guys!

Ammo and fresh, hot joe!

Hellenpolis, Bass!

(gunshots fire distantly) (tense music)

Hey, Greek!

Hey, Greek!

- What kept you, Thomas?

- Where's Bass?

- Got it.

No ammo.

What kept you, sporf?

(somber music) (explosions fire distantly)

(arfillery blasts) (gunshots fire)

(tank engine rumbles)

(arfillery blasts)

- [Phone Operator] Major Carl, sir.

- Jim, how you doing?

- It's tou9h 9oin9, Oave.

I've committed every man I've got,

but we're dug in and we intend to stay.

- Good.

I've been getting reporfs all day

that the nips are slipping in

on those tank traps to your front.

If its bonsai tonight,

target area 2-41 is a hot spot.

What outlit do you 9ot in there?

- Able company, Joyce and Stryker.

- Well pass the word they gotta dig in and stay put.

No noise and no moving around.

And Jim, don't risk a single man unless you have to.

Just hold on until we can get some more Marines up there.

- [Jim] Aye-aye, Dave.

- Yes sir. - All right.

- Major Crowe has just told me

the nips have been firing into these tank traps

here in front of us.

Now, I want you to disperse your squad

along this section of the line.

Tell you men, there'll be no smoking,

nobody is to move about,

and there'Il be no unnecessary talking.

If they find out how thin we are,

they can fight their way right down onto the beach.

- Skipper, that's a platoon area

and all I got's a beat up squad shorf 3 men.

Couldn't you?

- Can I give you three men?

Stryker, battalion can't give

the whole company three replacements.

All our supporf has been committed.

Your squad is covering a platoon front,

the hottest spot in the line.

If it's an attack tonight, they'll strike you first.

They'Il do everything to find out our disposition.

Now I repeat: your men are not to move.

- Aye-aye, sir.

- Stryker, we're going to hold this line.

- Aye-aye, sir.

- Good Iuck.

(tense music)

(gunshots fire distantly)

- All right, saddle up.

Follow me.

Everybody, let's go.

(explosions blast)

Drop off at intervals, two man foxholes.

Now we're gonna be spread out mighty thin tonight,

so stay down and keep quiet.

Don't risk giving away your position or strength.

You Flynns drop out here-- and no family quarrels.

Dunne and Smith? - Right.

- Drop out here.

No gab tonight.

Jeff and McCarfy.

(explosions blast)

Regazzi, you and Harris here.

Come on, Conway.

(explosion booms) (tense music)

- [Bass] Corpsman!

- Listen.

(explosion booms)

- [Bass] Corpsman!

- That's a marine.

- [Bass] Corpsman! (explosion booms)

- Stryker!

- Get down and stay down.

You had your orders, don't move.

- There's somebody wounded out there.

- Be quiet.

- Let's go over and get him!

- Stay down.

May be an old Jap trick.

They pulled it plenty on the canal.

- It doesn't sound like a Jap to me.

- I don't care what it sounds like to you.

You stick your head up and you'll tip our position.

- [Bass] Stryker!

- It's Bass.

How many Japs know your name, Stryker?

It's Bass, you know his voice.

- Shut up.

- Aren't you human at all?

Don't you realize a friend of yours

may be dying out there? - Knock it off.

- This is what my father taught you ,

be a great marine, be tough.

Well, you can sit here and be tough if you want to,

but I'm going out there and get that guy!

And the only way you can stop me is to kill me.

- [Stryker] That's just what I'll do.

(gun clicks) (tense music)

- [Bass] Stryker, Stryker!

Sarge!

Stryker!

(tense music)

Please, Sarge!

- [Dunne] The island of Tarawa

was officially dcclared securc

at 13:30 on thc fourth day of battle.

The replacements came ashore,

our woundcd werc carcd lor

and thc assault troops werc relieved.

(somber music)

- How am I doing, chaplain?

- God has been good to you , son.

You're on your way home.

(chaplain speaks in Latin)

(ominous music)

- Somebody beat me to it.

(somber music)

(waves crash)

(coffin splashes)

(rifle salute fires)

("Taps" plays)

- Skipper gave out some news.

Parf of it's good , parf of it's bad.

They found Hellenpolis, he's dead.

- He was a good Greek, that Greek.

- But Choynski, Soames and Bass made it.

They're on a hospital ship,

probably stateside bound.

- Oh, I wish I was with them.

- Now let's get below and get cleaned up.

Wash out those dungarees and let's look like Marines.

You too, Thomas.

(somber music)

Dunne.

- Yeah?

- I got a couple of bottles of sake in my gear.

Break it out and give it to the squad.

- Right. - Tell 'em

you got it off a dead nip.

- Why don't you break down a little?

- [Stryker] You got it off a dead nip.

- Aye-aye.

(somber music)

(gentle music)

- Problemmo, problemmo, problemmo, problem--

- What's eating you?

- You know what Stryker's got Iined up for tomorrow?

Another squad problem.

And I'm so tired of problems.

In fact, I'm tired of Stryker.

I'm also tired of beautiful Hawaii.

- Me too.

- [Squad Leader] Louis, Brown.

- Hey champ.

- [Squad Leader] Second to left.

- What do you think of beautiful Hawaii?

- I don't want to talk about it.

- CIamming up again.

You haven't made with the words since Tarawa.

What's with the silence, Champ?

- Knock it off.

- Hey, you got room for me?

(marines speak over each other excitedly)

- They give you time off for good behavior?

- Yeah, that's what it was.

- Hey, hey, hey. Where were you , Pearl Harbor?

- Yeah, nice place.

Pretty nurses.

- Oh boy, I am willing to give somebody five bucks

to shoot me in a foot.

- I'll do it for $2.50.

- You're too willing.

- Hey, there's some replacements out here

assigned to our squad.

I brought 'em along with me.

- Oh, great!

We build up the joint and they come and live in it.

Let's take a look.

- This is Stein and Fowler and McHugh.

- Oh , no. He's Fowler.

Mike McHugh, all the way from Cedar Rapids

to see if this war gets over in a hurry.

- [Regazzi] How old are you, junior?

- 19.

- [Regazzi] How old?

- Well, 13.

Going on 18.

We heard some scuttlebutt about the squad leader,

that he's tough.

- [Regazzi] There are rumors to that effect.

- Doesn't scare me a bit!

Tough sergeants just roll off my knife.

- McHugh, you're gonna find

your first few days with Sergeant Stryker very interesting.

- You new men, come with me.

- [Bass] Ten-hut!

- Charlie, how are ya?

- Cerfified able to return to duty,

so the medics say.

- Good!

- The replacements came up with me.

- [Stryker] They're getting younger all the time.

- Or we're getting older.

- Or both.

Well, I can stand having you back.

- Oh, I can stand being back.

Say, what happened to the rest of the squad

after I got mine?

Who, besides the Greek, Shipley and Thomas?

- Well, Choynski-- Thomas?

He never got a scratch.

- Huh? I was sure he got it.

- [Stryker] Why?

- Well, when we got stuck in the trench,

he went back to get some ammo

and he never showed up again.

- How long between the time he went back

and you got overrun?

- [Bass] Oh, about 40 minutes.

- 40 minutes?

Stay here.

Thomas.

- [Thomas] Yeah?

- Outside.

- What's that all about?

- Don't ask me, I haven't got any spies.

- [Stryker] That's far enough.

- What's this all about?

- Just that I hate your guts!

(Thomas grunts)

(Stryker grunts)

(fighters grunt)

Get up!

You doped off and got one of my men killed

and when of 'em bayoneted.

You haven't had enough, get on your feet.

- Stryker--

- Ten-hut!

AIright, break it up.

What's your name?

- Sergeant Stryker, Able Company, sir.

- And you?

- PFC Thomas. (Thomas pants)

Able Company, sir.

- This may take some explaining before a courf marfial.

Help that man up.

(Thomas grunts, pants)

You'll need some medical attention.

- I'll be all right, sir.

- That's debatable.

You know that it's not permissible

for a non-commissioned officer to strike a man.

- Yes sir.

- Who struck the first blow?

- Well, Colonel, there wasn't

any first blow struck, exactly.

- [Colonel] A simultaneous explosion , perhaps?

- Judo, sir.

The sergeant was just showing me

how to break a judo hold.

- Well, there'II be no more Judo exhibitions.

You understand that, Sergeant?

- Aye-aye, sir.

Well, at least you're no stool pigeon.

- Wait a minute, Stryker.

I'm wrong , dead wrong.

I know it.

Sure, I doped off for a couple of cups of coffee,

but I didn't think a few minutes mattered.

- It did!

- I know that now, but I didn't then.

It's killing me, I can't sleep at night.

A hundred times I wanted to tell you ,

tell somebody I--

I Iiked that Greek.

Do anything for him.

If I could , I'd change him for me right now.

- I think you would.

All guys make mistakes, I guess,

but every one we make,

a whole stack of chips goes with it.

We make a mistake and some guy don't walk away.

Forevermore, he don't walk away.

So I guess all we can do is just take it

and hope we don't make the same mistake again.

- I won't.

- Let's get back to the area.

- Mail call, first platoon!

- What do you know?

A Ietter from my wife after 18 months.

You know where she is?

In England , enterfaining troops.

Enterfaining troops?

Why isn't she here enterfaining me?

I'm a troop!

"They're all such nice boys." Hmm.

"There's a Iieutenant here--" a Iieutenant?

Boy, when I get back from this war,

this dame is gonna eat standing up for a month ,

and maybe two.

I've put on a lot of muscle lately.

(gentle music)

- [AIIison] Darlin9, this is a funny way

for a man to lind out he's a lather, but you arc.

It happencd thc day before yesterday,

just in time for breaklast.

He's a boy and he looks beautiful like me

and intelli9ent like you.

I should have told you it was 9oin9 to happen, I 9uess,

but I didn't want to worry you.

I know you have so much on your mind.

I still don't know what to call him.

Wc never discussed that, you know."

- I'm a father!

- Huh?

- Hey, I'm a father!

- [Regazzi] Let's see, let's see!

- [Conway] I'm a father!

- [Marine 3] All right, let's fall in

for the platoon sergeant.

- Okay! (indistinct)

Come on!

(indistinct announcement)

- [Dunne] Finally, we 9ot our leave, 10 days.

10 days in Honolulu.

All ol us were out on the town,

all cxcept Stryker.

He was still thc same.

(gentle tiki music) (indistinct bar chatter)

- Lonesome?

- Drift.

(whiskey glass slams)

Whiskey.

- Two?

- Please.

- Okay. - Thanks.

A drink will be good.

I'm tired , it's been a rough day.

- Knock it off.

- I'm sorry, Sergeant.

- Right.

- [Barfender] Thanks.

- B5 cents for a drink, it's too much.

They cheat service men.

We could drink cheaper at my house.

- Don't throw your arm out of joint.

- Well, thanks for the drink, Sergeant.

Good Iuck.

I didn't mean to make too much buzzing in your ear.

- It's all right,

finish your drink.

I didn't mean to sound so tough.

- I know.

You're just unhappy.

Me too.

My name's Mary.

- Long arm of coincidence or something.

- Her name too, eh?

- That invitation still hold?

(door slams)

- Make yourself comforfable.

I'll fix us a drink.

Oh dear.

Well, I can get her some more in a jiffy.

Oh.

- I see.

Will a sawbuck do it?

Go on, take it.

It's only paper.

- [Mary] Well, I'll be right back.

(somber music)

(drink splashes)

(rattle clinks)

(rattle clinks) (baby coos)

(gentle music)

(baby babbles)

(gentle music)

(somber music) (door thuds)

(paper crinkles)

- I hope this is your brand.

- Any brand is mine.

(paper crinkles)

(baby cries)

She says she's hungry.

- He.

- Advise him against joining the Marines.

(baby cries, coos) (rattle jingles)

- Mommy's fixing you something to eat.

Now remember, mommy's boy's going to be real quiet

while mommy has company.

- Knock it off.

Where's his father?

- Gone.

- Well, I guess into each life a little rain must fall.

- There are a lot tougher ways of making a living

than going to war.

You know about babies?

- Yeah, I know about babies.

(gentle music)

(rattle jingles)

So long, Mac.

(baby babbles)

- Wait!

- I can't spend it on a coral reef.

- You're a very good man.

- You can get odds on that in the Marine Corps.

So long.

- So long, Sergeant.

I'll pray for you.

- Let's not get religion.

- [Mary] I'll pray for you, Sergeant.

- Good Iuck.

(door thuds)

You got a lot of blood hound in you, Charlie,

but you can call out the dogs

'cause I'm about five years smarfer

than I was a half an hour ago.

And if you ever catch me feeling sorry for myself again ,

you got my permission to belt me right in the nose.

- Buy you a drink.

- Lock and Ioad , boy.

Lock and Ioad.

(indistinct bar chatter)

- Hey, thanks Dave!

- Two bourbon highs.

(group chatter indistinctly)

Baby's a big event.

- [Stryker] Conway!

Treating the boys, huh?

- U h-huh.

- Well, crack open the hatch!

- That's great.

Fella always gets more kick out of a boy, I guess.

I got a kid, you know.

Sam , I named him.

After your old man.

Wait till he gets to be 10 and doesn't write you.

You'll be mad enough to put welts on him.

- No I won't, Stryker,

'cause he won't have to write.

I'll be where he is-- and I won't insist that he be tough.

Instead, I'll try to make him intelligent,

and I won't insist that he read the Marine Corps manual.

Instead , I'll get him a set of Shakespeare.

In shorf, I don't want him to be a Colonel Sam Conway

or Sergeant John Stryker.

I want him to be intelligent,

considerate, cultured and a gentleman.

- You're outta line, kid.

- Let him alone, he's got a right to dislike me.

- Thanks very much.

And I intend to exercise that right.

I don't like you, Stryker.

- Let's talk sense for a minute, Conway.

I can't have friction in the squad.

I've tried every approach to you that I know.

Got nowhere.

Now you're an intelligent kid . - Don't patronize me Stryker.

Your opinion of my IO doesn't interest me in the least.

Now let's get this straight:

on duty, I jump when you holler.

Off duty, I exercise my God-given rights

under a democratic form of government

and dislike whom I please.

Do we understand each other?

- Beat it.

- Come on you guys, let's go.

(gentle tiki music)

- I don't understand why you don't belt that kid.

- Mellow in my old age, I guess.

- Too bad.

Screaming Sam couldn't be proud of him.

- Oh yes he could.

Something inside a guy,

always proud of a kid.

- [Barfender] Two more?

- Not for me.

- I'll sail again , one. - [Barfender] Okay.

- Maybe you can steer me home.

- Right, Charlie. Charge.

- Hold pins,

prepare to throw,

throw!

(grenades boom)

All right, fifth relay.

- What an arm , what an arm!

- Pick it up!

- [Stein] Right in the groove!

- Look boy, this is a live grenade.

- [McHugh] Oh gee.

- You know what they can do?

- [McHugh] Yes sir.

- All right.

Right hand , spoon to the web of your hand.

You'll wait for the sergeant's orders

to pull pin and pitch grenade.

You got it?

- [McHugh] Yes sir. - All right, ready?

- Pull pin.

Prepare to throw.

Throw!

Grenade! Hit the deck!

(explosion booms)

You idiot, when are you gonna wake up?

You wanna see that dame again?

Keep your mind on your work.

- [Instructor] What happened here?

- Little accident, sir.

- You're wounded, Stryker.

Corpsman!

- Yes sir?

- Take care of the sergeant.

- Come right over here, Sergeant.

- You may not know it boy,

but you just got your life saved.

- [Marine 4] You'll get a medal for that for sure.

- [Stryker] Knock it off.

- [Dunne]A9ain, the word came down throu9h channels

and a9ain, the Marincs moved out.

And a9ain, scuttlebutt kncw a hundred dcstinations.

All wron9.

This time we were a sound li9htin9 unit,

blooded and trained.

Tarawa had bloodcd us all,

Stryker had seen to the trainin9.

(somber music)

- Now I'm gonna show you something.

- Hey Benny, what you got there?

- Now what does it look like?

- A flag.

- What are you gonna do with the flag, Benny?

- I'm gonna occupy the island

in the name of the United States.

- You think we'll have an easy time, Benny?

- You got me with you, haven't you?

- Yeah , well, maybe we need two of you.

- One was enough in Tarawa, ask anybody.

You just stick with me.

I'm a battle hardened veteran.

You know how many Japs I knocked off in Tarawa? 32.

And did I get anything for it? Uh-uh.

You know why?

I got enemies in Washington.

I tell you , if the Marine Corps didn't have me,

they never would've made it.

Now this is how you fold a flag.

- Bob, do you believe in intuition?

- Yeah , in women. Why?

- It's hard to explain , but,

I got a feeling I'm not gonna come out of this operation.

- Don't talk that way.

It's the worst thing you can do.

- I can't help it, it's the way I feel.

- Why do you feel that way?

- I don't know.

It's like a voice in my ear.

I can't shake the feeling off.

- Well, take my advice: shake it off.

- No dice, Pollyanna.

When things like that get in you ,

it's no use trying to fight them.

(dramatic music)

- [Dunne] ll a marine just waits lon9 cnou9h,

he 9ets the word.

Our sealed orders came aboard after five days at sea.

- Now this island is volcanic and sandy.

It's five and a half miles long

and two and a half miles wide at its widest point.

This mountain here is a dead volcano.

It's called Suribachi.

There's nothing on the island

except three air fields and about 20,000 Japs.

(Marines murmur indistinctly)

The Army Air Corps B 24s have been bombing this place

for the past 62 days.

- Well, maybe it'll be an easy operation then, sir.

- Well, we can't be sure.

Every yard of the island

is probably covered by some kind of fire.

As it seems now,

there are only two possible landing beaches:

one on the east side of the island,

the other on the west.

Rest of the coastline is cliffs.

The nips will probably try and keep us off the beaches.

If they don't do that,

they'll try and catch us at this first airfield

between the heights of Suribachi here

and these high rocky ridges in the norfh.

They'Il be shelling us from both sides.

Now nobody knows exactly what they've got on this island,

but they've had 40 years to put it there.

(Marines murmur indistinctly)

- [Dunne] Saipan was our last stop.

Therc, the men who were 9oin9 to hit the beach first

were transferred to LSTs,

thcn a lew more days at sca,

and at last the time for landin9 came.

(alarm sounds) (dramatic music)

(arfillery booms)

(explosions blast)

(ominous music) (arfillery blasts)

- All right, saddle up.

Get below and into the amtracks.

(explosions boom distantly)

(somber music) (landing vehicles rumble)

(propeller squeaks, grumbles)

(plane engines roar)

(plane engines roar)

(explosions boom distantly)

- Well anyway, it's a good day for it.

- It's cold out here.

- Stick around, it'll get warm.

- Yeah, that's what I'm afraid of.

Hey, look!

- Hey driver, you the joker that wrote that?

- Ah, Semper Pi, Mac!

- We should take you in along with us.

- Hey, McHugh's going in with his pocket full of books!

Five books he's going in with!

- What's the matter with you?

The kid's a reader.

That shouldn't worry a dope like you.

- You know, when we're through with this operation,

I'm going to take you out to some nice quiet little place

and break both your legs.

(plane engines roar)

(arfillery pops)

- I feel sick.

- I know, kid.

I felt the same way at Tarawa.

- Hey Stein, shalom aleychem.

- AIeychem shalom.

(explosions boom distantly)

- Sarge, I'm scared.

- So am I.

- Not you!

- Fowler, I'm always scared.

All right, line of deparfure. Get down.

Lock and load . (dramatic music)

Drop those Iifebelts when we hit the beach.

(explosions boom)

(arfillery blasts)

(arfillery blasts) (gunshots fire)

(arfillery blasts) (gunshots fire)

All right, hit the beach!

(explosions boom) (gunshots fire rapidly)

(explosions boom) (arfillery fires)

(gunshots fire rapidly) (arfillery fires)

- Sure ain't like Brooklyn.

- Man , if this place was a blanket,

I'd pull it over by head ahead!

- This is the poorest soil I ever saw.

What does anyone want to take an island like this for?

- That's war, boy.

- What's war?

- Trading real estate for men.

- When God made the world ,

he must have taken all the dust

and rubbish he had left over and put it here.

(Soames cries out)

- Corpsman! Corpsman!

Take it easy, farmer.

- Doggone it!

Almost the same place they got me before!

Getting shot for this.

- They're sure pouring it into Suribachi.

(arfillery blasts)

- Not enough.

Those nips are shooting right down our throats.

(arfillery blasts)

- [Marine 5] Stryker!

- Yo!

- Lieutenant Schrier wants to see you.

- Lieutenant Schrier?

- Yeah, come on.

(explosions boom)

- Stand fast.

(explosions boom) (arfillery fires)

- Stryker reporfing, sir.

- Yeah, I know, Stryker.

Your platoon has been hit pretty hard.

What's left of it has been assigned to me.

- [Stryker] Yes sir.

- Naval gunfire will lift at about 1100.

Stand by to move out.

- [Stryker] Aye-aye, sir.

(plane engine roars)

(explosions boom)

(gunshots fire rapidly)

(ominous music)

Move out!

Keep your distance!

(explosions boom) (arfillery fires)

(dramatic music)

(gunshots fire) (arfillery booms)

(gunshot fires)

(somber music)

(explosions boom) (tense music)

(arfillery fires)

(dramatic music)

(gunshots fire rapidly)

- Go on , go on!

- Corpsman , corpsman!

Corpsman!

(gunshots fire rapidly)

Spread out, dig in.

(gunshots fire rapidly)

- Dunne, where's my brother?

- He's back there, he's hit.

- Frank, Frank!

- Eddie, no!

(dramatic music) (gunshots fire)

- Flynn!

(dramatic music)

That's enough.

(gunshots fire rapidly)

I told you you'd need this bad someday.

Thanks, Marine.

(gunshots fire)

Flynn, get down!

- You ain't got the sense of a rabbit!

- When you get two good feet,

I'm gonna shove one--

- You can be a hero crawling

just as well as standing up

and you won't get your name on any Iist.

Corpsman!

- It ain't that I want the guy,

just Ma'Il dust me off

if I didn't bring him home with me.

I've always been the smarf one.

(gunshots fire)

- Harris!

(dramatic music)

- I'll get a good night's sleep tonight.

- Corpsman!

He won't need him.

(somber music) (gunshots fire)

Pillbox out there too big to handle with these.

- How about a bazooka?

- If we had one.

- I got nothing to do,

I'll go dig one up--

And I hope I find it in Jersey City.

(somber music)

(tank engine rumbles)

(gunshots fire distantly)

(tank gun fires)

- I'm afraid Regazzi didn't make it.

- That's a trouble with this place,

you never know what's going on around you.

- Listen.

- It's a tank.

- Yeah , but who's?

- It's ours.

(gunshots fire rapidly) (tank engine rumbles)

It's Regazzi!

(gunshots fire)

(arfillery blasts) (gunshots fire)

- Pill box at two o'clock.

Okay Mac, give him a hot foot.

(flame thrower roars)

Thanks, Mac!

(fires roar)

I couldn't find a bazooka.

- You did all right.

All right, saddle up!

(gunshots fire rapidly)

(explosion booms)

(arfillery fires)

(bombs screech)

(explosion booms)

- [Dunne] No one had ever scen anythin9 like it,

no one would've believed it possible.

That smokey, miserable, bloody island.

(explosion booms)

(arfillery fires, booms)

Aftcr thrce days and threc ni9hts,

and at thc end ol that time,

we barely reached the foot ol Suribachi,

which is cxactly where we werc the first day.

(explosions boom)

- We will sack in here for the night.

- That's the best news I've heard today.

- Now, pair off and one man awake at all times.

Keep alerf, let's go.

(somber music)

- Stryker.

It's gonna starf getting rough tomorrow

when we go against Suribachi.

- Starfed getting rough when you put on that uniform.

- Stryker.

- Yeah?

- You wanna see a good looking kid?

- [Stryker] A husky little boot.

What'd you name him?

- [Conway] I'm gonna name him Sam, Sam Conway.

- A name that's been awarded the Navy Cross

ought to be good enough for any kid.

- Yeah.

Look here, Stryker.

There's something I've been trying to say,

but I just can't seem to find the words.

- You mean you've been to two universities

and still can't find the words

to say you've been outta line?

- Okay, I'm outta line.

- No, you were outta line.

There's a difference.

Well, I guess we better try and get some sack time.

Do you wanna sleep first or watch?

- I'll watch.

- Okay.

You know, everybody gets outta line once in a while.

- Thanks, gyrene.

- Where's Sergeant Stryker?

Stryker? - Right there.

- Stryker! - Huh?

What do you want?

- Lieutenant Schrier wants to see you.

- Stryker, sir.

- Yes sir.

- I'm taking a patrol up Suribachi in the morning.

Get your men squared away

and be ready to move out at 0700.

The rendezvous is that old nip tank over there.

- Aye-aye, sir. 0700.

(tense music)

That little voice whispering in your ear again?

- U h-huh.

- Don't worry about it.

I've known a million guys that have heard it.

- Yeah?

- Most of 'em make it.

If you don't, percentage is on your side.

- Did you ever hear it?

- No.

- Don't you ever worry about it?

- What good would it do?

- You're indestructible.

- Well, stick close to me

and maybe a little of it'll rub off on you.

- I'll do that.

- Banner three, this is easy five.

Patrol is ready to move out.

Request all supporting fires commence immediately, over.

(explosions boom)

(tank engines rumble) (arfillery fires)

(explosions boom)

(arfillery fires) (explosions boom)

(arfillery booms)

(explosions boom)

(explosions boom) (arfillery blasts)

(flame throwers roar)

(explosions boom)

(marine shouts)

(gunshots fire rapidly)

(grenade blasts)

(arfillery fires) (flames roar)

(flames roar)

(arfillery blasts distantly)

(gunshot fires)

(gunshots fire) (dramatic music)

- Sh'ma Yisrael, Adonai elohenu, Adonai echad.

- Amen.

(dramatic music)

(gunshot fires)

(somber music)

(explosions boom) (gunshots fire distantly)

(tense music) (arfillery fires)

(explosions boom)

- Radio!

Banner three, this is easy five.

Banner three, this is easy five, over.

Banner three, this is easy five.

Cease all fire,

we're preparing to move over the top, over.

Roger and out.

Stryker.

- [Stryker] Yes sir.

- Colonel has ordered we put up this flag

as soon as the top is secure.

Be sure that it gets there.

- Aye-aye, sir.

- Hey, what is this?

- Put yours away, this is the one we're gonna use.

(Regazzi speaks indistinctly)

First squad!

Find something we can use for a standard

and we'll put this up.

Well, Conway, see you made it.

- Yeah, I guess that little voice was wrong.

I feel better.

- I feel a lot better, too.

Matter of fact, I never felt so good in my life.

How about a cigarette?

(gunshot fires) (Stryker grunts)

(tense music)

(gunshots fire rapidly)

- Is he-- - Yeah.

If he had to get it, that's the way he'd have wanted.

(somber music)

It's a letter to his kid.

(paper crinkles)

- "Dear son, I guess none of my Ietters have reached you,

but I thought I'd better try again

'cause I have the feeling

that this may be the last time I can write you.

For a long time, I've wanted to tell you many things.

Now that you're a big boy, I will.

If we could have been together,

even for a little while,

I could have explained many things

much better than writing.

You've gotta take care of your mother

and love her and make her happy.

Never hurf her or anyone as I did.

Always do what your hearf tells you is right.

Maybe someone will write you someday

and tell you about me.

I want you to be like me in some things,

but not like me in others.

Because when you grow older

and get to know more about me,

you'Il see that I've been a failure in many ways.

This isn't what I wanted,

but things just turned out that way.

If there was only more time, I--"

Guess he never finished it.

(somber music)

- I'll finish it for him.

(tense music)

- There she goes.

(tense music)

("The Marines' Hymn" plays faintly)

♪ We fight our country's battles ♪

♪ In the air on land and sea ♪

♪ First to fight for right and freedom ♪

♪ And to keep our honor clean ♪

- AIright, saddle up.

Let's get back in the war!

♪ Of U nited States Marine ♪

♪ First to fight for right and freedom ♪

♪ And to keep our honor clean ♪

♪ We are proud to claim the title ♪

♪ Of U nited States Marine ♪

(thrilling music)