Original subtitles

You know the fellow who's waiting for us

in the back?

to open up this morning aren't you?

That's right.

And I guess you know what you want.

Yes, I've been thinking about it.

All night, eh?

Yes.

Excellent education, good background.

Wouldn't you rather consider something in which...

I told you what I want.

Parachute service.

All right.

Oh, I'm sorry.

You've had a few drinks, haven't you?

It's legal, isn't it?

Not in the army, it isn't.

And we don't take drunks.

Listen, I'm not drunk.

I tell you, I know what I'm doing.

I'm all right.

Your physical checkup, it'll determine that.

We'll see.

Come on.

Good heavens, woman, can I help it if

you like him that way?

That goes for you too.

Now stop that bawling and get to the

point.

How much do you want?

You say you don't want anything?

Oh, nothing but Donald, eh?

Well, if you want my son, you still

don't want anything.

Well, that's your hard luck.

I'm not his nurse.

Yeah, I hope you're both suing because I'll

tell you what I'm going to do.

I'm going to freeze his trust funds.

That's a pretty good picture of me, don't

you think?

Yeah.

You've made a couple of passes too many.

I'm cutting you off with a thin dime.

Well, it isn't money they want, Dad.

I can't figure out what it is about

me.

Abnormal muscles or merely a fine mind?

Oh, yeah?

Well, you've got yourself engaged to two women.

Turn your fine mind loose on that.

I did.

Privates in the army can't get married.

At least that's what the recruiting sergeant told

me.

Recruiting sergeant?

Yeah.

Maybe I'll be proud of you yet, you

all-American halfwit.

That's right.

I'm just a chip off the old block.

So long, Dad.

So long, son.

Where'd you get this crazy hankering of jumping

out of airships with a thumbershoot strapped to

your back?

Yeah.

Well, Ma Pruncie Cullens, she talked me into

it.

So, that's it?

Can't you see them female Cullens' is trying

to get your neck broke?

Yeah.

Well, I always thought Pruncie kind of liked

me.

Pain possible.

Us horses was shooting at them Cullens' the

day you was born.

Yeah, and I chased her ornery menfolk clean

back to Georgia.

Georgia?

Yeah, and I'd have chased their womenfolk, too,

but it ain't be proper into Holland's.

Georgia, that's where they're sending me, Pa.

Yeah?

Maybe it's a fulfillment.

I'd forgive you right kindly, Jeff, if you

pardoned me your Cullens down there.

Like they done to your grandpapa.

Yeah.

I'll do it.

I'll blood on them till kingdom come.

I'll sniff them out, Pa.

I'll choose the first Georgia Cullens I meet

and I'll show them the pieces.

Yeah.

If he ain't too big.

Come on.

Oh, I still have mine on.

Say, that must be a party.

He's a pretty big boy to be running

around barefooted, isn't he?

I know why he kicks them off.

They pinch his feet.

Oh, hello.

Have my seat, please?

Oh, pardon me.

I'm so sorry.

I was looking for the owner of this

shoe.

It does belong to your husband, so I...

That is your husband, I presume?

That's right.

Oh.

You do presume.

Oh.

And that's my father.

Oh.

Well, in that case, we can speak freely.

Ow!

What's going on here?

You ought to be ashamed of yourself.

After all, he's a nice old man.

Me?

What did you call me?

Daddy, your temper.

Somebody says something nice to you and right

away you fly off the handle.

He...

He called me an old man.

He's not so old.

May I offer the humble observation that any

gentleman who could father such a child is

ageless?

Huh?

Now, Daddy, boys are really trying to be

very nice.

All right.

All right.

They're trying.

All right.

Now, it's peaceful again.

It's a wonderful thing, isn't it, Daddy?

That's it.

Hey, easy with it.

Of all the infernal pests.

Now, help me.

I'm going to renovate this car.

Now, relax.

Now, relax.

I'm awful sorry.

Excuse us, ma'am.

We're but simple-hearted soldiers, more accustomed to

the smoke of battle than the parlor wave.

Oh, isn't that nice, Daddy?

Soldiers.

Uh-huh.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Is that so?

Yeah.

You boys going to Fort Benning?

That's right.

My name is Bill Burke.

At your service all the way.

Bill what, son?

William Mayberry Burke.

So now, won't you?

Yeah, sure.

Richard's family, the whole shebang.

We're on our way to Columbus, Georgia.

Well, charmed to meet up with you.

I'm Don Morse.

Are you all American?

Yeah, I thought that would strike a reminiscent

chord.

And you?

I'm just Jeff Hollis.

Well, soldiers sure do interest me.

Might I ask what branch of soldiering you're

in?

Well, indeed you might.

I'm hooked up with the infantry's new babies,

the parachute boys.

Me too.

Now, is that so new?

Seems to me I read somewheres where that

idea was invented way back in the last

war.

Well, of course, I don't read the papers.

I'm only a serviceman myself.

Since when, sonny?

Oh, well, quite a spell.

ROTC in college.

I might even be commissioned someday.

Second Lieutenant Reserve.

Isn't he interesting?

He's plum fascinating.

I think I know what's so heavy.

180 pounds of ego.

Excuse me.

I've been wondering.

That's a caterpillar, isn't it?

Yeah, that's a caterpillar.

Look, I'll be down in Columbus now and

then.

What nights does Daddy go to lodge meetings?

Well, that isn't exactly a lodge meeting.

Well, all right.

Tractor Salesman's Local 23.

I mean, you're in the phone book.

I'll get in touch with you.

I got a better idea than that, sonny.

Yeah?

What's that?

I'll get in touch with you.

W.D. Horse.

Bird.

Men.

Police.

O.D. In here, men.

All right, men.

Choose your own bunks.

Did you ever play any football?

You betcha.

Let's take them out.

They're heading for the best bunks.

Nice going.

Sorry.

I got a notion to hang a penalty

on you, fella.

All right, if that's the way you feel

about it.

Didn't hurt yourself, did you?

Not a scratch.

Too bad.

You do all right with a little bit

of interference.

Is that how you made All-American?

Yeah, that's how I accomplished a lot of

little things.

Hey.

Remind me to have that upholstered.

Sir, Master Sergeant Richard Darecall reporting for duty.

Oh.

Send him in.

Yes, sir.

Come in, Sergeant.

Oh, Thunderhead.

Take the ramrod out of your back and

sit down.

Thank you, sir.

Tell me, Richard.

Do you still hate the infantry?

Well, naturally, sir.

I still hate everything afoot.

With the possible exception of Kip.

Oh, I ain't mad at her anymore.

There sure was the night she was born

for being so effeminate.

And I actually believe you hated me for

being lucky enough to have a son.

That's why I named him after you.

William Mayberry Burke.

You know, I nearly took that pill away

from him when his mother hung that Mayberry

on him.

Yes.

She never cared much for you.

No.

If anything else, it smelled like a soldier.

I've been wondering just what kind of a

guy she made out of him.

I wonder more than you have.

Look over your battalion.

You may find out.

Is he in?

Well, why the devil wasn't he sent to

me?

Now you know better.

Now take it easy, Colonel.

Don't start mollycoddling him.

You may spoil a good soldier.

No.

Sometimes I don't know why I put up

with you.

I want to see that boy of mine

right away.

Do you understand?

Yes, sir.

Well?

Just that I was wondering if he'd realize

that a Colonel's son wears the same size

hat band as his buddies.

Well, he's got to learn, of course, that

there's very little sentiment in the Army.

Let him take his turn.

Treat him like any other private.

He's got the feeling he's old, so he'd

blow them around as smithereens.

Well, maybe you're right.

But this is all new to him.

Somebody has got to look after him.

I'm the one to do that, sir.

Let him cool his heels for a while.

I'll bring him to you.

All right.

Your judgment is usually good.

I'm going to let you have your own

way for once.

Hey.

Wake up, Lieutenant.

How long have you been here?

Just since milking time.

Platoon, halt!

Right face!

First.

Hey, Doc.

Look.

Old man Caterpillar.

Seems kind of important around here.

I wonder...

I wonder what kind of impression I made

on him.

Well, he said he'd get in touch with

you.

Platoon, attention!

All you men who've taken part in athletics,

report up here to me.

The rest of you are dismissed.

The Water Farmer wants to make sure that

Private Moss, the famous footballer, was not slighted

in this detail.

Moss, here, sir.

Good.

Moss, you've been chosen to lead these men

in a highly important service.

Thank you, Sergeant.

I was second lieutenant, ROTC.

Yes, that's why you're going to take charge

of this detail.

Have them report to the sports field in

fatigue uniform.

Yes, sir.

Boy, does he like me.

I never saw so many athletes in one

squad.

Is Horseshoe pitching, Cal?

No, you guys are just wasting the Army's

time.

You don't get these quick promotions for athlete's

foot.

Company, fall in!

Oh, come on, fellas, fall in.

Right face!

Forward march!

Detail halt!

Right face!

This service is not only patriotic, but it's

very necessary.

About face!

Fall out and start digging.

Necessary?

Do the plumbing.

Get going.

Yes, sir.

Looks like everybody's in high gear but us.

Well, they've dug a nice ditch, Sergeant.

Now don't let them lie on it.

Get busy there.

Hey, Sergeant, do you mind if I ask

you just one little question?

Why, certainly.

What did he ever do to rate?

What did old Thunderhead ever do?

Yeah.

Tonight you're gonna find out what he did.

Years ago, when parachutes were an unknown quantity,

a man had the courage to prove their

great possibility.

In these pictures made by the United States

Army long ago, you will see him execute

one of the first dangerous tests in parachute

history.

A pull-off from the wing of a

ship.

Here you see the same thing in slow

motion.

Then, as the mechanics of parachute making progressed,

he accomplished the first free jump, opening his

chute with a ripcord to prove its value

in fire and emergency.

But there remained a false belief that a

man falling over 500 feet would die from

the speed of descent.

It was to disprove this fallacy that he

made the first delayed drop, falling through space

1,500 feet, attaining a maximum speed of

118 miles per hour at 1,200 feet.

To him, too, goes the credit for advocating

and demonstrating the first mass jump in the

history of the United States Army or any

other army.

Now that you've seen these pictures of one

of our greatest living heroes, I want you

to meet him.

Master Sergeant Richards.

Applause He will be your chief instructor in

parachute training.

In addition to Sergeant Richards' various decorations, he's

a several-time member of the Caterpillar Club,

a distinction awarded only to those who have

saved their lives through an emergency parachute jump.

However, you will see no insignia of officer's

rank on this man's shoulders, and in that

lies an important point.

Once he was slated for promotion, but when

it didn't come, his loyalty never wavered, and

it never has since, and that's the spirit

I wanted you men to get acquainted with

tonight by knowing this man who has long

forgotten about everything but the importance of being

a good soldier.

Here!

Here!

Here!

Here!

Here!

Here!

Here!

Here!

You're still in detention.

Call out and assemble in the packing room.

Since you're going to jump these parachutes while

you're in the battalion, it's important for you

to understand their operation.

Their outfit consists of a main chute and

also a reserve chute for emergency purposes only.

This is known as your static line.

This end of your static line is hooked

onto a cable in the ship.

The other end is attached to the cover

surrounding your main chute.

And when you jump clear of the airplane,

your weight coming upon the static line rips

the threads loose from your pack cover and

pulls your parachute into the air.

All right, O'Shea.

Like this.

Now, men, you've seen how they open.

But the most important thing in your lives

is to learn how to put them together.

Report to your tables.

Now, the first thing you must learn is

how to lay out your chute for packing.

Stand clear.

With all these lines, it's a simple matter

to get tangles before you start.

Make each fold of the panels neat.

Keep a clear, clean fold of the silk

at the skirt.

The shot bags will hold the silk in

place as you continue your folds.

Folding iron ensures even lengths of the folds.

Don't get any twists in the lines while

you're sewing.

Your final operation is sewing the cover to

your pack.

All right, some of you boys are gonna

get your first look at a parachute jump.

How's it feel, Sarge?

You get that old elevator feeling?

The worst is standing at the door, waiting

to jump.

Tony, Bessie, our dummy.

A dummy?

Dummy, that's right.

Come on, I'll show you.

Figure up, Morse.

Boys, this is Bessie.

Now, this little lady takes these beatings to

impress on you men the importance of packing

your chutes carefully.

Woo-woo.

Boys, uh, that you, Morse?

Morse, I don't believe I like your attitude

toward Bessie.

If I ever catch you woo-wooing any

of my women, folks, you'll feel like you've

been through a world war.

Go ahead, Sergeant.

You see, Bessie is beautiful, but dumb.

She plump forgot she had an emergency chute

on.

You see this ripcord?

When her main chute didn't work, this is

all she had to do.

That's right.

And remember first and always, you probably never

need to pull that ripcord if you pack

your main chutes carefully.

It's your best life insurance.

And a sloppily packed chute is your surest

way to suicide.

For example, it was your chute, Burke, packed

by you that failed open up there.

Did you hear the good news?

One of the office boys slipped me Kit's

home address.

You mean old Fonderhead's home address?

Yeah.

He promised to belt me if I woo

-wooed around.

What are you gonna do?

Woo-woo.

Say, how about you come along and act

as his decoy?

No, I got a date with some library

folks.

Gonna learn a few things about the army

I never knew before.

You need it.

You were bright yellow when the Sarge told

you about your chute.

What'd you say?

You heard me.

Boys, boys, boys, mustn't, mustn't.

I thought you said mustn't.

I wanted to do it.

Jig is the Sarge.

And the father bear says, who's been sitting

in my chair while he's asleep?

Yeah, he was tired.

Fighting, eh?

Fighting, Sarge?

Somebody's gonna lose his weekend pass.

Oh, Sarge, I've got an important date in

town this weekend.

With me, Sarge.

I ain't sorry.

No, if I saw him, I'd throw that

punch.

Looks like I'll have to put him on

kitchen police.

That is, uh, there's one of you might

be willing to do me a little favor.

Yeah, Jig.

Spill it.

What can we do for you, Sarge?

Well, doggone it.

Taking a girl to a dance.

I'd rather be shot sitting down than make

a fool of myself trying to dance.

Dancing?

Boy, that's a cinch for one of these

fellas.

How about it, Jeff?

Yeah, but not with a girl.

Not me.

Phil, you know who I want to see

in town.

I'd do the same for you.

Well, I guess I'm stuck.

Oh, I'll never forget you.

Where do I find her?

Uh, can you whistle?

Whistle?

Yeah, why?

Well, when you go out today, just blow

a few notes of reveille, and she'll honk

a horn.

Hello.

Well, if it isn't...

Kid Richards, remember?

You bet I do.

Have you been?

Fine.

Say, uh, Tex couldn't get away, and he

thought maybe he'd be all right if I

took over.

Well, I can't say I blame Tex much

for running out.

He sort of got roped in because he's

a friend of Dad's.

But it's a pleasant disappointment.

Come on, hop in.

Right.

Who is that fresh person?

He's lucky if he lives through the day.

Oh, you said it.

Say, is, uh, is your father gonna be

home all afternoon?

Mm-hmm, I think so.

Oh, brother.

Huh?

Oh, nothing.

Hello.

Hello, Sergeant.

I was just looking for an address.

Keep on looking.

Yes.

For Dad.

You know, he never goes out until I

come in.

Why?

Well, Dad can't be happy until everybody else

is bored to death.

Oh.

All right.

Let's go.

Still looking, Sergeant.

Try the next block.

You're getting in a rut, soldier.

Yeah.

Hey, Bill.

Bill, wait a minute.

Well, well.

Home bright and early, huh?

Private Burke.

Soldier, how are you?

That's fine, Sergeant.

Your taste's improving, Kit.

Stick around as long as you like.

Good night, soldier.

Good night, Sergeant.

Good night, Kit.

Good night, sugar.

Don't call me sugar.

I hate it.

Good night.

Wouldn't you like to come in, soldier?

Soldier?

Yeah, that's what your father just told me,

wasn't it?

Yes.

Well, on the face of it, I guess

he's right.

Private soldier drawing extra pay for being a

parachute trooper.

I don't believe I like the way you

said that, Bill.

I don't think much of it either.

Your father's awfully sure of his snap judgment.

Well, I admire him.

I don't want to make a sucker out

of him.

Not so close to home, anyhow.

What do you mean, Bill?

You're an army girl, kid.

You were born that way.

You couldn't like a bad soldier.

You're trying to tell me something.

What is it?

You're wonderful, kid.

But first of all, I've got to like

myself.

Drunk to enlist in the parachute troop.

I had to do it.

And now I'm afraid.

I'm afraid of what comes next.

Ripcord pulled your chute open.

Now we're going to show you what happens

if you fail to hook it securely.

At the

same time, don't forget you can do a

lot of navigating with those shroud lines.

Notice when he lands now.

He's used his knees as a springboard.

He'll dishrag his chute before it can drag

him.

Well, in five seconds you forget everything we

taught you, Bill.

You ran clean out of knowledge.

Perfect landing.

Not bad.

Not bad.

That jerk.

That green little pipsqueak in a slide chair

pasted up there with me.

I like antiques too, but not too many

of them.

That measly little tin soldier right beside the

picture of me landing that burning plane.

Will I have to live and die hearing

about that burning plane?

So that's it, is it?

This is what I get in my own

house.

Why couldn't you pick on a fellow I

like?

What's wrong with Bill Burke?

Who said anything was wrong with him?

It happens that Saturday is payday and Don

Morse is taking me out.

Oh, he is, is he?

Well, he likes showing off so much I

bet he'd be ashamed to come around if

something accidentally happened to his pay.

If you use your miserable authority to spoil

my evening...

Me?

Do you think I'd do that?

No.

Bet your life I wouldn't.

I think you'd think of something I couldn't

pin on you.

Sugar.

Don't call me sugar!

Caldwell, 6530.

6530.

Collins, 4860.

4860.

Hey, hey, hey, get back there.

Where do you think you're going?

Get back in line.

I just saw him over there in company

D but I can't get at him.

They say he's a little fella, too.

Domino?

That's a fine hairy-chested outfit.

Want to play?

Oh, me?

No.

I got a pocket full of pay, a

date with Kip and I like my games

grown up.

Do not let old Thunderhead hear you running

down this game.

He's a wizard at it.

All right, he likes it so it's wonderful.

The king can do no wrong.

Well, well, Domino's touch?

Yeah.

Morse doesn't like it.

Is that so?

Well, let's get going, fellas.

Wait a minute, Morse.

There was nothing personal about it.

Oh, no, I realize that but if you

could learn to like Domino's you and me

could spend every weekend playing.

Oh, he'd like that, wouldn't you, Doc?

Oh, yeah, that would be...

Sit down, Morse.

Yeah, sit down.

Well, I feel sort of guilty about taking

up all your time, Sergeant.

With you being my superior and all that.

Oh, you mustn't feel that way about it.

But there's no harm in me teaching you

Domino's.

I should say, plenty of point to go

to the welfare fund.

Whose welfare?

Just a sweet charity.

Sweet charity, my eye.

I need my dough for tonight.

I understand that.

Well, thanks.

Doc planned.

Here, take it.

You'll need it.

You've got a family to support.

Well, I just happened to remember that I

play a pretty fair game of Domino's.

Oh, here.

Would you kindly drop the sergeant's pay in

the welfare box?

Good night, Sergeant.

Still time to take care of a little

business in town.

Oh.

Did you mind?

Oh, no.

No, but it just seems so unfair to

so many other girls.

Kid, I wish there was something I could

say to make you believe it.

You're the swellest girl I ever knew.

Well, it sounds better when you say it

like that.

And I do want to thank you for

a wonderful evening, Don.

Dad.

It's murder.

See you next Saturday.

Maybe.

You wouldn't see that guy after I told

you.

Why don't you like him, sugar?

Because he's no good.

He throws his money away.

He...

He gambles.

And don't call me sugar.

All right, then.

There's just one more thing.

Tomorrow, you take your first jumps.

And this one's for keeps.

Okay.

Start packing.

Everything all right, Alice?

Yes, sir.

That's fine.

Well, if this one don't work tomorrow, bring

it back, and I'll give you another one.

Thank you, sir.

He's kidding.

Ain't he?

I wish we'd get going on those jumps.

The sporting editor of the Herald's been pestering

me for pictures.

You know, I took that thing apart, and

I looked at it.

And I packed it.

And I repacked it.

It seems to me some little important piece

of string gets getting out of place.

You'll find out.

All right, son.

Good night, Ma.

Back home, malls used to fold everything for

me.

You and I aren't like these other guys

trying this outfit to get that extra dough

for jumping.

They don't eat regular.

I've got to get that extra bag to

make that jump tomorrow.

What if I can't do it?

Pipe down, you.

Platoon, halt!

Left face!

At ease.

Now, I want you men to remember that

we've never had a parachute fatality in this

service, and that we don't want any firsts

of that kind in this battalion.

If you have any trouble with your main

chute, remember your emergency.

And when you pull that ripcord, pull it

hard.

Tex, put a new chute on this man.

We could use him for the dummy.

He's kidding again.

Ain't he?

All right, men.

I guess he'll go first to spot the

wind clearance for you.

Ladies first.

Hope he's got a better chute on.

Gee, look at her awful neck.

Fasten your chest guard.

Take the blanks out.

I've got live ammunition in this gun.

No, I won't.

I don't believe you.

You're scared now, aren't you?

That's good.

Hook up, Burke.

Burke, didn't you hear my order?

It'll be the last order you'll ever give.

The last one.

I know how you feel, Spence.

Keep back or I'll...

No, you won't.

Remember what you told me last night?

About your family?

Pack a pile of land this time.

Plenty.

In good old aqua pura, I want to

propose a toast.

To Bill Burke.

Hey, Bill.

The man who saved our dear old Thunderhead

from a fate which he so richly deserved.

Well, I thought that was funny.

Men, I just talked to Spence over in

the observation ward.

He's going to get his transfer.

And he wants to thank Private Burke for

taking that gun away.

I don't suppose anybody will mind now if

I let you all in on something.

The Commandant's son is right here in your

company.

Private Bill Burke.

What?

How about it, Bill?

Sergeant, I wonder if I could see the

Commandant.

Well, that's quite a coincidence.

The Commandant was wondering if he could see

you.

Come in.

Private Burke wants to see you, sir.

Hello, Bill.

Sit down.

And Bill, stop trying to look so important.

Oh, I don't think it's that, sir.

I guess it's just that a real soldier

don't like so much hullabaloo.

So I've heard.

Well, son, haven't you anything to say?

Yes, sir.

I wish to be transferred to another branch

of the service.

Well, you don't know what he's talking about,

sir.

He's been through a good deal today.

Yes, I have.

Only it's not what you think.

Gee, I'd rather Spence had shot me up

there today than to have to tell you

this.

I was afraid to jump.

I was stalling.

Don't you see, it was the only out

I could find.

Bill, you don't mean that.

You're going to stay here with us.

And turn out to be another Spence?

Can't you see, sir, I'm doing this for

you.

If I stick around here, it might make

you look pretty bad.

Maybe he's using better judgment than we are.

Private Burke, you'll be quietly assigned to ground

duty for two weeks.

If you don't change your mind on that

time, you'll get your transfer.

Yes, sir.

I'd like...

Good night, sir.

Good night, Mabry.

Bill's the name.

I know that.

It's my name.

I gave it to you.

Well, I'm taking it back.

We got that down.

Let's try a slow blues on it.

Hey, Jeff.

How come you put your emergency chute when

you jumped today?

Well, I was the last one to jump.

And I saw I was passing everybody.

I figured about time to pull it.

Beat it out for him.

The quieter you get out of here tomorrow,

the better.

You might tell her I'll miss her, too.

I've got no time for that stuff.

I've got some drop tests to make with

Bessie.

You can come along if you want.

Where do we drop her?

We're going to land in the river.

Sir, I'm afraid this transfer isn't much good

anymore.

We'll cancel it immediately.

Thank you, sir.

How's Sergeant Richards today?

I'm afraid he's going to be in the

hospital for quite a while.

But when they told him you went up

again this morning and made a good jump,

his temperature dropped two points.

I'll make another tomorrow.

No, you don't.

You'll make your required six jumps according to

schedule.

Yes, sir.

I'll make another tomorrow.

Now, we're going to miss that old foghorn

yelling in our ears.

Yeah, couldn't you do a little bellowing, Sergeant,

just to make it feel natural?

Lay on those mountains.

I want that floor clean enough to eat

off of.

Eat off of it?

That's what I said.

Just like them Collinses.

They'll never learn anything with their shoes on.

Collins!

Glad to see you.

How are you?

How's the old man?

Fine, thanks.

Collins!

Captain Collins to you.

Yes, sir.

What are you doing here?

There's only some way we get word to

old Thunderhead.

Let him know we're going to do our

best for him out there Monday.

Yeah.

Yeah, it'd be nice, wouldn't it?

Make him feel better.

Hello, Colonel.

Hiya, Sarge.

Hello, Bill.

Hello, Sergeant.

How do you feel tonight?

Well, I've felt a lot better, Bill.

The fellows wanted me to tell you that

they're going to try harder for you than

they ever could for themselves.

Is that on the level?

That's why I came here tonight, just to

tell you that.

That's great, Bill.

Hey, get easy, Sergeant.

You'll have to leave now, Burke.

Yes, sir.

Good night, Bill.

Thanks for coming.

You've done me more good than a bushel

of pills.

Good night, Sergeant.

Thank you.

Nice to meet you, sir.

This is the gown garnish thing.

I suppose next week you'll be asking me

to play Camille.

Sergeant looks very chic in a nightgown, don't

you think so, sir?

Yes, he has what I believe is known

in some circles as appeal.

Excuse me, sir, but I've been fit as

a fiddle for a week and those orderlies

won't even let me walk down the hall.

That's because you're such a valuable patient.

The whole battalion's going to make good, just

to save your life.

Why don't you pour Sergeant Richard a little

Modesto whiskey?

Hey, wait a minute.

Excuse me, I'm afraid of getting an overdose.

Whoa!

Hey, Bill, you know what?

It's terrific.

Hey, salute me, pal.

You feel all right?

No, I'm dizzy.

My college ROTC just paid off.

Nickels or dimes?

No, Second Lieutenant Reserve.

They're going to send me down for a

refresher course right after the big splurge Monday.

Oh, gosh, Don, gee, that's swell.

You said it.

A commissioned officer can get married.

Maybe that's bad.

Oh, no, not this time.

Kit's over at the hospital seeing her old

man.

The minute I get through wadding those umbrellas,

I'm going to beat it right over there

and tell her.

Kit?

Yeah, Kit.

Hey, what's eating you?

I've been thinking women are a dime a

dozen of you.

Well, you're way behind in your thinking.

Yeah, but I'm catching up quick.

Say, if you've got Kit on your mind,

you're out of luck.

Maybe not.

Not if I get there first.

If you try to toss a monkey wrench

into this thing...

There's no law against competition.

You mean you'd cross me up?

I suppose anybody's a double-crosser that won't

run interference for you.

But, brother, you're on your own today.

You're looking for trouble.

And I'm going to see that you get

it.

Okay, I'm learning to love it.

I went through plenty of it to make

Bill Birkin the something he wasn't.

I didn't think very much of that guy

at first, but now I even like him.

Yeah, it was Kit Richard's back of all

that.

And you're dumber than Bessie if you think

I'm stepping off the sidewalk for Shavetail Moss

Reserve.

It's a mighty sloppy way of packing a

chute.

Better re-stow those lines.

It's okay, Sergeant.

I'll jump it like this.

You heard what I said.

Re-stow those lines.

Back to your table, Moss.

Well, it'll keep you busy for a while,

but...

Yeah, that's what you think.

You know, you haven't mentioned Don all evening.

Yeah, but I've been thinking a lot about

him.

Kit.

There's something that's got to be settled.

Yes, I know.

Seems to me lately Don's had something on

his mind.

Maybe something about me.

Yeah.

Today he received word he's getting an officer's

commission.

That's why I had to see it before

he could turn on that high pressure opinion.

A commission?

Oh, that's wonderful.

Bill, will you do something for me?

Will you tell Don that I care for

him very much?

And tell him that if he has anything

important to ask me...

Tell him yourself.

Bill!

Well, you're in love with me.

Well, aren't you?

Of course I am.

What's been holding you back?

Oh, a lot of things.

Things I had to get straight in my

own mind.

Like two more years of enlisted service.

Well, that's not too long to wait for

the right one.

As you all know, this general demonstration is

to be an attack on an enemy village.

Our operations are to coordinate with the other

participating units at this post.

The parachute unit has been charged with the

destruction of a central objective...

which houses a powder magazine, indicated by these

crosses.

Due to their recent good work, I've assigned

two men for a special detail against the

powder magazine.

Private Morris...

and Private Burke.

Any questions, boys?

Take over, Sergeant.

Detail attention!

All right, men, fall out.

Battalion halt!

Left face!

Morris and Burke are missing.

They are.

Take over.

Eyes right!

Face!

Forward march!

You idiot!

The infantry wishes to congratulate Colonel Burke...

and the officers and enlisted men of the

501st Parachute Battalion...

for proving their important value as a combat

unit...

and who now will be officially awarded the

new parachute emblem.

Congratulations, McBride.

Thank you, sir.

Private First Class...

Stewart.

Stewart, congratulations.

Thank you, sir.

Private First Class...

Reardon.

Congratulations, Reardon.

Thank you, sir.

Private First Class...

Oh, so it's you.

You know, that battalion would never speak to

you again if they knew you had your

health.

Private First Class...

Burke.

Congratulations.

Bill.

Thank you...

Dad.

Hey, where's Don?

He was here a couple of minutes ago.

There he goes.

Hey, Lieutenant!

See you around in a couple of years.

Yes, you're going to be the best man.

What do you mean, going to be?

I always was.

I think I'll just see that he gets

his suitcase packed.

Stick around as close as you like, kid.

Thanks, Pop.

He's always kidding.

Ain't he?

Transcription by Artificial Intelligence by Westernkasa/GM JUN 2025