Original subtitles

Heat. Heat.

Heat. Heat.

This picture tells the story of tanks

and tankers, a story never told before.

It begins in what the army calls an

assembly area near Sanalo, France, July

6th, 1944, where the third armored

division, the spearhead division, is

preparing to go into combat as a unit

for the first time. America's Iron Fist,

poised and ready for the Sunday punch,

the knockout

blow. The tankers, the aggressive chip

on the shoulder men who rode and fought

the Iron Buggies were well briefed, knew

what was coming. Command had chosen them

to form the stabbing spearhead in the

drive to reach and pierce the Seek Freed

line. The tankers counted the minutes as

they armed for each hour and waited for

the order to mount up. At the very point

of the spearhead, leadoff tank

California Jane. Staff Sergeant Joe

Davis commanding. Five men chosen to

lead the way into Germany if they could

make it. And backing them up the other

four iron bellies of Lieutenant Rosson's

platoon. The barb tip of the spearhead,

the top platoon of Captain Hero's

Company C. Got her all gassed up, ready

to go. Right, sir. Check the radio.

Right. Okay. Time check. How soon you

going to have us set to go? She'll be

ready to roll when you are, Lieutenant.

I'm the last man in this army wants to

hold up this stinking war. I want to get

it over with. And I got a reason, too.

Okay, Lj. Okay, hand them up, Danny.

Remember, that's no pigkin. Besides,

Honey didn't play for the Fighting

Irish. Yes, sir.

You think we'll be moving out soon,

Lieutenant? Should be any minute now.

See you keeping your boys busy. Yeah, I

thought I better. I figured out a way to

stow some extra shells. The boys are

kind of nervous waiting. Aren't we all?

Well, Lieutenant, would you mind

censoring this for me? Anything sensible

in it? No, it's just to my wife, Jane.

I'll see if it gets mad. An estimated

2,000 heavy bombers, 700 mediums, 500

fighter bombers, comprise the air arm

raining bombs on an area less than 15 mi

square in the Sandlow Perier salient.

Although for obvious security reasons,

details have not been released

officially, it is hinted that this

saturation bombardment may be but the

overture to the greatest combined air

ground operation since our forces first

landed in Normandy only 40 days ago.

Standby for further bulletins. This is

BBC in London. I I come down

here. Hand me that 5/8 wrench.

Lean in here and learn

something. You got enough on my mind.

Jerks wrecking them faster than I can

fix

them.

Target. That stinking brother-in-law of

mine running my garage into the ground

and me stuck in this stinking army. Got

to have you wished on me, too. Alligator

pliers. I must have been nuts. Promised

your mother I'd bring you back alive.

I'll do it, too. If I have to break your

neck, God keep you dumbos kill her. Go

on, tell him to kill her.

Move. Lj says kill her. Tire up.

Boy, what I'd get to be sitting where

you're sitting when we start to roll.

You know, I got news for you, Ike.

Whatever you'd get for my job, you can

buy it for less. I got news for you. I'd

take it in a minute if Lche could let

me.

Ah, that'll lamb check.

It ain't the tankers that win the

stinking war. It's a mechanic, says

Lamb. I fix them. All the tankers do is

fight them and wreck them. Stick with

me, kid. And 10 years from now, you can

be working in my stinking garage. A

fullfledged, twobit, greasyface, no

account mechanic like me. Says limp

check.

says limb check

Joe a touch of California to cheer you

and your crew on your birthday with all

my love always

Jane think you can find a place to stow

this I've already got the spot picked

out Joe safe as money in the bank sure

your boys wouldn't sooner split it now

before we show off listen Joe you said

we'd wait till we get to Germany that's

what I told my wife that may be a long

week we're not in any hurry

Maronei, not at all. Kemp, not me.

Honey, Germany will be soon enough on

many things.

Start your column rolling, Captain. Yes,

sir. Good luck, Bob.

Thanks. Good luck, Ross. Thanks. All

right, let's go. M up.

Pull up your socks, boys. This is it.

Let's roll. Let's move, boys.

Captain Hornet to Lieutenant Rosson,

move out. Okay, Captain. First platoon,

move out. Okay, Lieutenant. All right,

Camp. Let's roll. Sergeant.

[Music]

Heat. Heat.

[Music]

That day in 1944, tanks and tankers

began to write a new page in the history

of war.

Heads up, Lieutenant. Soft shoulder on

the right. Soft shoulder on the right.

Number five, pick it up 20

yards. Able Land Baker 5 to 34. Able

Land Baker 5 to 34.

Over. Have you reached your IP? Have you

reached your IP?

Over. Are you still moving? Are you

still moving? Over. We're still moving.

Warner to Rosson. Increase your speed 5

miles. Sergeant, pick it up five. Okay,

Lieutenant Kim, pick it up five.

Boy, keep pour it on like this and we'll

be fratinizing with the fra lines in no

time. We ain't that close to the sig

freight line, I hope. No, but we're sure

out in the open and running high, wide,

and down the

middle. Sarge. Sarge. Krauss. Krauss on

the left. Crouch on the left. 300 yd.

Honey, give him some high explosive. Let

her

eat. Cease firing. Cease firing. Let the

infantry handle that. Lieutenant

Johnson, take two squads over and clean

up what's left. Then join us on the

road. Lieutenant Rosson, keep moving.

Davis, move out. Okay, Kim, you heard

it.

[Music]

Lieutenant, a nice spot. Maronei, what's

the matter with you? I keep on telling

him to keep his head away from the gun

when I fire. Hey. Yeah, we took care of

those crowds, didn't we? He hardly

anybody got killed at all.

Cam, slow it down. This road could be

mined. Well, if it is, Joe, we'll be the

first to find

[Music]

out. Lieutenant Panther on the road.

Panther on the road.

Flurry. R75 bounced off that Panther.

Cam, back off. Back

[Music]

off. Let her

eat. We can't put a dent in that tank.

Marone, load armor

[Music]

piercing. Our AP bounced off. We can't

knock her out. Davis, you can't knock

out a Panther from the front. Fire a

white phosphorus. Blind him. Money. Load

white

[Music]

phosphorus. Machine. Give me fire.

[Music]

Second section. Follow me. We'll try to

knock it off from the flank. Tank number

two. Hold the road. Hold the

[Music]

road. Arone. Camp. Arone. Camp. Do you

hear me? Get out of there. Why didn't

you answer? Get out of there, Joe. Joe.

Maronei

[Music]

camp

[Music]

fire camp. Get out of there. Cam's dead.

Machine.

Fire. Joe.

[Music]

Joe. Second section.

Fire. Cease firing. That's got it. Hold

your

fire. There she goes.

Medic. Sergeant Kellock, take over. I'm

going to see what damage that Panther

did.

Hold on, Sergeant. The medics will be

here soon. You're not going to quit on

us, are you, Joe? You can't do

that. How we get along without you?

Joe, you remember that bottle of

champagne? We're going to drink that.

All of us together in Germany.

Come on. On a

double boy's got the panther for you,

Joe.

What are his chances, Doc? Depends on

how fast we're getting him back to the

battalion a station.

[Music]

time. Look at

it. Look at

that. Still want to be a tank driver?

[Music]

That night, the tanks moved off the

roads and coiled in the fields. No

vacations with pay. Repair or replace,

fix it or junk it. Then, ready for

tomorrow, you did anything to keep your

mind off what you'd seen before the sun

went down.

If only this was my brother-in-law's

neck.

[Music]

Where'll I find Captain Horner? CP's

right over

[Music]

there. Captain

her. Hey,

Corpal. Come on, sleeping

beauty. Come on. On your feet, trooper.

Hey, there's a war arm.

Trouble with you company clerks. If you

ain't awall, you're drunk. If you ain't

drunk, you're sleeping. And vice versa.

Look, Sergeant. Never mind. Where's the

old man?

You want to see Captain Her? He wants to

see me.

Oh, does he?

What about?

He needs a new staff sergeant. I'm it.

Well, come on. Let's get organized. Luck

Sergeant, we are organized. I happen to

be Captain her.

Staff Sergeant FA Sullivan reporting,

sir.

Addies.

Nice meeting you,

Captain. Colonel Matthews thinks a lot

of you. Oh, the colonel and me was in

the old first armor together when he was

just a captain.

That's Sergeant Sullivan, huh? Yes, sir.

Francis Alawishes Sullivan.

Oh, I'd sure appreciate it if we could

uh sort of keep that

confidential. Just between the captain

and

me. Well, Sullivan, we'll try and make

you happy while you're with SE company.

We lost a good platoon sergeant today.

One of the

best. You're confident you can step into

his shoes. I ain't had no complaints in

a year and a half of fighting in North

Africa and Italy.

All right, Sullivan. I'm giving you

what's left of Sergeant Davis's crew.

You draw a new tank from ordinance.

Let's see. You'll need a driver. I'll

assign you. Uh, begging the captain's

pardon, but my driver is one man I'd

like to know. Mind if I choose my own?

Got anybody in mind? Yes, sir. I want

Tucker. Tucker? Yes, sir. I'm throwing

the book at Tucker. Was that old that

old trooper been drinking again? Sir, as

far as I know, Sergeant, he never

stopped. And you want Tucker? Yes, sir.

I've had him before. I can handle him.

Is there anything you can't handle,

Sergeant? The MPs have him back at

division rear. You'll need this note to

get him out.

Thank you,

sir. Oh,

uh, is there any chance of borrowing the

captain's peep to pick him up in?

Why, of course, Sergeant. Would you like

to have me drive you? No, sir. I'm a

very good driver myself. When you get

back, report to Lieutenant Roth. Yes,

sir.

[Music]

Oh man. Oh man. Oh man. It's a good day.

It's a good good day. I never thought

I'd be happy to see your ugly face

again. Nice to have you board, Sully.

Nice to have you aboard. You fight them,

I drive them, we both lose. Happy

times. And they'll stay happy, trooper,

long as you lay off the joy juice.

For the duration, trooper, for the

duration. Lips that touch

liquor shall never touch fun.

[Music]

Hey, what are you doing, trooper? Your

cure has begun as of now. A Sully.

Sully, what? Oh, no. Oh, no.

[Music]

Oh, well, it's going to be a long dry

[Music]

war. Slow her down,

Tucker. Stop her. Watch it, Tucker.

Howdy, Pat.

Oh no, not you again. Yep.

Just goes to show you. Can't tell who

you're going to bump into if you just

hang around this little old war long

enough. But there ought to be some

limit. The last time I saw you, I hoped

it was the last time. Oh, now don't go

give me that. I heard you when them

medics is loading me into that dare meat

wagon. Oh, doctors. Trooper Sullivan's

bleeding bad.

How long you been covering his hair

outfit, Pat? All the way from England.

All the way from England. Mhm. Well, I

should have joined up a long time ago.

Look at all the time we've been wasting.

You haven't changed a bit. That's

telling the old trooper, Pat. That's

telling them. Get your head back down

your hole. Oh, come on, Sully. Let's be

gentlemen. At least while our lady's

present. Would you by any chance be in

the market for a shove? The Jeep would.

My battery's dead. Your battery ain't

dead. I still get a charge out of you.

[Music]

See you in Germany. Not if I see you

first.

[Music]

[Music]

So long,

Pat.

Sully, kiss

me. Get down in there.

[Music]

You're telling your folks about the

sergeant honey? Yeah. Yes, I am trying

to tell them. What'd you

[Music]

say? rather understand better in German.

What does it mean an American? He was as

good as he was wise, as kind as he was

brave. We are lost children without him.

[Music]

[Music]

You're a fine, sorryl looking troop of

drag tails if I ever seen one. What's

the matter with you? So you lost a tank.

Well, they're still making them and

ain't going to call off this war just on

account of your sergeant.

Who are you? My name's

Sullivan. Staff Sergeant Sullivan. I'm

your new boss. And this here's our new

tank. Make you feel any better, you can

paint California gene number two all

over the side of it. I don't

care. We're moving out of here in 10

minutes. So, let's snap into it. On your

feet.

Come on. I said on your feet.

Which one of you guys is a gunner? I am.

My name is Henry Fryberger. Corporal.

Crowd. Huh?

You sure you're in the right army? Yes,

Sergeant, I'm in the right army. Who

loads for you? I do. PFC Jerry White

House. How fast can you load? Sergeant

Davis never had any complaints.

Who are you?

PFC Danny Callowitz, driver. Assistant

driver.

Tucker. That does my driving. Tucker? He

just got kicked out of the company. Yep.

And I just kicked him right back in

again. Look, trooper. I don't like a lot

of unnecessary conversation. So, I'm

going to tell you this just once.

Tucker, I know you. I got to find out

about. If you're good enough to ride

with Sullivan, fine. If you ain't, there

going to be some changes

made. My tank and my crew is going to be

out in front all the

way. First across the Sere line and

first into a Germany. That's the way

Sullivan operates. Sergeant Sullivan.

Oh, yes,

Lieutenant. Now, get this here gear

stored in the tank. Hey, that belongs to

Sergeant Davis. I'll take it over to

supply and dump it. Rest of you, load

that gear on the double. Didn't Captain

Hornet tell you to report to me? Well, I

was just fixing to, Lieutenant, but I

wanted to get my crew organized first.

Your crew? Come on,

Sergeant. Had a little trouble with the

crouch, Lieutenant. Yeah, a little. Know

just how you feel. Felt the same way

myself. First tank I lost, but you'll

get used to it. That's encouraging. Like

the man said, you can't make hash

without chopping up the meat and

potatoes. Weren't you being

unnecessarily hardened Sergeant Davis's

men under the circumstances? Look,

Lieutenant, Sergeant Davis ain't here no

more. But you are. Look, Sullivan. I've

shaped and hammered this platoon for 2

and 1/2 years. And no glory chasing

showoff is going to come in and get my

men killed just to get himself some more

medals and a promotion. You got me a

little bit wrong, Lieutenant. I ain't

getting nobody killed. 98% of the guys

in cemeteries got there because they

made mistakes, which I don't do. Davis

never made a mistake in his life. All

right, we'll consider him part of that

2% that's just plain unlucky. Me, I make

my own luck. And that goes for my crew

if they're good enough to ride with me.

I'm the head and they're the arms and

legs. They move when I tell them to move

and they don't move when I don't tell

them. Who puts in the heart, Sergeant?

The what?

That's all,

Sergeant. Except for one thing. I'm

going to be watching you. Everything you

do and every move you make. You do that,

Lieutenant.

All right. Pound

up. I thought I told you to stow that

gear. Stir that gear. Get on it. Come

on. Get on it. Come on. Snap into it.

Snap into it.

So I watched Sullivan. Spearhead tankers

changed the rules of war, but Sullivan

never changed. Through enemy occupied

country, we traveled as much as 90 m a

day. We never stopped. Only when gas and

ammunition ran out. The tanks rested

only long enough for their supply lines

to catch up. Sullivan, he never rested.

never gave his men a break and never

called a job well done. He fought as

one-man war. All business no heart.

Coutas, Marin, Morten, Mayen, back to

Morten when the enemy counteratt

attacked. Five days of that and Bonlug

seventh army was on the run. Aentan

files the sane chatau tiri swas. Roll

them. Keep them rolling and we roll. He

couldn't wait for the flail tanks to

clear the minefields before

us. And he was always out in front and

kept on riding his crew as hard and

recklessly as if he really believed men

like tanks are made of nothing but cold

iron and machinery.

[Music]

What's the matter, Lieutenant blew the

bridge a mile up the road? I can't hear

you. What? The crouch blew the bridge

about a mile up the road. Oh, thanks,

Lieutenant. Sullivan Rosson. Over. This

is Rosson. Over. Venelli says the crowds

blowed up the bridge up ahead of us.

Over. Get the tanks off the road. I'll

check with Captain Horner. Be down to

see you. Over. Right, Lieutenant. Over

and out. Get us off the road to the

left, Tucker.

[Music]

Able Manbaker 5 to 34. Over. This is 34.

Over. What's the delay up there,

Captain? What's holding us up? Over. The

crowd blew awesome, Colonel. We're

trying to find a place to ford the

river. Over. How long is that going to

take? Over. I don't know, Colonel.

Reconnaissance is still out. Over. Let's

get some action, Captain. Over. Captain

Horner, calling Lieutenant Rosson. Over.

Captain Horner calling Lieutenant

Rosson. Over.

This is Captain Hero calling Lieutenant

Rosson. Over. Yeah, Captain. Where's

Lieutenant Rosson? Over. He ain't got

back yet, Captain. He's still out on

recon. Over. Did he run into any

trouble? Any shooting? Over. Didn't hear

any. Over. All right. When the

lieutenant gets back, have him check

with me. I want to know if I'll need the

engineers. Over. Now. Okay, Captain.

I'll tell him. Hey, Sergeant, why don't

you tell the captain we need the

engineers? Tell them to drop the

paratroopers. Bring up the infantry.

Send in the

wax. Anything. Just as long as we don't

have to move.

You want to go to Germany? Yes, Danny. I

must go to Germany as soon as

possible. Maybe then too late. Too late

for what?

It's a personal matter, Danny.

You know I don't get you, honey. Tell me

something. How do you really feel about

shooting crowds? I try to have no

feeling about it, Danny. Yeah, but I bet

it's still pretty tough. Killing your

own people.

They are not my people. I'm an American

just like you or any other member of our

crew. Sure.

Hey,

what do you know? The sergeant's been

gone for over 40 minutes. So, so

something's wrong. Something's happened

to him. I hope it did. Way that guy's

been riding us. You, me,

but he's efficient. He has made us

better soldiers. Yeah. You got to admit

he takes pretty good care of us. Yeah.

Yeah. Sure. Sure. Like the sheriff of a

chain gang.

Danny, put it back. Put what back? Hey,

Danny, where'd you take your basic

training? Fort Knox, Kentucky. You know

that. Oh, yeah. How'd you like

Louisville? Wonderful town. Really

enjoyed that southern hospitality. Yeah.

Have a count. Count what? On the way

downtown, there's six of them. Six of

the most beautiful buildings I've ever

seen. What buildings? Whiskey

distilleries. Put it back. Huh? Oh, you

mean this? Yes. Hey, look. Look. Here

comes the sides.

All right. M up. Let's go.

Ross and the Captain Horner. Okay,

Lieutenant, what'd you find out? There's

a streak of hard rock bottom that angles

toward the other side above the bend.

How deep is it? Not too deep. We can get

the tanks across. All right, move out.

All right, Captain.

All right, Sergeant, let's roll. All

right, move out, Tucker. Pick them up.

Let's move

[Music]

[Music]

out.

[Music]

[Music]

Slow down on this bin and watch it.

dec machine gun locked

down. Heidi, you got it. Bullseye.

88. Tucker, back

[Music]

off. Let's get out here before this tank

blows up.

Sergeant Sullivan. Sergeant Sullivan.

What's up there? Over. Keep firing.

Heiny. Sully. Over. Answer me. Tucker,

move forward to your

[Music]

right. Fire.

We hit a mine. Let's get out of here.

Stay where you are. Keep firing.

on 100.

You knocked it out, honey. You knocked

it out.

Honey, keep firing.

We got the 88.

Honey, you did it. You did it, kid. And

Justin, sweet shooting. Sweet, sweet

shooting, honey. I love you.

One more second, we would have been

gunners. Oh, sweet shooting. That's

right. It was sweet shooting. But if I

hadn't kept you guys in this tank, you

would have been dead. That 88 would have

murdered you on the ground. None of you

never try to abandon this tank unless I

give you the order. If you do, I'll

shoot you myself. Huh? What's the matter

with you? He burned his hands, changing

the gun barrel for me. I forgot to put

on my asbestous gloves. What do you want

me to do? Recommend you for a medal?

Look, Sergeant, the guy's hurt.

Next time he'll remember to wear his

gloves. Hollow, where you going? I'm

going to fish Corpal Henderson's body

out of the river. You're going to stay

here. Quartermaster will take care of

his dog tags. Sergeant Sullivan.

Come over

here. See what damage a mine

did. Tucker, get over there and see what

you can salvage from Henderson's tank.

Hiny, get limb check and have him get to

work this right away. Sergeant.

Yes, Lieutenant. Why didn't you answer

me in your radio? Sorry, Lieutenant, but

I kind of had my hands full. As a

platoon sergeant, you're supposed to

keep me informed so the platoon could

fight as a unit. You gave us no

information, whatever. You were so busy

riding your crew, being the big I am

that you got two tanks knocked out, two

good men wounded, Corporal Henderson

killed. You're no platoon, Sergeant. You

ought to be driving a one-man tank in

your own personal army. I didn't get

Henderson killed. He was helping me

knock out that 88. Look, Lieutenant,

when you've been chasing crouch as long

as Lieutenant, if I hadn't got that 88,

you wouldn't have no men left to mother.

[Music]

Lieutenant Rosson, who got the 88?

My Sergeant Sullivan got it.

That's the kind of tank fighter tactics

we need, Sergeant. initiative, timing,

the ability to think and fight

simultaneously.

Well, uh, Lieutenant got it a little

wrong, sir. I I give a lot of credit to

my crew. I'm really getting them whipped

into shape. That's fine, Sergeant. You

just keep up the good work. All right,

Lieutenant, let's roll.

Yes, sir. Sergeant, take care of Corpal

Henderson's body. Catch up with the

column as soon as possible. I'll do

that, Lieutenant.

Hey.

Hey.

Hey. Hey. What's the matter? You're deep

or something? What's the idea taking off

on me? Ain't I got enough on my mind

without having to chase you?

I saw it,

Lamb. I saw it with my own eyes.

I watched the whole battle. Yeah. Yeah,

sure. And you could have got yourself

killed. Come on. We got to get out of

here and fix up that stinking Sullivan

stinking tank. That gun that 88. It's

murder and the best we got 75s. That

ain't right. Come on. Come on. That's

what got Sergeant

Davis. Can't Corporal Henderson. It

ain't right. We got to go up against the

88. Somebody ought to tell somebody.

Yeah. Yeah, sure. That's a good idea.

Somebody should walk right up to a

fourstar general and say it ain't right.

Well, come on. I got to go get my

detector here.

Hey, take take it easy. Take it easy.

Them crowds got ears, you know. Big long

fat ears. Yeah, they can hear us for a

mile off. For all we know, they could be

closing in on us right now. There could

be thousands of them between us and the

infantry and probably are by the way

we've been bypassing them. What do you

want to do? Quit and go hight tailing

for the rear like that kid? How's that

radio? [ __ ] thinks it's not going to

work. Sergeant, look, Sullivan, I ain't

going to listen to any more of your

stinking wise cracks about Ike. He's a

good kid. If he hadn't went and run out

on us, you'd had that job done by now.

Now get at it when I'm ready. And if I

can't hear, it's because he's got a good

reason for not being here. And when he

gets back, we'll get your stinking job

done faster, if we feel like it.

The crowds ain't got him.

Where do you think you're going? There's

a general in there. Yeah. So what? I

want to talk to him. You want a what? I

want to talk to the general clue. Says

LJ. How about what? It's personal. Go

on. Get lost. Get lost before they come

after you with a butterfly net. I tell

you, I got to talk to the general. It's

important. What's your trouble? Oh, no

trouble, sir. This kid's kind of battle

wacky. I am not. Are you the general?

Yes, son. Can I please talk to you,

General? Of course. Go on inside out of

the rain.

[Music]

[Music]

PFC George Eisenhower reporting, sir.

Maintenance C Company Task Force

Matthews at

ease.

Eisenhower. I bet they call you Ike.

Yeah, I mean, yes, sir. Sometimes they

call me General. Sit down, General.

Now, what's on your mind?

Speak up, son. Don't be nervous.

Generals are human beings. They have

jobs. They have bosses. And they can be

fired. Now, what's your trouble? Well,

sir, it's about those German 88s. I saw

it with my own eyes. I75s bounce off

those panthers like like spit. Then,

wham, goes an 88 right through us, and

we're dead.

It's a

murder cigarette.

No, thank you, sir. I I don't smoke.

Lamb check won't let me. Lemch? He's my

boss. Oh, Lamb. Don't know where I am. I

better get. Relax, son. Necessary. I

think I can square you with Lche. You

don't know Lampcheck.

Now, about those 88s. What's it? You

see, it's like this, General. The muzzle

velocity of an 88 is 3,900 ft per

second. Now our 75 is only 2,800 ft per

second. They got 5 in of armor and we

only got about three. So you see,

General, that's why ours bounce off.

That's why your friends are getting

killed. Mine too, Ike. Then why don't

somebody do something? Well, we're

trying to,

Ike. Now we have bigger tanks coming

through, Ike. Better armor. Tanks are on

the way. Mounting

90s. 90s. I That won't bounce off of

those Panthers. That'll go right

through. I didn't know that, General.

Well, the crowds don't know about it

either, but they're about due to start

finding out. Gee, that's Well, General,

would it be all right if I told our boys

about the night? It would make them feel

a whole lot better about the war. Sure,

tell them. and tell your particular

friend, Zikeke, the very first 90 I get,

I'm going to send it to

you. To

me, you mean that,

General? For

real? For real? Like,

well,

gee, I I sure am glad we had this talk,

General. Gee, General,

excuse me. God bless you. Thank you.

Now, you better get back and get in some

dry clothes. We don't want good tankers

like you getting sick on us. G, General,

thanks. Thank you.

Thanks very much. Well, thank you,

General.

[Music]

Sergeant. Sergeant, I hear something

coming up the river. Toss those lights.

[Music]

Hold your fire, limb, check. Wait till

they get

closer. Give it to them when they come

around this bend. All right, get ready.

No. No. It's me, Sergeant. It's me.

Hide. Don't shoot. It's I

Where have you been? Riding around in

the middle of the night in a jeep like

this and the rain. You could have got

yourself shot with the crowds all around

you. Ain't you got no sense at all?

What's the matter with you? Shut

up. Where you been? Where? I've been

talking to the general. You've been

what? I've been talking to the general.

He's nuts. Get to work, both of you. You

heard him. Move.

Hey, you've been out in the rain. You

catch cold. Easy.

Hey, you got a little fever? No, I'm

okay. The general says he's got problems

just like me. And he has the kid's

talking out of his head. He's wacky.

I heard that. And I heard that. I tell

you, I did talk to the general. Boy, he

put his arm around my shoulder and he

said to me,

"General?" The general called me

general. Come on. Come on. Well, let me

finish. And the general told me a big

secret. He said, "We've got a new tank

with 90s coming through with 90s. Can

you imagine what we'll do to them

crops?" Yeah. Yeah. We'll murder him.

Come on. I need you. We got work to do.

And you know what he said? He said the

first 90 he can send up, he's going to

send to me personally. And the general

call me a good tanker.

He's psycho. I heard that. And he said

if I want to drive the 90, you'll fix

it. So I can. Looks like me and your

pallet general is going to have some

words about that next time we meet. I

tell you, I'm giving you the facts. Come

on. Come on. Well, don't any of you guys

believe me? Come on. Get to work. Hey.

Hey, Sergeant. Look, you know I've got a

new 90 coming through now. Maybe you and

me could soon. We could make a deal. Get

back to work.

Sergeant, I hear another car coming on

the road.

Get

down. Hulk.

Callowitz, get down.

Machine, come on. Keep me covered.

Michy ho

hy

rouse and the

hook. Tell him to hurry it up. Tell him

to get them hands up the hook. Miss

she

says he wants to be brought to our

superior

officer. I'm your superior.

Where are you staying? I warn him. You

are dangerous and will stop at nothing.

Better be what you said. Tucker, take

him back to the tank and keep him there.

I need look at them and see what they

say. Hey,

Sarge. What do you want? I just want to

thank you for saving my life up on the

hill.

Thanks for

nothing. Look, Hallowitch, you're making

it a habit of being stupid. Next time

you get out in the open to challenge,

I'm going to let him shoot you. Well,

you no good. Let go me. Let go me. Let

me hit him. Let me hit him. You

miserable excuse for a human being.

First chance I get, I'm putting in for a

transfer. I'm getting out. I'm through.

Go back to your post.

What about that stuff?

You guys talk like kissing cousins. Shut

up, sucker. Go on, honey. These are

general staff orders. It says that many

thousands of their elite divisions are

retreating under orders to months in

Belgium. When I mention months, the

general begins to understand

English. He doesn't want to tell.

Come on, talk.

30,000 50,000 100,000 all of their elite

divisions they'll go from months to a

secret line where they will form an

impregnable garrison that is

correct Yankees have been unbelievably

lucky but you will break your neck when

you reach the secret

line that stuff's on the Oh, I'm sure of

it. This is a very important strategic

officer you catch. He's personally

decorated by Hitler.

Only I Hitler, Sergeant.

[Music]

All right, Al. Come on, Rose.

Hold it, soldier. I got business with

Captain Hero. What business? Mine.

Captain her? Yes, Sergeant. This is

General Von Culver. General Von Culver.

Staff Sergeant Sullivan reporting, sir.

At ease. I got a little present for the

general. His name is Von Colber. General

over on over to Perto Vona.

Yeah, he had these on him. They're very

important. So, I poured it on to get

here.

could have put it on the radio, but I

figured that if we knew something the

crops didn't know about, no need telling

them and tipping them off to the

party. I looked at that stuff on the way

over and they'll be coming through about

here, 15 mi south. But we can stop them

if we hurry up. I'll figure out the

move, Sergeant, if you don't

mind. That's

all. Has RG2 reported anything on

bonhiking sixth loop off a field

division in the Paris comp groupy? No

sir, not a thing. They haven't even been

mentioned.

Gentlemen, I know how thin our lines are

spread, but these outfits have got to be

stopped. At least until the infantry can

catch up and take over. Be a lot better

hitting them out in the open than it

will be to have to blast them out of

those pill boxes and imp placements

behind the dragon's teeth later on. They

get through to the Sig Freed line, it's

no telling how long they'll hold us up.

I want every available man, vehicle, and

gun on the move to close this gap.

Cooks, clerks, maintenance men, anybody

who can use a weapon, tanks out of

commission that can fire and fight. I

want them towed into position as

roadblocks. Are there any questions? No,

sir. All right, let's get rolling.

Right.

[Applause]

Hey, Sarge. How'd you make out with the

big brass? Let check.

I thought I told you to get on this. I

have been on it. And Sergeant Sullivan,

it breaks my heart to inform you that it

is my final opinion and the opinion of

all other mechanics and maintenance that

you have ridden that stinking heap into

a burned out pile of junk. It is phen

kaput done. Which means I hope so is

Sullivan. Come on, get you something

hot. Lack. Hey Sarge, I still got that

tank with a 90 coming through. the one

general ordinary tank me a new tank and

get it fast. Sergeant Limch, what? Put

your T2 on a Sergeant Sullivan's tank

and haul it. Haul it to work. You'll

establish a road block where the roads

fork here. The crowds start coming

through, you'll to pinpoint targets for

artillery. It'll be better if I could

establish up here on higher ground where

I can get some observation. Colonel

Matthews prefers to have you here. Put a

man with a radio at that point and

transmit his reports in the appearance

of any enemy elements in that area. The

artillery will take it from there. No

oneman army stuff this time, Sergeant.

Is that clear? Yes, sir. Then get

moving. He can't. He ain't got no crew.

They took off on him. Would you like to

have an unprejudiced witness tell you

why, Lieutenant? I know why. Lemch. Get

your T2 hooked on. Ike, move.

Sullivan, I'm almost sorry for you.

You've got 10 minutes to round up those

men. If you can round them up. Thank

you, sir.

[Music]

Hitler tiny.

Where's Kowitz and Maronei? I I don't

know. Sergeant, couldn't I leave you in

charge? Yes, Sergeant, but but I had

personal matters. And you ain't got no

personal matters with these here

crrauts. Now get on back to that tank

where you belong.

[Music]

Sergeant Tucker.

Private Tucker.

[Music]

You miss

me? Sully. Sully, look, let's be

reasonable. I uh I haven't feeling well

lately. I think I got answers. Oh. Ah.

Sully, look. We're We're pals, ain't we?

Huh? Out, pal. Oh, okay. Pal.

[Applause]

[Music]

Oh, headache. Headache. It ain't the

duck so much. It's the cinnamon. We've

been together since way back. You know,

there were times, pal, when I never

thought I'd last to sink a tooth into

you. We should have stayed in that tank.

Danny, look. Will you quit worrying

about Sullivan? I wish this was Sullivan

turning on the spit, sizzling, grease,

and meanness dripping. If that guy makes

one more crack to me, so help me. Just

one.

Kawitz, what

then? You get on back to that fair tank.

You too,

Maronei. How much can you take, Jerry?

How long are you going to go on riding a

suicide seat for this no good

heartless? Look, Sullivan, the last time

my friend stopped me, this time you're

going to get it.

Go ahead, Sullivan. Yell for the MPs.

Now, Callowitz, we don't need no MPs. I

can handle this. You're going to stay

right in my tank and right in my crew.

And you're going to think that up to

now, you've just been on a joy ride.

Now, get on out of here.

As the general had ordered, the gap

began to close when the tanks were moved

into position where their firepower

could be concentrated. Big guns, little

guns. If it could shoot, it was up on

the line. The iron bellies that couldn't

move by themselves were pulled into

place by those that

could. Some were exposed in

fields, others were dug in. But however,

or wherever place, all were set to hurt

the enemy. There seemed nothing left to

do but wait for the Germans to make

their

move. The Nazis had their work cut out

for him as they tried to figure a way to

get out of the pocket. They raced men

and equipment to those sectors where

there seemed a chance to dull the point

of America's iron lance.

And while the Germans planned, the men

of Spearhead packed their steel

fortresses with still more ammo. Made

lastminute changes in their positions,

prepared for the ambush by hiding their

tanks, camouflaging the deadly line

until it looked as peaceful as the

landscape around it. Hide is air tank

good, Kawitz. Cover it so the crowds

can't see it. Get that away from the gun

muzzle.

Mari, establish an observation post on

the top of that rise over

yonder. Contact me as soon as you see

something. Now, what are you waiting

for? Somebody to lead you by the hand.

Go on,

move. Go on. On the double. Go on. Take

care of yourself. on the

double. Carowitz, get down on your gun.

Tucker, fill the ready basket with

AG. Hike, get up on your turret. Yeah.

Yeah. Sarge.

Sarge, I'm up here. Sarge, I'm all set.

Can you hear me? Over.

Sarge, can't you hear me? Over.

Sure, I can hear you. And so can the

crowds if there any of them around.

What's on your mind? Over. Nothing,

Sarge. I can't see anything moving

anywhere. Over. Keep your eyes open till

you do.

Sarge, if the crowds do start coming

through, over.

Just let me know where, when, and how

many. Over. What if they spot me? Over.

Then your worries will be over. Over. I

just want to know what to do. Over. I

don't care what you do. Pray. Talk to

yourself, but keep off the air till you

got something to report. Over and

out. Hey. Hey, Sarge. I hear something

coming. I can't see what it is yet, but

I can hear. Sounds like a whole army

coming over. Keep your eyes open and

your head down. Over.

Yes,

Sarge. I see him. It's Krauss coming

around the bend about 200 yds out. Get

set,

Sarge. 1 2 3 4

5 6

7. That's all. Sarge. Seven. Over.

They're only the point. There'll be more

coming. This is easy Baker Zebra 38 to

onset five. Over. This is onset 5. Send

your message. Over. This is 38.

Concentration of enemy troops at control

point box 241 love 3 niner1. We'll

adjust. Over. This is onset five. We are

ready here. Over. Stand by.

Over. Here they come. Here they come.

Over. 38 to onset five.

[Music]

Fire. They're hitting too far back. Too

far back. Drop 100. Drop 100. 38 to

onset five. Drop 100. Drop 100.

No, no, Sarge. Some of them got through.

They're coming on along the road. Bring

it in another hundred. Quick, SGE. Over,

Maronei. Another 100 will bring that

artillery right down on top of you.

Over. I know. I know. Pull it in. Pull

it in. Hurry.

This is 38 to onset 5. Drop 100 and fire

for

[Music]

effects. Get out of there. Drop back.

You hear me? Drop back.

Maronei, can you hear me? Over. Maronei,

get out of there. Get out of there,

Jerry. Pull back.

Maroney, get out of there. You hear me?

Get out of there. Homer, take

over. Fire until they get close, then

blast them.

Where you going?

Following that tank. Listen, Marone's

out there getting himself killed for

you. So Sullivan can get himself another

medal. You no good.

Daddy, get back of your gun.

Daddy, stay

there.

Honey, do you see what I see? Yeah.

Yeah, that was

Krauss. Anyone you know? Hold your fire,

Danny. Hold

it. Hold it.

fire.

Heat.

She's firing. He's seasoning. She's

firing. No. She's

firing. Ros, come on. Get your hands

[Applause]

up. And he's been about

Rouse. Come rocks. Rouse. Rouse. Make

your hands up. Put your hands up. Bet.

Put him

back. Put it back. I ain't going to put

it back. Put that back. No. I'm going to

drink a toast to a great guy. To

Sullivan. Yeah. To Sullivan. Hadn't been

for Sully, you'd be dead, kid. Dead. I

hope he got killed. He didn't do nothing

for me. You don't think the old trooper

slugged you just for laughs, do you? An

amateur like you'd be dead out there in

a minute. It's true, Danny. The sergeant

offered his life. Not only for Money,

but for you.

It'll be awfully hard for me to

believe. But if he

did, then

maybe you're wrong about the old

trooper. But you'll learn. You'll learn.

Look, more crowds. They got their hands

up.

Maybe.

Maybe. It's a SGE Sullivan. Trooper

Sullivan. Indestructible.

Indestructible. All right, put it back.

Put it back.

Hey, LJ. It's Sullivan. He's all right.

And he's got Maronei with him. Maronei?

He's all right. Well, what do you know?

Look. Uh, bus got any boos? Schnaps.

Huh? That was health. Beer. Beer with

pretzels. Beer. Snaps. Get out of there.

Has got any snaps. Booze. What? No.

Beer. Oh, my pal. Sully. Just like I

said. Indestructible. Tucker. Take them

over. Yeah. All right. Come on. Rouse.

Rouse. Your hat is worried. Sergeant,

are you all right? Yeah. You sure you're

not hurt or anything? Not a bit. Oh,

good. You should have seen Sullivan.

What a guy. What a guy. Yeah. Yeah.

Egg

cross. Did you ever use this on anybody?

[Music]

Evil. This is easy Baker Zebra 38 to 37.

Over.

This is 37. Over. Request the lieutenant

to send some men over here to take a

bunch of crout prisoners off our hands.

Over. Did any get past you? Over. Not a

one, Lieutenant. We stopped them cold.

Over. How many men did you lose? Over.

Not a man, Lieutenant. Not a man. Over.

All right, Sully. Out. Thanks,

Lieutenant. Over and out.

Rex. Rex. Power

M. After knocking the pants off the

crowds, the division returned to Mo for

a brief rest, a little of what came to

be called

liberating. They had hoped to enjoy

Moans like they had hoped they'd get a

chance to enjoy Paris. But the tankers

never did see Paris. They didn't get

much chance to enjoy the hospitality of

moles. It's a little difficult to do any

serious first class liberating on a

moving tank. And all Spearhead did was

move.

Hey, soldier. Where's Sergeant

Sullivan's tank? Uh, over there. Uh,

I'll be glad to show you.

Hi, Pat. Hi. this mount. Come on over.

Okay.

This here is Pat Kane. How do you do?

Pretty, ain't she? Hello. Makes pretty

pictures, too. And I'm here to get a

good picture of your hero. Who? Sergeant

Sullivan? He ain't here. But I'm

interested in Private Jerry White House.

I'm Private Jerry White House. All

right, throw out your chest. Not many

men would call down their own artillery

right on top of themselves.

Well, I just saw a few crowds coming and

I got a little confused. So confused he

stopped a whole regiment. How'd you hear

about it? I read the citation

recommending him for the Silver Star

written in Sergeant Sullivan's own

inimitable style. You mean Sullivan put

Maronei in for a medal? Mhm. Danny, just

supposing supposing you're wrong about

something. He wouldn't give credit to

his own mother. That may be so, Danny,

but he gives it to Maronei. Yeah, you're

learning. You're learning. Wait a

minute. Wait a minute. Tell me

something, Miss Kaine. What did Sergeant

Sullivan put himself in for? Nothing. As

a matter of fact, probably for the first

time in his life, Sullivan didn't even

mention Sullivan. He should have. He

kept Danny from getting killed and then

he went out under fire and brought

Marone in. Knock it off, Ike. Let a guy

think, will you? Yeah, let a guy think.

Let him think. You know something you

saw? You saw because the sergeant is

trying to make a combat soldier out of

you. Personally, I think it's a waste of

time.

Holy old macro. Look at that.

Look at that gun. That's the granddaddy

of the 88. Look at that muzzle break.

It's like a German Tiger. 5 in of armor

right where you need the worst.

Brother, what a baby carriage. Baby

carriage. Yep. This is one of them their

new 90s we've been hearing about.

Lieutenant Rosson. Sir, what? Sergeant,

how would I go about getting one of

these here tanks? I'm afraid you're

gonna have to speak to Ike. I You mean

me? That's right. Listen to

this. To PFC George Eisenhower, also

known as Ike and General, care of

Captain Horner, C Company Task Force

Matthews. Dear General, this is for

real. Good luck. from the commanding

general third armor division.

Get away, boys. You bother me. Back off.

Back off. Stop scratching up my

property. Ain't she pretty? Ain't she

sweet? Hey, I told you, Lamb Chuck. I

told you. Yeah. Yeah. You talk to the

general. Lieutenant, you mean to say

that Ike here's got the say so on this

here tank? Seems to be the general's

idea.

Go ahead, ask me.

Well, uh, I suppose you want to drive.

I might.

Well, let's see. Danny's quitting, and

that means Tucker's going to need a new

assistant. You've been shaping up pretty

good lately. All right, you made a deal.

Hey, wait a minute, Sarge. I didn't make

that quitting official. I was just

beefing. A guy's got a right to beef.

Well, a gee, Sarge. I I wouldn't want to

break up a swap combination like you

got.

There ain't no combination so good it

can't be replaced. Well, anyway, I got

to stick around and take care of Lche.

Who's going to take care of who? Now, be

careful, Limch. Mike's liable to tell

the general on you.

Lieutenant, what time we shoving off?

Within the hour, Sergeant. All right,

let's get our gear aboard this thing.

Come on, move. Load up.

What you waiting for? Did you hear me? I

said get your gear aboard here. Sure,

Sully.

On September 4th, 1944, the Spearhead

drove on from Moan. Four task forces

raced to beat the enemy to Fortress

Germany. Still far out in front, still

on their own, spearhead tankers sped

through cities where liberated Belgians

mobbed their liberators. Chararoy,

Namur, Vage. In 18 days, spearhead

tankers had stabbed from the same to the

grinning dragon's teeth outside the iron

gates of Germany. Now dirty, hungry,

exhausted, short of ammunition, running

out of gasoline, a 100 tank crews still

in action out of more than 400 who

launched the breakthrough at San Low.

Tankers set themselves for the first

invasion of Germany since Napoleon's

time. The night of September 11th in the

Aenhin forest, spearhead commanders

poured over photographs and maps of the

seek freed line. The most powerful

defense fortress ever built by

[Music]

man. Though the tankers were smarter,

the job didn't get easier. The closer

they got to the seed line, the tougher

the resistance became. As German

artillery and roadblocks denied them the

roads, spearheads tanks took to the

fields and woods, probing, feeling,

searching for a soft spot, seeking that

one place to get the spear between the

ribs. That one place where a little

breakthrough could be punched into a big

wide one that would become the express

highway that could end only in

Berlin. And as usual, it was Sullivan

out in front. Sullivan nosing for a

fight.

[Music]

Act 5,000 m.

[Music]

engineers, move up

here. Move forward. Blow us a hole in

that dare line.

Move forward and set those charges.

5,000 mong.

The artillery zeroed in on us.

That

is button up. Lick button

up. Climb check.

[Music]

Medic in

[Music]

here. They're hitting all around us. You

think we'll pull back? Somebody better

do something.

All right, Tucker, move out.

Sully, what are you up to? I'm going to

put this here new tank across that there

line. Lieutenant

[Music]

Keep moving, Tucker. Hour it on.

[Music]

Packer, come on with me.

Scout machine gun traverse left.

Enemy machine gun. Sully spotted it.

Platoon one round.

[Music]

[Music]

Fire. Crow 88. Panther tank right front.

Fire,

Hiney, a boy, Hiney. One round of R90

and look at her burn. Platoon, lay a

couple of rounds in that crowd tank for

good measure. Fire.

Let's go, Tucker.

Sully.

Sully. Come on.

Hey. Going to borrow a dozer.

You and your men. Hop out. I got a job

to do. All right, men. Dismount. Tucker.

Get in on them controls or I wind her

up.

[Music]

[Music]

[Music]

Gunner, come here.

There's a crowd artillery observing that

tree. Halfway up the tree.

Yes, sir. Fire two rounds of H in the

All set, sir. Fire.

Nice shooting. Their artillery should

slack off now.

[Music]

[Music]

All right, Lieutenant. You can bring

them

[Music]

through. Platoon, follow me. Move out.

[Music]

[Applause]

[Music]

[Music]

This is it, Penny. Let's get the

champagne. Wait a minute. Wait a minute.

We're not in Germany yet. What do you

mean? We got to wait till all these

tanks go through. You mean all these

tanks? Yeah.

Well, come on. Let's go. Move it on the

double.

[Music]

Hey,

you you in charge of this T2? No, sir.

Sergeant George Eisenhower. Sergeant,

it's psychic. He got a promotion. And

boy is he

rough. First limb check. Battalion E. My

boss went down to see him. Can you

change his heart plug? I hope so. Well,

then get at it. Get on that tank there.

Sergeant Sullivan. Yeah. Lieutenant

Rosson said we'll move out in 15

minutes. Thank you, Sergeant.

Why? Come on, Danny. Let's share the

joy. We got to wait for Heine. Why do we

got to wait for Heiney?

Where is he? They went into Stalberg.

Said it was pretty important.

Take me to Stalberg.

[Music]

Hurry up, Will you SGE? I'm dying of

thirst. Oh, I can't stand it. Oh, relax,

will you?

Danny, what? Let me hold it. Where you

going? No place. I just want to hold it

till he gets back. Will you stay right

here? Right here.

Go ahead. Let him hold it.

Okay. Don't open it all.

That's long enough. Thanks,

I'm not a car.

What's here?

Quickly

go father it's been

Henry Hinrich. Oh god.

That is my

point. I tell them, don't be afraid. You

are my

friend. This is Sergeant Sullivan, my

grandfather and grandmother.

Grandfather and grandmother? Yes. They

are why it has been so important for me

to reach

Germany. I lived here as a

boy. I was afraid they might be dead

before I could find them.

God has been

good.

It sure is a pleasure to meet you

folks. You got a wonderful grandson.

Believe me, I know.

And is good. I tell them when an

American shakes hands with you,

everything is going to be all right.

Help me

come. You feel me?

Yeah. And you can say that again, Heiny.

Hello, puppy. You want to come with us?

You come on with us. You want to come,

puppy dog? Come on. Guess he don't

understand English. Ask him in German.

Uh uh. Oh, come see

here. Come

on over

here. There he is. There's Sully. There

Sully's back. This is it. This is it.

I'll get F. I'll get it. I'll get

finals.

Look at I found he's all right.

Sergeant Joe Davis planned for us to

drink this when we got to Germany. Well,

we're all here now. And well, thanks to

you,

Sully. Here's your

cup. Thanks, Danny.

Thanks.

Somebody stole it. There's a crook in

the outfit. Danny, I can't find a thing.

Hey. Hey, wait for

Tucker. Wait a minute. Wait a minute.

There.

Well, to Sergeant Joe Davis,

Sergeant Sullivan. Yes, Lieutenant. I

hate to lose a good platoon,

Sergeant, but Captain Horner and I have

decided to recommend you for promotion

to Lieutenant. Hey, congratulations.

You've been waiting for

Lieutenant Just a minute.

Lieutenant. Yes, Sully.

I suppose this means a usual thing. I'll

be transferred to another platoon and a

a new company. That's the Army way,

Sully. You guys are real happy, ain't

you? You think you're good enough now to

get along without Sullivan, don't you?

Well, you can't. I've still got a job to

do, and I'm going to do it. I'm still

ahead, and you're still the arms and

legs. And you'll move when I tell you to

move. And you ain't going to move when I

don't tell you. Anything you say, we'll

get through. If we're lucky.

What do you mean if we're lucky? I'm

Sullivan, and I'm still making the luck

for this whole outfit. Now, come on.

Let's get moving. Come on, let's roll.

Let's go up. Get on that tank. Roll.

All right, Tucker. Wind them up. Get

ready to

roll. All right, roll

[Music]

them.

Heat. Heat.

[Music]