Original subtitles

[Music]

[Applause]

[Music]

all the parad

[Applause]

[Music]

when we take the air for we make the

enemy disappear.

And when we light we fight till the

ground all around

to meet the enemy.

America.

[Music]

You're the fellow who's waiting for us

to open up this morning, aren't you?

That's right.

And I guess you know what you want.

Yes. I 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 I tell you, I

know what I'm doing. I'm all right.

Your physical checkup will determine

that. We'll see. Come on.

could heaven's woman. Can I help it if

you like him that way? That goes for

you, too. Now, stop that balling 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 both sue him

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. You you you

all American have wit.

That's right. I'm just chip off the old

block.

Go on, Dad. So long, son.

[Music]

Where'd you get this crazy hanker in a

jumping out of airship with a bumper

suit strapped to your back? Yeah. Well,

more Pruny Cullens. She talked me into

it.

So that's it. Can't you see them female

Collinses was trying to get your neck

broke?

Yeah. I always thought Pruny kind of

like me.

Came possible. Us horses were shooting

at them Collinses the day you was born.

Yeah. And I chased her armory men folk

clean back to Georgia.

Georgia?

Yeah. And I'd have chased their women

folk too, but it ain't be proper to

Hollands.

Georgia. That's where they sending me

Paul.

Yeah.

Maybe it's a fulfillment. I'd forgive

you right kindly, Jeff, if you potted me

your columns down there,

like they done to your grandpappy.

Yeah,

[Music]

I'll do it. I'll blood hunt him to

kingdom come. I'll sniff him out, Paul.

I'll choose the first Georgia Collins I

meet and I'll ch him to pieces.

Yeah,

he ain't too big. Come on.

[Music]

Enemy

[Music]

Did you lose something?

No, I still have my heart.

Say, that must be a party.

He's a pretty big boy if we run around

barefooted, isn't he?

I know why he kicks him off. They pinch

his feet.

Oh, hello.

May I have my feet, please?

Well, pardon me.

I'm so sorry. I was looking for the

owner of this shoe. Doesn't belong to

your husband. So I uh

That is your husband, I presume.

That's right.

Oh,

you do presume.

Oh,

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. Peace is a

wonderful thing, isn't it, Daddy?

There it is.

Hey, easy win.

A wall in final pass. So help me. I'm

going to renovate this car.

Relax. Now relax.

I'm awful. Sorry. Excuse us, ma'am. We

are but simplehearted soldiers, more

accustomed to the smoke of battle than

the parlor waves.

Oh, isn't that nice, Daddy? Soldiers.

Soldiers.

Uh-huh. Yeah. Yeah.

Is that so?

The boys uh going to Fort Benning?

That's right. My name is Bill Berg. At

your service all the way.

Bill what? Son.

William Mayberry Burke.

So now, weren't you?

Yeah, sure.

Well, we're the Richards family, the

whole shebang. We're on our way to

Columbus, Georgia.

Well, charm to meet up with you. I'm Don

Morse, the all- American.

Yeah, I thought that would strike a

reminiscent court.

And you?

I'm just Jeff Holl.

Well, soldiers sure do interest me.

Might I ask uh what branch of soldier

and you're in?

Well, indeed you might. I'm hooked up

with the infantry's new babies. The

parachute boys. Me, too.

How is that so new? Seems to me I read

somewhere 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, Sunny?

Oh, well, quite a spell. ROC 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 lbs

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 pig.

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, Sunny.

Yeah. What's that?

I'll get in touch with you.

Okay.

Horse

Burke

Spence

Hollis

Company C.

Hi.

Hi, Lieutenant.

14 14

[Music]

in here, man.

All right, men. Choose your own bunks.

Teach you playing any football? You

betcha. Let's take them out. They're

heading for the best bunks.

Nice gorge.

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 Dero

reporting for duty.

Oh, send him in.

Yes, sir. Come in, Sergeant.

[Laughter]

Oh, thunderhead. Take the ram route out

of your back and sit down. Person,

tell me, Richard, do you still hate the

infantry?

Well, naturally, sir, I still hate

everything of foot with a possible

exception of Kip.

Oh, I I ain't mad at her anymore.

I sure was. The night she was born for

being so effeminite.

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.

You know, I nearly took that pill away

from him when his mother hung that

Mayberry on him.

Yes. He never cared much for you. No,

for anything else, it smelled like a

soldier.

I've been wondering

just what kind of a guy she made out of

him.

I wanted more than you have.

Look over your battalion. You may find

out.

He's he in? Well, why the devil wasn't

he sent to me? Now you know better.

Now take it easy, Colonel. Don't start

Molly cuddling him. It may spoil a good

soldier.

Oh,

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'll

realize that a colonel's son wears a

same size hatband 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.

You got the feeling these oats he'd blow

the morale to smitherines.

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.

[Music]

[Laughter]

Hey,

wake up, Lieutenant.

Yeah, I am here.

[Music]

How long have you been out? Just since

milk and time.

[Music]

Hey, Don, 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 10.

All you men who have taken part in

athletics, report up here to me. Rest of

you are dismissed. Follow.

The water problem wants to make sure the

private Moss, the famous footballer, was

not slighted in this detail. Moss, here.

Good. Moss, you've been chosen to lead

these men in a highly important service.

Well,

thank you, Sergeant. I was second

lieutenant ROC.

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.

Does horseshoe pitching count?

No. You guys are just wasting the army's

time. You don't get these quick

promotions for athletes. Foot company.

Fall in. Oh, come on, fellas. Fall in.

Right face.

Forward.

details

[Music]

right

this service is not only patriotic but

it's very necessary

about faith

fall out and start digging

necessary

to the plumbing get going

yes sir

[Music]

Looks like everybody's in high gear but

us.

You know they throw you out of the

parachute core if you get overweight.

Maybe they're doing this for a

waistline.

[Music]

Now, this is certainly destroying a lot

of my dreams.

Well, they took a nice stitch, Sergeant.

Now, don't let them lie on it. You're

busy there.

Hey, Sergeant, do you mind if I ask you

just one little question?

What? Certainly.

What did he ever do to Rate?

What did old Thunderhead ever do?

Yeah. Tonight, you're going to find out

what he did. Years ago, when parachutes

were an unknown quantity, a man had the

courage to prove their great

possibilities. 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

pulloff 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 shoot with

a rip cord to prove its value and fire

an emergency. But there remained a false

belief that a man falling over 500 ft

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 ft, attaining a

maximum speed of 118 mph at,200 ft.

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.

He will be your chief instructor in

parachute training. In addition to

Sergeant Richard's 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

officers 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

no Collins Brown here.

Hollis, you're still at attention.

Thought out and assembled in the packing

room.

And since If 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 shoot for emergency purposes

only.

This is known as your static line.

All right,

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.

Now, 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

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. The

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 going to

get your first look at a parachute jump.

How's it feel, Sarge?

You get that old elevator feeling?

The whistle is standing the door waiting

to jump.

[Music]

[Applause]

She's not going to open.

Take it easy. Take it easy. Tony Bessie

a dummy.

A dummy.

Dummy. That's right. Come on. I'll show

you.

Pick her up. Morris.

Boys. This is Bessie.

Now, this little lady takes these

beatings to impress on you men the

importance of packing your shoots

carefully. Woohoo.

was uh that you Morris

H

Morris I don't believe I like your

attitude to it Bessie if I ever catch

you woo wooing any of my women folks

you'll feel like you've been through a

world war

ahead Sergeant

you see Bessie is beautiful but dumb she

plum forgot she had an emergency shoot

on you see this rip cord when her main

shoot didn't work this is all she had to

do

that's right and remember first and

You probably never need to pull that rip

cord if you pack your main shoots

carefully. It's your best life

insurance.

And a sloppily packed shoot is your

shest way to suicide.

For example, it was your shoot, Burke.

Packed by you that failed open up there.

Did you hear the good news? One of the

office boys slipped me kits home

address. You mean old Thunderhead's home

address?

Yeah, he promised to belt me if I woo

wooed around.

What are you going to do?

Woo woo.

See, how about you coming along acting

his decoy?

No, I got a date with some library

books. Going to learn a few things about

the army I never knew before.

You need it. You were bright yellow when

the sergeant told you about your shoot.

What'd you say? You heard me.

Boys, boys, boys. Mustn't. Mustn't.

I thought you said mus.

I wanted to do it.

Jigger's the sergeant.

And the father bear says, "Who's been

sitting in my chair?"

Well, he's asleep.

Yeah, he was tired.

Fighting, eh?

Fighting. Sarge.

Somebody's going to lose his weekend

pass.

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

town this weekend with me.

I ain't sorry.

No, if I saw a moss throw that punch,

looks like I'll have to put him on

kitchen police.

That is uh one of you might be willing

to do me a little favor. Sure. Spill it.

Come here.

What do we do for you?

Well, dog gone, it's taking a girl to a

dance. I'd rather be shot sitting down

than to make a fool of myself trying to

dance. Dancing?

Well, that's a cinch for one of these

fellas. How about it, Jeff?

Yeah, but not with a girl. Not me. Bill,

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. That's well

of you.

Where do I find her? Can you whistle?

Whistle? Yeah. Why?

Well, when you go out the gate, just

blow a few notes readily and she'll honk

a horn.

[Music]

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 it'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.

But it's a pleasant disappointment. Come

on, hop in. Right.

HEY,

WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOING, YOU MUG.

Who is that fresh person? He's lucky if

he lives through the day.

Oh, you said it. Say, is the is your

father going to be home all afternoon?

Mhm. I think so.

Oh, brother.

Huh?

Oh, nothing.

[Music]

Hello.

Hello, Sergeant.

I was just looking for an address.

Keep on looking.

Yes.

[Music]

You're a good dancer, Private Burke.

Well, thanks, Kit. I guess that's what

got me in the army. For the life of me,

I can't think what else.

Oh, the army's not so dumb.

Oh goodness. We better be going. It's

pretty late 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.

Well, all right. Let's go.

I'm still looking. Sergeant, try the

next block. You're getting in a rut,

soldier.

Yeah.

[Music]

Hey, Bill.

Bill, wait a minute.

Well, well, home bright and early, huh?

Private Burke. Soldier, how are you?

Fine, Sergeant.

It tastes improving, kid.

Stick around as long as you like.

Good night, soldier. Good night,

Sergeant.

Good night, kid.

Good night, sugar.

Don't call me sugar. I hate it.

[Music]

[Applause]

[Music]

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

favor 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 as me. 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. I want to like

you. But first of all, I I've got to

like myself.

Listen, I got drunk to enlist on the

parachute. I had to do it. And now I'm

afraid.

I'm afraid of what comes next. Always

[Music]

remember your rip cord pulled your chute

open.

Now, we're going to show you what

happens if you fail to hook it securely.

[Music]

What would you do?

His head was working every second. Never

run out of altitude and knowledge at the

same time. Don't forget you can do a lot

of navigating with those shroud lines.

Notice when he lands now you use his

knees as a springboard. The dish rag his

shoot before it can drag him.

[Music]

Hey, Sergeant. Get a good one of me.

[Music]

You hurt?

No, I'm all right.

Well, in 5 seconds, you forget

everything we taught you, Bill. You ran

clean out of knowledge.

Well, I I'll do better next time.

Yahoo!

Yahoo!

Yahoo!

[Music]

Perfect landing.

Yeah, too bad.

H.

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.

Well, 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 fell I like?

What's wrong with Bill Burke?

Who said anything was wrong with him? It

happens that Saturday is payday and Don

Morris 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.

Cwell

6530

6530

Collins

4860

4860

Hey, get back there. Where do you think

you're going? Get back in line.

Oh yeah,

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's? He's a fine hairy chested

outfit.

Want to play?

Oh, me? No. I got a pocket full of pay,

a date with kit, and I like my games

grown up.

Do not let old Thunderhead run 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 takes.

Yeah. Moss doesn't like.

Is that so? Well, let's get going,

fellas.

Wait a minute, Morris.

There was nothing personal about it.

No, no, I realize that, but if you could

learn to like dominoes, you and me could

spend every weekend playing.

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

Oh, yeah, that would be.

Yeah,

well, I feel sort of guilty about taking

up all your time, Sergeant. I mean, you

being my superior and all that.

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

Well, there's no harm me teaching you

dominoes. It's a uh plenty of point to

go to the welfare fund. Who's welfare?

Just a sweet charity.

Sweet charity. My eye. I need my dope

for tonight.

I understand that.

Well, thanks.

God play.

Here,

take it. You'll need it. You've got a

family to support. Well, I just happen

to remember that I play a pretty fair

game of Domino. 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,

would 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.

[Music]

Dad,

it's murder.

See you next Saturday.

Maybe

you would 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 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.

[Music]

[Music]

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.

[Music]

Just kidding, ain't he?

I wish we'd get going on those jumps.

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 kept getting out of place.

You'll find out. Lights out. Good night,

Mo.

[Music]

Back home, malls used to fold everything

for me.

[Music]

Perk,

I'm sorry I acted the way I did.

I guess I was trying to get my own nerve

a build up.

You and I aren't like these other guys.

They're getting a kick out of this.

Why join this outfit to get that extra

dope for jumping?

I got a family work

that you'll need regular. I've got to

get that extra pay.

I'm going to try hard to make that jump

tomorrow.

But if I get done

pipe down you

platoon halt

there

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 force of that

kind in this battalion.

If you have any trouble with your main

shoot,

remember your emergency.

And when you pull that rip cord, pull it

hard.

Tags.

Put a new suit on this man.

We could use him for the dummy.

[Music]

He's kidding again,

ain't he?

All right, men. Bessie will go first to

spot the wind currents for you.

Ladies first. Hope she's got a better

suit on than she had the other day. Hey,

Bert. You didn't pack this shoot, did

you?

You'll find out.

[Music]

You men, you're back in your seat.

Gee, look at her off. Look like she's

over Alabama.

Yeah.

[Music]

Number one.

That's you, Mo.

Good luck. Woo! Heavy lady. Give my love

to Bessie.

Relax, Mo.

Yeah, relax, Morris. The toughest parts

in your own mind. If you fellas are

expecting a dizzy drop, you're going to

be badly mistaken. Why? When you get out

there, you'll feel like you're standing

still and the sky just rolling by.

Hook up.

Send it off. Head

up. Mos,

take it easy. Leave those muscles free

to move. When takes says go, you go.

Go.

[Music]

Boy, you sure come out with a jerk.

Somebody we know.

[Music]

Yahoo.

[Music]

Hollis,

that's you, Slim.

[Music]

Got that good luck horseshoe.

You don't need a parachute. You just

step down here.

Wake up, Hollist. Fasten your chest on.

Hook up.

[Music]

Standard.

[Music]

What happened?

Go.

It seems to me there was some little

goo.

[Music]

Heat. Heat.

[Music]

No, no, no.

[Music]

Okay,

Let it go.

Go.

[Music]

Spven.

Spven.

What's the matter, son? We're going to

land. You're going to put me down.

Come on, snap out of it. You can't do

anything but make a noise with that

blank ammunition.

No, but I took the blanks out. I've got

live ammunition in this gun.

Nobody's going to make you jump, Spence.

We'll land.

Come on, give me that pistol.

No. No, I won't. I don't believe you.

That's better. 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 old.

No, you won't. Remember what you told me

last night

about your family?

I'm a part of land.

[Music]

You've got nerve, kid.

Plenty.

[Music]

Gentlemen, gentlemen,

in good old Aquapura, I want to propose

a toast to Bill Burke.

The man who saved our dear old

Thunderhead from a fate which he so

richly deserved.

Well, I thought that was funny.

Oh,

man.

I uh 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 common son is right here in your

company.

Private Bill B.

How about it, Bill?

Sergeant, uh,

I I wonder if I could see the common.

Well, that's quite a coincidence. The

common dad 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.

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

it's just that a real soldier don't like

so much haoo.

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, he 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 I'd rather Spencer shot me up

there today than than to have to tell

you this.

I was afraid to jump. I was stalling.

Don't you see it? 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 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 I'd like

good night, sir.

Good night, Mayberry.

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.

[Music]

Hey Jeff, how come you put your

emergency shoot when you jump today?

Well, I was the last one to jump and I

saw I was passing everybody. I figured

it's about time to pull it.

Beat it out for him.

[Music]

Hey,

Hey everybody.

Did

you notice a transfer?

Quiet you get out of here tomorrow, the

better.

Yes.

Get there.

Kid says she'll miss you.

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

I've got no time for that stuff. I got

some drop test to make with Bessie. You

can come along if you want.

[Music]

Where do we drop her?

Take a look and see if the ground crews

put out the paddles yet.

Yes, sir.

Okay.

Make sure you're clear of the plane

before you pull that rip cord. Are you

trying to be funny? No, but I'm going to

make a parachute trooper out of you,

Mayberry, before it's too late to cancel

that transfer.

You crazy.

Maybe so, but you're going to seek a

swim.

[Music]

Hey, we're going to land in the river.

Yeah. Can you swim?

Yeah. Can you? No.

[Music]

[Music]

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

good anymore.

We'll cancel it immediately. Thank you,

sir. How's Sergeant Riches 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.

Now, we're going to miss that old fog

horn yelling in our ears.

Yeah. Couldn't you do a little

bellowing, Sergeant, just to make it

feel natural?

I ain't had a decent jump since he's in

my hospital. That makes you even with

yourself.

All right, then. Hook up.

Stand it on.

[Music]

[Applause]

[Music]

Lay on those MS. I want that floor clean

enough to eat off on.

Eat off of there.

That's what I said. Just like them

Cullins's.

He'll never learn anything with his

shoes on.

[Music]

Collins.

Glad to see you.

How are you, old man? I'm 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. Hi, Sergeant.

Hello, Bill.

Hello, Sergeant. How do you feel

tonight?

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

The fellas wanted me to tell you that

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.

Take it easy, Sergeant. You'll have to

leave now, Burke.

Listen.

Good night, Bill. Thanks for coming.

You've done me a more good than a bushel

of pills.

Good night, Sergeant. Thank you. Good

night, Colonel B.

Good night.

Good night, sir.

This is the god darnest thing. I suppose

next week you'll be asking me to play

Camille.

Sergeant looks very chic in a night

gone. Don't you think so, sir?

Yes. He has what I believe is known in

some circles as appeal. Oh,

excuse me, sir, but I've been fit as a

fiddle for a week, and those ories won't

even let me walk down the hall.

That's because you're such a valuable

patient. The whole battalion is going to

make go just to save your life.

Why don't you pour Sergeant Richard a

little medicinal 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 ROC just paid

off.

Nickels of dimes.

Now, second lieutenant reserve. They're

going to send me down for a refresher

course right after the big splurge

Monday.

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

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 watting 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 got kid 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.

Huh? 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 Burk

into 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 Shaveet

Tail Morse Reserve.

It's a mighty sloppy way of packing a

shoot. Better restore those lines.

It's okay, Sergeant. I'll jump you like

this.

You heard what I said. Restore those

lines. Like your table, Mos. Well,

it'll keep you busy for a while, but

that's what you think.

You know, you haven't mentioned Don all

evening.

Yeah, but I've been thinking a lot about

him.

Kid,

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 officers commission. That's

why I had to see it before he could turn

on that high pressure.

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 in list of service.

Well, that's not too long to wait for

the right one.

[Music]

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 Potter magazine. Private

Morris

and Private Burke.

Any questions, boys?

Take over, Sergeant.

Detail attention.

I men fall out.

Battalion

left eight.

Morris and Burke are missing.

They are. Take over.

Right. Face

forward. H.

[Music]

You idiot. I'm trying to be picking a

fight and me risking my strikes to save

your heart.

I'm not through you yet. All right,

you're asking for it.

Shut up.

Look, there's where you're supposed to

be.

What can we do? Get on, you lugs, and

I'll show you.

HEY, LIEUTENANT.

RIGHT NOW, you got ONE CHANCE TO CLEAN

YOURSELVES UP. GET TO THOSE POWDER

magazines and get to them quick. We

can't use our static lines on this ship.

Use your emergency shoe sensor. F4.

[Music]

You picked your emergency shoot in an

awful hurry. Remember?

You didn't think you'd have a chance to

use it, did you?

I said I'd jump the shoot and I will.

It'll work. All right. Now I won't. You

packed your shroud lines in a tangle. I

saw you.

All right, man. Hook up. THE BAN

THUNDERHEAD.

[Music]

HEAT. HEAT.

HEAT. HEAT.

Drop that equipment.

Heat. Heat.

[Music]

Get those packs open.

Hey, you're not going to jump that

shoot, are you? It's suicide.

[Music]

Well, here goes Pearl Thunderhead.

I'll pass the word along to kids that

you lost your nerve.

Hey,

[Music]

can you get him wrong?

I don't know. Do that what it means if I

ran with him there.

Yeah.

Get back there.

Get out of my way.

We're both going down.

I messed up when I packed this. It's

just too bad.

It worked. Sure it worked. One of the

best packers in the army repacked it for

you.

What? Good. I wanted to beat your ears

off. I didn't want you to break your

neck. I repacked your shoe.

Thanks. Okay.

I just thank myself.

[Music]

You all right?

No.

What's the matter?

I'm all wet.

[Music]

Thanks, Major. Private G. Will hold a

report for duty. Val,

your man had orders to destroy the

powder magazine. What's happened to

them?

Hey, what luck? We're right behind the

village.

Yeah, look.

[Music]

Boy, I wish that street down there was

full of Collinses.

Cullins? That's my name.

What? Collins?

Why? You little mouse. You I've been

sniffing all over for you. My name's

Hollis.

Hollis.

Hollis. You ory little crawler. I'm

going to make dog meat out of you. You

know what I'm going to do to you?

We're running. We're running.

Never mind that. Don't try to talk me

out of it. You know what I'm going to

do? I'm

on what? ANOTHER PILOT HOUSE.

[Music]

HEY, BILL. There it is. Give me a hand

grenade and stand clear.

[Music]

[Music]

my hero.

Congratulations, General. Thank you,

sir.

The Chief of Infantry wishes to

congratulate Colonel Burke and the

officers and enlisted men of the 5001st

Parachute Battalion for proving their

important value as a combat unit and who

now will be officially awarded the new

parachute emblem.

Sergeant McBride,

congratulations, McBride.

Thank you, sir.

Private first class Stewart.

Stewart, congratulations. Thank you,

sir.

Private first class rearen.

Congratulations, Reen.

Thank you, sir.

Private first class.

So, it's you. You know that battalion

would never speak to you again if they

knew you had your help.

Private first class B.

Congratulations,

Bill. Thank you, Dad.

[Music]

Say, where's Don? He was here a couple

of minutes ago.

[Music]

There he goes. Hey, Lieutenant.

See you around 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?

The parachutes are here.

The land is to land in the clear.

Let the

[Music]

air make the enemy disappear.

And when we lie, we start to fight till

the ground

to eat the enemy.

America.

[Music]