Original subtitles

Previously on JAG.

The informant claims that August 12th, 1968, you participated in the murder of

innocent civilians in the village of Don Diem.

Admiral Boone was evasive, sir. There were too many I don't recall. Some

questions he didn't answer. What really happened that night?

It's been rumored that Harry Drax lost his sense of perspective.

What's that CIA speak for killing babies?

I'm not sure that there were 45 innocent civilians in all of Vietnam.

Admiral, we have confirmation.

There are reports in Vietnamese military archives.

Do you have anything credible?

An eyewitness, maybe? Why did you wait 30 years to come forward?

I'm dying of TB, Colonel.

It's my last chance to set things right.

Were there any other Americans with Harry Drax?

Yes. When did you next see Lieutenant Boone?

After he joined in the killing.

I thought I used this little kid as a human shield. If he was shooting into

Hooters, it was like he'd lost his mind.

Launch the drone.

Drone launched.

The range is hot. Clear to fire. Okay.

Target acquired.

Communicate to COM -X signal.

Aye, sir. Weapons free. C -I -C, this is the flag bridge. Send COM -X.

Bridge C -I -C. COM -X confirmed.

Nickel's good.

C -I -C reports the drone destroyed, Admiral.

Signal Gettysburg Bravo Zulu.

Aye, sir.

Excuse me, Admiral.

Sir, a personal message from Admiral Nash.

He asks that you read and respond ASAP.

Captain Weldon, I've been relieved as Commander of Battle Group 10. Admiral

has designated you my interim relief pending the arrival of a new commander.

You're to acknowledge by return message.

Aye, aye, sir.

Admiral, I'm sorry.

Acknowledge receipt of message to Admiral Nash.

Aye, sir. Captain Weldon is your acting battle group commander.

The prosecution of Admiral Boone is a public relations nightmare for the Navy.

Does anyone know how many flag officers have been court -martialed in naval

history?

Does anyone care to hazard a guess?

Two, sir.

Well, very good, Mr. Roberts.

Retired Rear Admiral Hooper was found guilty of conduct unbecoming and

his pension.

Admiral Select Green, sexual harassment and fraternization was acquitted by the

members, sir. You see any compelling reason to add Tom Boone's name to that

list? It's not my decision, sir.

Then how the hell did we get here?

Sir, the evidence led us to believe Admiral Boone violated Article 118, the

unlawful killing of a human being, and Admiral Boone was not helpful in

providing himself with a defense.

Tell me who does what. McKenzie prosecutes Robert's second chair -rab

I don't doubt your skills as a lawyer, Rab. I don't trust your judgment outside

the courtroom.

Can you assure me that at all times you will consider the good of the service?

No, sir, Mr. Secretary. I can't give you that assurance.

His duty is to his client, sir.

Right now, I don't give a damn about his client.

Tom Boone's finished.

It's the Navy I care about.

Commander, if you get too aggressive or too creative or too cute, and it

reflects poorly on the Navy, then I will cut you off at the knees.

Give me the second chair.

Does the Admiral know?

He's proof of choice.

You won't regret this, sir. I'm going to work night and day. Save me the

infomercial, Lieutenant. Max Case seems to be on the testimony of one witness,

Lieutenant R .C. Coffin. Now, here's what we know about him. He was honorably

discharged from the Air Force in 72.

17 air medals. Worked as a telephone lineman in Kansas.

Winter, 1989.

He inadvertently touched a live wire. He's been in disability ever since. No

immediate family. Gunny. Sir.

Check. Criminal history, if any. Medical records. Yes, sir.

Look, I need the names of every man, woman, and child who lived near the

of Dandien, Long An Province, Vietnam, in 1968.

Check military records, aid records, task force reports of full accounting,

military personnel... Check with the Catholic Church.

In 1968, there were still French missionaries and doctors working in

Well, what am I looking for, sir? A witness. Somebody knows what happened

Well, we're not the only one interested, sir. Stuart Dunstan at ZNN called an

hour ago.

How the hell do they know? We just found out we were going forward.

Sir, beat me.

I know, Stuart.

Let me see what I can find out.

Yeah, well, I know ZNN, too, Lieutenant.

Don't trust me.

Don't worry, sir. I won't tell Stuart anything.

At least nothing is a clue.

Get right on that, Gunny. What are you offering?

For a plea of guilty on Article 118, Admiral Boone's confinement at

will be capped at five years. He'll forfeit all pay and allowances while

confined and will be dismissed from naval service.

There'll be no retirement, no honors, no pension.

It's more than fair, huh?

If he's guilty.

I believe he is.

Tell me again, why are you bringing charges against Admiral Boone?

Because it's what the law required.

Or given your dislike of Admiral Boone, it's what you require.

Well, I thought that went well.

Tell her no.

You should hear what she has to offer him.

Why, are you afraid you can't provide me with a good defense?

No, sir, but it tells us how good the colonel thinks her case is.

Go ahead.

Time served capped at five years and eleven worth.

Dismissal from the service and loss of pension. Now, given your rank and years

of service and assuming you live at least another 30 years, sir, the loss of

pension would equal a fine of over two million dollars.

So what does that tell us? She can show motive.

You expressed the desire to avenge the death of your squadron commander.

Correct.

Opportunity, you were within the vicinity of Dundee Inn on the night in

question. Correct.

She has an eyewitness.

Lieutenant Coffin?

Colonel's case depends upon the credibility of Lieutenant Coffin's

Then she has no case.

So far, Lieutenant Coffin checks out, sir.

Not the man I knew. Most of the time, he had his nose buried in a bottle. You

dig deeper.

Admiral, I'll need to know the history between you and Lieutenant Coffin, sir.

Does he have an agenda? Is he holding a grudge? I have no idea what motivates

the man, Commander, then or now.

Sir, in his statement, he's accused you of the cold -blooded killing of his

cook, a woman named Gwentin Kim Tam.

Her name is listed in the report of casualties, sir.

Sir, I need to know what happened there.

Are you asking me if I'm guilty?

No, sir, but I need to know what happened at Dundee Inn. Well, I need to

own counsel. Admiral, you need to defend yourself.

No, that would be your job, Commander.

Admiral Boone, how do you plead to the charge and specification against you?

To the charge and specification not guilty, Your Honor.

Noted. Commander Rapp, questions or challenges for members of the panel?

I have questions for Admiral Spencer, some of them personal, sir.

Admiral Spencer, please come forward. Admiral, you are excused from the

courtroom.

Then, go easy.

Admiral Spencer, seven years ago, sir, your wife was picked up for driving

the influence of alcohol at Norfolk Naval Station.

It was never proven that my wife was driving erratically.

Is it true, sir, that Admiral Boone first noticed your wife driving

flagged down base security and led them to her? It is a fact that Admiral Boone

led base security in what I consider a wild goose chase.

Did you have words with the Admiral about the incident, sir? It's nothing I

to repeat, Commander.

Your Honor, in light of Admiral Spencer's refusal to answer my question,

challenge him for cause undue bias.

So ordered.

Two years ago, was Admiral Boone the president of a selection board that

the promotion of your chief of staff?

He was.

What was your reaction to that, sir?

I informed Admiral Boone he'd made a mistake in judgment.

Were those your exact words, sir?

I told him he was a horse's ass.

Judge Sebring, I challenge Admiral McPhee for cause.

Undo by.

So ordered. You may step down.

Counsel.

Commander Rabb, how many admirals do you intend to question?

All of them, sir.

I'd like to remind you that we need to see the panel of at least five members.

Understood, Captain. That would be difficult to infer from your aggressive

of questioning.

Please call in Admiral Rockerley.

Admiral Rockerley, were you on the short list of candidates for command of the

6th Fleet?

I was.

And yet Admiral Bloom was chosen over you.

He was.

What is your opinion of that decision, Admiral?

I should have gotten the fleet.

Your Honor, I challenge Admiral Rockerley for cause undue bias.

Your Honor, I'd like to question the Admiral.

Proceed.

Admiral Rockerley, isn't it natural that you would consider yourself the best

candidate? Correct.

Sir, do you harbor personal animus against Admiral Boone? No.

Can you decide the case on the facts and the evidence?

I can.

What does an oath mean to you, sir? When I swear an oath, I follow it to the

letter. Your Honor, I ask that you deny Commander Rapp's challenge.

The challenge is denied.

Admiral Rockley, you've been selected.

Welcome aboard.

I make it one favorable, four neutral, two against.

I don't think we made a friend of Admiral Rockerley, and since he's senior

member, he'll be president.

Answer. Sir.

Admiral Boone, sir. Carry on, Gunnery Sergeant.

Commander, so far, inquiries into Vietnam have led to nothing. Only seven

villagers survived, including one child.

They were relocated, and the village was never rebuilt.

What about the surrounding area?

Well, in 1968, a French missionary named Father Yves Chabrol had a mission near

the village of Dundian.

Were you aware of him?

No. He died in Arles, France in 1978 due to complications of malaria.

Who else was there with him at the mission?

Two nuns, ma 'am. Sister Emily and Sister Danielle of the Petite Sourdele

Assumption. They never made it back to France.

They were hacked to death by the Viet Cong.

Now, there are reports that a Marine deserter, Corporal Owen Branson, was

in or near the village about that time.

Did you know him, Admiral?

No. Where is he now?

He dropped out of sight.

Find him.

Sweetie, wake up.

Come on.

Wake up.

Did you get any sleep at all last night?

I was sleeping until you woke me up. You asked me if I was sleeping.

I'm talking about real sleep.

In bed with me.

Why don't you call in sick?

You know, there's nothing wrong with me, honey.

You're exhausted.

They can go one day without you.

Besides that, what could possibly be so important?

Well, for starters, I have to be in court in 43 minutes.

But I could really use the time.

How long is this going to go on?

Until we find out why our baby daughter died.

I'm going to go to the hospital as soon as I can and start asking questions.

How is that going to help?

You can't fix what happened, bud.

We'll talk about this later.

Good morning.

Prosecution will present eyewitness testimony that on the night of August

1968, then -Lieutenant Thomas Boone was guilty of inhumane acts against the

civilian population of the village of Dan Dien, South Vietnam.

We will demonstrate that he was motivated by the desire to avenge the

death of his commanding officer at the hands of Viet Cong irregulars, whom he

believed used the village of Dan Dien as a hiding place.

We will prove that, among others, He murdered a woman named Gwenton Kim Tam

violation of Article 118 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

All of the admirals on this panel served in Vietnam.

I would ask that the members put aside their feelings about the war and about

Admiral Boone, who's had a long and brilliant career.

This case must be judged on the evidence introduced here at trial. The crimes

charged may be old, but the concept of accountability is timeless.

Thank you.

I underestimated her arm.

She'd cut your throat on a dark night and not think twice about it.

She'd think about it, sir.

Then she'd do it.

Your Honor, I would like to reserve my opening statements for the beginning of

the defense case.

Fine.

Prosecution, call your first witness.

General Parker, was Lieutenant Boone attached for a temporary duty to your

at U .S. McAfee? He was.

Did he review reconnaissance photographs?

He did. Do you recall an occasion where Lieutenant Boone saw a photograph of a

female holding up the severed head of his commanding officer?

There was such an occasion.

Was this the photograph?

Yes. Where was this photograph taken?

Five miles from the village of Don Dan.

When was it taken?

August 9th, 1968.

What was Lieutenant Boone's reaction to that photograph?

He was, and rightly so, enraged.

Did he express any particular sentiment in regards to the female in that

photograph?

He wanted her dead.

Was Lieutenant Boone in the village on the night of August 12, 1968, the night

of the massacre?

I have no knowledge of that. Was he in Saigon?

No, he'd been assigned to fly in Long An province with a forward air controller.

General Parker, in 1968, were you aware that atrocities had taken place at

Dandien? No.

In that year, did you see Viet Cong propaganda leaflets that accused two

American pilots of war crimes at Dandien?

I recently reviewed the facts in the case. I did see such a leaflet.

Why did you not act on that information?

I chose not to believe the charges.

Sir, did you disregard the charges against Lieutenant Boone because you

the Vietnamese life was of no value?

I did not.

No further questions.

General Parker, did you question Lieutenant Boone about his alleged

in what took place in Dundee Inn on August 12th? I thought it was my duty to

ask. How did the lieutenant respond, sir?

That he had no part in what allegedly happened in Dundee Inn.

Did you believe the lieutenant, sir?

Without question.

Why? In war, men see things they should never see.

But there was a difference between us and them, Commander.

The men under my command did not kill women and children.

Your Honor, please request General Parker to limit his responses to the

questions asked.

He's your witness, Colonel.

And I am interested in what the General has to say.

Overruled. What is your assessment of Admiral Boone, sir?

Objection calls for an opinion.

Overruled. It's a proper question.

Admiral Boone was?

and is an officer of the highest personal integrity.

An honorable man.

Thank you, General.

No further questions, sir.

You may step down.

General Parker, I would expect a senior officer to respect the rules of conduct.

This is a courtroom.

Not an officer's club. Your Honor, this officer should not be on trial here.

That will be enough.

Raise your right hand.

Robert Carroll Coffin, do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and

nothing but the truth, so help you God?

I do.

Please be seated.

Lieutenant Coffin, were you stationed at Ton Son Mute Air Base in 1968?

Yes, ma 'am.

Did Lieutenant Boone fly as your observer in the province of Long On from

7th to August 13th, 1968?

Yes, he did.

What was your mission?

To call in fire on enemy targets.

Where did you put your aircraft down on the night of August 12th of that year?

On a dirt strip adjacent to the village of Dundian.

What happened in the village that night?

A lot of innocent folks got killed.

Were they South Vietnamese civilians?

Yes, ma 'am.

Mostly old men and women and children too young to fight.

Who was responsible for these killings?

The PRU.

A South Vietnamese Provincial Reconnaissance Unit?

Yes, ma 'am. Lieutenant Coffin, why was that village targeted for attack by the

PRU? I don't know, ma 'am. I just know what I saw.

Who led the attack?

Harry Drax.

He worked for the agency.

How do you know he worked for the Central Intelligence Agency?

I flew Drax on covert missions.

Lieutenant Coffin, were you acquainted with a young Vietnamese woman named

Nguyen Kim Tam?

She was my cook when I lived at the village.

This is a report of those killed during that attack.

Do you see her name on this list?

Yes.

It's a damn shame.

The woman in this photograph, Gwentin Kim Tam. Yes.

Lieutenant, did you see who killed Tam?

Him.

He was holding a child as a human shield.

Tam was running to hide and Boone shot her.

Let the record reflect that Lieutenant Coffin identified Admiral Boone as

Quentin Kim Tam's killer.

This is Stuart Dunstan reporting live outside of JAG headquarters.

Commander Rav, I'd like your thoughts on the Boone court -martial. Who do you

feel is winning so far?

Is that really your question?

I've noticed that the Admiral doesn't smile a lot. Have you ever seen him

It's Stewart, right?

Stewart, you're an idiot.

Back to you, Jim.

Oh, that sucks.

Lawrence!

What about you?

I'll talk to you off the record, Stewart, but you have to share.

Mr. Reynolds called from the police impound lot, sir. He said the paperwork

in place.

You can pick up your car tomorrow, Admiral.

Well, that's excellent, Tyner.

Tyner!

Exactly how long is this taken? Seven weeks, three days since your car was

stolen, sir.

If you'd like, I'll drive out to Loudoun County and pick it up myself.

Thank you, Tyner. Do that.

Carry on.

Aye, sir.

Lieutenant Coffin, what time did the incident at Dundian occur?

The killing started about midnight.

Were there streetlights in Dundian?

Hell, that damn village didn't have a street, much less a light.

Any other type of illumination?

A few oil lamps and cooking fires.

Well, then how can you be sure it was Lieutenant Boone you saw shoot Gwen Kim

Tan? Because I knew him pretty good by then.

Lieutenant, there were 12 to 15 members of a PRU death squad fighting there that

night. In the dark, in the heat of a pitched battle, how can you be sure it

Admiral Boone you saw? Could have been any one of 15 men. In fact,

Objection. Badgering the witness.

Sustained. It's okay, Judge.

He's just sore because he can't shake me.

Speaking of shaking, Lieutenant, in October 1989, were you treated for acute

alcoholism?

Yes. Did you have delusions at this time?

How would I know?

I'm sorry, ma 'am, I missed it.

Your medical report indicates periods of delusion.

Then I guess I did, sir.

You still drink, Lieutenant?

Now and then.

Only beer.

The hard stuff will kill you. So now and then, do you still suffer from

delusions about what happened in Vietnam?

Objection, Your Honor. This information was not disclosed to the prosecution.

I just got it an hour ago, sir. I will allow your line of questioning,

Commander. Continue.

When you were treated for alcoholism, Lieutenant Coffin, did you suffer from

delusions about what happened in Vietnam?

Objection. Asked and answered. The witness is not competent to testify on

one point. It's just this one point?

Objection. Pejorative.

Sustained. One more remark like that and I'll hold you in contempt.

I apologize, sir.

Your Honor, I'd like the court's permission to have Lieutenant Singer

this cross.

Objection, Your Honor. Double teaming. This one's my call.

Lieutenant Singer, you may proceed.

Lieutenant Coffin, you waited 30 years to come forward with your story.

Well, you see... Lieutenant Coffin, wait for the question.

Could the timing of your coming forward be related to a $50 ,000 payment

from ZNN for your story of alleged atrocities?

It's not that simple.

Yes or no?

No. You're asking the court to believe that there's no relation between your

payment and your sudden burst of conscience.

Objection. Counsel badgering the witness.

Sustained. Did you bring a baseless charge against Admiral Boone on the eve

his major promotion to increase the value of your story?

Objection. Badgering.

Sustained. Lieutenant Coffin, how can you explain the payment?

I've got TB, ma 'am.

I owe a lot of people money who are taking care of me.

Most of them for nothing.

I just wanted to pay my debt.

All of them.

Including this one.

No further questions.

I should go.

No, no, no.

Come on in.

I should have phoned. You're busy. I'm just wrapping it up. Come on in, please.

Oh, I should go.

Give me your jacket.

Damn it.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

He can't deal with the loss.

I know I should be stronger for him and for AJ, but I just can't.

AJ's lost you, baby.

Somebody you were prepared to love the rest of your life.

You're supposed to be sad.

When baby AJ was born, he took his first breath and he reached

his little arms out to me.

It was like he was reaching for me.

And that's when I knew that my baby boy was perfect.

And then they placed him in my arms, and I never wanted to let him go.

I never got to hold Sarah.

She was born, and I just saw her for one quick second.

Her eyes were open.

She looked right at me.

And then they took her away.

Harm, she died in the other room.

Without me there.

She was a person.

I lived with her for nine months.

She had a name.

Since the prosecution is rested,

the defense may now present its case.

Thank you, Your Honor.

These baseless charges come from a delusional man who was paid $50 ,000 for

tainted testimony.

In war, taking the lives of innocent noncombatants is reprehensible.

But the defense will show that then -Lieutenant Boone was not responsible

the terrible occurrences that took place at Dundee Inn.

He had absolutely no command authority over those who are responsible.

He had no ability to direct...

or prevent what happened there. The killings were the work of South

provincial reconnaissance units under the direction of an agent from the

Intelligence Agency.

Admiral Boone has laid his life on the line and served his country with

brilliance and distinction for over 35 years.

Do not make him the last Navy casualty of the Vietnam War.

Mr. Webb, what position do you hold with the Central Intelligence Agency?

Deputy Director of Operations, Counterintelligence Center.

And what position did your father, Neville Webb, hold with the agency in

Chief of Station, Saigon.

Head of the Phoenix program?

Yes. Have you recently reviewed confidential files from that time

incident at Dundee Inn?

Yes. Jackson, Your Honor, hearsay. Your Honor, under military rules of evidence,

803. Subsection 8.

Reports prepared by a public official are admissible and prepared within the

scope of his duty and made at the time of the event.

Your Honor, due to portions of the record still being classified, the

themselves will not be entered into evidence, so we'll be forced to rely on

witness's memory.

The witness can refer to the file at any time, sir, to refresh his memory.

I'll allow the testimony.

Mr. Webb, according to this official file...

Who led the raid on Dundian the 9th of August, 12th, 1968?

Harry Drax, the agent in charge.

What were his orders?

To remove suspected infiltrators from the village.

Did he follow these orders?

Agent Drax went beyond their scope.

What were his actions?

Agent Drax gave orders to the soldiers under his command to shoot on sight.

Why did he give those orders?

Objection calls for speculation.

Dang. Mr. Webb, what was the stated objective of the Phoenix program?

To wipe out the Viet Cong infrastructure in the South.

If a civilian were suspected of collaborating with or harboring a Viet

soldier, were they given a trial?

No. Did Lieutenant Thomas Boone participate in the killings at Dundee

I reviewed the confidential report, Commander. His name is not mentioned

Thank you, Director Webb. No further questions, Your Honor.

Mr. Webb, what happened to Harry Drax the night of the incident?

He was killed in action.

Well, then who filed the confidential report?

Ellis Burke, the field officer in Long An Province.

Why is Mr. Burke not here to testify today?

Mr. Burke is on a spiritual retreat in Tibet. We were not able to locate him.

An unscheduled trip he left for three hours before he was to receive a

to testify.

Objection. Fact not in evidence.

It's attained.

Members will disregard the statement.

Mr. Webb, you've testified that Lieutenant Boone was not mentioned in

confidential report.

Now, is it possible that he participated in the atrocity, but that his name was

omitted from the report?

I see no reason to believe that. But is it possible?

It's highly unlikely.

Our reports are thorough.

But you can't say for sure.

No.

Saw you on TV last night.

At least you didn't slug Stuart Dunstan.

How's the trial going?

Still too close to call.

How's Clayton Webb?

He did the best with what he had to work with, but I still need more.

Have you been to Warrington?

No, but I hear it's nice.

Oh, they have a lovely bar there.

They do drop in.

The marine deserter you're looking for?

Corporal Owen Branson?

He runs the bar.

Branson goes under the name of Jed Howell.

What would I do without you?

I need to speak to you, Corporal. I, uh...

I got a new name.

A new life.

And what I did was a long time ago, all right?

Not Brad Mulboon.

Doesn't know anything about my past, Commander.

I got three kids.

I don't want them to know I was a deserter.

Look, I'm not interested in what you did, Corporal.

I'm interested in what you know about the massacre at Dun Yen. Dun Yen?

Not a damn thing.

Corporal, you lived right outside of the village.

You must know something about what happened there.

No. You know, I could subpoena you. We can talk about this in court, or you can

come clean with me here.

What do you want to know?

What part Americans played the massacre?

Look, I hate the damn Marine Corps.

I came out of that jungle on my own.

They found me guilty of desertion, and they damn near put me in prison for 20

years. If I knew anything, anything, they would damn the Americans who were

there.

Singer, I really do appreciate your help getting my car back.

Glad to be of use, sir.

There it is.

What the hell is this?

A bullet hole, sir.

Tiner.

Actually, sir, there would appear to be six bullet holes.

Six? Yes, sir.

Of varying calibers, sir.

Detectives in the narcotics division borrowed your car from the impound lot

a drug sting that went south.

Your vehicle was involved in a shootout, Admiral. A shootout?

We can sue, sir.

All right.

Morning, sir.

Thank you.

Admiral, I need you to take a stand.

Why? Because Max made her case.

If you don't take the stand, the members will think you have something to hide.

Your silence will convict you, Admiral.

I can live with that.

No, you can't, sir.

Admiral, this is the last chance you have to tell your story. To persuade the

members you're not guilty, sir. You don't know my story.

No, sir, I don't know your story.

But this is it.

You won't get another opportunity.

I call Admiral Thomas Boone to the stand.

Raise your right hand.

Admiral Boone, do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but

the truth, to help you God?

I do.

Good morning,

Admiral Boone.

Sir, on August 12th, 1968, in the village of Dun Dien, did you kill the

known as Gwentin Kim Tam?

Yes. Did you recognize her, sir, as the woman who held up the severed head of

your squadron commander?

Yes. Did you have any other reason to believe that she was Viet Cong, Admiral?

Agent Drax had identified her as such.

When?

Just before the incident.

Did you kill Gwentin Kim Tam to avenge the death of your squadron commander,

sir? Yes.

She was the enemy.

The PRU troops were shooting up the village.

There was a little girl standing in the line of fire. She was just standing

there.

So I grabbed her and carried her to safety.

I put her under a hooch.

When I saw Gwentin Kim Tam, I recognized her as the same woman who had been

holding the decapitated head of my squadron commander.

Why haven't you come forward before, sir?

Because that wasn't the end of it.

The PRU were murdering innocent women and children.

Cease fire!

They're non -combatant.

Now put your weapon down.

Interfere again and I'll kill you.

Call it off.

No halfway measures.

Drac?

Why didn't you speak up years ago, Admiral?

I had killed an American in cold blood.

Did you kill any non -combatants, sir?

No. Did you use a child as a human shield?

No. Is it fair to say, Admiral, that you saved that child's life?

On that night, yeah.

Did you kill anybody else in the village?

No. Do you regret killing Harry Drax, Admiral?

I regret that it was necessary, but I would do it again.

Commander, do you have any further questions?

Not of this witness, sir.

And I would request, Your Honor, that Colonel McKenzie reserve for cross

-examination of Admiral Boone.

Colonel? Your Honor, I'd like to know why Commander Rapp is requesting this of

the government.

I call Harry Drax to the stand.

Commander, have you lost your mind?

Sir, who are you?

Thirty years ago, my name was Harry Drax. Your Honor, we have no way of

this. It's him.

Commander Grabb, I don't need to remind you that Mr. Drax is not on the witness

list. I didn't know for sure if it was him, Meg.

Not until just now.

Your Honor, I know I should, but... I have no objection.

Admiral Boone, you are excused.

Subject to recall.

Mr.

Drax, take the stand.

You're gonna kill someone, Admiral. Do it right.

Raise your right hand.

Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,

help you God?

I do.

Be seated.

Agent Drax, are you responsible for what took place at Don Dien?

I was.

Why did you order the village destroyed, Mr. Drax?

We had a war to win.

Any regrets?

My only regret is that we didn't kill them all.

If we'd fought the whole war that way...

Vietnam would be a democratic country right now.

What part did Admiral Boone play in all this, Mr. Jackson?

None.

The Admiral doesn't have the stomach for killing.

Well, he shot you.

In the back.

You hold a grudge? Damn straight I do.

You came out as Corporal Owen Branson.

The war was unpopular back home. I was an embarrassment.

I got a new name.

The last thing Neville Webb wanted was for Don Dien to become another My Lai.

Where's Corporal Owen Branson now?

The Viet Cong killed him.

Why are you here in this courtroom now, sir?

I draw a nice pension from the agency. I was told it would go away unless I came

here today.

Did Admiral Boone kill any noncombatants?

No. Is he responsible for what took place at Dundee Inn?

No.

Did he save the lives of any noncombatants?

A few.

But it doesn't matter much, one way or the other.

Oh, I think maybe it does.

I'm sending up the line, then.

Bud, you okay?

No, sir.

You're making a lot of mistakes.

Sir, I really let the Colonel down on this one.

Hey, you've had a lot on your mind.

That's no excuse, sir.

I, uh... I heard that Harriet talked to you.

She did.

I'm really sorry about that, sir.

Hey, but she spoke to me because she can't talk to you.

I was her second choice.

It's you she wants.

But I don't know what it's like to lose a child.

But I do know what it's like to lose the woman you love.

Don't let one cost you the other.

Excuse me, sir.

They're coming in.

Thank you.

You may publish your findings.

Admiral Thomas Boone, United States Navy.

This court finds you on the charge and specification of violating Article 118

the Uniform Code of Military Justice, premeditated murder, not guilty.

Members, thank you for your services. This court is adjourned.

Congratulations, Tom.

Congratulations, Tom.

Thank you.

Well,

you damn near lost the case, Commander.

Well, I had a very difficult climb, sir.

Yes, you did.

So what happens now, hadn't you?

Take my pension.

My time's passed. Harm is your time now.

Thank you.