Original subtitles

Narrator: January, 1942.

The high-water Mark of Nazi conquest.

Hitler's armies hammered at the gateway to the near east.

Their Japanese allies poured across Asia,

an irresistible flood of men and weapons

driving to link up with the Germans to the west,

crushing the world between them.

Sweeping into Burma,

they captured the vital air base at myitkyina

and cut the Burma road.

Our forces, pitifully weak,

retreated along elephant trails,

through jungles, across rivers and mountains

to the temporary refuge of India.

General Joseph stilwell said the last word on the campaign.

I claim we got a hell of a beating.

We got run out of Burma, and it's humiliating as hell.

I think we ought to find out what caused it,

go back, and retake the place.

Meeting in Quebec,

president Roosevelt and prime minister Churchill

gather their strength.

To India, they sent our men...

Irish, english,

scot and welsh,

Australian, New Zealander,

Gurkha, sikh...

And from the United States came 3,000 volunteers...

Seasoned jungle fighters, veterans of guadalcanal,

new Guinea, bougainville...

Men who responded to a call for one dangerous

and hazardous operation somewhere.

Organized as the 5307th composite unit provisional

and placed under the command

of brigadier general frank d. Merrill,

they became a part of the forces

which sought to regain Burma.

On January 4, 1944, the invasion was launched.

Merrill's mission... To sneak behind enemy lines,

surprise, and destroy the main Japanese supply base

in north Burma... walawbum.

Moving in three columns,

spearheaded by an advance platoon...

Its point...

They succeeded in making their way undetected

through 200 miles of Japanese territory.

After three months in the cruelest jungle on earth,

the point was close to its goal.

Bend in the trail.

We better see what's around the other end.

Come on, Wheeler.

A few miles to the rear,

the main body reached the last physical barrier to walawbum...

The tange ga river.

Private Driscoll, take cover!

You think that Japanese plane saw us?

Let's pray to god he didn't.

Sneaking 3,000 men through this damn jungle's

going to drive me nuts.

Come on, let's go.

Private Driscoll.

Yes, sir?

What happened out there?

Don't you know that plane could have spotted you?

I don't know what's eatin' me, general.

Going through this jungle's driving me nuts.

Get moving.

I got 3,000 nervous wrecks on my hands, doc.

90 days and 90 nights

bellying behind Japanese lines,

afraid to talk, afraid to breathe.

What do you expect?

Left guard, this is quarterback.

Come in, left guard.

Left guard to quarterback. Come in, quarterback.

Do you think that plane spotted any of your men?

No, sir. We have good cover here from the air.

Well, what's your situation?

Scouts report 300 enemy in village of tange ga.

Tell your patrols to steer clear of them

and stay out of sight.

Yes, sir.

Right guard, this is quarterback.

Come in, right guard.

Right guard to quarterback. Come in, quarterback.

Left guard is crossing the river now.

When you reach it, move.

That plane's liable to come back.

What's your picture?

Patrols report small enemy force

moving west along river bank.

Don't touch them. Hold where you are until they pass.

Yes, sir.

Advise point that we're moving out again.

Another bend in the road.

Wonder what's around this one.

Stock from quarterback. Stock from quarterback.

Come in, stock.

Quarterback to stock,

knock out that gun.

Quarterback to stock, knock out that gun.

See that officer?

Yeah.

He's all yours.

Bullseye gets that officer,

you move in with smoke and frag.

Right.

Bullseye.

Stay away from my ammo.

Doskis.

Yeah?

Any of those Japanese get away?

No, sir.

Muley.

Yes, sir?

Where have you been?

Watching out for Eleanor.

She could have got hurt.

O'brien make it all right?

No, not with that leg.

Stock, you wouldn't leave me here?

You know we don't leave anybody, o'brien.

I'll radio the column and have them pick you up.

Muley.

Yeah, stock.

Stick with him.

Yes, sir.

All right, let's go.

I got some extra smokes stashed away in Eleanor's pack.

I'll dig them up.

We knocked out two guns, sir.

What took you so long?

I want news.

Have taggy tap into that line leading to those guns.

That line's been hit.

Well, find another one.

Yes, sir.

All right.

Barney...

Have my battalion commanders come up here right away.

Hey, taggy.

Yeah?

Do you know enough Japanese

to run interference for me in a geisha house?

What geisha house?

In Tokyo when we get there.

I'll teach you what I picked up on bataan.

From there on, you're on your own.

Hey, there's a wire.

I better start climbing

and pick up some gossip for the general.

Hey, bullseye, what's eating you?

Aw, come on. Something's eating you.

What's eating you?

Chowhound, I'll tell you about one last time.

You stay away from my chow.

You hear me?

- Sir. - General.

Well, now they know we're here.

In a way, it's a relief.

I can let my breath out.

I'd suggest you hold it until we take walawbum.

You think we ought to notify the British

we're not such a hot secret anymore?

It might change their plans to link up with us there.

I'd hate to be in the middle of Burma all by ourselves.

Whether the British get there or not,

we've got to knock out walawbum.

That's the job we volunteered for.

Now, Chuck, your responsibility

is going to be the underground ammo dump.

Sammy, your responsibility is the communications center.

Sir, lieutenant stockton.

Go ahead, stock.

Taggy intercepted one of their messages, sir.

Here's his translation.

"Americans in our rear.

"Where? How many?

"What's their strength?

Identify their units."

Meet me at .33.

Right.

Gentlemen, there's a Japanese battalion

on its way to walawbum.

We've got to beat them there.

20-mile march.

You have your men drop their packs.

Yes, sir.

Hello, stock.

Hello, general.

How's the voice on the radio holding out?

It's getting a little hoarse, sir.

You've lost a little weight, haven't you?

Looking a little skinny yourself, sir.

Well, I'm fatter than the last time we were here.

Well, it's a lot better than when they ran us out

of this rattrap two years ago, but it's still rough.

How do you like running your own platoon???

You didn't tell me when you gave me command

I'd be getting gray hairs also.

Hello, stock.

Hello, doctor.

Did you pick up private o'brien, sir?

Mm-hmm.

Is he going to lose his leg?

Not if we can fly him back to India.

Hello, boys.

We'll fly him back as soon as we take walawbum.

You know, if...

If someone could get in behind them at walawbum

and create a diversion,

that would help an awful lot.

Why don't I get going?

Yeah, why don't you?

Doctor, does the general look okay to you, sir?

Nobody looks okay to me.

Keep an eye on him, will you, sir?

That's an unusual relationship

between a general and a second lieutenant.

Started a long time ago when merrill was a major

and stock was a sergeant.

Someday that boy's going to be a general

if he can lick one problem.

Stock.

Stock.

What?

Yeah?

You know, when merrill put those bars on you,

he made you the big wheel in this platoon.

So?

So don't be sticking your neck out for us

by taking the point.

Let one of those other knotheads do it.

You're right.

Bullseye.

Yo.

Take the point.

Lucky boy.

Shut up.

Chowhound, keep him company.

Stock...

This way, buddy.

You want me to stay behind,

squeeze that joker off while you start the fireworks?

Unh-unh. I got your work cut out at the ammo dump.

Kolowic/z...

Put a man here to take care of that o.P.

When we blow up the rear.

Taggy...

Grenade that ammo truck.

Bullseye, you get that o.P.

We attack in 33 seconds.

Right guard, sir.

Have you lost your watch?

No, sir.

Why haven't you told me you're ready?

You are ready, aren't you?

Just about, sir.

Just about isn't good enough. Get cracking.

Yes, sir.

Left guard, sir.

All set?

Getting into position, sir.

What's holding you up?

If we don't kick this off on time,

we've lost the element of surprise.

Okay.

Here, use mine.

Stock's blown the ammo dump.

Okay, you're on your own.

We're moving in, frank.

Now hit '"em hard.

Put your weapon away, stock.

You won't find any Japanese around here.

We've licked them, sir.

You sure?

Well, you'd better get out of here, sir.

Nervous, stock?

Me?

Hell, no. Let's go.

You know...

I like that boy.

He's relaxing.

Hey, what's the matter with you?

You stay away from my girl.

I recommend this guy for a section 8.

Kolowicz, when are we going home?

I don't know.

The general ain't checked with me yet.

Level with us. When are we going?

When we get replaced by the British.

What's holding them up?

The enemy, you meathead.

Hey, kolowicz.

Yeah?

When are we going home?

Oh, is that all you guys ever think about?

I've been thinking about it ever since guadalcanal.

Sarge, will you make him stop eating that slop?

Turning my stomach.

Rice with chocolate bars chopped in...

What's wrong with that?

Ugh.

Hey, Eleanor, want some chow?

Taggy.

Hmm?

How many times doi have to tell you?

Tuck in the shirt.

Why does my shirt always bother you, sarge?

You look sloppy.

Nobody said I was sloppy on bataan.

You ain't on bataan.

Nobody said I was sloppy

when I escaped the Philippines.

You ain't in the Philippines.

Nobody said I was sloppy in that open boat to Australia.

You ain't in an open boat.

Nobody minded how sloppy I looked

when I enlisted in the American army.

I'm a Filipino.

I will wear my shirt out until all tyrants are dead.

Death to the tyrants!

All right.

You got o'brien's?

Yeah.

Addresses?

Right here.

This letter's to his father.

I was with him once on furlough.

They were pretty close.

I can't write letters.

This one took me two hours.

The general... He's a great letter writer.

Wrote one for me once

that time I was wounded.

He didn't have a home address for me,

so he asked me for it.

I didn't have one.

I wasn't about to tell him that,

so I made up one.

He gave me the letter to read.

It was all about me and stuff like that.

I couldn't let a letter like that just go anyplace,

soi told him the truth.

I told him I didn't have anybody for him to write to.

You can't guess what he did, kolly.

He mailed that letter home to his wife

along with a picture of me.

You know what he said?

He said, "sergeant...

"Any time anybody wants to write home about you,

you give them my address."

How can I write these letters?

Stock, sergeant.

General.

Any sign of anything coming around that bend?

No, sir.

Alert your men that general stilwell's expected.

If he shows up, let me know.

Yes, sir.

How many?

Eight.

When are those ambulance planes getting here

to pick up our wounded?

Plane was shot down by zeros from myitkyina.

Stock, what did he say?

When are we going home?

You mean lieutenant.

From now on around here, he's the lieutenant.

You remember that. Now get back to your gun.

Oh, boy.

Whew.

Why are you pulling rank for me, kolowicz?

You know I don't mind being called stock.

I like being close to my men.

You're too close to them.

Well, what's wrong with that?

You've got to be able to write those letters.

When are we going home?

We're never going home.

Merrill got kicked out of Burma, didn't he?

I got it from a guy in the 1st battalion.

The general won't be happy

till every Japanese is bounced out of Burma.

Come off it.

Merrill wants to get out of this place as bad as we do.

Doskis: Somebody's coming.

Now, Eleanor, just keep calm.

You ain't got to worry

"cause muley's going to take care of you.

Ha ha!

Here they come, boys. The British are here!

We've been relieved!

See?

Just like I told you the other day,

the British are here. Come on.

The British are here!

Muley, taggy, come look at this!

I told you, doskis.

Boy, are we glad to see you guys.

Hey, what's your outfit?

The queen's own royal west Kent regiment.

Hey, that's a fancy name.

How about that?

What is your outfit?

The 5307th composite unit.

Provisional.

Oh, quartermaster corps.

Quartermaster?

Do we look like supply clerks to you?

We're the United States infantry.

Death to the redcoats.

Bullseye: Where are you guys headed?

Myitkyina.

Myitkyina?

Those poor guys.

500-mile hike from here.

Yeah, and the 18th Japanese imperial division is there.

Man, ami glad

I'm not in that British army.

Amen.

Man: General stilwell, gentlemen.

Hal, bannister.

How are you, frank?

Fine, sir.

Well, you'd say that anyway.

I'll come right to the point, frank.

You've got to take myitkyina.

I thought that was a British mission.

It still is,

but myitkyina's going to need all of us.

Well, my men have earned a breather, general.

After myitkyina.

Sir, we've taken a beating.

My people have got malaria, dengue, dysentery,

psychological fatigue.

Being behind enemy lines for three months

has sapped them.

You've got to beat the monsoon, frank.

That means moving right away.

We're not the only outfit in Burma.

You're the only American infantry

between new Guinea and Italy.

The British have been fighting here for three years.

We've got to pull our weight.

I suggest you grab their railhead first

at this spot here... shaduzup.

That'll knock out their transportation.

Then cross the mountains to myitkyina.

Sir, what the general is describing

is a6-month campaign

over the worst terrain in the world.

My men have just come 125 miles

through all sorts of hell.

To ask them to go another 500

and then fight a pitched battle

when they get there is not only unfair,

it's... it's impossible.

And it's your job to do the impossible.

Not without replacements.

Replacements...

Every theater commander's crying for replacements.

Eisenhower has got first priority in Europe.

Then come MacArthur and nimitz.

I'm low man on the totem pole.

May I remind the general,

every one of my men is a 2-year combat veteran.

They gave up earned furloughs

so they could volunteer for one mission... walawbum.

They had one job to do, and they did it.

Their job is to keep the Japanese out of India,

keep them from linking up with the Germans.

That's my big nightmare, frank...

One million Japanese joining forces

with the German army.

Myitkyina is the linchpin to Burma,

and Burma's the road to India.

It's going to be tough, frank,

but it's got to be done.

Oh, uh, by the way, the newspaper boys

have made up a name for your men.

They're called the marauders.

Come on, Eleanor.

Come on, Eleanor! Come on.

Come on, Eleanor!

Come on, Eleanor!

Lieutenant, lieutenant,

general merrill wants to see you, sir.

You're going to get the word now, St...

Uh, lieutenant.

Hey, maybe they'll give us a private plane.

Who cares what kind of plane, as long as it's Bombay.

Maybe they'll give us a big parade

up Dewey boulevard in Manila, hey?

San Francisco, here I come.

You sent for me, sir?

Stock, what shape are your men in?

They're rich. Our mule just won the race.

And you?

- I didn't bet. - You know what I mean.

Well, I have to admit, I'm looking forward

to getting back to Bombay.

Those eight men you lost... Hit you hard, didn't it?

They were my friends.

Think you can face losing more of your friends?

We're not going back to Bombay, are we?

Nope. We're going to shaduzup.

There's a railhead there.

It has to be taken and held.

They're going to be looking for us,

so we're going to go there

the hard way... Through the swamps.

Yes, sir.

Your men have been out at point

for a long stretch now.

They've got a break coming.

If you want, I'll put another platoon out front.

You're leaving me that choice?

That's right.

Well, that's a tough decision to make.

Can I think it over?

We're moving right out.

Why don't I get going?

Yeah, why don't you?

Frank, don't you think

you might have told him about myitkyina?

Tough enough for him to tell them

what he's telling them now.

All right, take 10.

Well, how's it going, Chris?

Beats milking cows back in Kansas.

Better radio the column,

tell them we're taking a break.

Stock to quarterback. We're taking 10.

Okay.

Battalion reports are no good.

They're out of food and water.

Sick list is growing.

They need more rest.

Yeah, who doesn't?

We're behind our timetable now

on account of all this muck.

I don't know how they're doing it...

Typhus, malaria.

We're hurting.

We're hurting, frank.

You better get the column started, Barney.

All right, frank.

What's the matter with you?

You look funny to me, general.

Funny...

You're not going to pin one of those...

Those little tags on me.

Pin it on your back when you're not looking.

All I had was a dizzy spell,

maybe a touch of fever.

Nothing to it.

Open your shirt.

Will you stop apple-polishing?

You already took my blood pressure.

Open your shirt.

You're wasting my time.

Would you like me to cough?

How long have you been getting away with this?

Away with what?

You don't have to lie. I'm your doctor.

The last physical, I was top-notch.

I don't believe you.

A captain always believes a general.

How long have you been having chest pains?

When was the last time

you had a pain in your left arm?

Did you go in apool of sweat?

I'm in one now, damn it.

My men are liable to die in this swamp

without firing a shot.

Okay, okay.

I-I had one about a...

About a year... Three years ago, uh,

in... in Tokyo as military attache.

I was treated at a private hospital.

What was the diagnosis?

I'll tell you what it was...

Heart...

Coronary thrombosis.

And you're on your way to another one.

Doc, you keep this under your hat.

Captain kolodny, I'd like you to regard that as a...

As an order.

Hey, stock, ain't this column got any food?

What do you bet they're holding out on us?

Stock: Nobody's holding out on you, chowhound.

We're all in the same boat.

Yeah, we could use one around here.

I didn't know we have enough blood left

for these damn leeches.

Medic, get doskis.

Hey, stock, on the level,

when we getting out of here?

Like I told you,

when we hit the railroad tracks.

Railroad tracks? Huh, is he kidding?

There ain't nothing at the end of this swamp

except maybe more swamp.

Relax, bullseye.

Take advantage of the break.

How'd you even get into this outfit, muley?

They drafted Eleanor.

Where she goes, I go.

Yeah, you're two of a kind.

Taggy: Boy, if my mother could see me now.

There was a time...

What time is it?

7:15.

A.M. orp.M.?

A.M., you knothead.

Taggy, it's P.M. it's getting dark.

You're out of your head.

It was night already.

Now, I'm watching very carefully.

It's P.M.

Okay, wise guy, if you're so smart,

what day is it?

It's... it's Tuesday.

Everybody knows it's Sunday.

It's Tuesday!

It's Sunday.

You been hearing church bells or something?

You got battle fatigue. It's Wednesday.

How do you know?

It's my birthday.

Let's bake a cake.

No.

I got a better idea.

Let's have some steaks.

You better knock that idea

right out of your mouth, chowhound.

People eat horses, don't they?

Nobody eats mule meat untili tell you to.

Now get some shut-eye for a few minutes,

all of you.

Whoa, baby. Now just settle down.

That's it.

When I close my eyes, I see a mule's behind.

Also when I open them.

What's wrong with doskis?

Typhus.

Typhus.

Are you sure?

He's got the rash,

and I found a bug bite on his leg.

He's running 105.

Does he know it?

He thinks it's malaria.

Tag him that.

Yes, sir.

All right, knock it off!

Knock it off! Knock it off!

Come on!

You guys want to fight,

wait till we find more Japanese.

I caught chowhound going through my pack.

This mule Skinner's hoarding the food!

What did you do with the "k" rations

you put in that pack?

I gave them to you last week,

you crazy tapeworm!

Let's go.

Lieutenant stockton.

What's holding you up?

One of my men's down.

Who is it?

Corporal doskis.

What's the matter with him?

Typhus.

What did you tag him?

Malaria.

Got many cases?

Got too many.

Railroad tracks shouldn't be too far away now.

Aah!

I wonder if he made contact with anybody.

Stock: Over here, general.

I found the railroad tracks.

Barney, send for a food drop.

See, just like I told you, Eleanor.

Uncle muley said he'd get you out of this swamp.

Atta girl.

Reached rear base loud and clear

on the radio, sir.

That food is on the way.

All right, everybody back in the swamp,

and keep moving.

Aren't we going to wait for the air drop, sir?

No.

These men are starving.

I'd rather have them hungry than dead.

Parachutes will bring the enemy to this spot.

We're not going to be here.

What do we do for food?

Fight for it.

At the end of those tracks is our objective.

We'll eat Japanese food.

I want everybody in the swamp!

Get moving!

All of you, in the swamp!

Get moving!

Stock! Let me have that hot one!

I'm not going to hurt you.

Come on, let's get you over here.

There.

Let's have a look at this, young lady.

Here.

Hey. Look. Hey.

Watch me.

See?

See? Won't hurt you.

Here.

That ought to hold it.

Get you over to the doc

and see if we can't get that piece of shrapnel

out of there.

Medic.

Take care of her, will you?

She's got some steel in her thigh.

I gave her some sulfa.

Sure, stock.

Hey.

Hey, he's not going to hurt you.

There.

Hey, it's going to be all right.

Go on, now.

He's going to take care of your leg.

There.

Here you are, Eleanor.

Get some genuine shaduzup h20.

Hey, bullseye.

Huh?

Girls.

Yeah.

Well, the landing strip's ready.

The wounded are all set for evacuation.

Hey, you're out of pipe tobacco?

I guess I lost my pouch

in the swamp somewhere.

Man: Signal from headquarters,

northern combat command.

General stilwell is messaging you, sir.

Ben, give him a hand decoding, will you?

Ben: Yes, sir.

You have a match?

He sure doesn't waste much time, does he?

Hello, doc.

What's the score?

You want details?

No, no, just the bottom line.

The 5307th has collapsed.

From a medical viewpoint,

they're finished as a fighting unit.

Could I have that fire again?

I don't seem to be able to get this pipe going.

I have never seen human beings

in such condition...

Drained...

Physically and psychologically drained.

I'm not tagging them for specific ailments.

I'm simply marking every man

in the outfit "aoe"...

Accumulation of everything.

They're through.

I have general stilwell's message, sir.

Read it.

"Three Japanese divisions invading India.

Imperative we take myitkyina. Can you do it?"

Frank, he's asking if we can do it.

That lets us out.

Sergeant?

Of course. He's not ordering us to go.

He's leaving it up to you.

Yeah.

Yeah, he's leaving it up to me, all right.

All right, doc,

let's have a look

at this washed-up outfit of ours

before I make up my mind whether or not

we can go on to myitkyina.

Can I ask you a question, general?

What are you looking for?

Something that's not in your medical book, doc.

Can I get out of line?

No.

Forget about the army.

This is between doctor and patient.

The answer's still no.

Then I'm going to talk as a friend.

If you're thinking about sending these men

to myitkyina, don't do it.

You'll never be able to live with yourself.

How do you know

what I'm able to live with?

I wouldn't want it on my conscience.

Nobody wants you to have anything

on your conscience.

You're being paid to make diagnoses,

and I'm paid to make decisions.

I hope your decision is as accurate

as my diagnoses.

I'm checking your diagnoses right now.

Who's going to check your decision?

Me.

You're kidding yourself, general.

You've got no decision to make.

These men are at the end of their rope. So are you.

When you're at the end of your rope,

all you have to do is make one foot

move in front of the other.

Take the next step.

That's all there is to it.

Who are you?

Merrill. Who are you?

Did lemcheck make it?

Did lemcheck make it?

I saw him get hit!

Poor lemcheck.

Poor lemcheck.

He's dead.

Did lemcheck make it?

He's lemcheck.

Chris, headquarters needs another radio man.

Taggy, you go along with him.

They've got some captured Japanese documents

that need translating.

Kolowicz, put four men on security.

Bullseye, pick up eight cases of ammo

for the platoon.

Ammo?

What's merrill volunteering us for this time?

We're low. Get the ammo.

I don't need any ammo! I'm not fighting anybody.

Pick up the ammo, bullseye.

Tell merrill to pick it up himself!

What'd you say?

I said, tell merril to pick it up himself!

I've taken my last order from that butcher!

I'm sorry, stock.

I didn't mean it.

I didn't, either.

I'll get the ammo.

I'll give him a hand, lieutenant.

They're coming apart.

Yeah.

Yeah, we all are.

Well, I hope merrill don't take us

any further than this...

What's left of us.

And... it's... been...

The most...

Difficult decision

of my... life.

I pray...

I've chosen..Correctly.

Kiss the children for me.

My love...

To you, as always...

Frank.

Well, stock?

Man: Message to general stilwell

transmitted, sir.

Thank you.

General...

I've never asked a favor of you before,

but I've got to ask one now.

I'd like your permission

to tell my men when they're going home.

Stock, I've just radioed general stilwell

that I've decided to go on to myitkyina.

To myitkyina?

Yeah.

I told him that, in my opinion,

we can take the base.

Sir, my men can't make it.

Yes, they can.

You don't know my men.

I know them better than you do.

General, it's not that they don't want to fight.

They can't.

They just can't physically fight anymore!

If they've got a single ounce of strength

left in them, they can fight.

Men don't mean anything to you, do they?

They're just two legs to walk with,

shoulders to carry a pack,

a pair of hands to shoot a rifle.

That's all.

When I pinned those bars on you,

I made a leader out of you.

When you lead,

you have to hurt people...

The enemy, and sometimes your own.

I don't want any more of my men butchered,

and I request to be relieved

of the command of my platoon.

Request denied. I need you too much.

O'steen.

Pick that up.

Pick up your ammo belt and put it on.

Here you go.

Hold onto that ammo.

You're no good to me dead.

Go on, o'steen.

Yes, sir.

What's holding it up?

Come on, let's move out!

Come on now, Eleanor.

Come on, baby.

Now come on, Eleanor!

You volunteered for this, too!

Okay, ready to shove her over.

No!

You can't do that, sarge!

She'll be all right after a little rest.

Her load's too heavy.

Muley, she's holding up the whole column.

Wait! I'll carry her load!

Boys, give me a hand with this pack!

Aah!

Come on, Eleanor.

We can climb this little old hill.

Just like old uncle muley told you.

We made it, Eleanor!

Come on, muley.

That's okay. Come on.

Over yonder is myitkyina.

You don't agree with what I'm doing,

do you, Barney?

Well, the textbooks would say

that dividing our forces at this point

invites piecemeal destruction.

Yeah, I...

I wouldn't teach students this sort of thing,

but if we can make the Japanese think

there are twice as many of us as there are...

Well, what would you do if it were your decision?

I'd go through the same hell

that you did making yours.

How long do you figure

before you can hit the base?

In our condition,

24 hours.

The 18th Japanese division

will be waiting there for us.

Do you feel anything?

Rain.

Yeah.

Yeah, only... only a few drops,

but it could be the beginning.

We've got to beat that monsoon.

When this is all over,

you know what I'm going to do?

I'm going to get married.

I'm going to have about six kids.

I'll tell them what it was like in Burma.

If they don't cry,

I'll beat the hell out of them.

I'll see you in myitkyina.

So long, frank.

Request general's permission to bury my man here.

In there!

Get on that radio!

Find out if bannister's been hit!

Wonder what they're up to next.

There's only one way to find out.

Pass the word. Taggy's going out.

Man: Enemy infiltration increasing

along the 1st battalion right flank, sir.

Who's holding that position?

Stock's platoon, sir.

Hey, sarge?

Kolowicz, where are you?

Sarge?

Hey, sarge!

Aah!

Now, you keep your mouth shut.

Don't shoot. It's taggy.

I'm coming in.

Did you learn anything?

Banzai when it gets light.

You hurt?

A little.

Infiltration's stopped, sir.

Stock's okay, sir.

I just talked to his radio man.

You got good cover in here, Eleanor.

Taggy got some dope.

There's a banzai at dawn.

Terry, pass the word along the line.

Stock.

Yes, sir?

That's all.

Stay awake, soldier.

Banzai at dawn.

Banzai at dawn, kolly.

Banzai at dawn.

Banzai at dawn.

Banzai at dawn. Banzai at dawn.

Here.

It's your last one, sir.

Go on, take it.

Doc says smoking's bad for me.

Come in, left guard. Come in, left guard.

We're pinned down by heavy machine-gun fire.

Send medics. Send medics.

Victor to Tom. Have fallen back.

I'm reorganizing and digging in.

Lou hit by enemy sniper. Suggest you get down at once.

All units! All units!

Enemy making heavy rush through center.

Breakthrough! Breakthrough!

Left guard to quarterback, Japanese falling back.

Right guard to quarterback, enemy pulling out.

We beat them off. They're running.

But why?

Quarterback to bannister. Come in, bannister.

This is bannister. Come in, quarterback.

What is your situation?

We've reached the airstrip. We're attacking.

Resistance is heavy.

It's going to get heavier.

That's the reason the Japanese are pulling out...

Heading back to myitkyina to defend the airstrip.

We better get a move on.

Notify battalion to assemble all able-bodied men.

We're moving on myitkyina.

Man: Yes, sir.

I want every man who can walk,

every man who can carry a rifle.

You cannot order these men to fight.

Every man who can carry a rifle!

Bannister needs one more push.

With these men, we can take myitkyina.

You cannot order them to fight.

They'll never make it. You'll never make it.

Doc, just give me something

to keep me on my feet 24 hours.

That's all I ask, 24 hours!

You're asking for a miracle, general.

I don't have any up my sleeve.

A miracle isn't called for!

Just another step. Just one more step.

All right, everybody, on your feet.

As long as you can breathe, you can fight.

Come on, boy, pick up that rifle.

Come on, son, follow me. You can make it.

All you have to do is take that next step.

Just put one foot in front of the other.

Come on, let's go.

You heard the general.

On your feet.

Kolowicz, move out.

Chris, let's go.

Move out.

Let's go.

What sort of men are these?

How do they do it?

How can they do it?

But they did it.

They did the impossible.

They took myitkyina.

On that day of victory,

of the 3,000 volunteers who marched into Burma,

only 100 remained in action.

On that same day,

merrill's marauders were demobilized

and thus ceased to exist officially.

But by order of the president of the United States,

a special unit citation was awarded these men

so that history would never forget them.

Today their traditions are being carried on

by the U.S. army special forces

and other proud units of the United States army.

We salute them all.