Original subtitles

June 1942

The territories and colonies of Holland

and Great Britain

located in an area that stretched as far

west as India and as far south as

Australia

with all their rich resources were in

the hands of the Japanese.

On Christmas Eve 1941, Admiral King of

the Australian Navy spoke these words,

"The road to victory will be long. It

will be rough going." And so it was.

A glance at the map of the Pacific will

help clarify this.

The distances are so great that the only

hope the Japanese had was to hold on to

their far-flung bases until they were

able to launch a new offensive.

A year and a half went by with both

sides consolidating their positions.

Then in November of 1945, the

Australians began their first great

offensive of the Pacific. A campaign

designed to break through the Japanese

lines set up along the Bismarck Islands

and thereby neutralizing Rabaul.

To accomplish this mission, Admiral

Theodore S. Wilkinson, commander of the

3rd Amphibious Fleet selected as a

launching base a small island north of

Bougainville.

The island had the added advantage of

being on an axis between the Solomon and

the Philippine Islands.

The Japanese defenses on this island had

been reduced to practically nothing by a

massive bombing campaign.

But after such a campaign, it was

necessary to check out any remaining

defenses to ensure the security of the

Allied forces which were to establish

themselves on the island afterwards.

For this purpose, a patrol of carefully

selected individuals was chosen.

Little did they know their mission might

mean almost certain death.

They were to embark on the island to

assess the damage caused by the bombing

and to make sure the Japanese forces had

been put out of action.

It is the story of the hell these men

went through that I'm going to tell you

about now.

My name is Henry Stewart, war

correspondent.

It was my luck to go on this mission

with Captain Stern, the patrol commander

and witness one of the strangest

adventures of war or journalism in the

annals of history.

Gentlemen, after 2 days of bombing

Island 34, according to reconnaissance,

there's still no sign of life.

You and your men will be landed here at

this point. Every square inch of the

island must be thoroughly combed.

Probably Captain Stern would like

more men at his disposal for this type

of operation.

I haven't said a word, Colonel.

We're very well aware that it's a

dangerous mission.

We haven't any time to lose because,

gentlemen, the main force is already on

its way.

The landing of the soldiers and of the

supplies must be made with absolute

security. We cannot afford to overlook

any possibility of danger to our men.

Their lives depend on you.

Come in.

Hm?

Stewart, sir. Oh, yes.

Mr. Stewart, come in.

Mr. Stewart of the Evening Star,

Captain.

Yes, sir. Stewart.

Well, your wish is about to come true,

Stewart. You'll accompany the captain on

our task force to Island 34. Orders,

Stern.

From headquarters.

This isn't the first time I've been

followed by a war correspondent, so I

can speak from experience.

I would like Stewart to hear my

conditions in front of you, General.

From the moment we land on the island,

Mr. Stewart will consider himself a

soldier just like the others. He will

obey my orders and have no individual

initiative.

It's more than likely

we won't find any Japs on the island.

I know the Japs from experience.

If there's just one left on the island

he'll find a way to give us hell.

You heard that, Stewart.

If the captain wishes, I can always step

out.

No.

I respect the functions of the press too

much to ask this.

But I'm also fully aware of my own

responsibility.

I await orders. Prepare your gear and be

ready to leave.

Well, Captain

this is a map of the island

taken from our recon. You must take

extreme care when you get to this part

of the island. Over here, they should be

wiped out.

It's supposedly only routine.

If this turns out as only routine, then

I'll miss my bet.

They said it was just going to be a

little outing, walk in the woods.

Trouble is, soldiers are used to

crawling on their bellies, forget

somehow what it's like to walk.

I had covered up the fronts, but this

was the first time I was going to take

part in an actual beachhead operation. I

was very excited about the whole thing.

Only

at the same time, I couldn't help

feeling this might be my last

assignment.

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't

get that idea out of my head. I felt

sure I was going to get it.

I made up my mind, though, that they

wouldn't get me through any fault of my

own.

The others thought that maybe I was too

careful.

Maybe I was a coward.

Von Gustav.

Ever kill anybody?

And you?

Mhm. It's like whiskey.

The first drink

you want to spit out. And the second

time

it's easier.

And then when you get used to it you

can't do without it.

You were in Corregidor.

Yes.

Did you like the outfit?

Yes, I did.

I did. Why do you ask?

You might not recall it, but I was the

guy in Honolulu you interviewed around 2

years ago.

I read what you wrote.

Could have been written by me.

Everybody knows how you guys get your

stories.

You sit in the background till us guys

get back from the front, then you write

your story like you've been up there

yourself.

Now, be honest to us, boy. Ain't that

what you do?

It doesn't seem so.

I'm right here.

Man, easy you figure a hero. Or else I

guess you knew beforehand that we're

just going to have a picnic on that

island.

>> You think what you want.

Hit the land.

>> Are you sure they brought us to the

right island, sir? Don't you worry.

These Japanese are fanatics. We better

be careful.

The journalist?

He's hiding in the first hole he could

find. Not too brave, is he?

You help me.

Lieutenant Hines, take five men and a

radio.

Report to me in 10 minutes.

I got just the men.

You guys, come with me.

Landing.

You two, take two men.

You, you, come on.

Telephone all the stations.

Apply plan three.

Hello.

Hello. Carry out plan three. Understand?

Plan three.

Hi.

Hello.

Carry out plan three. Carry out plan

three.

When I was a kid and went a hunting with

my father,

it was the same silence.

Hunting for what? Ducks. Wild ducks.

Yes, he always got us always at least a

pair.

My mother

stuffed them with

chestnuts and other things and put them

on the old grill. Mhm, you should have

smelled the way they smell.

Do you think this is the right occasion

to talk about that?

Just be careful those guys out there

don't catch us like sitting ducks.

They'll put us on the old grill if we're

not careful.

Effects of our strafing pilots.

We found a lot of them dead. Our

aviation did a good job.

At ease. Rest yourselves, but keep

alert.

Lieutenant.

Purser, purser to the captain of our

ship.

Will you listen?

Will you listen?

Special. I read you. Over.

No sign of life for 2 miles inland. We

found some dead ones from the air

attack. Awaiting further orders. Over.

Hines, stay where you are. We'll come to

you. Over.

Do I read you correctly? We stay where

we are, you'll come to us. All right,

lieutenant. Over and out.

Who taught you to climb a tree so well?

It was my act on Broadway.

Had a small part in a musical and they

put up a tree in the middle of the

stage. I arrived and climbed up the

tree. You worked in theater?

Sure did.

Still would be if it weren't for this

war.

This war.

The sun arose

in a spot like this.

I called to the others. Then the dancers

entered, do you understand?

They danced on till

she arrived.

>> She, who?

Lena Horne.

Want to take a look at her picture, Joe?

Look at that.

You mean you met Lena?

What a woman she is. Well, did you meet

her or didn't you?

Well, not personally.

When she came on, I was up a tree.

And after she left the stage, I came

down.

Only once

had we met face to face. And what did

you say?

You know how it is.

I thought I knew just what I'd say and

how to say it.

But instead, I was looking into those

eyes

and my brain stopped.

And then I asked her for a photo.

See?

It always happens that way.

I wasn't in the Marines then.

If it happened today,

You see, the silent could serve the

black and accurate guy. They say from

both only a few men that convinced the

aircraft have destroyed everything. We

must reinforce this conviction. They

must believe that we are really dead.

We'll remain hidden in these caves until

they land their equipment and their

aircraft have arrived. Then the troops

of the emperor will enter into battle

and destroy them.

Our words of order will be die rather

than to give any sign of life.

How can I be of service to you, Madame

Nilsson?

I would like news of the natives of the

village.

How can you expect me to know anything

locked up like this?

I'm sorry to say

that after the last American air raid

no one at the village has survived.

At least we could have saved some with

us.

Believe me, there was time.

What would we have given them to eat?

The rations we have are just sufficient

for my men.

You mean to say that there are no

survivors?

As far as I know of, none.

Have you something else to ask me?

Yes, I do. Some of your wounded need

plasma and there is no more.

Down in my barracks I have a certain

quantity.

If you will give me two men at my

disposal, I will go get it.

I'm sorry, but this is impossible. Why?

You didn't know, of course, the

Americans have landed on the island.

Your barracks are in the open, they'd

see you. And for them, there should be

no sign of life till they are caught in

our trap. But it means saving the lives

of men, of your soldiers.

They are Americans.

Men who are in the service of the

Japanese emperor. From the moment that

they put on a uniform, their lives have

become valueless.

I cannot risk my plans going up in smoke

about questions of humanity.

I know that what I'm saying

is in complete contrast to the Western

way of thinking.

But remember,

you could have saved your life and you

didn't. You preferred to remain instead

of leaving with the last convoy.

I remained to save lives, not to let

them die. You're a doctor, I'm a

soldier. The difference is this.

Allow me.

You will not leave this island.

Go with Sawada. Yes, sir.

Keep an eye on her.

She's not to leave for any reason. Yes,

sir.

If anyone's left here,

they're probably hiding up in those

foothills.

Among the ridges.

Hines?

You take your men a few yards to my

right.

Izordi, my left.

I'll cover the middle.

It's important we keep inside of each

other.

Castle? Sir. My group.

Stewart?

You come with me.

Yes, Captain.

Come on, let's go.

He says no one else is alive.

You understand Japanese?

Spent 4 years in Tokyo.

Find out what information you can get

from these men.

They say that nobody's left on the

island. Their last bombing killed

everyone

except for the commander who killed

himself.

Tell them if they're telling the truth,

they'll be treated as prisoners

according to the conventions.

If not, they'll be shot.

All right, keep an eye on them.

We'll keep going although we're sure no

one's left.

If there's no one on this island,

I want to find out for myself.

Wait.

Kelly.

Position 12 calling southeast of

headquarters.

Americans are taking away body of native

we tried to kill.

He was running away. We stopped him but

had to hide remembering to give no sign

of life.

According to orders, we showed no sign

of life.

Waiting further orders. Keep your

positions. If they attack, return the

fire.

I do not like it.

Tell all the men the time has come.

Yes, sir.

Hello. Hello. Holding our positions.

Don't believe he's going to make it.

Too bad.

He is Japanese.

They decided to kill him so he couldn't

talk.

So everyone's dead.

All right.

Now you're going to talk.

TIE THEM UP.

SIR. SIR.

WHAT NOW?

>> BEFORE DYING HE TALKED.

THE Japanese are holding up in this

area.

But how many are they?

And what type of resistance will they

give us?

But if that's the situation, I feel we'd

better notify the command.

Now you listen to me, Stuart.

Stick to your own work.

Hit the typewriter,

take photos,

do any damn thing you want,

but keep your nose out of the war

business.

Do I make myself clear?

If you want someone to write, I can do

your dispatches.

Well, no one, but you never know in this

here jungle.

All right, let's move out.

It was of maximum importance to find out

just who and how many we were up

against.

We knew now some Japanese troops were

still alive,

but we had no idea of their number or

how well armed they were.

Also, we could never know if the enemy

knew just how small our outfit was.

They were certainly in a position to

follow us and watch our movements.

They also had the advantage of knowing

their enemy.

We did not.

It's too calm.

10 men, Captain.

Bury them.

Take care of it, Lieutenant.

Yes, sir. Come on.

Captain, the convoy is on its way.

We won't delay operation.

In exactly 36 hours there'll be another

naval air attack,

worse than the others,

at the end of which you must proceed to

coordinates

X25

and 237.

We'll await your withdrawal.

Confirm.

Thank you. Over.

Colonel,

I don't like it.

All right, over and out.

What did they say?

Yeah.

We've got only 36 hours to clean up this

lousy island and embark.

And if we're still alive, we'll get it

all.

All our damn stinking bombs.

But that's crazy.

What if we can't make it?

In that case, Mr. Stuart,

we shall all be killed.

Something the matter? You don't look

very well, Stuart.

Split up in three groups.

Where are the others? Dead, sir.

Both of them.

Eddie, call the captain.

Lieutenant Hines to Captain Stern, over.

Lieutenant Hines to Captain Stern, over.

Lieutenant Hines to Captain Stern, do

you read me?

Funny, he's dead.

Looks pretty bad.

All right.

Let's go.

Hey,

here's something might come in handy.

Lieutenant Hines doesn't answer,

Captain.

I can go, sir. Yes, sir.

Send two men to find out what's happened

to Hines. Right, sir.

Get me Missouri. Yes, sir.

Missouri here, come in.

Yes, Captain. Nothing here.

All right, over and out.

In 10 minutes we're moving out.

In 10 minutes we move out.

Well, from the way I see it,

he's had enough.

First time this fink's ever seen some

action.

This sap needs his mother.

He's afraid.

I'm afraid, too.

We've

already used up 16 hours.

Let's go.

>> I'LL GET YOU.

I NEVER IMAGINED I COULD HAVE BEEN

SEPARATED FROM MY companions because of

such an unimportant incident.

I began to trek through the jungle like

a lost animal, hoping to find the patrol

once again.

Captain, we we done lost our journalist.

Poor bastard.

Well, we don't have time to look for

him. Come on, kid.

DOC! DOC!

I'LL GET YOU.

DAVE, I'M SINKING FAST.

COME ON HERE, ED.

I'M GOING DOWN.

Help me.

Help me, Doc.

Help me.

Help me, Doc.

There ain't time to get OUT OF HERE.

SAVE ME.

TOO LATE.

YES, MAJOR. THE CONNECTION is made.

All speakers.

Relay.

Americans,

here is Major Koshiro, commanding

officer of the island, who's speaking.

You are surrounded.

There's no way out.

Surrender.

Long live the Emperor.

It's the usual Japanese act.

They did this act at Guadalcanal.

Although this one speaks better English.

Here is Missouri's patrol. Here is

Missouri's patrol. Over.

Yes, I read you. Over.

It's impossible to advance further. I've

lost a man.

Over. Oh, yeah, you know why? Quicksand.

Damn map said wet stretch here. Over.

I hear you. Over and out.

Quicksand.

My ghost up. Yes, sir. Take a man with

you and turn off that damn music. Yes,

sir. Billy.

My situation had become desperate.

I raced blindly through the jungle with

not the slightest idea where I was.

I lost all hope of ever finding the

others.

I knew that any moment now I might fall

into the hands of the Japanese.

I knew, too, they could have been

following me from the beginning, hoping

I'd lead them to the patrol.

Suddenly, I made a little discovery.

>> By now,

by now you must feel a lot like I'm

closing in on you.

By now you must feel our presence all

about you.

By now you must hear the rustling of the

leaves as my In Nom Wah troops move in.

Do you not hear the occasional clink of

our saber?

The stealthy footfall of my soldiers

well trained to slip through the JUNGLE

LIKE PANTHERS.

AMERICANS, BEWARE.

YOUR TIME IS UP.

AT LEAST THAT'S FINALLY OVER WITH.

SHOOT, BILLY. SHOOT.

I'M GHOSTING.

REMEMBER, BILLY.

Always

fire

first.

NO.

DEAD.

SIR?

IT WAS MY FAULT.

CAPTAIN.

I'll take the blame.

Give him back his rifle.

All right, soldier.

Go back to your post.

Go ahead. Blast them out of their bunks.

Bullseye. Yeah.

Hold it.

I want him alive.

He might just be useful.

Let him go ahead.

The last thing I would have thought of

was to find someone like you here.

My name is Henry Stewart, war

correspondent for the Evening Star of

Philadelphia.

Following the American troops.

Dr. Ingrid Nielsen of the SWEDISH RED

CROSS.

MAY I ASK WHAT YOU WERE DOING ON THIS

ISLAND?

My husband and I were part of a medical

mission.

It was obvious that we were needed here.

So we decided to stay and help out.

So you're here with your husband?

He died 2 years ago. I'm sorry.

Why didn't you return to Sweden?

And why didn't you remain in

Philadelphia writing about the nightlife

instead of risking your life on this

island?

In life it's not so important to resolve

the problems of oneself

when you're helping others.

I like this island and the people.

And even when the Japanese showed up, I

didn't want to go.

It's strange they didn't make you go

away. It was useful that I was here to

give medical treatment to the natives.

Bad for your island friends? No.

There are no more island friends. Your

planes killed them all.

Even those who could have saved

themselves if the Japanese had wanted to

help.

Who's it for then?

It's for their wounded. Without plasma

they'd die.

I admire you, doctor. Don't have any

illusions about me.

I confess I would have preferred to have

stayed in Philadelphia and write about

the nightlife as you put it. Or I could

have enlisted.

And now my bones would be drying on the

shores of Guadalcanal or the caves of

Corregidor.

I believe I chose the easy way out.

Instead you're here.

I also admire you. You're sincere.

Do you see this squad does not enter

anymore, sir? Uh

The way I see it is

the Americans are resting here for the

night.

At sunrise they'll regroup and advance.

We'll be waiting here.

There'll only be a few Americans because

our men in the jungle will make it

difficult for them to arrive.

We'll concentrate all our strength and

arms

on the coordinates X2 X4.

Yokohama? Yes. X2 X4.

>> X2?

X4 tomorrow.

In a little while it'll be light.

Then we'll have 12 hours left.

Why don't you try to get a little rest,

Captain?

I can't.

I tried to take a nap a while ago.

I dreamt about when I was a boy in Ohio

playing war.

There's a river with a forest just like

this one.

My friends and I were fighting Indians.

We were winning.

Then I woke up and here I am.

With orders to clean up an island where

no sign of life exists.

With 30 men.

30 human beings.

With orders to kill other human beings.

I wish I could just forget that these

Japs have names and

families back home, too.

Are you married, Captain?

Yes.

And you?

No.

Maybe I would have been

if it wasn't for this here lousy war.

You said it, Hines. Lousy.

I feel the same way.

Right now every one of them's back in

Ohio

or somewhere else.

And I'm the one who has to wake them up

from out of their dreams.

You're the one in command.

Yes, that's right.

I'm their commander.

I have to guide and set an example for

them.

But it's not always easy when you have

the same memories.

The same hopes and

the same fears.

Goodnight.

I would like to have shown more

hospitality, but as the French say,

"C'est la guerre."

There's something that's worth more than

hospitality.

Something you've taught me with your

courage and with your concern for

helping others.

It's something

that you taught me of war's inhumanity.

The useless killing that war brings.

Goodbye. Goodbye.

My orders were specific. You are not to

move from here.

You pig.

That woman risked her life to save your

wounded.

You'll see there are no more wounded

here.

Those who were able to carry a rifle

have returned to fight. The others have

done what every good Japanese knows he

has to do under the circumstances.

Then why are you treating her this way?

She is white.

If she saw many people,

men of her own race war against us, she

wouldn't hesitate for 1 minute to betray

us.

You're a writer, a journalist. You

should understand that

when the war is between two different

races, it becomes hate.

At least I think that is all.

Major.

Radio contact has been reestablished.

Good.

Tibo.

KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN.

AND YOU WANT ME TO BELIEVE

THAT YOU ARE an American journalist,

a representative of the typical class of

know-it-alls that exist on this earth.

You want me to believe that you do not

know from what direction the convoy is

coming to this island.

What I could say I've said. My name is

Henry Stewart. I'm a war correspondent

for the Evening Star of Philadelphia.

I can add to freshen your memory that

I'm also protected under the Geneva

Convention. Do you believe that matters

here?

On an island far from the rest of the

world community, while we are fighting a

war that could mean the death of us all.

It matters

for those who believe in human values,

who fight for ideals, and who want to

live to see the victory over a fanatic

puppet, your emperor.

AMERICAN, FIGHT.

TIE HIM UP.

YOU'LL SEE I am in compliance with the

convention.

You have no right to offend my emperor.

For this, you have 1 hour to give me the

information I need to send to my

headquarters.

Then? You're going to torture me?

I believe that an Oriental like yourself

has no need to tell me

that we're going back to the Dark Ages.

I could suggest the wheel

or even our plan dripping on me

or the Virgin of Nuremberg.

Leave them alone.

There's nothing we can do for them.

Lieutenant.

We only have 4 hours left.

We'll never make it if we stay on this

trail.

We'd better head south.

>> It's a pressure mine.

I'm moving. I get it.

Help me, Captain.

Get back there out of range.

Get back with the others.

It's 90 personnel, my captain.

Take it easy, Landing.

Take it easy. Keep on pressing.

All right.

Roll off.

Go.

All right. Now you can refresh yourself.

Look at them.

Give the men 10. Game on.

Major, the remaining Americans are now

advancing to the north side of the

island to their ship.

Column left,

march.

Go to Salado. Prisoners must be

eliminated.

You will take care of it.

Now.

Come with me.

Someone's coming.

This path leads to the shore.

We've only got a couple of minutes. Tell

the men to keep their eyes open. Keep a

sharp lookout, men.

>> Halt.

Quick.

TAKE COVER.

I WILL TAKE COMMAND.

AS SOON AS YOU CAN, HEAD FOR THE BEACH.

YEAH.

LET'S GO. COME ON.

WE STICK TOGETHER.

LET'S MOVE. FAST.

There they are. Control on beach.

Affirmative.

Advance at hatch B.

What do we do, Sarge?

Might be time for us to go swimming.

Captain, all right?

Yeah, I'm all right. How many of you are

there?

Three.

Got me.

The caves that protected the Japanese

troops from the first air attack saved

the lives of the Swedish doctor and

myself during the second.

Only later, after I had rejoined the

commando unit, did I learn how few of my

companions were left.

It was then, too, that I learned what

they had gone through after we got

separated and I was able to finish my

report.

It was actually Sergeant Missouri who

told me I should write my article in the

first person because I, too, had

contributed to the success of the

mission.