Original subtitles

September 16th, 1944--

Day two of the invasion on Peleliu.

They thought it would be a very short campaign,

maybe over in two or three days--

Only a couple of thousand Japanese there.

The only problem was there were more Japanese there

than there were marines waiting to get ashore.

We didn't realize there was a ridge there

with over 500 caves in it,

all seeing every bit of us on that island.

The Japanese resistance was so fierce

that the marines couldn't get supplies to shore.

During the day the temperature rose

to 110°,

and no drinkable water could be found on Peleliu.

You can go a long time

without food and survive,

but you cannot do it without water.

I've known thirst in my life,

but I've never known thirst like that.

Under these conditions,

the marines' orders were to cross the exposed airfield

in the middle of the island.

When they advanced, the Japanese opened fire.

Going across that airfield,

that was the longest walk I think I've ever took in my life right there

It was scary as hell.

I guess what made it so scary,

there wasn't a damn thing you could do about it.

I felt helpless, I felt defenseless.

I mean, there just wasn't anything you could do.

It's a horror show.

It's a miracle that the 1st Marine division

wasn't completely decimated.

Ho ho ho ! You know this guy?

Hey, welcome home cobber!

I can't believe I finally get here and you go home.

What's it like?

You could never imagine.

Follow the man in front of you

and get off that beach.

Here we go, boys!

Open fire! Open fire!

Keep moving! Keep moving!

Sledge, get off the beach. Let's make a move!

- Oh God, Bill. - Oh fuck!

Bill. Bill!

Corpsman.

Corpsman!

We're rich, boys.

Jap's got a shitload of gold in his teeth.

We have to go out there tomorrow.

Tee, will you see whoever it is calling so late in the evening?

Yes, ma'am.

It's a man in a uniform, ma'am.

Sidney Philip.

Oh! Father, Sid's here.

- I hope I didn't startle you, Mrs. Sledge. - Oh, not at all.

Now who the hell is this standing in my hallway?

- It's Sidney. - Dr. Sledge.

There's more pie on the counter.

Thank you, Rose.

I want you to speak frankly about my Eugene.

- How is he, Sid? - Now don't put the boy on the spot.

Mrs. Sledge,

Eugene's with a lot of good marines.

The 1st is the best there is.

They're great guys, too. They look after each other.

Besides that, well, he's a mortar man,

the same as me. Us stovepipe boys,

we're always a little behind the hot stuff,

which is a good place to be, let me tell you.

Now I can't say this about every marine I know,

but I'm not worried about Eugene.

See, father?

That's not so hard to hear,

is it?

Second platoon corpsman, get up here!

What the hell you doing?

Break this shit down. Get ready to move.

What do you got? Any movement?

It's all quiet.

Any word on Hoosier?

Well, we got hit pretty hard on the beach.

We're still sorting out the casualties.

- Let's go. - No word on ours, though.

God damn it, I just want some fucking water.

There's a gook squad off to the right!

Yeah, they're coming from--

Hey. Hey!

Somebody found water, I swear to Christ.

- Water. - Somebody found water.

- Halle-fucking-lujah. - There's plenty, boys.

All right. Yeah.

Pass my helmet.

Oh, Jesus! Man!

It's poisoned.

Jap fuckers poisoned it.

Listen up, weapons! C.O's got our orders!

All right, here it is.

The entire division's moving across the airfield at 0900.

First and second platoon will lead,

followed by weapons and third platoon.

The only way to stop this Jap artillery is to get into those hills,

and the only way into those hills is across this airfield.

When we move, do not stop until we get across.

- You got it? - Aye, skipper.

Any questions?

We need water, captain.

I'm working on it, corporal.

Get your gear ready and stand by.

Get back to your positions. Pack it up!

Let's go, second squad! Let's get back on line!

Let's go, rockets!

Pack 'em up! Move it!

We have to cross that?

Quit whining.

It'll all be over by the time you cross.

Japs hate mortars and bazookas

as much as riflemen, Leyden.

How many Japs do you think are up there?

- Anybody got any asswipe? - No asswipe, no chow,

no water. So don't even think about it.

A nice cold sip of water?

A little splash on your head?

Put it right out of your mind.

I've got a little water.

We gotta go!

Stand by! Look alive!

Thank you.

Let's go! Get that gear squared away!

You've been promoted.

You're gonna give him the mortar sight?

It's the least I can do for the water.

Second squad, on me!

Get off your ass.

Get under that gear. We're moving shortly.

Stay alert! Stand by!

Hey, the 5th's dry too.

Maybe the Japs have some over there.

How could they send us up here without any fucking water?

Lucky?

Get your gear together! Stand by to move out!

Thank God for the navy.

First and second platoon, move out!

Let' go! Let's move! Let's move!

Let's move!

Come on, first squad! Stay on me!

On me, second squad! Hurry it up, people!

Left platoon, move out!

Go go go! Move it! Let's go!

Always first.

- Okay, let's cross the airfield! - Right behind you, Bill.

- Do not stop! - Move! Stay low!

Weapons, let's go!

First squad, push dead ahead!

See you on the other side! Let's go!

Go! Hurry up! Let's go!

Move it!

Get him out of here!

Reassembled at the far end base!

Come on, Sledge! Move!

Let's go.

Listen up! We're crossing the airfield!

Stand by to move out!

Get ready to cross! Pass the word!

We're up! How company!

On the left, on the right, move out!

- See you on the other side! - Let's go, marines!

- Let's go! - Go go go!

Move it!

My knee!

Corpsman, help me!

Stand by to move!

Seibel, move out! Let's go!

Sonny! Go!

Sniper attack!

Let's go! Move out! Go go!

Move out! Let's go! Let's go!

Don't stop moving! Let's go!

You're all right! Get up!

You've got to get up! Come on! You're all right!

Move it! Move it! - Come on!

Hurts like hell!

Are you receiving?

Halfway across the runway, sir.

We're taking heavy fire.

- Runner. - We need an air strike.

We need-- we need an air strike...

... to subdue Jap artillery

from the hill.

Are you receiving?

Gotta get some fire on that bastard. - We're gonna get you some help.

Are you receiving? Are you receiving?

- I don't think we can send. - Need a goddamn radio that works.

Fix it. Do you hear me? Get it done.

Yes, sir.

Leckie.

White castle, this is How-4. Do you read?

- Gotta go back. - What about Conley?

Get us a radio and a corpsman up here.

I'll stay with Conley.

White castle, this is How-4. Do you read?

Hey, I'm coming back. I'm coming back. Do you hear me?

I'm coming back. I'm coming back.

Come on, stay with me.

Corpsman! Hey, corpsman!

- Working time is at X-ray-5. - Corpsman!

White castle, White castle, do you read?

I need a corpsman and a radio!

A radio? You're better off

with two tin cans and a fucking string.

... plus 100. Over.

- Get me in contact! White castle--

This is Ack ack. Are you receiving? Drover-king-6...

We need an air strike on it. Over.

We've gotta get the hell out of here! Let's go! Let's go!

Let's go! Let's go!

Come on! Let's go!

Get him on his feet! Keep moving!

- You're okay! - Come on!

- Come on! - Let's go!

Oswalt!

Let's go! Let's go!

Corpsman! Hey, corpsman!

Corpsman!

Mortars, bomb center sector and adjust!

Direct fire--

H.E on the building on your right front!

Leyden, get that gun on the right!

- Hanging! - Fire!

- Hanging! - Fire two!

Get that one on the left, Ay!

Direct fire, 100.

Base charge.

- Hanging. - Fire!

- 100! Hit 'em again! - Four!

- Hanging. - Fire!

Let's go, K company! Move out!

Ah!

Spread out! Keep moving!

Up.

Stop.

Easy.

Squad leaders,

find your people, check 'em out.

You Jasco people, you get set up and wired in.

I need an ammo count.

What do you got? What do you need?

We'll have O.Ps going up before dark.

- Here you go, guys. - Standby to standby.

That's all we've got. Pass it around.

- Is this Item company? - No, K-3-5.

I've got to get back to Baker-1-7.

Do you have any idea where they are?

No, I don't. I need you to take our wounded back to the beach.

No can do. We're moving out.

Hold here till we load our wounded,

Then you can move your ass wherever you want.

Yes, sir.

Get the wounded aboard!

Let's get 'em onboard!

We're fine below! Lower away!

- Out of the way, sir. - Where do you want this one?

Right over here.

- Clean this dressing. - Doctor, his BP is falling.

Clamp the bleeder... right there.

I've got a diminished blood pressure.

Sponge.

He's gone. Get him below and prep that abdominal.

... 56,

57,

58,

Set him down here. Get a tourniquet on that.

... 60, 61...

Dextrose. Take one now, save one for the morning.

... 62, 63,

64,

65,

- 66-- - Whatcha doing, Daniels?

- Water. - Counting Japs.

One, two, three...

- What's the report, Hillbilly? - 81 from battalion.

60s are all here and registered.

Gunny, I need another man at second platoon LP.

Roger that.

Hey, Daniels. Second platoon LP. Let's go.

I can count Japs from here.

Hey, Daniels, did you hear me?

- I said-- - Gunny. Gunny.

Find someone else for him. I need Daniels here.

Aye, skipper.

Doc, Daniels is gonna come help you count bandages,

- maybe get a little shut-eye. - Yes, sir.

Come on, private. Let someone else take over.

There's so many to count.

I know, private. I know.

All right, Daniels.

Just as easily been me counting Japs I can't see.

But it's not you.

Sir, coming across the airfield today...

I've never been more scared in my entire life.

We're all afraid.

All of us.

A man who isn't scared out here is either a liar or dead.

History is full of wars

fought for 100 of reasons.

But this war, our war,

I want to believe--

I have to believe

that every step across that airfield,

every man that's wounded, every man I lose--

That it's all worthwhile because our cause is just.

Of course, if a just cause came with some hot food and cold water,

that'd be okay too.

Rest up, boys.

- Thought you might need that. - Thank you, sir.

Ack ack got me my battlefield commission on the canal.

Seems like 1,000 years ago now.

You handled yourself well today, Sledge.

You'll be all right.

Just remember your training.

Yes, sir.

... order for the 3rd battalion

to make a company-sized frontal assault.

G2 thinks the bulk of the Japanese defenses

are dug into the ridges that run up the spine of the valley.

Until we take the high ground, they'll keep plastering us.

We're moving into the hills!

Let's move, people!

- Pork chops. - Pork chops? That's my meat.

Courtesy of LST 661.

- About time. - Thank you.

Let's go. Let's go.

Saw you reading last night.

My bible.

Writing too.

Ain't supposed to write shit down, you know.

It gives the Japs valuable intel if they find it.

I guess I won't show it to them then.

Got a smoke?

Thanks, Sledgehammer.

Sledgehammer.

I like that.

- Jesus Christ. - Don't worry.

We've got a nickname for you too, Bill Leyden.

We call you Ball-peen hammer--

Like a little hammer, for a little man.

All right, Snafu.

Shit 'n' ass...

Fuck up.

Llittle joke from the little man.

- Gunny, get someone from mortars. - Aye, skipper.

Burgie, get me an FO.

You too, Leyden. Let's go.

- First squad, follow me! - Hold 'em here, sergeant.

- Set up a security perimeter. - Aye, sir.

Set up a security perimeter.

Machine guns move out to the left and right flank.

Riflemen, faced outwards.

Second squad, 36, let's go.

91 over on the right!

Looks like two heavy bamboo machine guns,

probably more.

I need to get a better look.

- Sledge, Leyden. - No no, I'm gonna scout it.

- You sure? - Yeah.

Get your top ready.

Skipper, pull back!

Stay on those guns!

It's a fortress up there.

We've gotta move! Pull back!

- Pull back! - Let's go! Let's go!

Pull back!

- Skipper coming in! - Hold your fire!

- Radio, get me battalion. - Yes, sir.

White castle, this is Harper field. Do you read?

Do you read?

Master White, Ack ack. We've done the recon.

Objective is heavily fortified.

Limited approaches and plunging fire all the way.

We can't take this objective without unacceptable casualties.

Do you copy?

Fuck.

I've got to go back to battalion,

get these orders changed.

Good luck.

If I don't come back, the company's yours.

Do you think he'll come back?

You disobey orders, you get court-martialed.

You guys, check your weapons.

Keep a round chambered.

- Done. - Can you believe this bullshit about the dog?

Some dog's supposed to smell a Jap before me?

I don't think so.

I appreciate the thought but ain't no dog gonna make me sleep safe at night

I've got a dog,

his name's Deacon.

You keep fucking that stovepipe.

If the nips come through here at high port with fixed bayonets,

you nail 'em with flare and H.E as fast as you can.

- You think you can do that? - We've got it, Gunny.

I was asking Sledgehammer.

Yes, Gunny Haney.

Woof.

What the fuck was that?

Hey, stovetop boys-- woof!

What's that?

Sounds like some guy having a nightmare.

He'd better shut up before every nip on this island knows we're here.

Quiet that man down.

God damn it, shut up.

No! No! Quiet down!

Hold him down! Stick him with morphine.

Shut that fucker up.

Stick him with morphine.

Jesus Christ, who the hell is that?

Hold him down. Calm down.

Help me, please! Help me!

That guy is gonna get us all killed if he don't shut up.

Hold him down. Hold him.

Hit him with something.

Help me!

All right.

Get back to--

Get back to your holes.

I guess better him than all of us.

Sledgehammer's right.

It had to be done.

- What you got back there? - What do you want?

I'll take a cup of Joe.

Hey, Peaches, are you gonna waste those?

- You made it. - I could say the same about you.

I tried to get you a corpsman.

- I tried to get back to you. - I know.

Lucky, I know.

You, uh--

You heard any word about Hoosier?

Chuckler's still on that goddamn piece-of-shit island.

Left a piece of whatever hit me in my arm.

I guess I'll never have to buy another drink

in Buffalo ever again.

I'm gonna grab some coffee. Do you want some?

Can you take me topside?

I need some air.

We've got our orders changed.

Regiment wants us hunting Japs up the East road.

Don't blame yourself. You did the right thing.

- Good to have you back, sir. - Thanks.

K company, move out!

Whoever is up there is getting pounded.

You should start to feel better.

Feel that. They're starting the engines.

Yeah.

Hey.

Let's go home, cobber.

Why don't they just surrender?

Cause they're Japs.

We're gonna have to root them out one by one.

Bunker!

Let the bastards burn.

You can't dwell on it,

you can't dwell on any of it.

We're moving into the hill comes dawn.

We're gonna needs some of your mortar squads

to volunteer as stretcher bearers.

If we're going into those hill again, I'm gonna get hit.

I know it!

Let's go!

- Get him back! - Fall back.