Sands of Iwo Jima (1949)

[bunniefuu]

* SANDS OF IWO JIMA *

To the United States

Marine Corps whose exploits

and valor have left a lasting

impression on yhe world

and in the hearts

of their countrymen.

Appreciation is gratefully

acknowledged for their assistance

and participation which

made this picture possible.

This is the story

of a squad of marines,

a r*fle squad.

I'm Corporal Robert Dunne,

a member of that squad.

We were at Guadalcanal,

and when it was secure

we were pulled out for rest, refitting,

replacements and retraining.

The Marine Corps is long on training

and retraining...

Let that go.

After the canal, we were sent to

Camp Paekakariki in New Zealand.

Here we received our replacements,


marines from Stateside,

a long way from Stateside,

8,000 miles.

I can see you're a man

who knows how to live.

Solid comfort.

Solid malaria.

Malaria, huh? Contagious?

No, not this week. You can stay.

Nice place you got here.

Regazzi's my name, Benny Regazzi.

Bob Dunne, my name.


I'm duty NCO today.

Great. Meet my friends.

This big guy is

"Handsome" Dan Shipley.

Hi.

What a physique!

The girls see him and faint.

He comes through this,


I'll make him a movie star!

Those two guys, Flynns.

That's Eddie and that's Frank.

Hi, Eddie.

Hello, Bob.

They don't drink. I got their beer ration.

And Georgie Hellenopolis, an Irishman.

Hello, sport.

Where did you get those cards?


Off your sack on the ship. Why?

They're mine, that's why.

I've seen lots in those bags that aren't.

Come on, give me.

"Always Faithful", Mac.

Hey! Leave them.

It happens 20 times a day.

You know where those guys come from?

Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love.

By the way,


who's the squad leader?

Sergeant Stryker.

What's he like?

You'll find out.

I've been in New Zealand two hours

and already they're clamming up on me.

Ah fine up!...

I hope he knows his stuff.


Maybe we'll get liberty.

We ain't replacements any more.

Where is he?

Where's the Sergeant?

He's here.

Well, what do you know?

Stryker. Hello, Thomas.

Thought you were in the First.

I was.

Sit down.

Just sit down, Thomas, anywhere.

My name is Stryker,

Sergeant John M Stryker.

You're gonna be my squad,

a r*fle squad.

Three of us have seen action:

Corporal Dunne,

Charlie Bass and myself.

You'll learn from us.

In boot camp you

learned out of a book.

Here you gotta remember the book

and learn things

that haven't been printed.

You gotta learn right and fast.

Any man that doesn't

want to cooperate,

I'll make him wish

he hadn't been born.

Before I'm through with you, you're

gonna move and think like one man.

If you don't, you'll be dead.

You guys have had

a nice easy day.

I hope you enjoyed it

because it's the last one

you'll get for a long time.

You joined the Marines to fight

and you'll get your chance.

I'll show you how.

If I can't teach you one

way, I'll teach you another.

But I'll get the job done.

The skipper of this outfit

is Captain Joyce.

Platoon leader is

Lieutenant Baker.

Platoon sergeant,

is Sergeant Wright.

Any questions?

That's all.

10,000 sergeants in this corps

and I draw Stryker!

Hey, you knew this guy before, huh?

Yes for be. We were stationed

together in China.

Twice he kept me from promotion.

Turned me in once.

30 days I got.

He was a Sergeant major then.

Must have done something

to get busted to three stripes.

What did he turn you in for?

For...

That's not important!

What's important is

that he turned me in!

Maybe he didn't

write the manual,

but you can bet

he can recite it backwards!

It's probably

tattooed on his chest.

Front and back, Mac.

Front and back!...

Say, isn't your name, Al Thomas?

Yeah.

Weren't you a fighter?

Just in the Marines.

Runner-up in the

heavyweight division.

Tell him who you

were runner-up to Thomas?

Stryker. Lucky punch. help!...

Meet your new manager.

It can be great!

Tell him why you lost your stripes.

My natural dislike for you is

gradually developing

into a great hate.

Don't let this guy

do your thinking.

You'll get a square

deal from Stryker.

Yah, you bet. Square deal.

I'm looking forward to the first time,

he and I come head to head off duty.

Hey, take it easy

with that hand, champ!

Saddle up! Saddle up!

All right, take a break.

Take a break.

How does your squad look, Stryker?

See me in about six months. Ah!...

Conway!

I was checking the records tonight.

Your father was

Colonel Sam Conway.

What if he was?

I was with him ten months ago.

He was my CO before he got k*lled.

One of the best officers and finest men

I ever served under.

I thought if you...

Thanks. I'll keep it in mind.

For that, you sleep with your r*fle.

It was an accident.

Nobody in this outfit

drops their r*fle. Fall in!

Hey!... All right, saddle up.

Pick it up.

Pick it up.

Sometimes I don't know

which I hate worse, him or the Nips.

Your father was a good marine.

Until ten months ago.

You shipped in when

he was k*lled.

I shipped in because

I was expected to.

In w*r the men of my family

join the Marines.

I'm the last Conway,

so here I am.

He'd be proud that

you're carrying on the tradition.

Not my father.

He'd have expected me to find

some soft duty somewhere.

In fact, he told me so.

I don't get it.

I embarrassed my father.

I wasn't tough enough for him.

Too soft.

"No guts" was the phrase he used.

Like Stryker.

He wanted a man, my father was.

"The finest man

I ever served under."

Yah, I bet they got

along just fine.

Both with ramrods

strapped on their backs.

I'm a civilian, not a marine.

They're not going to strap one on mine.

I'm in here strictly for tradition.

That the only reason?

Yeah. Why?

Nothing...

Stryker knows his business.

So did Jack the Ripper.

Knock off the skylarking.

You're in the wrong column.

Left foot close in there.

Look alive!

Choynski, you're all left feet!

Choynski!

What do you think you're doing?

Running the bayonet course, sir.

Not in this league.

Yes, sir.

Your men are pretty ragged, Stryker.

Yes, sir.

That ought to take some

starch out of Stryker.

His boys didn't do so well.

Hanging him up between those

poles, we'd do a lot better.

Choynski!

OK, so I'm left-handed.

On guard. Give me your r*fle.

What is this?

You can't learn the easy way,

you'll learn the hard way.

Make a thrust.

Without a scabbard?

You heard me.

You mean this way?

Yeah, like this!

You get the idea? Corpsman!

All right, saddle up.

We'll do it again. Pick it up.

You're the only

unkissable guy in camp.

This thing hurts.

It ain't funny.

No dame's going to come

near a mouth like this.

Don't worry, I got the scoop.

No liberty for three months.

You got time.

Three months?

How did you get that?

I got spies everywhere.

They ought to throw the book

at Stryker for doing this.

They won't.

They'll give him a citation

for teaching us

to be good marines.

Choynski! Now!...

They tell me you're going to live.

You were lucky today.

Someone had been instructing you that

didn't like you, you might not have been.

You better put in a little homework

on that bayonet course.

Somebody who didn't like me?

I wonder what he does

to the guys he hates.

Right! 365 days in a year and

I gotta pick this one to nick myself!

You need a blow torch

on your stubble.

Look who's putting out the scuttlebutt.

No liberty, he says!

Somebody made a mistake.

You got no kick coming.

You have, so don't go turning your back.

Humm, humm!...

Will we take Hollywood

with them physiques!

Ah!... First Platoon!

That's for me!

Here, Wright,

any mail for Stryker? No.

It's going to be rugged again tonight.

He won't solve his problems

with whiskey.

What would you do

if your wife left with your kid?

After five years I'd forget it.

Stryker's not much on forgetting.

Sorry, no letter for you.

I know it.

You know ten-year-olds kid.

There could be a thousand

reasons why he didn't write.

A million. Cut it out.

Cut what out?

Brushing me. The kid's all right.

Maybe Mary influenced him not to.

That she wouldn't do.

Of course not.

Stryker,

you're a very unusual character.

Can this be love?

You know what I mean.

A lot of guys wouldn't

see that a woman needs

a husband who's not always away.

A woman wants a home and a guy

to come in and out on time every day.

You can tell me to shut up.

If you can't talk to

me, who can?

Don't do it, just for once, don't do it.

Do what?

Don't start out to get blind, staggering,

stinking, falling down drunk.

Nobody starts out to get blind,

staggering, stinking, falling down drunk.

Some do. Why not leave

half your dough with me?

You got an old maid's failings.

You worry.

Don't try to follow me tonight or I'll put

a dent in that ugly head of yours.

Ready? Just a minute.

What's up? Nothing.

Benny didn't strip his M1 fast

enough for Stryker,

so he turned him in.

They cancelled his liberty.

Perhaps our Sergeant...

hasn't got a heart of gold after

all, but he certainly is...

You talk too much.

You think I restricted

Flynn for my own amusement?

The punishment's unreasonable,

to cancel his liberty

for a minor mistake.

I'm gonna tell you

something, Conway.

I'm gonna tell all of you.

I'm gonna make it simple

so you'll all understand it.

They handed me you guys as a present,

a regular Easter basket.

They told me to

get you into shape,

so you can handle a

piece of this w*r.

That's what I'm gonna do

and that means I'm gonna tell

you what to do every day,

how to button your buttons

and when to blow your noses.

If you do something I

don't like I'm gonna jump

and when I land it'll hurt.

I'll ride you until

you can't stand up.

When you do, you'll be marines.

Flynn stays here.

Extra-hard product

of a hard school.

Tough luck, Flynn.

If my brother doesn't go,

I'm not going. Shut up!

Who are you telling to shut up?

You shut up!...

Let's go before we

all lose our liberty.

I wanna see those

Wellington babes.

How do you feel, boy?

Like a little bird with feathers on it.

Don't fly away, little bird.

I can't.

I'm still in the egg.

Ah, ah!...

Oh!... Beautiful, beautiful!

I wanna dance.

You're gonna sit down.

Yes, ma'am, Tennessee,

that's where I come from.

The greatest state in the Union.

They call it the

volunteer state.

Right there is where I'm from.

Smithville, Tennessee,

what a town!

These are all my cousins

on my mama's side

and these are on my papa's side.

We got the best tobacco there is, too.

More fertiliser...

comes from Tennessee than

any other place in the world.

Listen to that band! Zombies!

They're all dead.

Maybe they like music that way here.

Or don't know any other kind.

I'm talking these

boys into a session.

Maybe they don't

have it in them.

After I'm through, they will.

They're breaking my heart.

Be ladie!...

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!...

There is a happy man.

Wait until tomorrow.

Don't be a killjoy, dance.

I'll watch him.

I'm not much on dancing.

You might try just this once.

No, thanks.

Pete's my name, Peter Conway.

Allison.

Hello, Allison. Hello, Peter.

You're warm. Want to sit down?

No. I don't want to lose you.

Cutting in.

Shove off, Mac.

What would you say if I suggested

we get some air?

I'd say I'm not supposed to leave

the club with servicemen,

but to you I'd say yes.

Now what?

We know all about each other.

You'll be missing your train.

I'll float back on thin air.

Don't do that.

You might catch cold.

Funny, I've just met you and I feel

I've known you all my life.

I feel that way, too.

Ten thousand miles away.

Not now.

I wanna see you again,

every time I get liberty.

I'll be here.

Allison...

Yes?

l'm glad I met you tonight.

The train...

I know.

I'll walk you to the station.

I can get a taxi from there.

No, I'll walk you home.

No.

You might miss your train.

I might not see you

again for a long time.

Any time I get liberty,

she says, just call her up.

Man, what a barmaid!

I'll finish the w*r right here.

Drink any more

and you probably will!

New Zealand ain't got rats

because they k*lled them

all with that whiskey!

We'll drink worse before

we get through.

They may bury me at sea

tomorrow, but tonight

I got that nice, warm feeling.

I got a great future

for the next two hours.

You're bleeding! Ha-a-a!...

Lipstick!

Hey, fellas, look what I found!

Hey, sports...

look.

Boy, he's really carrying a load!

Gyrene!

Ah!...

Hey, Mac, you're a little

off your course Mac.

Well, what do you know! Stryker.

He's sure a mess.

Now I know what happened

to those stripes. Come on.

Oh, oh!...

Shore Patrol.

That's what it is. Give me a hand.

You're going to help him?

If he cut my mother's

throat five minutes ago,

I wouldn't let them get him.

What a break! He's all set to drop two

stripes and Shore Patrol shows up.

But look what he done to me!

Don't tell me he kissed you Mac.

That's a great one!

Did I tell you about the guy on a train

and the funniest thing happened...

I don't know why you're helping him.

I'll take care of it.

Where did you come from?

Never mind. He don't need you guys.

How do you like that?

He must follow Stryker

like a little dog.

What do you care?

At least he took him off our hands.

A day after our leave,

we drew a 22-mile

hike over terrain

carefully selected.

All uphill...

and it was a weary bunch of marines

who pitched tents that night

and gratefully folded

themselves inside.

Do you believe in love at first sight?

Ah!... All kinds.

I never did before but I sure do now.

Why do you have to tell me now?

Because I'm thinking about it now.

I'm gonna marry that girl.

What girl?

The girl I met last night.

You'll feel better in the morning.

I couldn't feel any better

than I do right now.

I've been thinking, why do men

get married during a w*r?

Don't know.

It's the worst time.

I fooled around

but I never thought about marriage.

I know a lot of girls

back in the States but...

I think it's because when you get

out here you're close to things.

You realise way down inside, no matter

how much you try not to think about it,

that maybe something's

got your number on...

and you want to leave

a bit of yourself behind.

Doesn't matter if it's a boy or a girl,

just so long as you won't be forgotten.

There'll be someone who'd never

have lived if it hadn't been for you.

Am I right?

I think I'm right.

Hey, Conway, got a pass?

I have.

All right, hop in. I'll give you a lift.

I hear you got a girl in town.

What if I have?

They say she's a very nice girl.

They talk too much.

Are you serious about her?

With things the way they are,

this is no time to start

getting serious with a girl.

Don't know how long you're gonna

be here or when you'll be back again.

Don't even know how long you'll live.

If it's in the line of duty, you can tell me

to do something and I'll do it.

As for my personal life,

keep your hands off.

Your father would've said it.

I wouldn't have listened.

You never did.

How do you know?

He told me.

What did he say?

I'll tell you. He said

I was a disappointment, right?

He said I wouldn't be able

to stand up for myself, right?

You're doing the talking.

No, my father is.

Every time you open your

mouth, he's talking.

Every thought you think is his.

It's as though he's at my shoulder.

But he didn't always say

or think the right thing.

You're gonna find that out when

the time comes.

Until then leave me alone.

You want a lift or not?

Yeah, sure.

What's the matter?

Nothing. Why?

You've hardly said a word.

You're right.

I've been thinking.

About us? Myself.

That's selfish.

Honey, do you think I'm a brave man?

What a funny question to ask.

Well, do you?

I don't know. Why?

I've got to prove

something to someone. Who?

You don't know him.

He's dead now.

Yes, Peter, I think you're brave.

Ah, that helps. You don't know

how much that helps.

Let's not talk about it any more.

We should have been talking about

ourselves all this time.

You please me and I thank you!...

what's going to happen to us.

What do you want to happen?

I want to marry you.

I want that, too.

Funny, we barely know each other.

We see each other for

what seems only moments.

And yet...

I know what you mean.

Choynski...

not going to the wedding?

No.

I'd better get a transfer.

I can't learn this

bayonet business.

I'm all thumbs.

On guard.

No, Sarge, not again!

I'm not well from the last time.

On guard!

Play that thing again.

You lead. What?

You lead!

Shift your weight.

Left, left!

There. Keep it up.

You'll get the knack of it.

Practise that about a half

an hour every day.

Hey, Sarge! I got it!

I haven't been

in church since I was 14.

Kissing the bride's a great invention.

Sure makes me homesick.

What's the matter?

He looks the same.

How do you expect him to look?

Married, wrinkled, worried, like me.

44 hours and 34 minutes left.

Go! Excuse me, sports.

Here's your wedding present

from the g*ng.

You've all been wonderful.

Are you sure you've

got the right guy?

I'm sure.

Come on, get going!

"Always happy", Mac!

Keep the situation well

in hand, Pete!

We got 44 hours and 33 minutes.

What are we gonna do?

Al, if I was a girl, I'd marry you.

Knock it off! I've had a hard day.

What am I doing?

44 hours and 32 minutes.

That isn't very long, is it?

No, not long at all.

I wonder how many other people

have had 44 hours and 32 minutes.

Lots I guess.

We'll make it seem a long time.

Years.

Shall I open it?

Sure, go ahead.

They're in a hurry!

Others were in a hurry too.

The order said move out

and the Marines moved out.

11 days at sea. Destination?

Only the top brass knew.

Though, of course,

scuttlebutt knew the answer,

a hundred answers, all wrong.

Boat Squad...

halt, one, two! Halt, one, two!

Dismissed!

Too bad you couldn't see her again.

You didn't get long.

We knew it might happen.

I'll be back.

I've got to believe that.

Sure. We'll all be back.

Gangway!

That's no way to carry a flag,

Regazzi. Hun?

I've got to teach

you everything.

Now watch this...

What are you gonna do with

this, Benny?

I'm gonna put that up in Tokyo,

right in the middle of Times Square.

There isn't any Times

Square in Tokyo.

Oh, there will be when I get there.

Now that's the way to fold a flag,

with the blue field showing.

What do you know!

Hey, vou got my shirt!

It's my shirt!

I'm telling you, it's my shirt!

It's my shirt!

Hey, hey, hey. Here, fellas.

You'd better quit fighting so much.

If you don't, one of you's apt to get hurt.

Corpsman! Corpsman!

What's that? Relax.

It's the Navy clearing its throat.

Sure don't sound like

no squirrel g*n.

I hope they practise real good.

What island do you

think we're aiming at?

We'll get word, long time!...

All right men! Here it is.

It looks like a pork chop.

What's its name?

Tarawa.

Never heard of it.

It's the wrong place.

It's part of an atoll called

Tarawa Atoll.

This particular island

is called Betio.

Don't ask me how you spell it.

You'll have to stick your faces into it

but you don't have to spell it.

This is Red Beach Three.

That's us.

What have they got there?

Everything.

This island's held by a

special naval landing force.

That means Japanese marines.

They're dug in and they're mean.

They'd just as soon die as stick a nickel

in a jukebox, but that's all right.

Let the other guy die for his country.

You'll live for yours.

What's the matter, Mac?

Nothing.

Get over there.

I can hear him.

Get over there.

I don't want anybody hurt

because you didn't listen.

Schoolteacher, do me some homework.

What's your problem, son?

Put down 5,000. Scuttlebutt says

that's how many Nips are on that rock.

The Navy fired

1,000 tons of shells.

Don't forget the fly-fly boys.

Those B-24s have really

been working them over.

Ah seis dias!...

Now add the tons of expl*sives,

divide it by the Nips

and get the answer.

Hey, Maybe we'll be

back for noon chow.

Don't figure that way.

The Navy and the fly-fly

boys unloaded plenty

on the canal before

we went in to.

When we got ashore there were still a lot

of those lemon-coloured guys waiting.

Only way that island was taken

was by putting marines on the beach.

You've heard the naval foray's

a waste of time and metal.

Stryker knows better.

Who cut you

in on this conversation?

You say when I can

and can't talk?

Just when you can't talk to me.

Knock it off, Conway.

I've had enough of your "hardbitten

Sergeant" attitude.

You're so big everybody's been afraid

to take a punch at you. I'm not!

Cool off!

Forget that pencil...

and paper routine and worry about

staying alive on that beach.

Don't expect any soft touch!

"Now hear this"!

All troops report

to your debarking stations!

All right, men, sound off

when your name's called.

Now hear this,

there'll be no movies tonight!

The place is opened up

for business.

Missed!

Maybe they're firing blanks.

Maybe a two-headed kid's aiming.

Maybe this is

just manoeuvres, hun.

Get out now.

We're crossing the line of departure.

Lock and load!

Good luck, Sarge!

Charlie, give me a hand here!

Lieutenant, hit the deck!

How is it? I got hit!

Corpsman! You'll be all right.

They got us pinned down!

We can't get over these logs!

I'm going while I can!

Stay here, kid!

We're gonna be k*lled here.

I'd like to get at them!

Why rush? This is a nice place.

Ok my Sergeant,

let's get away with this. Hun

They got the lieutenant!

They'll get all of us

if we don't move.

We are like fish in a barrel lying here.

Did we train to take it lying down?

Sarge, do something about it!

Stay where you are until I tell you.

You gotta get us out of here!

If you're nervous

count your toes.

I'll do the masterminding

around here.

Where's Lieutenant Baker?

Machine-gunned.

Is your squad all right?

All but one.

What's holding us down?

That bunker, an old power plant.

All these bombs

and they're still k*lling us.

Smoke, sir? Thanks.

I've sent for

flame-throwers to assist.

Your squad will support.

Follow me!

Yea Sr. You heard!

Move out and stay down!

We've gotta silence that bunker!

Request naval g*nf*re

be lifted on target areas, coordinates...

two, four, six, zero, sugar, tare.

Over.

Roger and out.

Flame-throwers out!

Demolition in progress!

Demolition out!

Shipley!

Give me a hand with this pack.

Throw it!

Move out!

Get him out of there!

There goes one of your nine.

Now we got tanks.

Better late than never.

Come on!

Corpsman!

Corpsman! This way!

Don't wait. They'll find me.

Keep going. Hit 'em for me.

Find Stryker. Stick with him.

He's good people.

Tell him, I...

I'd like to know

where the rest of the squad went.

What's this place?

Whatever it is it ain't healthy!

Let's go! Go!...

That was close.

Next time don't be in such a hurry.

You're across, ain't you?

Across what? To where?

I'm running low on a*mo.

I am too. Ah!...

Forgot about that.

We gotta get some more.

I'll go. Wait!

Pick a number from one to six.

Two. Five.

You're both wrong. Ah!...

That guy kills me.

Thomas better hurry!

How about some bandoliers, Mac?

Help yourself.

Ah!...

How are things going up front?

Pretty rough.

Keep it coming. Good luck.

Is that coffee?

It sure is. Do you want some?

Do I want some, he says!

I haven't had any joe

since we left the ship.

You mortarmen sure live

the life of Riley here.

Here you are.

Beautiful!

Where's Thomas?

Probably dead.

No, not that guy.

Let's get out of here!

Can I have some for my buddies?

Sure. Break out your canteen.

Tell me,

how's everything been going?

Couldn't be better, Mac.

Oh, this is the life!

Come and get it, you guys!

a*mo and fresh hot joe!

Hellenopolis! Bass!

Hey, Greek!

Hey, Greek!

What kepts you, Thomas?

Where's Bass?

Gutted. No a*mo.

What kept you, sports?

Major Crowe, sir.

Jim? How you doing?

"It's tough going, Dave".

I've committed every man.

We're dug in and staying.

Good. I've been

getting reports all day

that the Nips are

slipping in to your front.

If it's "banzai"

tonight, target area...

2. 41 is a hot spot.

What outfit have you got there?

Joyce and Stryker.

Pass the word they gotta

dig in and stay put.

No noise or movement.

Jim, Don't risk anybody

unless you have to.

Hold on until we get more men there.

All right Jim!...

Yes, sir. Right.

Major Crowe says the Nips have been

filtering into these tank traps.

Disperse your squad

along this section.

Tell your men there's

to be no smoking,

no moving or

unnecessary talking.

If they find out how thin we are,

they can get to the beach.

That's a platoon area.

All I got's a beat-up

squad short three men.

Couldn't you?...

Can I give you three men?

Stryker, the battalion can't give

the whole company three replacements.

Your squad is covering

the hottest spot in the line.

If it's an attack tonight

they'll strike you first.

They want to know

our disposition.

I repeat,

your men are not to move.

Aye, aye, sir.

Stryker,

we're going to hold this line.

Aye, aye, sir.

Good luck.

All right, saddle up. Follow me.

Everybody, let's go!

Drop off at intervals,

two-man foxholes.

We're gonna be spread

out thin tonight.

Don't give away your

position or strength.

You Flynns stay here,

and no quarrels.

Dunne and Smith, drop out here.

No gab tonight!

Yes, let's walk!...

You and Harris here!

Come on, Conway.

Corpsman! Listen.

Corpsman!

That's a marine.

Corpsman!

Stryker!

Get down and stay down!

You had your orders!

Somebody's wounded!

Quiet. Let's get him!

Stay down!

It may be an old Jap trick.

They pulled it on the canal.

It doesn't sound

like a Jap to me.

I don't care.

You'll tip our position.

Stryker!

It's Bass!

How many Japs know your name?

You know his voice.

Shut up.

Aren't you human at all?

A friend of yours may be dying!

Knock it off!

This is what my father taught you.

Be a great marine, be tough.

Sit here if you want.

I'm getting him.

The only way you'll

stop me is to k*ll me.

That's just what I'll do!

Stryker!

Stryker!

Sarge!

Stryker!

Please, Sarge!

Tarawa was officially

declared secure at 13.30

on the fourth day of battle.

The replacements came ashore,

our wounded were cared for

and the as*ault

troops were relieved.

How am I doing, Chaplain?

God has been good to you.

You're going home.

Per istam Sanctam Unctionem,

et suam piisimam,

indulgeat tibi Dominus

"quidquid deliquisti. Amen".

Somebody beat me to it.

Skipper gave out some news.

Part of it's good, part of it's bad.

They found Hellenopolis. He's dead.

He was a good Greek.

Choynski,

Soames and Bass are on a hospital

ship Stateside-bound.

I wish I was with them.

Let's get cleaned up.

Wash out those dungarees

and let's look like marines.

You too, Thomas.

Dunne. Yeah?

I got a couple of bottles

of sake in my gear.

Give it to the squad.

Right. Tell them you

got it off a dead Nip.

Why don't you break down a little?

You got it off a dead Nip.

Aye, aye.

Too well, too well.

Too well,

What's eating you?

Know what Stryker plans tomorrow?

Another squad problem

and I'm so tired of problems!

I'm tired of Stryker!

I'm also tired of beautiful Hawaii.

Me, too. Luize!...

Franw!...

Hey, champ,

Second left!...

what do you think

of beautiful Hawaii?

I don't want to talk about it.

Clamming up again,

ever since Tarawa.

Why the silence?

Knock it off!

Hi! You got room for me?

What do you know!

You got time off for good behaviour?

Yeah, fine!...

Hey, hey, hey, where were you?

Pearl Harbor?

Yeah, nice place. Pretty nurses.

Hum!... I'll give somebody $5

to sh**t me in the foot.

I'll do it for $2.50.

You're too willing!

Some replacements out here

assigned to our squad.

I will now!...

We build up the joint

and they come and live in it.

Let's get Law!...

This is Stein and Fowler and McHugh.

thank you!...

He's Fowler.

Mike McHugh, from Cedar Rapids to

see this w*r's over in a hurry.

How old are you? Nineteen.

How old? Well, eighteen...

going on eighteen.

We heard that

the squad leader's tough.

There are rumours

to that effect.

Tough sergeants

roll off my knife!

Mekild!...

You're gonna find your first few days

with Sergeant Stryker very interesting.

You new men come with me.

Attention!

Charlie! How are you?

Certified fit for duty,

so the medics say. Good.

The replacements came up with me.

They get younger all the time.

Or we're getting older.

Or both. Yea!...

I can stand having you back.

I can stand being back.

What happened to the squad, besides

the Greek, Shipley and Thomas?

Choynski... Thomas?

He never got a scratch. Hun?

I was sure he got it.

Why?

When we got stuck in a trench

he went back to get a*mo.

Never came back.

How long between the time

he went back and you got overrun?

Oh, about 40 minutes.

40 minutes?

Stay here.

Thomas!

Yeah? Outside.

What's that about?

Don't ask me.

I haven't any spies.

That's far enough.

What's this about?

Just that I hate your guts!

Humm, ah, hum!...

Get up.

You doped off and got

one of my men k*lled

and one of them bayoneted!

You haven't had enough.

Get up! Stryker... Hum!...

Attention!

All right, break it up.

What's your name?

Sergeant Stryker. Able Company, sir.

And you?

Pfc Thomas. Able Company, sir.

This may take some explaining

before a court martial.

Help that man up.

You'll need medical attention.

I'll be OK, sir.

That's debatable.

You know it's not permissible

for an NCO to strike a man?

Yes, sir.

Who struck the first blow?

Colonel, there wasn't

any first blow struck exactly.

A simultaneous

expl*si*n perhaps? Ah!...

Judo, sir.

The sergeant was showing me

how to break a judo hold.

No more judo exhibitions.

Understand, Sergeant?

Aye, aye, sir. Well!...

At least you're no stool pigeon.

Wait a minute, Stryker.

I'm wrong, dead wrong.

I know it.

I doped off for some

coffee, but I didn't think

a few minutes mattered.

It did!

I know that now,

but I didn't then.

It's k*lling me. I can't sleep.

A hundred times I wanted to tell you,

tell somebody. I...

I liked that Greek...

I'd do anything for him.

If I could I'd change him

for me right now.

I think you would.

Guys make mistakes but...

every one we make,

a stack of chips goes with it.

We make a mistake

and some guy don't walk away!

For evermore he don't walk away.

I guess all we can do is just take it...

and hope we don't make

the same mistake again.

I won't.

Let's get back.

Mail call! First Platoon.

We will see!... I know!...

A letter from my wife after 18 months.

Know where she is?

In England, entertaining troops.

Entertaining troops?

Why isn't she here entertaining me?

I'm a troop.

"They're all such nice boys.

Hum!...

There's a lieutenant here...

"A Lieutenant!

When I get back she'll need

standing up for a month!

Maby too,

I put on muscle lately!

Darling...

this is a funny way for a man

to find out he's a father,

but you are.

It happened the day before yesterday,

just in time for breakfast.

He's a boy and looks beautiful like me

and intelligent like you.

I should have told you it was going to

happen, but I didn't want to worry you.

I don't know what to call him.

We never discussed that, now.

I'm a father!

Hey, I'm a father! Let's see!

I'm a father!

All right, let's fall in!

Hey!... Is already training!...

Come on!

It's forming the fastest!...

Finally we got our leave.

Ten days.

Ten days in Honolulu.

All of us were out on the town.

All except Stryker.

He was still the same.

Lonesome? Drift.

Whiskey. Two?

Please.

OK.

Thanks.

A drink'll be good.

I'm tired.

It's been a rough day...

Knock it off!

I'm sorry, Sergeant.

Right. Thanks.

65 cents for a drink.

It's too much.

They cheat servicemen.

We could drink cheaper at my house.

Don't throw your arm out of joint.

Thanks for the drink, Sergeant!...

I didn't mean to make too

much buzzing in your ear.

It's all right,

finish your drink.

I didn't mean to sound so tough.

I know. You're just unhappy.

Me, too.

My name's Mary.

The long arm of coincidence,

or something.

Her name, too.

That invitation still hold?

Make yourself comfortable.

I'll fix us a drink.

Oh, dear!

Well, I can get us some more in a jiffy.

I see.

Will a sawbuck do it?

Go on, take it. It's only paper.

Well, I'll be right back.

I hope this is your brand.

Any brand is mine.

She says she's hungry.

He.

Advise him against joining

the Marines.

Mummy's fixing you something.

Her boy'll be quiet

while she has company.

Knock it off...

Where's his father?

Gone.

Well, I guess into each life

a little rain must fall.

There are a lot tougher ways

of making a living than going to w*r.

You know about babies.

Yeah, I know about babies.

So long, Mac.

Wait!

I can't spend it on a coral reef.

You're a very good man.

You'll get odds on

that in the Marines.

So long.

So long, Sergeant.

I'll pray for you.

Let's not get religion.

I'll pray for you, Sergeant!

Good luck.

You got a lot of bloodhound in

you, Charlie,

but you can call off the dogs.

I'm smarter than

I was 30 minutes ago.

Catch me feeling

sorry for myself again

and you got my permission

to belt me in the nose!

Buy you a drink?

Lock and load, boy!

Hey!... Thanks!

Two bourbon and ice.

A baby's a big event.

Conway!

Treating the boys?

Crack open the hatch!

That's great.

A fellow always gets more

kick out of a boy, I guess.

I got a kid. Sam, I named him...

after your old man.

Wait till he gets to be

ten and doesn't write.

You'll be mad enough to hit him.

No, I won't, Stryker,

because he won't have to write.

I'll be where he is.

And I won't insist

that he be tough.

I'll try to make

him intelligent.

And I won't insist that he

read the Marine Corps manual.

I'll get him Shakespeare.

I don't want him to be

a Colonel Conway or Sergeant Stryker.

I want him to be intelligent,

considerate, cultured and a gentleman.

You're out of line, kid.

Let him be. He has a right to dislike me.

Thanks, and I intend

to exercise that right.

I don't like you, Stryker.

Let's talk sense

for a minute, Conway.

I can't have friction in the squad.

I've tried every approach

to you that I know.

Got nowhere.

You're intelligent...

Don't patronise me.

Your opinion of my IQ,

doesn't interest me in the least.

Let's get this straight.

On duty I jump when you holler.

Off duty I exercise my God-given

rights under a democracy

and dislike whom I please.

Do we understand each other?

Beat it.

Come on, you guys, let's go.

I don't understand

why you don't belt him.

Mellow in my old age, I guess.

Too bad.

"Screaming Sam"

couldn't be proud of him.

He could.

There's something inside a guy,

always proud of a kid.

Two more? Not for me.

I'll sail again. One.

OK.

Maybe you can steer me home?

Yea Charles Charge!

Pull pins!

Prepare to throw!

Throw!

All right, fifth relay!

What an arm! What an arm!

Pick it up! Go there!...

Right in the groove!

Look, boy, this is a live grenade.

Oh, gee!

You know what they can do?

Yes, sir. All right!...

Right hand.

Wait for the order to pull

pin and pitch grenade.

Got it? Yes, sir. Ready?

Pull pin!

Prepare to throw!

Throw!

Grenade! Hit the deck!

When will you wake up?

You wanna see her again,

keep your mind on your work!

What happened here?

Little accident, sir.

You're wounded. Corpsman!

Yes, sir.

Take care of the sergeant.

Come right over here, Sergeant.

You may not know it,

but you just got your life saved.

You'll get a medal.

Again the word came

and the Marines moved out.

Again scuttlebutt knew a hundred

destinations, all wrong.

This time we were a sound

fighting unit, blooded and trained.

Tarawa had blooded us.

Stryker had trained us.

Now, I'll show you something.

What you got there?

What does it look like?

A flag.

What are you gonna do with it?

Occupy this island in the USA's name.

You think we'll have an easy time?

You got me with you.

Maybe we need two of you.

One was enough in Tarawa.

Stick with me.

I'm a battle-hardened veteran.

Know how many Japs I

knocked off in Tarawa?

32. Did I get anything for it?

Ah, ah!...

I got enemies in Washington.

If the Marines didn't have me,

they'd never have made it.

Now, this is how you fold a flag!

Do you believe in intuition?

Yeah...

in women. Why?

It's hard to explain.

I've a feeling I'm not

coming out of this operation.

Don't talk that way.

I can't help it.

It's the way I feel. Why?

I don't know.

It's like a voice in my ear.

I can't shake the feeling off.

Take my advice, shake it off.

No dice.

When things like that get in you,

it's no use trying

to fight them.

If a marine waits long enough

he gets the word.

Our sealed orders came aboard

after five days at sea.

This island is volcanic and sandy.

It's five and a half miles long

and two and a half miles wide.

This mountain here

is a dead volcano.

It's called Suribachi.

There's nothing on the island except

three airfields and about 20,000 Japs.

The Army Air Corps B-24s have been

bombing this place for 62 days.

Maybe it'll be an easy operation then.

We can't be sure.

Every yard is covered

by some kind of fire.

There are two possible

landing beaches,

one on the east side,

one on the west.

The rest of the coastline is cliffs.

They'll try and keep us

off the beaches.

If they don't, they'll try and catch us

at this first airfield,

between the heights of Suribachi

and these high rocky ridges in the north.

They'll shell us

from both sides.

Nobody knows what they've

got on this island.

But they've had 40 years

to put it there.

Saipan was our last stop.

The men who were going to hit

the beach first transferred to LSTs.

A few more days at sea

and the time for landing came.

Saddle!... Saddle up!

Skip along and into the amtracs.

Anyway, it's a good day for it.

It's cold.

Stick around, it'll get warm.

Yeah, that's what I'm afraid of.

Hey, look!

Driver, you the joker

that wrote that?

Hey "Semper fi", Mac!

We should take you,

in along with us.

Hey...

McHugh's going

in with his pocket full of books!

Five books he's got!

So? The kid's a reader.

That shouldn't worry

a dope like you.

When we're through

with this operation,

I'm gonna break both, your legs!

I feel sick.

I know, kid.

I felt the same way at Tarawa.

Hey, Stein, "Shalom aleychem".

Aleychem shalom.

Sarge, I'm scared.

So am I.

Not you!

Fowler, I'm always scared.

Line of departure! Get down!

Lock and load!

Drop those lifebelts

when we hit the beach!

All right, hit the beach!

It ain't Brooklyn!

If this place was a blanket

I'd pull it over my head!

This is the poorest

soil I ever saw.

What does anyone want

an island like this for?

That's w*r. What's w*r?

Trading real estate for men.

When God made the world,

he must have put all the

rubbish left over here.

Ah!... Corpsman! Corpsman!

Take it easy.

Doggone it, almost the same place

they got me before!

Getting shot for this!

They're sure pouring it

into Suribachi.

Not enough.

Those Nips are sh**ting

right down our throats.

Stryker! Yo!

Lieutenant Shrier wants to see you.

Lieutenant Shrier? Come on!...

Stand fast.

Stryker reporting, sir.

I know. Thank you!...

Your platoon's been hit hard.

What's left has been assigned to me.

Yes, sir.

Naval g*nf*re lifts at 1100.

Stand by.

Aye, aye.

Move out!

Keep your distance!

Come on! Go on, go on!

Corpsman! Corpsman!

Corpsman!

Spread out! Dig in!

Dunne, where's my brother?

Back there.

He's hit. He's hit.

Flynn!

That's enough!

I told you you'd need

this bad some day.

Thanks, Marine.

Flynn! Get down!

You ain't got the sense of a rabbit!

You can still be a hero crawling!

You are come, now must protect

yourself and call for quick help

Corpsman!

Ma'll dust me off if

I don't get him back! Come on!...

Harris!

Aih!...

Well, I'll get

a good night's sleep tonight.

Corpsman!

He won't need him.

Pillbox too big to handle with these.

A bazooka?

If we had one.

I got nothing to do.

I'll go pick one up.

Regazzi didn't make it.

You never know what's happening.

Come on ranger!...

Listen.

It's a tank.

Yeah, but whose?

Ours!

It's Regazzi.

Pillbox at 2 o'clock.

OK, give 'em a hot foot!

Thanks, Mac.

I couldn't find a bazooka.

You did all right. Saddle up!

No one had ever seen

anything like it.

No one would have

believed it possible.

That smoking, miserable,

bloody island.

After three days and three nights,

and at the end of that time,

we'd barely reached

the foot of Suribachi,

where we were the first day.

We'll sack here for the night.

Best news today.

Pair off and one man awake

at all times.

Keep alert. Let's go.

It'll start getting rough tomorrow

against Suribachi.

It started getting rough

when you put on that uniform.

Stryker? Yeah...

You wanna see a good-looking kid?

Husky little boot.

What's his name?

We're gonna name him Sam,

Sam Conway.

A name that's been

awarded the Navy Cross,

is good enough for any kid.

Yeah!...

There's something

I've been trying to say but...

I can't find the words.

Two universities

and you can't find the words

to say you were out of line?

OK, I'm out of line.

No, you were.

There's a difference.

We'd better get some sack time.

Wanna sleep first or watch?

I'll watch. OK.

Yeah!...

Hello!...

Everybody gets out of line

once in a while.

Thanks, gyrene.

Where's Sergeant Stryker?

Stryker? Right there.

Stryker? Yeah!...

What do you want?

Lieutenant Shrier wants to see you.

Stryker, sir. Yes, sir.

I'm taking a patrol up Suribachi.

Get your men squared away

and be ready at 0700.

The rendezvous is that Nip tank there.

Aye, aye, sir, 0700.

That little voice whispering

in your ear again?

Don't worry.

I've known a million

guys that have heard it.

Yeah!... Most of them make it.

A few don't.

The percentage is on your side.

Did you ever hear it?

No.

Don't you ever worry about it?

What good would it do?

You're indestructible.

Stick close. It might rub off!

I'll do that.

Banner Three, this is Easy Five.

Patrol is ready to move.

Request supporting fire. Over.

Ow!

Sh'ma Yisrael, Adonai elohenu...

Adonai echad. Adonai!...

Amen.

Radio!

Banner Three, this is Easy Five.

Over.

This is Easy Five.

Cease fire, we're preparing

to move over the top. Over.

Roger and out. Stryker!

Yes, sir.

Colonel's ordered that we put up

this flag when the top's secure.

Get it there. Aye, aye, sir.

Hey, what is this?

Put yours away.

This is the one we're gonna use.

Come on put her.

First squad.

Find something we can use

as a standard and we'll put this up.

Conway, you made it.

I guess that little voice was wrong.

I feel better.

I feel better, too.

I never felt so good in my life.

How about a cigarette?

Is he...? Yeah.

If he had to get it

it's the way he'd have wanted.

It's a letter to his kid.

"Dear son...

I guess none of my

letters have reached you.

"I thought I'd try again

as I'm feeling

"that this may be the last

time I can write you.

"For a long time

I've wanted to tell you many things.

"Now that you're a big boy, I will.

"If we'd been together even for a while,

"I could've explained many things

much better than writing them.

"You've gotta take

care of your mother,

and love her and make her happy.

"Never hurt her or anyone

as I did.

"Always do what your heart

tells you is right.

"Maybe someone will

write you some day

and tell you about me.

"I want you to be like

me in some things,

but not like me in others.

"When you grow older and

get to know more about me,

you'll see I've failed...

"in many ways.

"This isn't what I wanted

but things just turned out that way.

"If there was only more time I"...

Guess he never finished it.

I'll finish it for him.

There she goes.

All right, saddle up!

Let's get back in the w*r!

"THE END"